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 Huawei is looking for the world's top ICT talent to support its strategy for innovation and building a greener intelligent world. At a recent event, Ken Hu, Huawei's Rotating Chairman said, "At Huawei, when we talk about innovation, the first thing we think is people. We hope to attract world-class talent with world-class challenges, and work together to push the limits of science and technology. " Hu was referring to the Top Minds recruitment program that the company launched on its website earlier. "We don't care where youre from, where you graduated, or what you studied, he continued. As long as you have a dream for the future and believe you can make it happen, we want you to come and join us. We provide world-class challenges, a powerful platform, and all the resources you need to explore the unknown." Sub-Saharan Africa ICT Talent Locally, Huawei continues its global recruitment strategy, targeting the continents top ICT talent, skills training and transfer and creating more jobs in the ICT sector through collaboration with various stakeholders. In April, Huawei launched its digital skills development programme LEAP in Sub-Saharan Africa, to help advance the ICT skills of more than 100,000 people across the region within three years. Launching the LEAP programme, Huawei Southern Africa President, Leo Chen said, Through the programme, we strive to cultivate more youth leaders in ICT, who can explore more possibilities for themselves, their families, community and ultimately their nations. Over the past two decades, Huawei has helped advance the ICT skills of more than 80 000 people across the region. Huawei itself is an employer of choice in the region. Its subsidiaries in 9 Sub-Saharan African countries earned the Top Employer seal in 2021. Despite facing pressure, the company believes it is more capable of dealing with uncertainty. Huawei achieved USD99.8 billion in revenue in 2021, with increased cash flows and decreased liability ratio. Huawei remains among the top telecom brands in the Global 500 top brands list, released in March 2022 by Brand Finance, a well-known British independent consultant. Innovation has become a core part of Huawei's DNA, concludes Ken Hu, For nearly a decade, our strategy has been to re-invest at least 10% of our annual revenue back into R&D. Last year, we invested 22%. This makes Huawei the worlds second highest investor in R&D according to the EUs 2021 EU Industrial R&D investment scoreboard. 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 Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye, the former Speaker of Parliament has reignited the debate about the president having to appoint a number of Ministers from Parliament. According to the one-time Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament, it is time to do away with that practice. In an interview with the state-owned Daily Graphic, Oquaye said: "I want a complete dichotomy. A complete separation, in that, no minister will also be an MP and its nothing strange to us. We had it in 1979 under President Hilla Limann and we have it in America. "We have it in Nigeria and in other places. It allows better performance of MPs and ensures accountability and responsibility can be more insured because you dont appoint him or her," he added. Asked why he did not push that agenda during his time as Speaker, he pointed to having other equally pressing priorities to deal with at the time. "I could have also done that but the table was also quite full, except that I spoke about them on various occasions and as for the dichotomy, I can assure you that we had meetings upon that as well, in that, I know very well that the Right Honourable Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin supports that viewpoint and hes very experienced and a good parliamentarian. "The Honourable Majority and the Honourable Minority leaders support it. We have the same view that to strengthen parliament, we would need to have a dichotomy. Let the ministers do their work and let the members of parliament also do their work and then check them," he added. According to the current arrangement in the 1992 Constitution, the President is bound to elect some Ministers from Parliament. Source: ghanaweb.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 Ace Nigerian BBC broadcaster, Peter Okwoche, has expressed admiration for Ghanaian presidents whom he has described as widely intelligent. Regardless he says, he has a responsibility of raising concerns and questions as and when they arise to ensure accountability in the various governments. According to him, he does this through the questions he asks African presidents anytime there is an opportunity for him to interview them. The ace broadcaster who is known for his interview that got former President, Mahama to ask the question, as a human being or as a president after being asked whether or not he has ever received a bribe. He also recently, in an April 4, 2022 interview asked President Akufo-Addo some questions that appeared to have gotten him on edge and somewhat confrontational. Speaking on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on Friday, May 6, 2022, the ace broadcaster professed his love and respect for Ghanaian Presidents. I dont put too much on reactions. My job is to hold all the presidents across the continent accountable. I have a lot of respect for Ghanaian presidents. They are very capable and widely intelligent men but it is my job to hold governments to account, and that is all I try to do, Peter Okwoche said. Peter Okwoche entreated African leaders to learn from their past and better themselves, as well as, avoid the repetition of those mistakes. Peter is well-known across Africa for asking tough questions that sometimes gets African leaders in uncomfortable positions. He has interviewed all of Ghanas Presidents under the Fourth Republic with the exception of late President Rawlings. 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 SUPREME Court has ordered that all double salary Members of Parliament (MPs) and ministers should be served by way of substituted service after swerving service of the writ of summons issued against them. Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye DC, filed a suit against the former ministers including Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, challenging the payment of their salaries to them between 2009 and 2016 when they doubled as MPs and ministers or deputy ministers. The court gave the order after the lawyer for Abronye DC, Seth Gyapong Oware, informed the court that the affected MPs and former government appointees are evading service of court processes. Subsequently, the court directed that the processes should be posted on the notice boards of Parliament, Supreme Court and the Law Court Complex. It also directed further publication in the Daily Graphic and Daily Guide newspapers within 14 days. The defendants are Haruna Iddrisu, Alhassan Azong, Fifi Fiave Kwetey, Eric Opoku, Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Edwin Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, Mark Owen Woyongo, Comfort Doyoe, Cudjoe Ghansah and Aquinas Tawiah Quansah. The rest are the Controller and Accountant General and the Attorney General. It is the case of Abronye DC that the affected MPs and former government appointees who received double salaries as MPs and ministers or deputy ministers is inconsistent with the constitution. He contends that per Article 98 of the Constitution, the practice is unconstitutional, null and void. He is, therefore, praying the Supreme Court to declare the payment as a violation of the constitution and an order to compel the MPs to refund the double salaries paid to them. Abronye wants the Supreme Court to compel the former ministers/deputy ministers who served under the Mills-Mahama administrations, who were also elected MPs between 2009 and 2016, to pay back to the Republic, all double salaries received within the period. The presiding judge, Justice Clemence Honyenuga, while granting the application, said good and substantial reasons have been urged for the grant of the application. Source: Daily Guide 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 researchers demonstrated how the methods used to create their membranes allow for fine-tuning the spacing of the nanostructures within the resulting filter. Credit: University of Pennsylvania Chemical separation processes are essential in the manufacturing of many products from gasoline to whiskey. Such processes are energetically costly, accounting for approximately 1015 percent of global energy consumption. In particular, the use of so-called "thermal separation processes," such as distillation for separating petroleum-based hydrocarbons, is deeply ingrained in the chemical industry and has a very large associated energy footprint. Membrane-based separation processes have the potential to reduce such energy consumption significantly. Membrane filtration processes that separate contaminants from the air we breathe and the water we drink have become commonplace. However, membrane technologies for separating hydrocarbon and other organic materials are far less developed. Penn Engineers are developing new membranes for energy-efficient organic separations by rethinking their physical structure on the nanoscale. Nanofiltration using self-assembling membranes has been a major research area for Chinedum Osuji, Eduardo D. Glandt Presidential Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and his lab. The performance of these membranes was highlighted in a previous study describing how the structure of the membrane itself helped to minimize the limiting tradeoff between selectivity and permeability that is encountered in traditional nanofiltration membranes. This technology was also included in last year's Y-Prize competition, and the winners have advanced a case for its use to produce non-alcoholic beer and wine in a startup called LiberTech. Now, Osuji's latest study adapts the membrane for filtration in organic solutions such as ethanol and isopropyl alcohol, and its self-assembling molecules make it more efficient than traditional organic-solvent nanofiltration (OSN). The study, published in Science Advances, describes how the uniform pores of this membrane, can be fine-tuned by changing the size or concentration of the self-assembling molecules that ultimately form the material. This tunability now opens doors for the use of this membrane technology in solving more diverse real-world organic filtration problems. Researchers in the Osuji lab, including first author and former postdoctoral researcher, Yizhou Zhang, postdoctoral researcher, Dahin Kim and graduate student, Ruiqi Dong, as well as Xunda Feng of Donghua University, contributed to this work. Credit: University of Pennsylvania One challenge the team faced was the difficulty of maintaining membrane stability in organic solvents with different polarities. They selected molecular species, surfactants, that exhibited low solubility in organic fluids, and which could be effectively linked together chemically to provide the required stability. The surfactants self-assemble in water when they are above a certain concentration, and form a soft gel. Such self-assemblythe formation of an ordered stateas a function of concentration is referred to as lyotropic behavior: "lyo-" referring to solution, and "-tropic" referring to order. The gels thus formed are called lyotropic mesophases. The membranes developed in this study were created by forming first forming lyotropic mesophases of the surfactant in water, spreading the soft gel as a thin film, and then using a chemical reaction to link the surfactants together to form a nanoporous polymer. The size of the pores in the polymer are set by the self-assembled structure of the lyotropic mesophase. "At a certain concentration in an aqueous solution, the surfactant molecules aggregate and form cylindrical rods, and then those rods will self-assemble into a hexagonal structure, yielding a gel-like material," says Osuji. "One of the ways we can manipulate the permeability, or size of the pores in our membranes, is by changing the concentration and size of the surfactant molecules used to create the membrane itself. In this study, we manipulated both of those variables to tune our pore sizes from 1.2 nanometers down to 0.6 nanometers." These membranes are compatible with organic solvents and can be tailored to address different separation challenges. Organic solvent nanofiltration can reduce the footprint of traditional thermal separation processes. The uniform pore size of the membranes developed here provide compelling advantages in terms of membrane selectivity, and ultimately, energy efficiency as well. "A specific application for this technology is in biofuel production," says Osuji. "The isolation of water-miscible alcohols from bioreactors is a key step in the manufacturing of ethanol and butanol biofuels. Membrane separations can reduce the energy used in separation of the product alcohols or fuels, from the aqueous medium in the reactor. The use of membranes is particularly advantageous in smaller scale operations such as this, where distillation is not cost effective." "Additionally, the manufacturing of many pharmaceutical products often involves several steps of synthesis in different solvent environments. Those steps require the transfer of a chemical intermediate from one solvent to another miscible solvent, making this new membrane a perfect solution to drug development filtration needs." Next steps for their research involve both theory and practice. The team plans to develop new models for membrane rejection and permeability that address the unique flow pattern of solutions through their membranes as well as identify additional future applications for their tunable technology. Explore further Novel targeted modification strategy improves selectivity of polyamide nanofiltration membranes More information: Yizhou Zhang et al, Tunable organic solvent nanofiltration in self-assembled membranes at the sub1 nm scale, Science Advances (2022). Journal information: Science Advances Yizhou Zhang et al, Tunable organic solvent nanofiltration in self-assembled membranes at the sub1 nm scale,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm5899 Joanne Weber is breaking new ground in exploring how arts-based learning can give deaf children every possible advantage in language development. Credit: Laura Sou There is a fierce debate raging in the deaf community. Many audiologists believe sign language is obsolete, recommending instead that deaf children rely exclusively on technology such as cochlear implants and hearing aids. Sign language, they contend, interferes with learning to speak. Joanne Weber argues the whole dispute is absurd and unnecessary. The first Canada Research Chair in deaf education says options shouldn't be reduced to either/or. Having spent years teaching deaf children, she is convinced that the more tools for expressionand the greater the exposure to any kind of languagethe better. As chair she plans to provide a blueprint for deaf education that gives children every advantage possible, drawing on the arts to improve their language fluency. "It's just part of the culture that sign language is to be avoided if your child is deaf, and some clinics are adamant children not use it," says Weber, assisted by American Sign Language interpreter Tracy Hetman. It's a misguided way of thinking, she said, only exacerbating the widespread problems of language deprivationor the lack of linguistic stimuli necessary for language acquisitionespecially during the critical period of language development in early childhood. Language deprivation is severe among deaf children, says Weber, restricting academic performance and social and emotional developmenteven among those with cochlear implants or hearing aids who also sign. The average reading level for many deaf high school graduates is Grade 4, Weber notes. "You're providing all this money towards technology and equipment, and it doesn't solve the problem at all." One way technology could play a helpful role in deaf education is through open access to electronic books for both teachers and learnerssomething Weber is now exploring. The main problem, she says, is that all too often deaf students aren't exposed consistently to any language, only bits and pieces of it, so that the brain is unable to form anything cohesive. "When they graduate from high school, many can't read or write, can't really go on to post-secondary education. They basically have nowhere to go because the system failed them." Learning to both sign and speak with the help of hearing devices provides the best foundation for language acquisition, says Weber. But she believes the arts can provide a pathway to increased fluency, creating opportunities for expression and exchange. Her Ph.D. research examined how arts-based instruction improved students' awareness of phonology, morphology, linguistics, literary conventions and overall communicative competence. As Canada Research Chair, she is applying her approach to language acquisition through the arts with students at the Alberta School for the Deaf. Since 2016, she has also run a theater company called the Deaf Crows Collective, providing opportunities for deaf, hard of hearing, hearing and late-deafened actors of all ages to celebrate deaf culture, she says, encouraging self expression and fostering relationships between hearing and deaf communities. "Most of them were hard of hearing, but their language deprivation was quite profound. Even those who could speak couldn't read or write very well. "When we got them involved in the arts it really changed their brains. They noticed how they got better. The parents said that, for the first time, they felt their child could actually succeed in the world." Deaf actor Troy Kotsur echoed these sentiments in his recent acceptance speech for his Oscar-winning performance in Coda, paying tribute to "the wonderful deaf theater stages where I was allowed and given the opportunity to develop my craft as an actor." Weber, who was appointed to her Canada Research Chair without a pre-existing academic affiliation, is widely recognized for her contribution to deaf education, having published a number of articles on the subject drawn from her Governor General's Gold Medal-winning thesis from the University of Regina. She was informed of the chair position by U of A dean of education Jennifer Tupper while working as a teacher in a Saskatchewan high school. It was created as part of the federal government's Accessible Canada Act in 2019, which also recognized American Sign Language. Weber took up her post in 2022. "I'm the only professor in academia working on deaf education, so the capacity has to be developed," says Weber. "We need more people out there to get the message out. I want people to think in a different way about the actual impacts on the child, and to think of the whole child, not just their ears. They're a whole being." The study area, showing nearshore sampling locations conducted by citizen scientists over a 330 km stretch along north-western Mediterranean coast (A), a zoom-in on five beaches sampled in Barcelona city (B) and a volunteer conducting a survey with the paddle trawl and a stand-up paddle board (C). The associations that provided the structure for implementing the citizen science project where SK Kayak (Llanca), Ocean Cats (Palamos), Base Nautica (Arenys de Mar), Escola del Mar (Montgat), Blue Salt School (LlevantBarcelona), Anellides, Oceanogami i Base Nautica (Mar BellaBarcelona), Ungravity Freestyle Company (Nova IcariaBarcelona), Manihi Surf School (BarcelonetaBarcelona), Anywhere Watersports (Sant SebastiaBarcelona), Escola Garbi (Castelldefels), Club Nautic (Comarruga), and Plancton Diving (l'Ametlla de Mar). Credit: Environmental Research Letters (2022). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac5df1 The presence of microplastics in the oceans is widely documented/reported by oceanographic research, but data on the pollution in the nearshore regions are scarce due to access difficulties faced by scientific boats. Researchers from the Consolidated Research Group on Marine Geosciences of the Faculty of Earth Sciences of the UB, in collaboration with the Spanish delegation of the NGO Surfrider Foundation Europe, studied the quantity and features of floating plastics in the Catalan coasts, thanks to a citizen science initiative in which volunteers collected 25,000 microplastics with special nets towed from rowing boats. The results, published in the open-access journal Environmental Research Letters, reveal that coastal areas feature a vast amount of plastic debris, the presence of which is under a great spatial and temporal variability. "The average concentrations of microplastics we found near the shore are above those previously found outside the bathing areas. We have detected higher maximum concentrationsmore than six plastics per square meterand more frequent over time. Also, there are some areas and times of the year in which these exceed by an order of magnitude the averages found in the open Mediterranean Sea and worldwide," notes UB lecturer and researcher Anna Sanchez-Vidal. "Citizen science is a useful and powerful tool for studying marine pollution, while it empowers citizens with scientific knowledge," says Sanchez-Vidal. More plastics in highly populated urban areas These high amounts of microplastics indicate, according to the authors, that "there must be processes that tend to concentrate or retain plastics in the nearshore." The study presents some explanations, such as variations in meteorological and oceanographic conditions, the higher influence of river flows during periods of heavy rains, and the proximity to highly populated urban areas with a great seasonal tourist influx, and the concentrating effect of areas limited by breakwaters or harbors. "Beaches such as Mar Bella or Sant Sebastia, in Barcelona, are more protected from the wind and the waves due to these structures and could retain and accumulate more microplastics than other areas that are more exposed, which indicates a longer residence time," says William P. de Haan, UB researcher and first author of the article. In this sense, the areas where the researchers detected more microplastics were the beaches of Sant Sebastia, Nova Icaria and Llevant, all three in the Catalan capital. Furthermore, the researchers identified a potential seasonality. "We noticed that areas such as Llanca or Castelldefels show a lower tendency in January and February, probably due to the influence of surface currents and winds that reduce floating microplastics, and a higher tendency just before and after the summer months," notes the researcher. Finding the origins of microplastics to create better solutions The study did not only determine the abundance of microplastics but it also provided a detailed characterization of size, color, shape and composition that can help determine the sources of the microplastics, which is essential to provide solutions to the growing presence of plastics in the marine environment. The results showed that foams and filaments, coming from food packaging and fishing activity accounted for nearly 11% of the collected plastics. However, most of the plastics were identified as fragments, films and sheets, which probably originated from the breakdown of larger plastic pieces. "We could identify polyethene films and sheets, originating from the fragmentation of bags; fragments of polyethene and polypropylene, from the fragmentation of bottles or packages; fragments of expanded polystyrene, used in food packaging; filaments from fishing gears, fragments of artificial grass, etc.," says Anna Sanchez-Vidal. This information, ranging from the physical features of microplastics to the concentrations of each in the sample areas, is available on a website with several visualization tools to make these findings access-friendly for society. From Llanca to l'Ametlla de Mar In the study, the researchers used samples that volunteers from eight Catalan entities had collected for seven months. From Llanca to l'Ametlla de Mar, these volunteers were coordinated by the entity Surfrider Foundation Europe. "There was a lot of participation, and this proves that citizen science is a tool with a great potential to monitor and study the impact of plastics on the marine environment," says Maria Ballesteros, head of volunteering in Surfrider Spain. These volunteers went to the beach every week or every two weeks for an hour with surfboards, kayaks and other rowing boats. They attached a net designed by the researchers to collect the floating microplastics of more than 0.3 millimeters. The path and coordinates of these transects were recorded on a mobile device and on the Wikiloc app in order to register the latitude, time and distance of the trawling. Then, the collected plastics were sent to the laboratory at the University of Barcelona to be analyzed by trained personnel. "We were surprised by the amount of high quality and scientifically relevant data we obtained in such a short time and lower budget compared to other similar scientific projects," stresses Anna Sanchez-Vidal. "The projects that involve research centers and society are key for continuing with the search for solutions to the problems of plastics in the oceans," notes Maria Ballesteros. Research in the Catalan and Basque coasts The next step of this project is to analyze whether the detected tendencies in this study are maintained over time, the specific factors that lead to the detected variations and the evolution in the microplastics concentration in the short and long term. With these objectives, the citizen science project will continue during the upcoming months. Also, it will expand the sampling areas to the Basque coast. "This will enable us to better understand the dispersal mechanisms and the characteristics of microplastics in a semi-closed sea in the western Mediterranean and in a relatively low populated area, but with a great fishing activity in the Atlantic Ocean," concludes Anna Sanchez-Vidal. Explore further Citizen science and paddle surfing to study microplastic pollution on Barcelona's coastline More information: William P de Haan et al, Floating microplastic loads in the nearshore revealed through citizen science, Environmental Research Letters (2022). Journal information: Environmental Research Letters William P de Haan et al, Floating microplastic loads in the nearshore revealed through citizen science,(2022). DOI: 10.1088/1748-9326/ac5df1 A 2019 prescribed fire in the Deschutes National Forest in Central Oregon. Credit: Mitch Maxson/The Nature Conservancy All forest fire smoke is bad for people, but not all fires in forests are bad. This is the conundrum faced by experts in forest management and public health: Climate change and decades of fire suppression that have increased fuels are contributing to larger and more intense wildfires and, in order to improve forest health and reduce these explosive fires, prescribed and managed fire is necessary. These intentional firessome deliberately set and others unintended but allowed to burn under controlwill reduce the intensity of wildfire smoke in the long run, but they are still creating health-impacting smoke, often hitting populations least protected from exposure to smoke. To find consensus on how to deal with the impacts of all fires on dry Western forests, the University of Washington and The Nature Conservancy led a series of conversations involving roughly 60 experts charged with keeping forests and people healthy. The Science for Nature and People Partnership led the organization of these discussions. On May 2, more than two dozen of those participants published a paper in the journal Current Environmental Health Reports that is part review of current scientific understanding of the issues and health impacts and part consensus report on how to deal with them. "It started as a conversation between experts who think about fire from really different angles in order to find how we can address fire through an interdisciplinary lens," said lead author Savannah D'Evelyn, a postdoctoral fellow in UW's Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences. "It took a little bit to get to the fact that it was really smoke that brought us all together. We kind of had to set a baseline for what peoples' starting points wereall smoke is bad smoke from a public health perspective, but we can't do fire management without more fire." That working groupcomprised of scientists, practitioners and managers who specialize in areas of forest and fire ecology, fire safety, air quality, health care and public healthagreed on six statements and recommendations as part of its "interdisciplinary approach" to the issues. "The Nature Conservancy is dedicated to an evidence-based approach to forest and fire management practices that supports the health of both nature and people. These consensus statements aim to serve as guideposts for forest health and public health professionals to work together to promote healthy and resilient forests and communities," said Ryan Haugo, co-author and director of conservation science for The Nature Conservancy in Oregon. A 2019 prescribed fire in the Deschutes National Forest in Central Oregon. Credit: Mitch Maxson/The Nature Conservancy The first consensus statement addresses the issue of the long-running effort to suppress all forest fires versus the historic practices of Indigenous peoples: "We recognize the need to listen to and integrate a diversity of perspectives, in particular those embodied by Indigenous peoples who have successfully used fire as an ecological tool for thousands of years," the authors wrote. "I've often heard from Tribal leaders how controlled burns were one of many tools they employed historically to steward healthy ecosystems," said Gillian Mittelstaedt, co-author and executive director of the Tribal Healthy Homes Network. "This Tribal knowledge has been overlooked, perilously, during decades of European colonization, and federal land management practices. It is only in recent years, as forest ecosystems decline in health, that Western science has begun to recognize and learn from the innate sensibility and sustainability of traditional Tribal burning practices." Here are the other five consensus statements: Prescribed fires in addition to managed fires for resource benefit are both necessary management techniques to keep forests resilient and to lessen the negative ecological and public health impacts of wildfires. Certain regions of the Western U.S. will experience more smoke days with heightened use of prescribed and managed fire; however, we expect the impacts of smoke exposure to be reduced over the long term in comparison with untreated land burned by wildfires. With these techniques, exposure in affected communities can be planned and lessened. No degree of smoke exposure is without risk. However, additional investment in advance preparation for affected populations can lower associated health risks. A smoke-resilient community is resilient to smoke from any type of fire. We must work to promote both equity in process (e.g., who has a say in decision-making) and equity in outcomes (e.g., who gets exposed to the smoke) within those communities and populations experiencing disproportionate impacts from smoke. We are missing opportunities for positive impact by working as separate disciplines. We recommend that further and intentional integration of forest/fire and health disciplines (including the practitioners, tools and resources) needs to occur to lessen the human health effects of smoke exposure due to prescribed and managed fires. In their conclusion, the authors point out that when all stakeholders work together to "combat this climate and public health crisis," communities will be more able to meet these goals, both during and outside of wildfire season. "Extra attention must be given to people who have more smoke exposure, are more likely to experience health problems from smoke, and who don't have enough support to anticipate, adapt, respond or recover from smoke," added Dr. June Spector, senior author and associate professor of environmental and occupational health sciences in the UW School of Public Health. "These disproportionately affected populations must be included in decision-making to address inequities in smoke health impacts." D'Evelyn hopes the paper will inspire more interagency and cross-disciplinary efforts and funding for research and preparation. "There are really wonderful community organizations working to make sure that people have access to clean air. And, there are really wonderful organizations working to do as much prescribed burning as they're allowed to lessen the smoke or lessen the severity of wildfires when they come through," D'Evelyn said. "But there are gaps where communities, organizations and researchers could be collaborating to have an even bigger impact on preparedness." More information: Savannah M. D'Evelyn et al, Wildfire, Smoke Exposure, Human Health, and Environmental Justice Need to be Integrated into Forest Restoration and Management, Current Environmental Health Reports (2022). Savannah M. D'Evelyn et al, Wildfire, Smoke Exposure, Human Health, and Environmental Justice Need to be Integrated into Forest Restoration and Management,(2022). DOI: 10.1007/s40572-022-00355-7 The greater mouse-eared bat (Myotis myotis). Credit: Marco Scalisi In Batesian mimicry, a harmless species imitates a more dangerous one in an evolutionary "ruse" that affords the mimic protection from would-be predators. Now, researchers reporting in Current Biology on May 9, 2022, have discovered the first case of acoustic Batesian mimicry in mammals and one of very few documented in any species: greater mouse-eared bats imitate the buzzing sound of a stinging insect to discourage predatory owls from eating them. "In Batesian mimicry, a non-armed species imitates an armed one to deter predators," said Danilo Russo of Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II in Portici, Italy. "Imagine a bat that has been seized but not killed by the predator. Buzzing might deceive the predator for a fraction of a secondenough to fly away." Russo made the discovery while conducting field research in which he frequently caught the bats in mist-netting operations. "When we handled the bats to take them out of the net or process them, they invariably buzzed like wasps," Russo says. They recognized the buzzing as some sort of unusual distress call. They thought there might be different reasons the bats made the sound. Perhaps it could send a warning to others of its species or deter predators. Russo and team put the idea aside and continued along with other research questions. Years later, they decided it was time to design a careful experiment to test their ideas about that buzzing. In their studies, they first looked at the acoustic similarity between buzzing sounds of the bats and stinging social hymenopteran insects. Next, they played those sounds back to captive owls to see how they would react. Hornet (Vespa crabro) that emits a defensive "distress" buzz. Credit: Michelina Pusceddu Different owls reacted in variable ways, likely depending on their prior experiences. Nevertheless, they consistently reacted to insect and bat buzzes by moving farther away from the speaker. In contrast, the sound of potential prey got them to move closer. The researchers say the findings provide the first example of interspecific mimicry between mammals and insects as well as one of few examples of acoustic mimicry. Interestingly, their analysis of the sounds revealed that the similarity between buzzes broadcast by hornets and bats was most evident only once acoustic parameters that the owls can't hear were excluded from the analysis. In other words, Russo explains, the buzzing sounds are even more similar when heard the way owls hear them. Do owls avoid that buzzing sound because they've been stung before? Russo says that stinging insects likely do sting owls, but they don't have the data to prove it. There is other evidence that birds avoid such potentially noxious insects, however. For example, when hornets move into nest boxes or tree cavities, birds in general won't even explore them and they certainly don't nest there. Because the three study species in question all share many of the same spaces, such as buildings, rock crevices, or caves, there is likely to be plenty of opportunity for them to interact, according to the researchers. Even so, they find this intricate relationship among distantly related species intriguing. Barn owl (Tyto alba). Credit: Maurizio Fraissinet "It is somewhat surprising that owls represent the evolutionary pressure shaping acoustic behavior in bats in response to unpleasant experiences owls have with stinging insects," says Russo. "It is just one of the endless examples of the beauty of evolutionary processes!" Russo notes that there are many other vertebrate species that also buzz when disturbed and hundreds of bat species, some of which may use similar strategies. They hope to look for these interesting dynamics within other interacting groups in future studies. Explore further What did the katydids do when picking up bat sounds? Swedish icebreaker Oden at the front of Petermann Ice Shelf in 2019. The new study shows that if the ice shelf breaks up, it will be difficult to rebuild it. Credit: Martin Jakobsson Ice shelves are floating extensions of glaciers. If Greenland's second largest ice shelf breaks up, it may not recover unless Earth's future climate cools considerably. This is the result of a new study, published in Nature Communications. A team of scientists from Stockholm University and University of California Irvine investigated whether the Petermann Ice Shelf in northern Greenland could recover from a future breakup due to climate change. They used a sophisticated computer model to simulate the potential recovery of the ice shelf. "Even if Earth's climate stopped warming, it would be difficult to rebuild this ice shelf once it has fallen apart," says Henning Akesson, who led the study at Stockholm University. "If Petermann's ice shelf is lost, we would have to go 'back in time' towards a cooler climate reminiscent of the period before the industrial revolution to regrow Petermann," Akesson says. Ice shelves reduce mass loss from our polar ice sheets. These gatekeepers thereby limit sea-level rise caused by climate warming. "The rationale to avoid breakup of ice shelves in the first place should be clearer than ever," Akesson says. Glaciers are rapidly melting Petermann is one of Greenland's few remaining ice shelves, and is being watched by Argus-eyed scientists worldwide after Manhattan-sized icebergs broke off from the ice shelf in 2010 and 2012, causing Petermann to lose 40 percent of its floating ice shelf. Scientist are concerned that further breakup or even collapse of the ice shelf would speed up ice flow from the interior ice sheet. In 2018, a new crack in the middle of the ice shelf was discovered, which renewed worries of Petermann's state of health. Ice-sheet experts are concerned While this study focused on northwestern Greenland's largest glacier, another grave concern is that the larger ice shelves found in Antarctica could be difficult to build back as well, should they break-up too. "This is just the first step, but chances are that our findings are not unique for Petermann Glacier and Greenland," Akesson says. "If they are not, near-future warming of the polar oceans may push the ice shelves protecting Earth's ice sheets into a new retreated high-discharge state which may be exceedingly difficult to recover from." The ice-sheet experts stress that we need to pin down exactly how ice shelves break-up, and how much more warming they now can withstand before they fall apart. Explore further The rocky road to accurate sea-level predictions More information: Henning Akesson et al, Petermann ice shelf may not recover after a future breakup, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Henning Akesson et al, Petermann ice shelf may not recover after a future breakup,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29529-5 A hole 22 meters in diameter near the summit of Cerro Chajnantor in Chiles Atacama Desert, at an elevation of 18,400 feet stands ready for the cement foundation on which the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope will one day rest. Credit: Cornell University An enormous hole 22 meters in diameter has been dug near the summit of Cerro Chajnantor in Chile's Atacama Desert, at an elevation of 18,400 feet. The hole stands ready for the cement foundation on which the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST, pronounced "feest") will one day rest. The foundation, which was designed in Chile, began construction in the fall of 2021 and is scheduled to be installed at the summit from May to June. The entire telescope is being constructed and pre-assembled in Germany, and will be disassembled into 1012 large pieces and transported to Chile for reassembly. The road that will carry the massive parts of the telescope to the summit has now been laid, and installation of the more than nine kilometers of power and optical fiber cables is already underway. "We're very excited by how well the construction is proceeding," said Terry Herter, project director and professor of astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences. "Despite COVID-19, labor shortages and supply chain challenges, we're anticipating first light in 2024." The FYST features a novel optical design with high precision mirrors 6-meters (nearly 20-ft) in diameter. It will deliver a high-throughput, wide-field of view that will be able to map the sky rapidly and efficiently at submillimeter to millimeter wavelengths. Project scientists are looking forward to collecting data that will give them insight into the universe's earliest days, when the first stars were born after the Big Bangwhat researchers call "cosmic dawn." It will also play a role in the search for gravitational waves and dark matter. Explore further Fabrication of powerful telescope begins Following a pandemic, workers historically have recognized the value of their labor and become unwilling to accept poor wages and working conditions, said Carol Symes, a history professor who specializes in medieval studies. Credit: L. Brian Stauffer The COVID-19 pandemic made clear the enormity of inequalities in the workplace and the value of essential workers, whose jobs put them at greater risk of being infected. Many workers left their jobs as part of the Great Resignation. Others are unwilling to give up the flexibility of working from home. Starbucks and Amazon workers voted to unionize. Carol Symes, a professor of history who specializes in medieval studies, said the Black Death plague of the mid-1300s led to workers realizing the value of their labor and protesting poor working conditions. She spoke with News Bureau arts and humanities editor Jodi Heckel about changes in the labor market that have historically followed a pandemic. How did the Black Death affect attitudes at the time toward labor, and how did laborers, the elite and governments respond? The pandemic we know as the Black Death resulted in massive population losses: between 40% and 60% of the people living in Afro-Eurasiaand possibly more in some regions, as well as in others from which we don't yet have archeological or ancient DNA evidence. Historians and our allies in other fields, notably epidemiology and bioarcheology, are still debating the scale of mortality. Meanwhile, since the sequencing of the Yersinia pestis genome in 2013, evidence is mounting that this bacterium was causing outbreaks of plague in Central and East Asia over a century before it manifested itself in western Asia, Africa and Europe in the 1340s. The people who lived through this medieval pandemic were immediately aware of its effects on the workforce. For example, the English Parliament passed a law called the Stature of Laborers in 1351, in an effort to keep agricultural workers and craftspeople from moving around the country in search of better-paying jobs. The fact that Parliament kept reissuing this law for years, during and after the pandemic, shows that it didn't have any effect: Workers had become keenly aware that their skills were valuable, and they refused to accept the poor wages and working conditionsoften amounting to enforced or enslaved laborthat were traditionally expected of them. Were there essential workers who were more at risk of illness and death during the Black Death, as there were with the COVID-19 pandemic? Then, as now, the people who kept everyone else fed, and who cared for the sick and dying, were at greatly increased risk of contracting the disease. Elites could barricade themselves in their houses or flee to the countryside, but servants and other working-class people could not avoid contact with one another and with the many kinds of animal hosts that carried the disease: dogs, horses, cattle, camels. There are many firsthand accounts of priests and physicians either refusing to visit the sick and dying, or heroically putting themselves at risk to help others. Do you see parallels between changes following the Black Death and events now, in terms of people leaving the workforce, unionization efforts and workers deciding they want more flexibility to work from home? As the English example shows, workers were very quick to understand the potential for leveraging their positions through individual and collective action. And in the decades immediately following the pandemic, there were numerous strikes and rebellions all over Europenot only in response to labor shortages, but in protest against unjust taxation and longstanding socioeconomic inequities. While most urban and rural rebellions were savagely put down by rulers and local elites, some of the demands that workers made had to be met, at least in the short term. Obviously, the flexibility of working from home has been possible during our pandemic because of the internet and new online networking tools and meeting platforms like Zoom. There's no analogy to that in medieval history, or before the 20th century, for that matter! Yet there is a sense in which many people were able to work from home in new ways, or to find new homes entirely. Hundreds, if not thousands, of towns and villages disappeared as a result of depopulation, meaning that many people had to become geographically mobileand geographical mobility often leads to social mobility. Others, particularly in rural areas, could annex and farm lands that were abandoned and lying fallow, and which were more productive as a result. In fact, for the people who survived, the standards of living and nutrition after the Black Death were far higher than before, and sometimes better than they are now. Were there long-term changes in labor because of the Black Death? While medieval governments cracked down on labor movements, they couldn't eradicate the growing sense among the working classes in some regions that they deserved better. But in other regions, the response from elites was to quell dissent, or even calls for reform, by tightening the hold on workers through indentured servitude, serfdom or increasing reliance on enslaved labor. What do you hope people take from our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of understanding past experiences? The rallying cry among English laborers after the Black Death was "When Adam delved and Eve span, who then was a gentleman?" In other words, when Adam and Eve were forced from Eden and had to earn their living, by digging and spinning, they showed that we are all equal: We are all mortal; no one is naturally more deserving or privileged than anyone else; everyone is deserving of respect and a livelihood. At the same time, we are all mutually dependent and responsible for one another. I hope we all can remember that, with humility and gratitude. Explore further Black death mortality not as widespread as believed Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An international team of researchers finds that the social media messages that resonate best with loyalty program members differ from the posts that work best with other customers. The finding could inform how best to craft social media campaigns aimed at either segment of a company's customer base. "Loyalty programs and social media are both important tools in contemporary marketing, but there's very little research into how these two marketing tools interact with each other," says Mike Stanko, corresponding author of the study and an associate professor of marketing at North Carolina State University. Specifically, the researchers wanted to know which social media posts make loyalty program customers more likely to purchase something, and whether there was a difference for customers who aren't part of loyalty programs. "This could inform a range of marketing activities," Stanko says. "For example, does it make sense for a company to commit resources to developing separate social media channels for customers who are members of a loyalty program versus customers who are not? Or, if a company is committed to using a single social media channel, does it need to use different messaging to reach loyalty and non-loyalty customers?" For the study, the researchers focused on data from a large European company. Specifically, the researchers assessed a year and a half worth of social media posts, to determine which posts led to sales to loyalty program customers and which led to sales to non-loyalty customers. The researchers used a team of trained "raters" to assess all of the company's social media posts, scoring them on a range of characteristics, such as how intellectual, behavioral, relational and sensory they were. "Relational" content appeals to the bonds an individual has within their social network, such as a social media post that presents a brand in the context of spending time with family and friends. "Intellectual" content appeals to an individual's conscious mental processes related to the practical resolution of problems, the stimulation of curiosity or the application of the individual's creativity. These would include posts that provide detailed information or engage a consumer's critical thinking. "Behavioral" content concerns an individual's physical or behavioral actions, such as posts showing someone making use of the relevant product or using the relevant service. "Sensory" content is designed to shock or produce a visceral response, such as posts for ski resorts that show a mountain vista, or posts from a coffee company that show colorful photos of coffee plants. The content assessment scores and sales data related to each post were plugged into a statistical model to control for confounding variables and determine which types of posts resonated best with loyalty customers and non-loyalty customers. The researchers found that relational, behavioral and intellectual content did well across the board. In other words, the higher a given post's relational, behavioral and intellectual scores, the better it performed for both loyalty and non-loyalty customers. However, the size of the effect varied for loyalty and non-loyalty customers. The researchers found that relational and intellectual posts did substantially better with loyalty program customers, while behavioral posts did better with non-loyalty program customers. "Loyalty program customers are more apt to systematically process social media information from companies they have a relationship withthey're simply more willing to take the time to hear those companies out," Stanko says. "We think that's why loyalty customers are more responsive to intellectual and relational social media posts. "Meanwhile, because non-loyalty customers are not necessarily focused on a specific company's social media posts, they're more likely to respond to behavioral posts. They see a post that shows someone buying a cup of coffee and they decide they want a cup of coffee." Surprisingly, sensory posts didn't resonate with either audience. "We speculate that there is simply too much spectacular or shocking content on social media for sensory-oriented posts to stand out," Stanko says. "It would be good to see additional research exploring this subject to better determine how broadly these findings apply, but we think there are clear takeaway messages," Stanko adds. "For one thing, you really need to think of loyalty program customers as a distinct audience from other consumers. The findings also suggest that companies should keep track of the extent to which their social media content reflects behavioral, intellectual and relational messages. "In terms of future directions, it may also be worth exploring how other types of content, such as sensory content, may resonate with other audiences," Stanko says. The paper appears in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. First author of the paper is Blanca Hernandez Ortega of the University of Zaragoza. The paper was co-authored by Rishika Rishika of NC State; Francisco-Jose Molina-Castillo of the University of Murcia; and Jose Franco of the University of Zaragoza. Explore further Do customer loyalty programs really help sellers make money? More information: Blanca I. Hernandez-Ortega et al, Brand-generated social media content and its differential impact on loyalty program members, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science (2022). Journal information: Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science Blanca I. Hernandez-Ortega et al, Brand-generated social media content and its differential impact on loyalty program members,(2022). DOI: 10.1007/s11747-022-00869-4 The sunshield of NASAs James Webb Space Telescope sits deployed inside a cleanroom at Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems in Redondo Beach, California, in October 2017. Credits: Northrop Grumman Tiny little bullets flood the solar system, each micrometeoroid a potential hazard. New research has found that the James Webb Space Telescope's thin sunshields, and future inflatable spacecraft, may be at risk. A micrometeoroid is a tiny bit of space junk usually weighing less than a gram. Some of them are the leftover bits of the countless collisions that have occurred over the past 4.5 billion years of the history of the solar system. Most, however, come from the dust cloud that initially collapsed to form our solar system, and never got to be a part of a larger body. Because of this, they absolutely flood the entire system. Some calculations even estimate that over 10,000 tons of micrometeoroids fall onto the Earth every single year. Thankfully for us surface dwellers, the constant barrage of micrometeoroid impacts are no big deal, because our atmosphere easily soaks them up. But out in space, without the protection of our atmosphere, they can be a real pain. Despite their small size, micrometeoroids can pack a real punch. Each one travels several kilometers per second, and they are perfectly capable of digging tiny holes into unprotected spacecraft. The current best solution to prevent damage from micrometeoroids is called the Whipple shield, in honor of its inventor Fred Whipple. It's a simple foil sheet covering the spacecraft. When a micrometeoroid strikes the foil sheet, it vaporizes before it reaches the main spacecraft body. Exposure risk The Whipple shield is a simple, low-cost, low-weight solution to the problem of micrometeoroids. But it only works if you don't need to intentionally expose parts of your craft to space. For example, if you're building a telescope, you can't cover the front of it in foil and expect to get anything useful done. Normally, space-born telescopes are robust enough that they can shrug off micrometeoroid damage. A small nick here or tiny chip there isn't going to seriously affect the observations. However, new research recently appearing in the preprint journal arXiv outlines the risk for future telescopes. The first instrument at risk? The James Webb Space Telescope. The main mirror of the James Webb consists of segmented panels of beryllium, which is a fairly robust material. However, the Webb is an infrared telescope, and to do its job, it must remain cool. To protect the spacecraft from the glare of the sun's radiation, the Webb employs giant ultra-thin sheets of a specialized material called Kapton. According to the research, micrometeoroids will begin to impact the sunshield, slowly degrading it over time by punching tiny holes in it. However, the sunshield should still be able to perform well over the expected lifetime of the instrument. The James Webb stretched the limit of current engineering technology to deliver a large telescope into space. Future observatories include many radical proposals. One idea it to inflate giant mirrors that can act as observatories. These could be far larger than the primary mirror of the Webb. These, however, will face many challenges from micrometeoroids. Each one will be able to punch a hole in the membrane, causing a tiny leak. If enough damage accumulates the inflatable telescope will lose its shape. The researchers concluded that if we want to use inflatable telescopes in the future, we must either design solutions to prevent damage from micrometeoroids, or understand that the telescopes may not last very long. Explore further Is Webb at its final temperature? More information: Michaela N. Villarreal, Jonathan W. Arenberg, Lauren Halvonik Harris, A Predictive Model for Micrometeoroid Damage to Gossamer Structures. arXiv:2204.08361v1 [astro-ph.IM], Michaela N. Villarreal, Jonathan W. Arenberg, Lauren Halvonik Harris, A Predictive Model for Micrometeoroid Damage to Gossamer Structures. arXiv:2204.08361v1 [astro-ph.IM], arxiv.org/abs/2204.08361 Gene set enrichment analysis graph consisting of interconnected gene sets of different hMSC treated with nanosilicates and its ionic dissolution products. The effects of nanoparticle and mineral ions on extracellular matrix organization, glycoproteins and proteoglycans are shown. Credit: Texas A&M College of Engineering and Texas A&M College of Medicine Every species, from bacteria to humans, is capable of regeneration. Regeneration is mediated by the molecular processes that regulate gene expression to control tissue renewal, restoration and growth. A collaboration between researchers in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and the College of Medicine at Texas A&M University identifies the crucial role of minerals in regulating gene expression, thus controlling the number of proteins that a cell should make, thereby encouraging tissue regeneration and redefining cellular identity. This research paves the way for future studies to identify the role of specific minerals, as well as how they can be assembled to design the next generation of mineral medicine to heal damaged tissue. This study was recently published in Science Advances. Minerals are inorganic elements that play many vital roles, working interactively with vitamins, enzymes, hormones and other nutrient cofactors to regulate thousands of the body's biological functions. Although several minerals have been shown to regulate gene expression and cellular activity, very little work has focused on understanding underlying molecular mechanisms. This engineering research group is led by Dr. Akhilesh Gaharwar, associate professor of biomedical engineering and Presidential Impact Fellow, in collaboration with Dr. Irtisha Singh, assistant professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine at Texas A&M and the co-corresponding author of the study where a new class of mineral-based nanoparticles has been introduced to direct human stem cells toward bone cells. These nanoparticles are known specifically as nanosilicates, and with them, the team is able to determine the role of minerals in regulating gene expression profiles to direct stem cell differentiation. These nanosilicates are disk-shaped mineral-nanoparticles 2030 nanometers (nm) in diameter and 12 nm in thickness. These nanoparticles are highly biocompatible and are readily eaten up by cells. Once inside the cell body, these nanoparticles slowly dissolve into individual minerals such as silicon, magnesium and lithium. Nanosilicates dissociate into individual minerals inside the cells and turn "on" a set of key genes that result in information flow throughout the cells, known as signaling pathways. These signaling pathways are responsible for instructing the cells to take on specific functions, such as converting into another type of cells or starting the healing process by secreting tissue-specific proteins known as extracellular matrix. These extracellular matrices are composed of various proteins, including glycoproteins and proteoglycans that facilitate tissue healing and support tissue functions. Combining interdisciplinary techniques and biomedical engineering and genomics methods, the lead authors of this study, doctoral students Anna Brokesh and Lauren Cross, identify and characterize significant genes that are turned "on" and activated by different signaling pathways due to treatment with minerals. One of the major findings of this study is that minerals such as silicon, magnesium and lithium are involved in inducing endochondral ossification, a process by which stem cells are transformed into soft and hard tissues such as cartilage and bone in young humans. The Singh Laboratory, managed by Singh, leverages high-throughput functional assays and perturbations to dissect the functional regulatory programs in mammalian cells. In this study, they analyzed whole transcriptomic sequencing (RNA-seq) data to evaluate the effect of nanosilicates and ionic dissolution products on the gene expression profiles of stem cells. RNA-seq, a transcriptome-wide high throughput sequencing assay, provides an unbiased and holistic overview of the gene expression profiles to identify pathways that are perturbed by specific treatments. "There are a lot of people who want to understand how minerals impact the human body, but there is limited evidence to identify how they affect us on the cellular level," Brokesh said. "Our study is one of the first studies to utilize unbiased transcriptome-wide sequencing to determine how mineral ions can direct stem cell fate." The proposed approach addresses a long-standing challenge in current therapeutic approaches that utilize supraphysiological doses of growth factors to direct tissue research. Such a high dose of growth factors results in a range of complications, including uncontrolled tissue formation, inflammation and tumorigenesis, the production or formation of tumor cells. These adversely limit the usage of growth factors as a therapeutic agent in the field of regenerative medicine. Gaharwar said the impact of this work is far-reaching because understanding the effect of minerals to achieve desired regulation of cellular activity has a strong potential to open novel avenues for developing clinically-relevant therapeutics for regenerative medicine, drug delivery and immunomodulation. More information: Anna M. Brokesh et al, Dissociation of nanosilicates induces downstream endochondral differentiation gene expression program, Science Advances (2022). Journal information: Science Advances Anna M. Brokesh et al, Dissociation of nanosilicates induces downstream endochondral differentiation gene expression program,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abl9404 In this simulation of a supermassive black hole merger, the blue-shifted black hole closest to the viewer amplifies the red-shifted black hole in the back through gravitational lensing. The researchers discovered a distinct dip in brightness when the closest black hole passed in front of the shadow of its counterpart, an observation that could be used to measure the size of both black holes and test alternative theories of gravity. Credit: Jordy Davelaar Three years ago, the first ever image of a black hole stunned the world. A black pit of nothingness enclosed by a fiery ring of light. That iconic image of the black hole at the center of galaxy Messier 87 came into focus thanks to the Event Horizon Telescope, a global network of synchronized radio dishes acting as one giant telescope. Now, a pair of Columbia researchers have devised a potentially easier way of gazing into the abyss. Outlined in complementary studies in Physical Review Letters and Physical Review D, their imaging technique could allow astronomers to study black holes smaller than M87's, a monster with a mass of 6.5 billion suns, harbored in galaxies more distant than M87, which at 55 million light-years away, is still relatively close to our own Milky Way. The technique has just two requirements. First, you need a pair of supermassive black holes in the throes of merging. Second, you need to be looking at the pair at a nearly side-on angle. From this sideways vantage point, as one black hole passes in front of the other, you should be able to see a bright flash of light as the glowing ring of the black hole farther away is magnified by the black hole closest to you, a phenomenon known as gravitational lensing. The lensing effect is well known, but what the researchers discovered here was a hidden signal: a distinctive dip in brightness corresponding to the "shadow" of the black hole in back. This subtle dimming can last from a few hours to a few days, depending on how massive the black holes, and how closely entwined their orbits. If you measure how long the dip lasts, the researchers say, you can estimate the size and shape of the shadow cast by the black hole's event horizon, the point of no exit, where nothing escapes, not even light. "It took years and a massive effort by dozens of scientists to make that high-resolution image of the M87 black holes," said the study's first author, Jordy Davelaar, a postdoc at Columbia and the Flatiron Institute's Center for Computational Astrophysics. "That approach only works for the biggest and closest black holesthe pair at the heart of M87 and potentially our own Milky Way." A simulation of gravitational lensing in a pair of merging supermassive black holes. Credit: Jordy Devalaar He added, "with our technique, you measure the brightness of the black holes over time, you don't need to resolve each object spatially. It should be possible to find this signal in many galaxies." The shadow of a black hole is both its most mysterious and informative feature. "That dark spot tells us about the size of the black hole, the shape of the space-time around it, and how matter falls into the black hole near its horizon," said co-author Zoltan Haiman, a physics professor at Columbia. Black hole shadows may also hold the secret to the true nature of gravity, one of the fundamental forces of our universe. Einstein's theory of gravity, known as general relativity, predicts the size of black holes. Physicists, therefore, have sought them out to test alternative theories of gravity in an effort to reconcile two competing ideas of how nature works: Einstein's general relativity, which explains large scale phenomena like orbiting planets and the expanding universe, and quantum physics, which explains how tiny particles like electrons and photons can occupy multiple states at once. The researchers became interested in flaring supermassive black holes after spotting a suspected pair of supermassive black holes at the center of a far-off galaxy in the early universe. NASA's planet-hunting Kepler space telescope was scanning for the tiny dips in brightness corresponding to a planet passing in front of its host star. Instead, Kepler ended up detecting the flares of what Haiman and his colleagues claim are a pair of merging black holes. They named the distant galaxy "Spikey" for the spikes in brightness triggered by its suspected black holes magnifying each other on each full rotation via the lensing effect. To learn more about the flare, Haiman built a model with his postdoc, Davelaar. In this simulation of a pair of merging supermassive black holes, the black hole closest to the viewer is approaching and thus appears blue (frame 1), amplifying the red-shifted black hole in back through gravitational lensing. As the closest black hole amplifies the light of the black hole farther away (frame 2), the viewer sees a bright flash of light. But when the closest black hole passes in front of the abyss, or shadow, of the farthest black hole, the viewer sees a slight dip in brightness (frame 3). This brightness dip (3) shows up clearly in the light-curve data below the images. Credit: Jordy Devalaar They were confused, however, when their simulated pair of black holes produced an unexpected, but periodic, dip in brightness each time one orbited in front of the other. At first, they thought it was a coding mistake. But further checking led them to trust the signal. As they looked for a physical mechanism to explain it, they realized that each dip in brightness closely matched the time it took for the black hole closest to the viewer to pass in front of the shadow of the black hole in back. The researchers are currently looking for other telescope data to try and confirm the dip they saw in the Kepler data to verify that Spikey is, in fact, harboring a pair of merging black holes. If it all checks out, the technique could be applied to a handful of other suspected pairs of merging supermassive black holes among the 150 or so that have been spotted so far and are awaiting confirmation. As more powerful telescopes come online in the coming years, other opportunities may arise. The Vera Rubin Observatory, set to open this year, has its sights on more than 100 million supermassive black holes. Further black hole scouting will be possible when NASA's gravitational wave detector, LISA, is launched into space in 2030. "Even if only a tiny fraction of these black hole binaries has the right conditions to measure our proposed effect, we could find many of these black hole dips," Davelaar said. Explore further Very Large Telescope uncovers closest pair of supermassive black holes yet More information: Jordy Davelaar et al, Self-Lensing Flares from Black Hole Binaries: Observing Black Hole Shadows via Light Curve Tomography, Physical Review Letters (2022). Jordy Davelaar et al, Self-Lensing Flares from Black Hole Binaries: Observing Black Hole Shadows via Light Curve Tomography,(2022). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.128.191101 Jordy Davelaar et al, Self-lensing flares from black hole binaries: General-relativistic ray tracing of black hole binaries, Physical Review D (2022). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.105.103010 Journal information: Physical Review Letters , Physical Review D Credit: CC0 Public Domain Over three decades since the discovery of high-temperature superconductivity in ceramic cuprate materials, investigating the electronic states in cuprate materials to advance the understanding of the superconducting phase and related phenomena has developed incredible importance. In a new paper published in The European Physical Journal B, Ernesto Raposo from the Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil, and his co-authors, look at one of the essential physical properties of cuprate superconducting compoundsthe pseudogapwhich describes a state where the Fermi surface of a material possesses a partial energy gap. Despite impressive progress in the study of cuprate superconducting compounds, the authors point out that researchers have yet to reach a consensus on the physical origin of the pseudogap phase in these compounds. To tackle this problem, the team employs the one-band Hubbard Hamiltonian of interacting neighboring electrons on the CuO 2 -planes of cuprate systems to examine the emergence of the pseudogap phase. As well as considering the usual on-site Coulomb repulsion energy and hopping of electrons to the nearest neighbor sites, the researchers also considered a competing mechanism of jumps to next-nearest neighbor sites. To conduct their study, the team doped the system either with electrons or holes to approximate the critical doping concentrations at which the pseudogap closes down in addition to estimating the concentration range over which it is sustained. Using a model created to reflect the parameters of the cuprate compound La 2 CuO 4 , the team found the critical electron and hole doping concentrations and also obtained the charge-transfer gap and maximum pseudogap energies. The authors say that the pseudogap does not open when the next-nearest-neighboring kinetic energy nullifies, describing this finding as remarkable. The researchers' calculations indicate that the hopping energy to the next-nearest neighbor matches the value of the observed pseudogap in the experimental measure in cuprate systems. This suggests that competing electron hopping along the nodal directions of the sublattice Brillouin zone could play a role in the emergence of the pseudogap phase in cuprate materials. Explore further Scientists discover quantum phase transition in pressurized cuprate superconductors More information: Y. Vielza et al, Pseudogap Mott-phase in cuprate superconductors: a HartreeFock study with limited next-nearest-neighbor hopping, The European Physical Journal B (2022). Y. Vielza et al, Pseudogap Mott-phase in cuprate superconductors: a HartreeFock study with limited next-nearest-neighbor hopping,(2022). DOI: 10.1140/epjb/s10051-022-00298-w Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain People don't want science anywhere near their delicious chocolate chip cookies. But they're happy to have science create body wash that fights odor-causing bacteria. In a series of 10 studies, researchers found that people don't like science being invoked to market products that bring pleasure, like cookies. Instead, consumers see science as more appropriate for selling utilitarian goods for which scientific research has created a better product. The issue has to do with how the lay public views science and scientists, said Rebecca Reczek, co-author of the study and professor of marketing at The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business. "People see science as cold, but competent. That doesn't pair well with products designed to be warm and pleasurable to consumers," Reczek said. "But the cold competence of science is seen as perfectly appropriate to sell practical products that serve a utilitarian purpose." Reczek conducted the study with Aviva Philipp-Muller, a recent graduate from Ohio State's doctoral program in social psychology. Their findings were published recently in the Journal of Consumer Research. In one study, the researchers had 511 college students from two universities come into a lab to taste test chocolate chip cookies. All were presented a menu with three cookie choicesOption A, B and Cthat were described in different terms. They selected one of the options, which they then got to actually taste. Half of the participants had a menu where Option A was described as having "Luscious chocolatey taste." The other half saw Option A described as "Scientifically developed to have a luscious chocolatey taste." Option B and C were always the same and never mentioned science. Results showed that using the science appeal decreased the likelihood that participants would choose Option A by 30%. But some consumer goods can have both a practical and a pleasurable purpose. For those products, science can be a positive selling pointor notdepending on whether it is matched with the product's utilitarian or pleasurable purpose. Take body wash, for instance. In one study, the researchers presented participants with what they said was a new body wash and asked them how likely they were to purchase it. When participants were told that the lather will "immerse your senses in an indulgent experience" they were less likely to say they would buy it if it were marketed as a science-based product. But they were more likely to say they would buy the same body wash based on the science appeal if they were told the lather will "wash away odor-causing bacteria." "When practicality and science are paired together, that makes sense to consumers," Philipp-Muller said. The researchers took a closer look at this disconnect between science and pleasurable products. Participants in one study rated marketing slogans for an indulgent smoothie brand as "disjointed" if it mentioned the smoothie's "rigorous scientific development process." They were also more likely to say "something seemed weird about the slogan." "When pleasure and science are paired together, that feels disjointed to consumers and they aren't interested in those kinds of products," Philipp-Muller said. "It seems weird to have the coldness of science try to sell you something pleasurable." But not everyone thinks scientists are cold and aloof. One study found that participants who worked in a STEM field (science, technology, engineering and math) didn't feel scientists were cold and aloof and also didn't mind scientific appeals for pleasurable products. Another group of people who were fine with science being used to sell pleasurable products were those who said they had a high degree of trust in scientists, Reczek said. And that points to another way to make science a more acceptable way to market pleasurable and indulgent products. "We could update people's beliefs about science and scientists. We could let them know that scientists can be warm and friendly," Reczek said. And people can be reminded that science is not just used in utilitarian and tech products, Philipp-Muller said. "Science is in your yogurt and your cookies and in your shampoo, as well," she said. "People just don't know it." Reczek said the findings have implications beyond marketing. "The fact that consumers have stereotypes about science and scientists may be a barrier to accepting science, whether it is products or scientific findings," she said. "People need a more realistic view of what scientists are really like and how science is a part of our everyday lives, including many of the products we use." Explore further The ugly consumer: Ridiculing those who shop ethically More information: Aviva Philipp-Muller et al, Get Your Science out of Here: When Does Invoking Science in the Marketing of Consumer Products Backfire?, Journal of Consumer Research (2022). Journal information: Journal of Consumer Research Aviva Philipp-Muller et al, Get Your Science out of Here: When Does Invoking Science in the Marketing of Consumer Products Backfire?,(2022). DOI: 10.1093/jcr/ucac020 An oiled surf scoter (a duck) after the 2007 oil spill in San Francisco Bay. Credit: Brocken Inaglory/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Unported When we think about the Arctic, most of us think of a snow-covered barren landscape and vast stretches of icy ocean. This is far from the reality of the Canadian Arctic today. With approximately 150,000 people calling it home, this region is certainly not barren. The Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth. This stark increase in temperature affects wildlife, plants and humans and results in less sea ice, which many predators and hunters use year-round. The loss of sea ice is also making the North more accessible than ever, thus increasing the probability of major oil spills as ship and tanker traffic multiplies. These spills expose the wildlife to new contaminants, including polycyclic aromatic compoundsthe main contaminant in oil spillswhich can cause cancer in birds. This influx of new contaminants in the environment makes it challenging for researchers to monitor their effect on wildlife. After studying ways to monitor the quantity and variety of contaminants in Arctic wildlife, we have created a new toolToxChipto analyze changes in the DNA of animals exposed to oil and solve this challenge. Increased oil exploration and extraction Between 1995 and 2015, shipping traffic nearly tripled in the Canadian Arctic due to depleting sea ice. Newly accessible shipping routes, including the Northern Sea Route, cut transit time between East Asia and Western Europe by about 10 days. As the Arctic contains around 13 percent of the world's unexploited oil, the race to claim this precious resource is on. Unfortunately, more extraction and shipping in the Arctic will inevitably lead to more oil spills. The infamous Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 discharged nearly 37,000 metric tons of crude oil into Alaska's southern coast, killing more than 30,000 birds. More recently, a fuel tank at a power plant released 20,000 metric tons of diesel into the Ambarnaya river in Russia in 2020. The main compounds found in oil and petroleum products called polycyclic aromatic compounds, or PACs, can harm birds in the marine environment. When emitted through exhaust or spills, these chemicals make their way into wildlife and plants in the area. They easily attach to fat in animals and can accumulate in them throughout their lifetime. Birds reveal environmental contaminants Seabirds are especially vulnerable to the effects of oil, as they feed on the water surface. Oil can coat a bird's feathers, making them unable to fly or regulate their temperature. Birds also clean their feathers with their beaks, which introduces oil into their digestive system. Oil and petroleum products also affect birds, causing stunted limbs, reduced breeding and population declines. In fact, there are documented long-term effects on ducks, whose survival rates were lower compared to non-oiled birds for at least 11 years after a spill. New technologies can help track contaminants Each gene in an animal's DNA contributes to a specific natural function. Some genes are responsible for regulating an animal's metabolism, while others take care of suppressing tumors. Therefore, if a specific gene is induced after exposure to a contaminant like oil, we can tell what biological processes have been affected. Changes in an animal's gene expressionability to convert DNA instructions into functional products, like proteincan tell us a lot about how it responds to a specific chemical, or group of chemicals. Current methods to measure the contaminants in animals are costly, rely heavily on lab animal use and can only measure the effects of one contaminant at a time. We have developed a new tool called a ToxChip, which investigates the effects of contaminants on the DNA level in sensitive genes. It can quickly detect changes in the genes of seabirds in response to a contaminant. The ToxChip can be customized to species, contaminants and genes of interest. So far, we have developed two ToxChips: one for the black guillemot and one for the thick-billed murre. These seabirds nest on rocky cliffs which serve as breeding grounds. The guillemot doesn't stray far from its colony and feeds on fish close to the shore. The thick-billed murre, on the other hand, can travel far from the colony and is known for diving deep into the water to catch their prey. Both species are far from endangered and their colony populations can reach the millions, making it possible to determine the extent to which contaminants are affecting the birds. As these birds are heavily reliant on open-water food sources, an oil spill could quickly be detrimental to the entire colony. ToxChips can be applied following an oil spill to quantify potential sub-lethal or irreversible damage. Different types of PACs can tell us where they come from. PACs from forest fires will have a different chemical make-up than PACs from an oil spill. This ToxChip data allows us to determine the cause of toxicity to seabirds. Through a recent use of the ToxChip, we were able to determine the likely effects from a natural oil seep off the coast on Nunavut. A cheaper, faster and more affordable solution The future applications of this tool are vast and promising. It can help look at the effects of pesticides on bullfrog's DNA or the impact of plastic pollution on the biological processes in pink salmon and so on. Species-specific ToxChips can help shape evidence-based policy recommendations or monitoring initiatives that would limit vessel traffic in endangered bird areas during the breeding season. Monitoring contaminants in wildlife is particularly important to those who rely on local country food. Using these tools can help inform those living in the Arctic if the animals they depend on have been exposed to contaminants. They can be used as an emergency response to an oil spill. Oil can linger long after the clean-up crews have removed the visible oil from the environment. ToxChips can help understand if seabirds continue to be exposed to oil pollution. While the tool is still evolving, it has been developed for two seabird species and is being put into practice currently to assess gene expression changes after a large oil spill and at an old military site with known contamination. ToxChip projects will make contaminant testing more affordable, more accurate, faster and less dependent on lab animals. It could help reduce the impacts of oil pollution on animals in the future. Explore further Arctic seabirds are less heat tolerant, more vulnerable to climate change This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Conceptual model for the history of vertical motions (blue arrows) of the Philippine Sea plate arc crust in the past ~6 Ma. a Forebulge uplift and foredeep subsidence occur on the Luzon arc crust during 60.5 Ma, in response to eastward migrating orogenic load. b Post-0.5 Ma rapid uplift due to transpressional deformation and isostatic rebound of the overriding plate. c Representative structural cross-section in the modern Coastal Range. Blue lines mark major boundary faults. LVF Longitudinal Valley fault; CRF Central Range fault. Credit: Communications Earth & Environment (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-022-00429-2 Some mountains can move in the blink of a geological eye. A new study finds evidence of surprisingly rapid upward movement of earth's crust on the island of Taiwan. Over roughly half a million years, the Coastal Range of east Taiwan was rising at a rate of 9 to 14 millimeters per year, the research shows. While this seems imperceptibly slow by human standards, it's quite fast for mountains. Much of the dramatic topography on the surface of the planet is formed by vertical movements of less than a millimeter per year. "The earth's surface can act extremely fast, way faster than most people imagine," said Larry Syu-Heng Lai, a UO doctoral student who led the work alongside researchers at the UO and a team of collaborators in Taiwan. "These measurements of extreme rates are unprecedented, and the records challenge ideas about the long timescalesseveral million yearsneeded for the rise and fall of a mountain," Lai said. The team published its results April 26 in the journal Communications Earth and Environment. Taiwan sits at the boundary of two tectonic plates and formed over time from a series of collisions between the plates. Mountain-building happens there due to intense deformation and movement of the rocks near Earth's surface. Geologists have many ways to estimate the age of rocks and reconstruct their movement over time. But this rapid vertical crust movement in Taiwan had gone undetected by more traditional techniques. Lai and his colleagues got a new look by analyzing sedimentary rocks from sites around Taiwan. These rocks record the history of sediment accumulation and erosion as the crust moves up and down. The researchers looked at tiny fossils embedded in those layers of rocks to figure out when they formed. They also looked at magnetic properties of the rocks, signatures left behind by flips in the direction of the earth's magnetic pole over geologic history. By combining all of those clues, they pieced together a new story. Taiwan is in a geological zone where volcanic islands from an oceanic plate are crushing together and merging into a continent. The surface of the volcanic crust can bounce up and down dramatically, up to 10 kilometers of displacement, due to interactions between the plates. From that displacement, Lai and his team calculated the unexpectedly fast rate at which the mountains were rising. Their discoveries also challenge a long-standing hypothesis for the geological origin story of Taiwan. Previously, geologists thought that Taiwan's mountains emerged gradually along the boundary of the two plates, from north to south, over five to six million years. "Our new idea says differently; the whole Coastal Range is popping up at the same time along the plate boundary, within half a million years," Lai said. "We need to rethink about what was really happening during this mountain-building event and how to reconcile and reinterpret data from earlier research." The analysis techniques also could be used to understand how geological processes interact with processes like climate change and erosion to shape the landscape. While the research focused on a specific part of Taiwan, dramatic movements like these also could have helped shape places like the Talkeetna-Chugach Mountains in Alaska and Klamath Mountains in Oregon. "These kinds of crust motions are probably underdetected by previous studies," Lai said. Explore further Extinct style of plate tectonics explains early Earth's flat mountains More information: Larry Syu-Heng Lai et al, Extremely rapid up-and-down motions of island arc crust during arc-continent collision, Communications Earth & Environment (2022). Journal information: Communications Earth & Environment Larry Syu-Heng Lai et al, Extremely rapid up-and-down motions of island arc crust during arc-continent collision,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-022-00429-2 Credit: K. Franklin/Science, based on K. Tienhaara et al. Fossil fuel companies have access to an obscure legal tool that could jeopardize worldwide efforts to protect the climate, and they're starting to use it. The result could cost countries that press ahead with those efforts billions of dollars. Over the past 50 years, countries have signed thousands of treaties that protect foreign investors from government actions. These treaties are like contracts between national governments, meant to entice investors to bring in projects with the promise of local jobs and access to new technologies. But now, as countries try to phase out fossil fuels to slow climate change, these agreements could leave the public facing overwhelming legal and financial risks. The treaties allow investors to sue governments for compensation in a process called investor-state dispute settlement, or ISDS. In short, investors could use ISDS clauses to demand compensation in response to government actions to limit fossil fuels, such as canceling pipelines and denying drilling permits. For example, TC Energy, a Canadian company, is currently seeking more than US$15 billion over U.S. President Joe Biden's cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline. In a study published May 5, 2022, in the journal Science, we estimate that countries would face up to $340 billion in legal and financial risks for canceling fossil fuel projects that are subject to treaties with ISDS clauses. That's more than countries worldwide put into climate adaptation and mitigation measures combined in fiscal year 2019, and it doesn't include the risks of phasing out coal investments or canceling fossil fuel infrastructure projects, like pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals. It means that money countries might otherwise spend to build a low-carbon future could instead go to the very industries that have knowingly been fueling climate change, severely jeopardizing countries' capacity to propel the green energy transition forward. Massive potential payouts Of the world's 55,206 upstream oil and gas projects that are in the early stages of development, we identified 10,506 projects19% of the totalthat were protected by 334 treaties providing access to ISDS. That number could be much higher. We could only identify the headquarters of project owners, not the overall corporate structures of the investments, due to limited data. We also know that law firms are advising clients in the industry to structure investments to ensure access to ISDS, through processes such as using subsidiaries in countries with treaty protections. Depending upon future oil and gas prices, we found that the total net present value of those projects is expected to reach $60 billion to $234 billion. If countries cancel these protected projects, foreign investors could sue for financial compensation in line with these valuations. Doing so would put several low- and middle-income countries at severe risk. Mozambique, Guyana and Venezuela could each face over $20 billion in potential losses from ISDS claims. If countries also cancel oil and gas projects that are further along in development but are not yet producing, they face more risk. We found that 12% of those projects worldwide are protected by investment treaties, and their investors could sue for $32 billion to $106 billion. Canceling approved projects could prove exceptionally risky for countries like Kazakhstan, which could lose $6 billion to $18 billion, and Indonesia, with $3 billion to $4 billion at risk. Canceling coal investments or fossil fuel infrastructure projects, like pipelines and liquefied natural gas terminals, could lead to even more claims. Countries already feel regulatory chill There have been at least 231 ISDS cases involving fossil fuels so far. Just the threat of massive payouts to investors could cause many countries to delay climate mitigation policies, causing a so-called "regulatory chill." Both Denmark and New Zealand, for example, seem to have designed their fossil fuel phaseout plans specifically to minimize their exposure to ISDS. Some climate policy experts have suggested that Denmark may have chosen 2050 as the end date for oil and gas extraction to avoid disputes with existing exploration license holders. New Zealand banned all new offshore oil exploration in 2018 but did not cancel any existing contracts. The climate minister acknowledged that a more aggressive plan "would have run afoul of investor-state settlements." France revised a draft law banning fossil fuel extraction by 2040 and allowing the renewal of oil exploitation permits after the Canadian company Vermilion threatened to launch an ISDS case. Securing the green energy transition While these findings are alarming, countries have options to avoid onerous legal and financial risks. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is currently discussing proposals on the future of investment treaties. A straightforward approach would be for countries to terminate or withdraw from these treaties. Some officials have expressed concern about unforeseen impacts of unilaterally terminating investment treaties, but other countries have already done so, with few or no real economic consequences. For more complex trade agreements, countries can negotiate to remove ISDS provisions, as the United States and Canada did when they replaced the North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Additional challenges stem from "sunset clauses" that bind countries for a decade or more after they have withdrawn from some treaties. Such is the case for Italy, which withdrew from the Energy Charter Treaty in 2016. It is currently stuck in an ongoing ISDS case initiated by the U.K. company Rockhopper over a ban on coastal oil drilling. The Energy Charter Treaty, a special investment agreement covering the energy sector, emerged as the greatest single contributor to global ISDS risks in our dataset. Many European countries are currently considering whether to leave the treaty and how to avoid the same fate as Italy. If all country parties to a treaty can agree together to withdraw, they could collectively sidestep the sunset clause through mutual agreement. The global transition Combating climate change is not cheap. Actions by governments and the private sector are both needed to slow global warming and keep it from fueling increasingly devastating disasters. In the end, the question is who will payand be paidin the global energy transition. We believe that, at the very least, it would be counterproductive to divert critical public finance from essential mitigation and adaptation efforts to the pockets of fossil fuel industry investors whose products caused the problem in the first place. Explore further Climate action needs investment governance, not investment protection and arbitration More information: Kyla Tienhaara et al, Investor-state disputes threaten the global green energy transition, Science (2022). Journal information: Science Kyla Tienhaara et al, Investor-state disputes threaten the global green energy transition,(2022). DOI: 10.1126/science.abo4637 This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Chile, Argentina and the American West are in the midst of a decade-long, megadroughtthe driest conditions those regions have seen in a century. And many areas in Western Canada and the United States are experiencing extreme droughta once in 20-year event. Drought makes agriculture less productive, reduces crop yields and increases heat-related deaths. It adds to conflict and migration, as marginalized people are dispossessed of their land. In short, it leaves people more vulnerable. Drought is part of natural climate variability, but it is also one of the many outcomes of climate change that is increasing in frequency and intensity. Droughts that used to occur in dry regions once every 10 years are now projected to occur more than four times a decade, if the Earth's average temperature warms by 4 C. Unless countries dramatically reduce their emissions from burning coal, oil and natural gas, we are bound to overshoot the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 C. Dryland areas could expand by a quarter and encompass half of the Earth's land area, including parts of the Prairies. Governments need to acknowledge that changes are already happening to dryland areas and that others can no longer be avoided, even with reduced emissions. We need to see better strategies to respond to wildfire, water scarcity and conflict, land degradation and desertification, if we are to reduce the loss of livelihoods and life from drought. Big climate changes are coming Drylands are warming twice as fast as humid areas. Scientists predict that in the next 50 years, between one billion and three billion people will be living in temperatures exceeding the climate range that has served humanity for more than 6,000 years, or migrating elsewhere. Livelihoods and life will change fundamentally in these areas. Animal husbandrysuch as livestock productionwill no longer be possible as increasing temperatures lead to the widespread death of animals. And city infrastructure wasn't built to handle intense flood events, which are causing damage and increasing in many dryland areas. Big human changes are also coming Current climate adaptation efforts to near-term drought and flood events tend to be reactive, incremental and small. For example, Yorkton, Sask., responded to three consecutive flood events with some infrastructure change, but enduring social learning has been lost as time passes. These short-sighted interventions mean vulnerable and marginalized people suffer most. Recurring drought reduces the availability of drought-risk reduction supports such as crop insurance by making insurance premiums more expensive, possibly unattainable to many farmers. Governments must start implementing policies that aim to reduce the future impacts of drought and build farmer resilience. They might offer solutions to wind erosion and dust management or launch campaigns to reduce water consumption and promote the restoration or reclamation of landscapes. They could embrace landscape heterogeneity strategiesvarieties of crops and patches of non-cultivated landthat allow bees and pollinators to thrive. After wildfires, policies and funding could accelerate restoration by planting trees and vegetation for wind breaks, as well as encourage farmers to plant drought-tolerant food crops. Assessing the risk of climate events such as drought, flood or fire and their impacts before they occur allows for the assessment of the appropriate division of public and private responsibilities in preventing, planning for, responding to these events when they do occur. Groundwater tipping point While increasing incremental adaptation is important, large systemic change or transformational adaptation may be necessary to address worsening climate risks. These adaptations might include developing and implementing water storage technologies, changes to grazing and farming practices to preserve soil and behavioral changes to reduce water usage. There may also be residual risks that adaptation can't address, as well as maladaptationactions that unintentionally increase the risk of adverse outcomes due to climate change. For instance, groundwater is a source of irrigation in many parts of the world and its depletion may have passed a tipping point where it cannot be recharged by precipitation. In water-scarce regions, farmers may use low-quality water resources (called marginal quality waters), such as wastewater or drainage water, that may be high in salts, pathogens and heavy metals, to irrigate their crops. This can lead to salt accumulating in the soil and can make the land unusable for agriculture, which can then have consequences for food security. In India, for example, hectares of land are projected to become unusable by 2050, at a cost of US$3 billion. The global economic losses of salt-induced land degradation are estimated at US$27.3 billion per year. In California, lack of irrigation water could cause food prices to rise globally. While the world's governments consider ways to reduce emissions to limit global warming, adaptation and resilience must remain high on their list of priorities. The world is on course to overshoot its climate targets and, as the window of opportunity closes, these polices have become increasingly necessary. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This image shows healthy finger millet plants in a field trial in Ethiopia. Finger millet is a well-known and important crop grown in Africa. Credit: Katrien Devos The grain called finger millet may not be well-known outside of Africa, but it is an important crop to the region. Finger millet has been farmed in eastern Africa for thousands of years. However, breeding the crop for better traits has been difficult for local farmers. Katrien Devos, a professor at the University of Georgia, and her colleagues are collaborating with scientists from Kenya to improve the grain's yield and quality. "Breeding has traditionally been done, and is still often done, by selecting improved lines within existing cultivars," she explained. "Breeders essentially rely on occasional spontaneous outcrossing events in which pollination occurs with pollen from a nearby growing variety rather than self-pollen to generate new combinations. We have been working with breeders in eastern Africa to bring finger millet breeding into the 21st century." This study was published in The Plant Genome Journal, a publication of the Crop Science Society of America. The team set out to find a way to provide breeders with better tools to improve millet traits in a targeted way. This meant digging into the DNA of finger millet to find genes that are responsible for beneficial traits. This is no easy task, says Devos. The researchers used a technique called genotyping-by-sequencing. This is a form of sequencing where a small portion of the genome is sequenced that represents the broader whole. This saves time and money and allows the researchers to have enough data for genetic mapping. This mapping allowed them to find potential genes or areas on the genome responsible for certain traits, called quantitative trait loci. "Most traits are controlled by multiple genes," Devos says. "In order to find the genes that control a trait of interest, this analysis is carried out. The chromosome regions that contribute to the expression of the trait are identified using computer models." She adds that these areas on the genome can then be identified using DNA markers so that breeders can more easily use them to improve the crop. Once breeders understand how traits are manifested, she says, they can plan their breeding efforts more easily. They assessed traits that greatly affect the yield of the crop such as panicle number, disease resistance, and maturity time. Panicles are where the grains form. In areas with drought, an early maturity time is best. The main disease that impacts finger millet in eastern Africa is blast disease, which is caused by a fungus. The fungus can infect the leaves of the plant but is worst when it impacts the panicle. "Infection during flowering or grain development is most destructive," Devos says. "It can lead to yield losses of up to 90% under environmental conditions that are favorable for disease development. A lot of research has been done on rice blast, but work on finger millet blast is still in its infancy." She adds that fungicides can be used to control the disease but can be very costly. Breeding for resistance is the only approach that would allow for sustainable finger millet production. Their research also compared finger millet to other similar crops. Because not much is known about the finger millet genome, comparing it with crops like rice and sorghum may help them make educated guesses about what some of its genes may be responsible for. Devos describes finger millet as an "orphan crop" because it has largely been ignored by the international research community. Devos was one of the pioneers that developed the idea of comparing finger millet genetics to other grains. "My lab, together with collaborators in the United States and eastern Africa, have been working over the past six or so years to fill this void," Devos explains. "Still, finger millet research is lagging compared to other cereal grains, but we can draw on and apply knowledge that is available in the major cereals to finger millet. This transfer of knowledge allows us to make faster progress in orphan crop species." Explore further The big potential of little millet More information: Thomas H. Pendergast, et al, A highdensity linkage map of finger millet provides QTL for blast resistance and other agronomic traits, The Plant Genome (2021). Thomas H. Pendergast, et al, A highdensity linkage map of finger millet provides QTL for blast resistance and other agronomic traits,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/tpg2.20175 NEW YORK A leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion that would abolish a nationwide right to abortion has thrust major companies into whats arguably the most divisive issue in American politics. While some signaled support for abortion rights, many want to stay out of it at least for now. Experts say its tough to navigate these waters. Companies are facing increasing pressure from social media and their own employees to speak out. While some of them have weighed in on issues like LGBTQ rights, voting rights and gun control, the thorny issue of abortion could prove to be more challenging. This is the hottest of the hot potatoes, said Allen Adamson, co-founder of marketing consultancy Metaforce. While lots of issues are polarizing, this is ground zero for polarization. People are fanatically passionate one way or another. Despite the risks, major companies have waded into the abortion issue in the past. In 2019, more than 180 of them including H&M, Slack and Glossier signed an open letter that said restrictive abortion laws were against their values and bad for business. A similar letter was signed by more than 60 companies last year in response to a Texas law banning abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy, forcing some women to travel out-of-state to access the procedure. Among others, jeans maker Levi Strauss & Co., the online reviews site Yelp, banking giant Citigroup and ride-hailing company Lyft pledged to cover travel costs for employees who have to travel long distances to access an abortion. Tesla said Friday its covering travel costs for employees seeking abortions outside their home state. When the report of the draft court opinion set off a political firestorm, a few companies issued statements supporting abortion rights but stopped short of taking further action themselves. Overturning Roe v. Wade will jeopardize the human rights of millions of women who stand to lose the liberty to make decisions over their own bodies, Yelp said in a statement. Turning back the clock on the progress women have made over the past 50 years will have a seismic impact on our society and economy. Many others remained quiet. They include Netflix, PayPal, Microsoft, Patagonia, Target, Walmart and Apple, which is reportedly covering travel costs for its Texas workers through its medical insurance. Microsoft and the Chamber of Commerce, the worlds largest business federation, said it had no comment; the rest did not respond to requests for comment. The Business Roundtable, which represents some of the countrys most powerful companies, said it does not have a position on this issue. Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, also did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment, though its chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, posted on her personal social media accounts on Tuesday that the document represents a scary day for women all across the country. Adamson believes that many companies have held off weighing in on the Supreme Courts draft because they want to wait to see the courts final ruling. This gives companies a chance to think this through, he said, noting that companies need to make a decision based on what the majority of their employees want. Over the past few years, companies have added their voices to the Black Lives Matter movement and issues like same-sex marriage. After the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, dozens pledged to halt donations to lawmakers who objected to Congress certification of President Joe Bidens victory, promises that turned out to be largely empty. But taking a stance on controversial issues is seemingly becoming more challenging, oftentimes pitting companies against Republican lawmakers who seem increasingly eager to push back. Delta, which declined to comment on the abortion issue, was the subject of attacks by the Georgia GOP last year for its opposition to the states restrictive voting rights bill. In response, Georgias Republican-controlled House voted to revoke a jet fuel tax break that benefits the Atlanta-based company, an effort that ultimately fizzled. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill last month to dissolve the private government Walt Disney World controls on its property in the state as retribution for the companys opposition to a new law critics have dubbed Dont Say Gay. On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio introduced a bill that would prohibit companies from claiming tax deductions for their employees abortion travel costs or gender transition expenses for employees children. State lawmakers are similarly taking aim at companies that offer help to women seeking abortions in states with less restrictive laws around abortions. Should Roe v. Wade get overturned, roughly half of states are likely to quickly ban abortion. In March, Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Republican, sent a cease-and-desist letter to Citigroup, saying he would propose legislation barring local governments in the state from doing business with any company that provides travel benefits for employees seeking abortions. In South Dakota, GOP Rep. Scott Odenbach suggested lawmakers might look at legislation to discourage companies from covering the costs of employees who travel to another state for an abortion, noting that the states proximity to Minnesota, where abortion will remain legal even if Roe is undone, raises cross-border issues. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Man arrested after domestic dispute HEBRON A 41-year-old Hebron man was arrested Saturday night in connection with a domestic dispute at a local residence, state police said. Dane E. Nelson is accused of driving to the residence while under the influence of alcohol and using a rifle to menace a visitor who was at the home, police said. Nelson was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony; second-degree menacing, a misdemeanor, and driving while ability impairedalcohol, an infraction, in connection with the 11:30 p.m. incident. He was taken into custody at the scene and subsequently taken to Washington County Jail to await arraignment. HUDSON FALLS A fire that destroyed a residential building at 32 LaBarge St. on Saturday evening in Hudson Falls was caused by lithium ion batteries. Washington County Fire Coordinator Glen Bristol said the batteries caught fire in the basement of the house. Lithium ion batteries are known to be unstable, according to Hudson Falls Fire Chief Tom Bover. We believe that the batteries were in (remote-controlled) cars, but it was hard to tell because of the extensive damage, Bover said. He said it was unclear if the batteries had finished charging and were left on the charger, or if they were completely disconnected from anything. The fire is not suspicious, according to village officials. Bovers fire department got the call around 6:30 p.m., and responded to the scene along with fire departments from Fort Edward, Bay Ridge, Kingsbury, South Queensbury, South Glens Falls, Queensbury Central, West Glens Falls, West Fort Ann and Argyle. Bover said that it took firefighters approximately 10 hours to put the fire out and clear the scene, which is an abnormally long time. It was an old brick building, from ground to roof, with a false front with shingles, he said. This is the second fire in Hudson Falls in two weeks, Bover said. Volunteers from the Northeastern New York Chapter of the American Red Cross are helping five people who were displaced. The Red Cross provided financial assistance for shelter, food and clothing to two adults, and three children ages 1, 4 and 6, who all lived at the house, according to a news release from the organization. Additional aid came from the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control, Bover added. Drew Wardle is a reporter for The Post-Star. You can contact him at 518-681-7343 or email him at dwardle@poststar.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 9 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. Warren County had 47 positive COVID results out of 308 administered tests as of Sunday, according to state data. The seven-day rolling positivity rate for the county is 11.1%. Warren County Health Services did not release a report on Sunday. The percentage of Warren Countys 64,265 residents who have a complete series of vaccination shots, including a booster dose, is 46.6%, according to state data. Washington County As of Sunday, 16 people tested positive for COVID out of a total of 210 administered tests, according to state data. The seven-day rolling positivity rate for the county is 9.9%. The county has had 12,718 COVID infections since the start of the pandemic. Saratoga County There are currently 554 active COVID cases in the county, according to Saratoga County Department of Public Health Services. The seven-day rolling positivity rate is 12.7% one of the highest rates of COVID infections in the Capital Region. There are currently 29 Saratoga County residents hospitalized with COVID-19. Of those, 11 are fully vaccinated, but have not received a booster shot. Eighteen people are fully vaccinated and have received a booster shot, according to county data. Capital Region/statewide Throughout the Capital Region, there were 551 positive COVID cases out of 4,520 administered tests, according to state data. The rate of hospitalizations throughout the region is slowly climbing back up after it dropped from a high of over 400 hospitalized during the beginning of the omicron variant wave. The seven-day rolling positivity rate for the region is 11.8%, while statewide, that rate is 7.2%, according to state data. Drew Wardle is a reporter for The Post-Star. You can contact him at 518-681-7343 or email him at dwardle@poststar.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. ALBANY Getting arrested on felony charges didnt stop one of Dr. Betty Kolods patients from using illegal narcotics, the physician says. The homelessness and the criminal charges that hes facing actually drove him to use drugs even more, Kolod told CNHI. That man, at least temporarily, is no longer living on the streets. He is hospitalized, she said. She and a coalition of public health advocates say the state should expand the use of overdose prevention centers, also known as safe injection sites, to deal with the rising number of fatal drug overdoses. Weve seen that overdose is the number one cause of death among people experiencing homelessness. said Kolod, a New York City physician. People with unstable housing are the exact individuals who dont have a place to use drugs. This is the population who would most likely use an overdose prevention center. New York City became the nations first municipality to authorize sites where drug users, while monitored by staffers trained to deal with overdoses, can inject drugs they bring to the facility. The users can have the drugs tested to determine whether they are laced with potentially deadly fentanyl or other adulterants. A measure dubbed the Safer Consumption Services Act would expand overdose prevention centers statewide. Advocates say more than 200 lives have already been saved at the two facilities in New York City through the reversal of overdoses. One of the bills co-sponsors, Assemblyman Dick Gottfried, D-Manhattan, said he is optimistic the bill will be advanced by the Assembly Health Committee in the coming week. He is that committees chairman. The approach advocated for by Kolod and scores of other addiction experts remains controversial. Some law enforcement officials argue it is inappropriate for government-sanctioned venues to host the injection of illegal drugs. Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond said allowing drug use at the sites would only facilitate addiction to potentially deadly narcotics. We would be enabling self-destructive behavior, DuMond said. He says he is skeptical an addict visiting such a facility could be steered into treatment from one of them. Once a person goes down this road, they lose all sense of control and common sense. The New York City facilities have also been criticized by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-Staten Island. She has labeled them heroin shooting galleries that only encourage drug use and deteriorate our quality of life. But VOCAL-NY, a progressive advocacy group that has been seeking to build support for the legislation, said inaction on the bill by lawmakers will result in the deaths of New Yorkers who use drugs in unsafe ways. The Senate and Assembly must heed the calls of New Yorkers from upstate to downstate and urgently pass the overdose prevention bills on the table, and reject the notion that saving lives is partisan or divisive, said Jasmine Budnella, the groups director of drug policy. Gottfried said the overdose prevention centers in New York City are well-run and have created no negative impacts for their surrounding neighborhoods. He noted he visited such a facility during a visit to Vancouver, Canada, and came away impressed by how well-run it was. They have health care providers and counselors on site, the veteran lawmaker said. Its a very effective harm-reduction approach to save lives. The current system is certainly not saving lives. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, from April 2020 to April 2021, more than 100,000 people in the United States died from drug overdoses. That was the single highest death toll for a 12-month period since such data has been tracked. DuMond said he supports more robust efforts to extend treatment resources to those coping with addiction. As for injection sites, he said, Its going in the wrong direction and sending the wrong message. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 STAFFORD TOWNSHIP A middle school student was arrested following an investigation by township police into a threat made against the Southern Regional School District. District administrators alerted police to the threat Saturday after learning it was made Friday evening, police said. Police said the threat was made over social media, but did not describe what the threat said. The unnamed student was identified by police and charged with making terrorist threats. The student is barred from returning to school until they complete a mental health assessment, police said. Police did not provide the students age or other details about them. The Ocean County Prosecutors Office assisted the school district and police department in the investigation, police said. Eric Conklin Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261 econklin@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressConklin 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. GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP Nineteen immigrants from 11 countries and cultures convened at Stockton University Friday, where they stood together unified as some of the countrys newest Americans. Be a bridge between cultures, Ya-Mei Chen, director of the USCIS office in Mount Laurel, Burlington County, told the immigrants during their naturalization ceremony. Its important to fit in, but also to stand out. Be yourself. The Stockton Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning hosts the annual ceremony and also sponsors naturalization classes at the Stockton Atlantic City campus from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays from September through May. The 19 new Americans came from various home nations including Colombia, Ghana, India, Poland and Peru. Many of them have lived in the U.S. for years, having ventured to America for a new life, like many before them, Stockton said. Keith Dorr, from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Mount Laurel, administered the oath and said it was a day to celebrate. You are not just good people, you are extraordinary people, said Keith Dorr, as he administered the oath. Chen, an immigrant herself, remembers carrying two suitcases and a rice cooker when she traveled to the U.S. from Taiwan. Adjusting to a new culture was difficult, Chen said, like so many who have to steadily change their way of life and learn to assimilate into a new world. Chen studied English, but found using the language regularly was difficult at first. If your first language is not English, it is such a challenge, Chen said. But, we made it work. Continue to do what you are doing. Chen encouraged the new citizens to continue honoring their culture and ancestry with their children, friends and neighbors. While they became U.S. citizens together, each of the 19 added to Americas diversified society. Each has also taken on various jobs. Nand Patel joined his family in coming to the U.S. from India when he was 14. Living in Galloway Township, Patel graduated from Absegami High School in 2017. He joined the Air Force as a member of the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard after graduation, performing supply chain management work. I liked what I was doing, said Patel, who is also a business student at Stockton. Patel is interested in officers training school, and becoming an American was a step he needed to achieve his goal. Karen Chilito, who is also from Galloway Township, came to the U.S. from Colombia as a child, embarking on her new life in 1994. After decades of contributing to the U.S., it was time to finally become an American, she said. I cant wait to get an American passport, and vote, and have my voice heard, said Chilito, who was accompanied by her two children during the ceremony. Contact Eric Conklin: 609-272-7261 econklin@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPressConklin 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. While the region is still in the midst of a long duration storm system, data collected on Saturday shows this no-named storm and Superstorm Sandy are nearly the same when it comes to the winds. The average sustained wind speed at Atlantic City International Airport was 26.3 miles per hour Saturday, coming from the northeast. That number is just a tick below what it was on Oct. 29, 2012, when Superstorm Sandy made landfall as a post-tropical cyclone near Brigantine, at 26.4 mph. The top wind gust at the airport was 61 mph at 2:32 p.m. Saturday. That was just three miles per hour lower than the top Sandy ACY gust of 64 mph, according to the Office of the New Jersey State Climatologist. The top wind gust in the state Saturday was 70 mph in Tuckerton, while Bayville, Sen. Frank S. Farley State Marina in Atlantic City joined ACY with gusts over 60 mph. For reference, the Blizzard of 2022, occurring on Jan. 29, had an average wind speed of 22.5 mph. However, the similarities between Sandy and this weekend's storm end there. The highest sustained wind was 38 mph Saturday at the airport, despite the higher gusts. During Sandy, it was 51 mph. Sustained winds are two-minute averages of the wind speed according to the American Meteorological Society, while gusts are the highest winds that are blowing, regardless of length. Superstorm Sandy was one of the most powerful and destructive storms in recorded history in New Jersey. That being said, this storm was strong in its own right. South Jersey was squeezed between a warm front, and its counter-clockwise flow, to the south, with high pressure, and its clockwise flow, to the north. That created a tight air pressure gradient. The tighter the gradient, the stronger the winds were. A building under construction collapsed in Middle Township, on the border with Stone Harbor on Stone Harbor Boulevard. In Egg Harbor Township, trees were picked up by their roots. The onshore wind brought five rounds of coastal flooding to some spots between the Saturday afternoon and Monday afternoon high tides. Most of the flooding was in minor flood stage, which brings nuisance flooding. Barnegat Light's tide gauge was roughly five inches into flood stage. Atlantic City saw flooding roughly three inches into flood stage. However, the Townsend Inlet Bridge was closed for periods of the time during the weekend, thanks to flooding on the Avalon side, said Marty Pagliughi, director of the Office of Emergency Management in Cape May County, as well as the mayor of Avalon. Rainfall totals were generally between one and two inches of rain, good news for the "abnormally dry," pre-drought conditions seen in southeastern New Jersey. A few spots in the northern part of Ocean County were higher. In Cape May, a clogged drain on Washington Street created "bad" flooding, said Jerry Inderweis Jr., of the city, who has in a number of official roles with the city. A type of orange, inflatable ball was put on a manhole, to prevent the tidal flooding from spilling out into the street. However, the rain itself wasn't able to move into the drain, causing issues from Saturday morning until public works crews popped the ball and fixed the manhole cover Sunday. This storm is far from exiting the area, though, it will be much less impactful than it was over the weekend. The low pressure system will meander just west of Bermuda through Wednesday. This will continue to bring stiff northeast winds, especially on Tuesday. Widespread minor stage coastal flooding is expected Tuesday morning with the pre-dawn high tide, except for the Delaware Bayshore. Spotty minor tidal flooding will then be had on Wednesday morning. After that, the low pressure will drift westward. A ridge of upper level high pressure in the open Atlantic Ocean will push it into another ridge of warm, high pressure in the Eastern half of the United States. This will make landfall on the Carolina coast Friday before fizzling out over the weekend as it nears New Jersey Sunday and Monday. Find tide times, coastal flooding forecast for the Jersey Shore here Below are Jersey Shore locations with previous and forecast tide data. The forecasts show wh Expect a cloudy Thursday and Friday. Spotty showers and storms will then be had on a much warmer weekend, where highs will be 65 to 75 degrees. Tidal flooding may return, thanks to an onshore, southeast, wind. Contact Joe Martucci: 609-272-7247 jmartucci@pressofac.com Twitter @acpressmartucci Local Weather Get the latest local weather, meteorologist Joe Martucci's 7-day forecasts, podcasts, and severe weather alerts. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WASHINGTON Radio Free Europe/ Radio Libertys (RFE/RL) Persian-language service Radio Farda took home a Silver Award in the Documentary | Human Rights category at the 2022 New York Festivals Radio Awards, for Fahimeh Khezr Heidaris audio documentary The Censored Life of Shabnam Tolouei. The hour-long audio documentary tells the story of Iranian actress, director and playwright Shabnam Tolouei, who was censored by the government for refusing to renounce her Bahai faith. The piece traces Toloueis journey from a high-profile career in Iranian theater to exile, and is the second installment in the Radio Farda series My Censored Life. The My Censored Life docuseries is at the very core of RFE/RL's journalistic mission, telling untold stories and breaking through heavy censorship, said Mohammad Hossein Boghrati, Editor in Chief of Radio Farda. It is a sincere and heartfelt attempt to document the anguish that widespread and persistent oppression, along with systematic censorship, in the Islamic Republic have caused Iranians for years." Storytellers from 24 countries were recognized at the 2022 New York Festivals Radio Awards. Entries spanned genres from podcasts and audiobooks to audio dramas and documentaries. We are so pleased to see Radio Fardas impactful work receive international recognition, said RFE/RL President Jamie Fly. I congratulate Fahimeh for her impactful reporting and the team at Radio Farda for bringing the story to life. This is not the first time Radio Farda or RFE/RL have earned recognition from New York Festivals, which honors radio and video content from across the globe with annual awards. Most recently, RFE/RLs Russian and Kyrgyz services won Silver Awards for documentaries in 2017. In 2015, Radio Farda took home two awards, with Roya Karimi Majds special report Tradition of the Blade and Kambiz Hosseinis Five in the Afternoon program winning gold and silver, respectively.th gaining recognition in 2015. RFE/RLs Iranian Service, known as Radio Farda, breaks through government censorship, providing accurate news and a platform for informed discussion and debate to audiences in Iran. Radio Fardas website earned more than 176 million visits and 310 million page views in FY2021, and it engages with more than 5.5 million followers on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, Twitter, and other social media platforms. -- Molly Kruse Xi to address grand gathering marking Communist Youth League of China centenary Xinhua) 20:08, May 08, 2022 BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will attend a grand gathering at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Youth League of China. Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will deliver an important speech at the event. The event will be broadcast live by China Media Group and on xinhuanet.com. It will also be rebroadcast simultaneously on some other major news websites including people.cn, cctv.com and china.com.cn, and news apps. (Web editor: Xue Yanyan, Liang Jun) A man who kept authorities at bay for hours on Saturday by claiming to have a gun and hostages during a standoff in Bettendorf now faces numerous charges. Christian S. Hicks, 27, Moline, faces charges of first-degree theft, felony eluding, leaving the scene of a serious-injury accident, leaving the scene of an injury accident and fourth-degree criminal mischief, according to Scott County court records. The police and court records state that the standoff and the arrest of Hicks were the culmination of a series of events that began several hours earlier: A police officer in a marked squad car attempted to stop a 2016 Ford Fusion with no license plate at about 9 a.m. near the intersection of State Street and George Thuenen Drive. The Fusion was later determined to have been stolen from Milan. The driver, identified as Hicks, sped away. Hicks ran a red light at 17th and State streets, avoided a squad car and ran another light in the 1700 block of Grant Street. At times during the pursuit, the Fusion reached speeds exceeding 50 mph in a 25 mph zone. Running the second light caused a crash involving a motorcycle and a pickup truck. The motorcyclist, a 60-year-old from Bettendorf, was seriously injured. The driver of the truck, a 68-year-old from Walcott, suffered minor injuries. Both were sent to the hospital for treatment. Their injuries were not considered life-threatening. Hicks is accused of not stopping to help at the site of the accident and instead fleeing on foot. Hicks broke into an unoccupied home in the 1600 block of Grant Street and told pursuing officers that he had a gun and had taken hostages. He surrendered to officers just before noon after about two hours of negotiations. Hicks was not armed, authorities said. Hicks was still in custody Monday afternoon on a $50,000 cash-only bond, according to the Scott County Jail website. He made his first appearance Sunday, according to court records. His next hearing is scheduled for May 18. Hicks already had pending cases against him in both Rock Island and Scott counties. In Scott County, the charges include possession with the intent to deliver more than 5 grams of methamphetamine, disarming a police officer and four counts of assault on a police officer. He is scheduled for a jury trial on Sept. 19 in the Scott County drug case. In Rock Island County, the charges are possession with the intent to deliver less than 5 grams of methamphetamine, resisting a peace officer and retail theft. His next court hearing in Rock Island County is scheduled for May 17. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Mitchell County man will not be receiving a new trial for an attempted murder plot inspired by the television series Breaking Bad, based on an Iowa Supreme Court ruling published on May 6, iowacourts.gov. Earlier, an Iowa District Court order had granted Mark Bernard Retterath, 56, of Osage, a new trial. However, according to the May 6 ruling, the State contended that the District Court erred in its decision since it was unable to review mental health records of Aaron Sellers, one of two State witnesses, due to Sellers refusal to consent. However, the State instructed the District Court to conduct an in-camera review of mental health records of the second witness, identification provided only as J.R. According to court records, the two witness testimony was crucial in proving Retteraths solicitation to commit murder charge. Retterath was sentenced to up to 35 years in prison in October 2016 after a jury found him guilty of attempted murder, solicitation to commit murder and third-degree sex abuse in the plot that unraveled when people he tried to recruit to carry out the killing went to authorities. Before Retteraths 2016 conviction, he had served 11 years in federal prison for drug and gun crimes before discharge of his sentence in November 2013. A few months later, Sellers met Retterath at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. According to court records, after a family friend accused Retterath of molestation, in 2015 Retterath was arrested on sexual abuse charges. Retterath was accused of performing multiple sexual acts without the family friends consent while acting as the family friends Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor. Retterath then asked Sellers to kill the alleged victim, according to Sellers testimony. While Sellers refused to commit the murder, he told Retterath he knew someone who might be willing to kill for Retterath. Retterath turned to the second witness, another member of his Alcoholics Anonymous group, about killing the alleged victim to keep him from testifying. That was when Retterath and the second witness discussed mimicking an episode of the television series Breaking Bad involving ricin. According to court records, after Retterath ordered castor beans to extract ricin, Sellers and the second witness called law enforcement authorities. Investigators found a printout that outlined how to extract ricin from castor beans and five examples of ricin-purification recipes while searching Retterath's home. Authorities also found a jar of castor beans in his house and a baggie holding about 10 beans in the pocket of a pair of Retteraths jeans. But at trial, Retterath contended that both witnesses were unreliable due to mental health issues. The State agreed their history of psychiatric conditions could impact their testimony, a decision that allowed the District Court to conduct the in-camera reviews. However, according to the States May 6 ruling, Sellers counseling records, which were presumed to be from his time in federal prison, were unavailable from controlling federal agencies, https://www.iowacourts.gov/courtcases/11396/embed/CourtAppealsOpinion. Jason W. Selby is the community editor for the Mitchell Country Press News. He can be reached at 515-971-6217, or by email at jason.selby@globegazette.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 I returned on Monday from traveling to Ukraine with a congressional delegation led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. We met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his top national security team in Kyiv for almost three hours. Zelenskyy is a remarkably impressive wartime leader. His grasp of the military, civilian and humanitarian issues facing his country is extraordinary. Although it was our first meeting, I felt I knew him because of all Id learned through my role as lead House manager in Donald Trumps first impeachment. This was the man Trump tried to shake down by withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid unless Zelenskyy granted him a now-infamous political favor. In Kyiv, I was once again struck by the depravity of that act preventing military aid from getting to Ukrainian soldiers when they were already fighting the Russians and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and dying every week. But I was struck by something else as well: Zelenskyys first major engagement with the United States must have caused him to question American values, and whether all global diplomacy would be characterized by such shameful transactionalism. But Zelenskyy wasnt cynical. He was focused on his countrys ongoing need for humanitarian aid, economic relief and military assistance in a war that is entering a new phase. When Putin first tried to overrun Ukraine and install a puppet regime in Kyiv, his forces were spread out, their tanks and other armored vehicles could be ambushed by Ukrainian troops who knew the terrain much better than they did. Now the Russians have consolidated their firepower in eastern Ukraine, the Donbas region, chiefly the cities of Donetsk and Luhansk, hoping to encircle Ukrainian forces and annex that territory. The fighting is more at a distance now, and Ukraine has a desperate need for long-range artillery such as American-made howitzers. We have already provided dozens and promised more, and we should do still more, including arming Ukraine with multiple rocket launchers that can be even more effective than howitzers in combating Russian firepower. As chair of the House Intelligence Committee, I discussed with Zelenskyy the vital intelligence cooperation between our two countries. The Biden administration skillfully declassified key intelligence about Russian plans and intentions before the outbreak of war, stripping away any pretext the Russians could later claim for the invasion and helping to speedily unite NATO and our other allies around a punishing set of sanctions. The strategic sharing of information must continue to give Ukraine the insights it needs to identify Russian troop movements and to deter Russian escalation, including the use of chemical or biological weapons. Intelligence community efforts are also critical to discouraging China from aiding Russia by evading sanctions or providing military support. President Xi Jinping must be made to understand that while he may be able to help the Russians, he cannot do so clandestinely. Chinas role will be exposed, and Xi will have Ukrainian blood on his hands for all the world to see. The trip underlined to me that the war in Ukraine is a humanitarian crisis. The Ukrainian people have been subjected to horrific war crimes, including the killing of civilians, rape of Ukrainian women and girls, and forced migration to Russia of Ukrainian children and families. The repercussions are felt not just in Ukraine. The Russian invasion is causing a global food crisis. Ukraine is the breadbasket of Europe, and its inability to export its grain through the port of Odesa blockaded by the Russians may cause starvation in Africa and elsewhere. Zelenskyy requested Harpoon anti-ship missiles to destroy the Russian Black Sea fleet and reopen the port. We should provide them. Smart and innovative, the Ukrainians have manufactured their own land-to-sea missiles, even sinking the Russian flagship Moskva, but American capabilities are much greater, and they should be shared. The Ukrainian people are fighting valiantly to defend their homeland, its sovereignty and its aspiring democracy against one of the worlds most capable militaries. Russian forces have been stymied in their greatest ambition a quick takeover and are now fighting and losing a grinding war of attrition. No matter Ukraines valor, every day that Putins war goes on means more death and suffering. Tragically, the fighting will not end until he concludes he cannot conquer the Ukrainian people. We can speed that end by helping Ukraine defend itself, providing generous aid to the wars many millions of refugees and tightening sanctions against Russia until it can no longer afford such brutality. Not since World War II has a European power launched such an unprovoked war on its neighbors arrogantly seeking to subjugate a sovereign nation and remake global borders through military might. America was the arsenal of democracy in that previous fight, and we have been thrust into that role again. We must not, and will not, take any step to provoke a direct confrontation of our forces with the Russians, but we should do all we can to hasten the wars end and Ukraines survival. In the latest struggle between freedom and oppression, we have a historic and vital role to play in freedoms defense.. Adam B. Schiff, a Democrat, represents Californias 28th Congressional District and is chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. This column was written for the Los Angeles Times. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 A West River legislator gunning for U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson's job in Congress hopes to tap into a wing of the GOP still smarting over President Joe Biden's 2020 victory. But Rep. Taffy Howard, a state lawmaker from the Black Hills, faces steep odds of knocking off the 45-year-old congressman, who only two years ago won the favor of Republican voters in that year's Republican primary election. Still, the contest presents an unusually bright contrast for voters in the June 7 primary for U.S. House of Representatives. Both candidates tout the virtues of conservatism and their commitment to it. But Howard, 53, is known in the Legislature as a fiscal hawk with a propensity for voting no and bucking the establishment, while quoting President Ronald Reagan during speeches on the floor of the South Dakota House of Representatives. Johnson, meanwhile, has built a reputation as an effective statesman with an ability to find common ground on complicated policy differences, both within his party and across the aisle. The former public utilities commissioner and chief of staff in former Gov. Dennis Daugaard's administration also enjoys the benefits of being a known commodity in South Dakota politics, even before becoming a member of Congress in 2019. In a three-way primary in 2018, Johnson earned nearly 50% of the vote. And his share of the primary ballots grew to 76% in June 2020, when he was challenged by Rep. Liz May, another West River lawmaker. He's hoping for the same outcome next month. "We've got some miles on the odometer," Johnson told the Argus Leader. "People have three and a half years of actual performance to grade against my claims, and I think the good news for the voters is they're going to be able to see I've done exactly what I told them I was going to do." Johnson said he's always vowed to be an effective lawmaker, while holding true to conservative South Dakota principles. And as evidence he's following through, he points to more than a dozen bills he's helped advance through the U.S. House, including ocean shipping reform, a relief package for small meatpackers that ended up in a stimulus bill and a measure to streamline development of defense capabilities. But it's what Johnson didn't support that's driving his opponent's messaging, which aims to paint him as a "RINO" (Republican in name only) who's ingrained in the "D.C. swamp," according to Howard's campaign literature. Specifically, Howard takes issue with Johnson's refusal to stand against the certification of electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election that led to former President Donald Trump's ouster from the White House. And though claims that voter fraud led to Biden's victory have been widely discredited, Howard still insists there was widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. She has made "election integrity" a tenet of her campaign. "He refuses to take on any big fights," she said, noting not just the 2020 election, but also asserting Johnson doesn't work toward re-instating mandatory country-of-origin labeling or standing up to moderate Republicans in Congress. "I'm the conservative in this race." Johnson's camp has responded throughout the campaign by saying Howard misrepresents the congressman's positions, particularly on country-of-origin labeling, and in some cases makes entirely false claims about his voting record to score political points. For instance, Howard's campaign Friday issued a statement accusing him of supporting a measure criticized as making Americans more vulnerable to identity theft. But Congressional records show he voted against House Resolution 4521, the bill she had been referring to. And though he'd prefer a Republican still be in control of the White House, he said the insistence that widespread voter fraud changed the outcome of the election in 2020, which has been repeatedly debunked through forensic audits and investigations in battleground states where Trump lost, is damaging. "We need to work as a country to make sure these states put better election policies into place," Johnson said. "But we're not going to do it by federalizing elections in Nancy Pelosi's House of Representatives." The winner of the GOP congressional primary will advance to the November election, where they will face off against Collin Duprel, a Libertarian rancher from the Sturgis area. As was the case in 2020, no Democrat is pursuing Johnson's House seat. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 There was a moment when she and her husband, Matt, were hunkered down behind a boulder holding hands and saying I love you as a storm of volcanic ash, rock and acids engulfed them, turning a bright sunny afternoon to night that Lauren Urey was almost certain they werent going to make it safely off the South Pacific island. I felt like I was going to get buried alive, she recalled. I thought there was no way we were going to survive this. Though others visiting New Zealands White Island perished when the islands volcano erupted on Dec. 9, 2019, the Ureys did indeed survive, though they suffered horrific burns, a nightmarish rescue and months and now years of surgeries, treatments and scars. In trying to regain their old lives, the Ureys have returned to their jobs and moved into a new home in Chesterfield County, and on Saturday they celebrated another major milestone on the long road back: Lauren, 35, graduated from Old Dominion University with a degree in medical laboratory science. A big day, Lauren said. Its Laurens second bachelors degree; she graduated from Radford University with a degree in marketing in 2010. However, locating a job with long-term prospects proved difficult in a shaky economy, so she shifted gears and looked toward the medical field for a career. She pursued an associates degree in medical laboratory technology from Reynolds Community College, which helped her land a job in the field. After taking a semester off, she enrolled in ODUs online medical laboratory science degree completion program, which she began in the fall of 2019. In October that year, she and Matt married (We met on Match.com, she says. Were one of those success stories.) and planned a honeymoon to Australia and New Zealand. She received permission from her professors to take her final exams early, and she and Matt left on the day after Thanksgiving. They started their trip in Australia and then went on a Royal Caribbean cruise, making several stops in New Zealand. On Dec. 9, they took a shore excursion to New Zealands White Island, about 30 miles from New Zealands North Island in the Bay of Plenty, for an up-close look at an active volcano. According to The New York Times, an online promotion for the tour invited tourists to get close to the drama. Gas masks help you get near roaring steam vents, bubbling pits of mud, hot volcanic streams and the amazing lake of steaming acid. There was no mention, however, Matt Urey recalled, that the New Zealand agency that monitors geological activity in the country had reported increased activity at the volcano for several weeks and had raised the warning level to 2 on a scale of 0-5. Two is moderate to heightened volcanic unrest, while 3, 4 and 5 are levels of eruptions. They didnt tell us the volcano was already at level two, he said. That was never communicated to us. I didnt find out until after I woke up [from a medically induced coma]. We definitely would not have gone on that island had we known. Lauren agreed, saying, Were definitely not adventurous people. Were not the type to go skydiving or anything like that. Were a very, very boring couple. They thought the trip to the island would be a cool, fairly leisurely thing, she said, recalling a brochure that recommended against people in wheelchairs making the trip. It didnt sound like it was going to be that adventurous, she said. ****** The Ureys have filed suit against Royal Caribbean. A trial is scheduled for Oct. 24, according to one of the couples attorneys from a Miami law firm. The Ureys said their contingent of visitors was divided into two groups. They were in the first group that hiked to the edge of the crater for a look. They headed down as the second group approached the crater. A few minutes later, as the Ureys were part-way down the hillside, the volcano erupted. One of the other tourists said, Hey, everyone, look! A mushroom cloud of black ash began to rise from the crater. A tour guide yelled, Everyone, run! Recalled Lauren, I just had a sinking feeling in my stomach. They found a boulder that provided a minimal amount of shelter. Rocks pelted them, and black smoke and ash were coming out of everywhere, she said. I was holding my husbands hand and screaming and telling him how much I loved him. It felt like forever, she said, but they later learned the eruption lasted for only about two minutes. Trapped in a black fog and badly burned already, they struggled to make their way back to the water. Lauren fell multiple times; at least on one occasion, her right hand went into thick, blisteringly hot ash, severely burning her palm. Shes undergone numerous hand surgeries, the most recent of which was last week. They made it to an inflatable dinghy, which returned them to the larger tour boat and a painful, 90-minute trip to the mainland, their scorched skin exposed to the sun and saltwater. Lauren, who drifted in and out of consciousness on the ride, was the first passenger off the boat since she was in the most critical condition. She was taken to the burn unit at a hospital in Auckland. Matt was taken to a hospital in Christchurch, more than 600 miles away. Lauren was burned over 23% of her body, Matt over 53% of his. Physicians put both in medically induced comas, her for almost three weeks and him for 12 days. They wouldnt see each other again until February, back in Richmond, at VCU Medical Center. As badly as they were hurt, in many respects, they were fortunate. Most of those in the second tour group had just arrived at the rim of the crater when it erupted. In all, 22 people were killed that day, including 20 visitors and two tour guides. ****** The journey back to the life the Ureys knew has been long and, at times, agonizingly slow. Besides therapy and other treatment, Lauren has undergone more than two dozen surgeries, averaging one a month, mostly at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. She hopes to be done with the surgeries by the end of the year. They both bear scars from the experience. Lauren struggles with post-traumatic stress and depression; Matt, 38, formerly an avid runner, can no longer run because he suffers from heat intolerance: his body is unable to cool down properly because his grafted skin doesnt sweat. Summers are pretty rough for me, he said. However, in some ways, their progress has been remarkable. Both long ago returned to their jobs: Lauren as a medical laboratory technician for Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Matt as a mechanical engineer at DuPont where he works, ironically, with flame-resistant fiber. Returning to hospital work during COVID-19 was risky for Lauren as she developed a lung infection because of the eruption, and COVID samples came through the lab where she worked on a daily basis. It was very stressful, she said. But we were short-staffed, and honestly I enjoy what I do. I like helping people, and I like staying busy. She took only a semester off from ODU before resuming her studies. For her perseverance, she was awarded one of the inaugural scholarships funded by the Commonwealth Transfusion Foundation, which emphasized that, aside from traditional students, they also wanted to support medical laboratory technicians pursuing their bachelors degrees. Ureys graduation also means a promotion at her job to clinical laboratory scientist, she said. She is looking forward to putting her surgeries in the rear-view mirror, so she and Matt can start a family. Shes determined not to let what happened on White Island dictate the rest of her life. I want to prove to everybody ... that just because something horrible happens to you, it doesnt mean your whole life has to change, she said. It doesnt have to be the end of the world. It didnt stop me. It didnt stop my husband. It was horrible what happened, but we were not going to let this ruin what we had. Were determined not to let this be the end of the world for us. The Virginia Information Technologies Agency is losing its third high-level manager since Gov. Glenn Youngkin replaced its top executive in January. Acting Chief Operating Officer Demetrias Rodgers resigned last week from the state IT agency, which is central to carrying out the governors new telework policy for state employees and pending budget proposals to bolster the cybersecurity defenses of Virginia government. Rodgers, who has served as deputy chief operating officer for 2 years, will leave the agency on May 20, VITA spokesperson Lindsay LeGrand confirmed on Monday, The VITA team thanks Demetrias for his many contributions and wishes him well, LeGrand said. The VITA team will continue its focus on providing services to commonwealth agencies, employees and each Virginian we serve. Rodgers announced his departure on LinkedIn on Monday afternoon. When one door closes, another one opens, he said. For my next chapter, I will return to the private sector where I will drive innovation and technology to customers across the nation and the globe. He also praised the government workers whom VITA serves, as well as the agency itself. The people that work in the public sector that give blood, sweat, and tears so that our citizens are able to access necessary government services are heroes, in my personal opinion, he wrote. This has been particularly true at VITA, the people, the work atmosphere and our agency customers have been the best I had the privilege of working with and for that, I am eternally grateful. Rodgers became the acting COO after Jon Ozovek resigned in mid-February following Youngkins decision to replace Chief Information Officer Nelson Moe at the helm of the agency. Phil Wittmer, a former Kansas CIO who had replaced Moe, resigned after less than a month in the job. Youngkin subsequently replaced Wittmer with Bob Osmond, an IT specialist who previously worked at the Virginia Department of Transportation. Rodgers had worked for six years at VITA and 10 years for Northrop Grumman Corp., the Fairfax County-based technology giant that ran Virginias IT system for the state executive branch for 12 years before Virginia withdrew from the 13-year, $2.4 billion contract in 2018. VITA, created in 2005 under then-Gov. Mark Warner, ended the contract a year early after a long, bitter legal battle that began in 2016 when the state decided to transition management of its IT services from Northrop Grumman to eight private vendors. The IT agency will play a crucial role in implementing the new telework policy that Youngkin announced last week for more than 55,000 executive branch state employees, scrapping previous agreements for remote working and requiring them to apply for permission to work from home. Under the policy, effective July 5, agency heads can allow employees to work from home for one day a week or temporarily for up to two weeks for family illness or other unforeseeable circumstances. Requests to telework two days a week will require approval by a Cabinet secretary and three days a week or more must be OKd by the governors chief of staff, Jeff Goettman. Secretary of Administration Lyn McDermid said last week that the return of state employees to their offices required an upgrade of the governments IT networks to handle the additional Zoom conference calls, video and other telecommunication data demands. I think were ready, she said in an interview. VITA is also central to the new governors plans for enhancing cybersecurity in state government, which became more urgent at the end of last year when the General Assemblys IT systems shut down temporarily because of ransomware implanted by a criminal enterprise. The still-unknown attacker wanted money to restore portions of the system it had infected with malware. No ransom was paid, as the assembly moved its critical services, including bill drafting, to a backup system. The attack remains under state and federal investigation. The infection never spread beyond the legislative branch to the state agencies managed by VITA, but the pending state budget under negotiation by the House of Delegates includes up to $150 million that Youngkin and his predecessor, Gov. Ralph Northam, had proposed to bolster state cybersecurity defenses for the legislative and executive branches. After the assemblys watchdog agency warned that the IT agencys security group was understaffed, Northam included an additional 11 positions in his parting budget and the House proposed to hire an additional 11 security staff. Youngkin also had asked for $40 million over the next two years for McDermid, a former chief information officer at Dominion Energy and the Federal Reserve Bank, to use to upgrade the states cyberdefenses, but the House budget included just $20 million for two years and the Senate proposed $10 million for one year. The General Assemblys IT system is managed by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems, but it has also relied on assistance from VITA and an outside cybersecurity contractor in responding to the ransomware attack. The House and Senate budgets both include $1 million for the legislative computer agency this year and up to $3.2 million over the next two years. Dr. Shanthi Ramesh, chief medical officer with the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood, saw patients in Richmond following news that the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to overturn the landmark law guaranteeing the right to abortion. She answered their questions and tried to address concerns. One woman traveled across Virginia and was early in her second trimester of pregnancy. The woman was terrified that she wouldnt be able to be seen, Ramesh said, and just very concerned that if she couldnt get this done today this was her last chance. So we did a lot of educating that she could absolutely get this done today and, even if she wasnt ready to do this today, that abortion was still legal certainly in Virginia and in the country. The organizations and medical personnel who provide abortions anticipate that Roe v. Wade, the 1973 high court ruling guaranteeing it as a right, will be overturned by the Supreme Court this year. If Roe is overturned, states would each decide abortion policy and could choose to restrict or ban it. Politico reported last Monday night that the Supreme Court, which will soon rule on a Mississippi law that would halt most abortions after 15 weeks, had voted in conference to overturn Roe v. Wade. That is not a final decision and, even if the law is overturned, abortion would remain legal in Virginia unless the General Assembly acts to change that. Democrats hold a 21-19 edge in the state Senate, and Republicans hold a 52-48 edge in the House of Delegates. All 140 seats are up for election in 2023. Medical providers said theyre working to educate women about where things stand, and help alleviate confusion. Ive seen patients actually every day this week since the leak came out, Ramesh said. I did abortion care on Tuesday and several of those patients said, What does this mean? Is this final? Would I be able to access this in a year? Many patients are simply trying to access health care and arent thinking about the news, she said, and will be blindsided if the court overturns Roe. Theyre not thinking of it at all like a right that they could lose because of a Supreme Court decision, she said. Abortion is legal in Virginia through the second trimester of pregnancy, and is legal in the third trimester in limited cases in which three doctors approve. The state has 16 separate abortion providers. And Virginia clinics are already seeing more patients traveling from states where abortion rights have been restricted. One of them is Texas, where state lawmakers banned most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, starting on Sept. 1. Ramesh said Planned Parenthoods clinics are seeing patients from Texas and other states with more restrictive abortion laws. Last week, she said, she saw a patient who drove over five hours from West Virginia. Ramesh said she worries about patients who may have trouble getting access to an abortion because of transportation and child care expenses or the ability to get time off work. Every day, I see people who struggle to access it when its still fully legal, so I can only imagine, across the country, what thats going to look like for patients exactly like mine. Rae Pickett, communications director with Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia, said that if Roe is overturned, at least 26 states either have trigger laws that would ban abortion or have legislatures expected to quickly vote to ban abortion in those states. That will mean even more of a role for Virginia, she said, and potentially new patients traveling from Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi or Florida. In Virginia, abortion is legal, she said. Providers are seeing patients every day, and they will continue to see patients every day no matter what. Pickett said she spoke with a nurse who lives in Texas who flew to Virginia last year to get an abortion. The woman is in her 40s and has children, and she and her partner made the decision mutually, Pickett said. The nurse had ability to take time off and pay for a round-trip flight and hotel. Tarina Keene, executive director of the organization Pro-Choice Virginia, also said abortion providers have told her theyre seeing patients from Texas here. Its amazing that people have to travel so far to get the care that they need, Keene said. We know on day one when Roe is overturned that we will see an influx of patients coming in from our border states Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee which will move almost immediately to ban abortion in their borders. The number of abortions peaked in Virginia in 2008 (27,410) and in Richmond in 2004 (2,943), according to Virginia Department of Health statistics. Virginia saw 15,167 abortions in 2020, down 45% from 2008. The number of abortions in Richmond in 2020 was 1,021, also down significantly from previous years. pwilson@timesdispatch.com (804) 649-6061 Twitter: @patrickmwilson Staff writer Sean McGoey contributed to this report. I recently shadowed a mobile needle exchange program in Richmond, run by a local free clinic called Health Brigade. Over a three-hour period, clean needles, condoms, Narcan (a medicine that can stop an overdose) and other supplies were given to about 60 people. What I found most interesting was only two people asked for fentanyl test strips. These thin pieces of paper can detect the presence of synthetic opioids in minutes. I learned about them in February when a public information officer from the Richmond and Henrico Health District visited my science writing class at the University of Richmond. She said they broadly distributed the strips to addicts to help them avoid taking drugs laced with deadly fentanyl. I wanted to learn more and ended up at Health Brigade. My assumption was drug users would clamor for the strips. Fentanyl overdoses made up 6% of Virginias fatal overdoses in 2012 and jumped to 77% in 2020. I asked one of the program coordinators why only two people asked for the strips. She told me fentanyl is laced into almost all heroin and methamphetamine supplies, so drug users find the strips to be useless. If the strips are unable tell if the drugs have enough fentanyl to kill, whats the point? The leading fentanyl test strip brand is BTNX, with more than 96% accuracy at detecting the substance. Users can get them for free from needle exchange programs like the one at Health Brigade. Two lines on the strip means the substance is clean of fentanyl and one line means its contaminated. Roughly 2 milligrams of fentanyl, enough powder to cover half of President Abraham Lincolns face on a penny, is a lethal dose. Some analogue drugs that share a similar chemical structure are even more powerful. Carfentanil is about 100 times more potent and its lethal dose is much less than fentanyl. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in 2020, 94,670 people died from drug overdoses in the U.S. About two-thirds of these deaths were related to fentanyl use. Fentanyl is powerful and cheap to make, so illicit drugmakers add it to other drugs to increase profits without telling their customers. Users essentially are poisoned, and many overdose as a result. According to the Virginia Department of Healths medical examiner, 50 people died from a fentanyl overdose in Virginia in 2012 and 1,659 did in 2020. In 2018, when the test strips started to gain popularity, the Associated Press reported needle exchange and harm reduction programs constantly were running out of them. In Richmond, a lot has changed in four years. The United States has yet to organize a large study to confirm what Health Brigade employees locally are seeing on the ground. We do know fentanyl-tainted products increasingly are dominating illicit drugs in Canada. A 2018 study in Vancouver tested 1,714 street drug samples. It found 90.8% were contaminated with fentanyl, mainly in heroin. In the U.S., most illicit fentanyl comes from Mexico. Border control data show weight of powder fentanyl seizures jumped from 298.2 kilograms in the first quarter of 2018 to 2,416 kilograms in the last quarter in 2021 more than a 700% increase. The seizure of fentanyl pills increased nearly 50-fold from 42,202 in 2018 to 2,089,186 in 2021. Fentanyl test strips answer yes or no questions, not how much questions. They use lateral flow immunochromatography technology. Liquid with the dissolved sample flows across a piece of paper, with invisible lines made of antibodies engineered to turn a color when they bind to a chemical. This is the same technology behind COVID-19 rapid antigen tests and pregnancy tests. But these test strips merely measure the presence of the fentanyl, not the volume of it, which public health practitioners now see as a weakness. It could be 2% or 98%. And the difference will kill you, said Reilly Glasgow, who works at a harm reduction center in New York. Lateral flow strips still could be the answer, with some help. Researchers in Turkey made cocaine strips volume-sensitive by pairing them with an iPhone app. The band on the strip grows darker, depending on the amount of cocaine present. The app gives an estimate of how much cocaine there is based on a picture of the used strip. Now seems like a good time to develop a similar upgrade for fentanyl test strips. A 2019 report said 94% of opioid users owned a smartphone in the past year, so a vast majority would have the means to test their drugs this way. Lawmakers are writing legislation to fight the U.S. growing opioid overdose problem. One bill that passed the U.S. House of Representatives would give each state at least $4 million to address opioid misuse. More states are legalizing the use and distribution of fentanyl test strips, as already is the case in Virginia, according to one legal review. If fentanyl test strips become legal in more states, they need to adapt to the evolving illicit-drug landscape to truly help the nations opioid crisis. In the past, they were useful. But today, they tell drug users what they already know: Fentanyl is everywhere. Ammier Silvius Cuervo Perez said people often look at him funny, but in other places hes been, its normal to see people dressed in all sorts of styles. Perez, an aspiring writer who moved to Martinsville in 2019, said he has noticed reactions to his goth clothes and makeup. He often wears black clothing with silver spikes, skulls and white face paint. No one should be discriminated against by how they look, he said, and that includes subcultures and urban tribespeople who are punk, goth or alternative. Perez said that many people in the area act as if they are scared by the way he dresses or looks. But he stressed that he is not someone to worry about. His clothes are simply an expression of his love of a certain type of music, poetry and other interests, he said, and it has nothing to do with religion. Its more about listening to a specific type of music, dressing in a darker way and reading poetry with darker subject matter from such writers as Edgar Allan Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. Still, goth styles and the motives for sporting it vary. In Perez world, listening to gothic music genres has him falling in deep love with the lyrics and the expression of music. Such music emerged from the United Kingdoms 80s and 90s underground scene and wasnt allowed on the radio at the time, he said. Its similar to rock and punk with a more dark and eerie tone, but minus the screaming, he said. Melancholic tones both sad and dramatic pervade, with guitar-fueled punk rock essence coming through. Popular goth culture music includes post-punk, death rock, synth-pop, synthwave, darkwave, coldwave, cybergoth, electro goth and dark academia. Perez listed bands including Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Joy Division and Bauhaus. Perez said he is from White Plains, New York, where people in goth and other styles host street festivals, concerts, comic cons and other events in what he described as a very vibrant scene. He experienced similar environments in Greensboro and Lynchburg, but not so much in Martinsville. The 20-year-old moved toward goth style when he was about 14 and graduated via online studies at a Georgia high school, he said. Perez interns with Rudys Girl Media, through the Guided Career Exploration program co-funded by the Harvest Foundation and the West Piedmont Workforce Development Board. He said he learned about the program from his sister, Rose Perez, who works for Martinsville business Books & Crannies. The paid internship program is for people 17-24 who arent enrolled in secondary or post-secondary education. The soft skills training that we have implemented so far is vital for everybody, said Sheneka Hairston, Guided Career Exploration specialist for Virginia Career Works, in a 2021 Bulletin interview. Perez said he was kind of skeptical when he first heard about the program, but thought through it and began in February. Under Natalie Hodge of Rudys Girl Media, Silver has been working specifically on skills as a writer and artist, Hodge said. He has expressed his passion for writing high fantasy. Perez described the genre as a world that is not earth and oftentimes has creatures such as elves and dragons. Monday is be the last day of his internship. Its been a really exciting experience for the both of us, Hodge said, just learning a lot of different things from each other. With his time ending at Rudys Girl, Perez said he either would enter the workforce or post my art online and get some notoriety. His Instagram account is Silvius_Crow. Perez said he has only come across two other people in Martinsville who dress goth, and one in a punk style. He wants to bring more awareness to discrimination that might scare people from expressing themselves as they want. His advice to fellow goths in a small town: Get out of your shell and rock on. Just do it, because the more they see it the more theyll get used to it. Monique Holland is a reporter for the Martinsville Bulletin. She can be reached at monique.holland@martinsvillebulletin.com or at 276-734-9603. Americans wondering whether a nearby dam could be dangerous can look up the condition and hazard ratings of tens of thousands of dams nationwide using an online database run by the federal government. But they wont find the condition of Smith Mountain Dam in Pittsylvania County, which holds Smith Mountain Lake. Or that of Hoover Dam, which impounds one the nations largest reservoirs on the border of Nevada and Arizona. Nor is there any condition listed for Californias Oroville Dam, the countrys tallest, which underwent a $1 billion makeover after its spillway failed. Details about the conditions of these and other prominent dams are kept secret from the public, listed as not available in the National Inventory of Dams. The lack of publicly available data about potentially hazardous dams has raised concern among some experts. These structures impact people, and this is what were obviously most worried about. So it is important to share this information, said Del Shannon, a Colorado-based engineer who has assessed hundreds of dams and is president of the U.S. Society on Dams. For much of the past couple of decades, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers declined to reveal the conditions of dams in the National Inventory of Dams which it maintains citing security concerns stemming from the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. But in a move toward greater transparency, the Corps launched an updated website late last year that includes hazard ratings and condition assessments for more than one-quarter of the roughly 92,000 structures. Virginia has 2,760 dams and the Roanoke and New River valley metro areas have 86 of those. Bedford County alone, which is part of the Lynchburg metro area, has 98 dams. Yet the status of many dams remains a mystery. Thats because some federal agencies failed to update their data. The Corps also allowed federal agencies and states to restrict the release of information about the dams they oversee, and some continue to do so citing terrorism concerns. The Associated Press used information obtained by public records requests to states to supplement data in the National Inventory of Dams, tallying over 2,200 high-hazard dams that are in poor or unsatisfactory condition in 48 states and Puerto Rico. But the conditions remain unknown for more than 4,600 high-hazard dams that could cause a loss of life if they fail. Dam conditions typically are categorized as satisfactory, fair, poor or unsatisfactory. In Roanokes Deyerle neighborhood, the condition of the privately owned Spring Valley Lake Dam is listed as not rated in the database. At 1:15 a.m. May 21, 2020, the city government used a reverse 911 call to urge residents downstream of the dam to evacuate. Once daylight came and a closer inspection of the dam could be made, state and local officials said the dam was safe and had performed as designed under heavy rain conditions. In Lynchburg, College Lake dam is listed in fair condition, but an extreme weather event in 2018 caused downstream residents to evacuate their homes when a storm dropped several inches of rain on the city in less than an hour. The storm, coupled with recent rains, caused the lake to rise, topping the dam and covering Lakeside Drive. Another storm two years later raised similar concerns but didnt result in evacuations. Presently, a new Lakeside Drive is being constructed and the circa-1934 dam eventually will be removed. In the Corps database, nearly two-thirds of the 18 federal entities that own or oversee dams provided no condition assessments. That includes the largest federal regulator of dams, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees more than 1,750 dams in 42 states. A FERC spokeswoman said the agency is overhauling its assessment process and intends to have conditions available this summer. The Corps also declined to include condition assessments for the roughly 740 dams it owns, which include some of the largest in the nation. Instead, the agency posted its own risk assessments, ranging from very low to very high. Garrison Dam, which constrains the Missouri River in North Dakota to form one of the nations largest reservoirs, is described in the database as safe but high risk. The Corps says the dams failure could trigger a cascading failure of downstream dams resulting in swift, deep, and life-threatening flooding in numerous communities. No other entity uses the Corps risk-rating system, making it hard to compare the Corps dams to others. The Corps said it uses the risk categories to make repairs in the most effective manner within a constrained budget. The risk assessment information that were sharing is actually better information to help people be prepared for a potential issue at a dam, said Rebecca Ragon, the Corps National Inventory of Dams manager. The APs review also found that some federal departments lack consistent policies for releasing dam data. The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service both part of the U.S. Department of Interior disclosed hazard and condition details for their dams. But the departments Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees 430 dams in the West, denied the APs public records request for dam conditions, citing a legal exemption for information compiled for law enforcement purposes. The bureau said in an email that disclosing dam conditions would compromise the protection of our facilities and allow targeted attacks of critical infrastructure. Data from some states is also limited or missing. Alabama has no agency to regulate dams, so there are no condition or hazard ratings for its roughly 2,200 dams. Illinois doesnt assign condition ratings, because lumping dams into categories is terribly subjective and doesnt have enough value to justify the resources that it takes to do it, said state dam safety engineer Paul Mauer Jr. However, the state works with dam owners to make needed repairs. New Jersey and Texas provided AP a total number of poor or unsatisfactory high-hazard dams but did not identify them by name. New Jersey has not released dam conditions but plans to do so by the end of May under a recent policy change. Texas declined to release hazard classifications, citing a state law that keeps confidential the technical details of critical infrastructure thats vulnerable to terrorism. The National Inventory of Dams contains neither the hazard classification nor a condition for the Rockwall-Forney Dam, which impounds Lake Ray Hubbard to supply water to more than 1 million people in the Dallas area. A 2021 inspection document provided to the AP by Dallas shows the dam is classified as high hazard and has several issues, including a fractured floodgate and a large void in the rocks lining the left side. A more in-depth inspection report isnt complete. Though an overall condition assessment is not available, none of these things are of immediate concern, said Sally U. Mills-Wright, assistant director for water production at Dallas Water Utilities. Without access to information, its hard for the public to verify that. Because dam failures carry big consequences, the public should be made aware of a dams hazard rating and what lies in its downstream flood zone, said Travis Attanasio, a former dam inspector who is president-elect of the Texas section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. You may not necessarily be in flood plain, but if a dam were to break, you could still be facing a lot of water, he said. The Roanoke Times and The (Lynchburg) News & Advance contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Two men were hospitalized Monday morning after being shot near the Lansdowne Park housing complex, Roanoke police said. Mann Diearr Murray, 22, of Roanoke was arrested for the shooting and charged with two felonies: malicious wounding and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. The incident brought the citys number of shootings with injuries since Jan. 1 to 17. Police said units were patrolling the area near Salem Turnpike and 24th Street Northwest at about 9:30 a.m. when they heard what sounded like several shots fired nearby. Responding officers were advised by the citys 911 call center that there was a person with a gunshot wound in the 2400 block of Delta Drive Northwest. When officers arrived on scene, they found two adult males outside of a residence in the area with what appeared to be non-life threatening gunshot wounds, a department press release said. The Roanoke Fire-EMS Department transported the two men to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, police used evidence from the scene and video surveillance from the area to put together a description of a suspect vehicle and its direction of travel. That information was shared with nearby patrol units. One officer located the vehicle at a residence in the 1100 block of Pilot Street Northwest. Other officers responded to that location and found Murray inside the vehicle. Police said Murray was taken into custody without incident and is being held at the Roanoke City Jail. The facilitys inmate database says he is being held without bond. Court records indicate that Murray was granted bail in March after being charged with refusing to identify himself to a law enforcement officer, a misdemeanor. Since 2019, Murray has been charged with a number of other misdemeanors, including assault and battery, failure to appear in court and public swearing and intoxication. The police commended the swift actions of the departments Charlie Platoon and iSTAR Team on Monday. The iSTAR (Intelligence, Statistics, Technology, Analysis and Research) Team is composed of five analysts and one embedded criminologist, according to the departments Facebook page. The analysts interpret data from crime reports to give us an accurate look on crime trends, a post says. Without their immediate intervention, the suspect would have been much harder to locate and ultimately charge, the departments press release said. Details about what led to the incident are limited, police said. An investigation of the shooting is ongoing. Police have asked anyone with information about the incident to call (540) 344-8500. You can also text a message beginning with RoanokePD to police at 274637 to leave a tip. Police say both texts and calls can remain anonymous. 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. Rain did not stop the Roanoke College Class of 2022 from walking across the commencement stage Saturday, May 7, with umbrellas and ponchos a part of the festivities. The Class of 2022 is comprised of 449 graduates from 30 states and nine countries, according to a Roanoke College news release. One hundred seventy-six graduates earned the Bachelor of Arts degree, 81 received the Bachelor of Business Administration, and 192 obtained the Bachelor of Science degree, according to the release. President Michael Maxey presided over his final graduation ceremony. He will retire this summer after 15 years as president. You have the opportunity to become another greatest generation because of what you handled and the way you prevailed, Maxey told the graduates. That is your gift. There are always gifts that come from adversity and difficulty. Sometimes we call them silver linings. History and literature are filled with examples of heroism in response to adversity. In fact, heroism only happens in response to adversity. Only from being tested can we grow. Certainly, you have been tested. A record-breaking five students from the Class of 2022 earned valedictorian honors. The Class of 2021 held the record for just one year, with four valedictorians. In both 2019 and 2020, Roanoke College had three valedictorians. The 2022 valedictorians are: Lillian Rose Blair, a mathematics and economics major from Salem, Virginia; Bennet David Franz, a public health major from Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Bryn Madeline Haden, a public health and health and exercise science major, from Katy, Texas; Claire Michelle McDonald, a psychology major from Annapolis, Maryland; and Charissa Beth Roberson, a French and creative writing major from New Market, Maryland. A documentary on the partial meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear power facility in Pennsylvania premiered May 4 on the streaming service Netflix. The four-part series, Meltdown: Three Mile Island, explores the incident as well as the eventual cleanup and includes an interview of Smith Mountain Lake resident Lawrence King. King was hired by General Public Utilities that was overseen by the company Bechtel to help in the cleanup in the summer of 1980, just over a year after the partial meltdown at the plant. He was one of several individuals featured in the documentary who described corners being cut to speed up the effort. He said those decisions not only put the lives of residents of the Londonderry Township where the plant was located in jeopardy, but residents of much of the East Coast if mistakes were made. In the Netflix documentary, one of the biggest concerns that King and other staff had was the proposed use of a polar crane inside unit 2 of the Three Mile Island nuclear power facility during the partial meltdown. Higher-ups wanted to use the crane to remove nuclear materials from the facility. King and other employees involved in the cleanup, including Rick Parks, refused to sign off on the use of the polar crane until it was properly inspected to ensure it was safe to use. King said, if the nuclear material was dropped, it could have led to a nuclear meltdown scenario that could have made much of the East Coast uninhabitable. Parks eventually went public with his concerns which resulted in the removal of the nuclear material being postponed until it could be established that the polar crane was in proper working order. In the documentary, Parks describes several instances where he believes he was intimidated by Bechtel who didnt want anyone to interfere with or slow down the cleanup. While the documentary focuses on Parks and the intimidation he received, King said he experienced much of his own for not signing off on the use of the polar crane. They turned out to be my nemesis, he said of Bechtel. King said he was met with armed guards when heading to work at the facility and was also locked out of his office when he wouldnt sign off. He said Bechtel and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission also continued their intimidation long after he left his position at Three Mile Island. I couldnt get a job, King said of his time after Three Mile Island. He said he applied to 32 jobs at various utility companies and none would hire him. King eventually participated in lawsuits against the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for discrimination and won a settlement in the case. He eventually decided to use the money to pursue a different avenue in life. At the age of 65, he obtained a law degree from Saint Thomas Law School in Miami. King and his family are now full-time residents of Smith Mountain Lake. King and his wife purchased Lake Haven Marina near Smith Mountain Lake State Park in 1975 well before the Three Mile Island incident. His family moved to the area permanently in 1984. Now 87, King considers himself semi-retired, but still helps around the marina and even consults on the occasional discrimination or whistleblower case. In recent years, King hasnt spoken much to the media about his time at Three Mile Island. He said he had a distrust of the media . In the spring of 2020, King was contacted by Netflix to participate in the documentary. While apprehensive, King said his son Frank encouraged him to participate. Later that year, he and his son were invited to a lodge in Lexington where they filmed his interview. Much of what he discussed can be seen in episode three of the four-part series. Netflix also recently reunited King and Parks as well as other individuals involved in bringing their concerns about the Three Mile Island cleanup to light. They all met in Washington, D.C., last year. With the documentary now premiered on Netflix, King said he has invited Parks and others to Smith Mountain Lake for a viewing of the documentary this weekend. It will allow them the opportunity to share stories of their time at Three Mile Island and how their efforts possibly helped to avoid a much larger tragedy. 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. LYNCHBURG Enrollment for Central Virginia Community College decreased 29% between fall 2012 and fall 2021. CVCC President John Capps said theres no disputing the numbers Theyre real. Theres no getting around the fact that the enrollment has decreased, and that grieves us, Capps said. CVCCs total headcount in fall 2012 was 4,906 students. Since then, that number has decreased to 3,464 total students. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports overall enrollment for Virginia community colleges decreased 25% during the past decade, citing the State Council of Higher Education Virginia. Thats about 50,000 students during that time period. The biggest single-year decrease for CVCC was when enrollment fell 12%, during the pandemic in fall 2020. Capps said some students were unable to continue their education because they lacked the necessary technology. For students who lacked the technology or for students who lacked access to the internet, that was a game changer, that was a game stopper, Capps said. CVCC attempted intervention methods to help students, such as loaning laptops, loaning hotspots and extending wireless internet access to the parking lots. Since last fall, there has been a 3% increase in total student headcount. Michael Farris, dean of enrollment management, mentioned the G3 grant as one of those game-changing scenarios. The G3 grant is a tuition assistance program for any Virginia resident who qualifies for in-state tuition and who has a total household income that falls below an identified threshold. G3 makes up the difference between what financial aid pays for and the cost of tuition, fees and books for the student. Farris said as then-Gov. Ralph Northam in 2020 began pushing for G3 and free tuition for community colleges, CVCC officials reexamined their technical curricula. They transitioned advisors interactions with students by implementing a caseload management system students have their person they work with, who helps guide them and meet them in their current standing. Enrollment is important to us, but for us its about the community that we serve and every number is a person, so every person that reaches out to us weve really doubled down on our commitment to help whatever that student needs, Farris said. Although enrollment is down, since 2012 there has been a 25% increase in the number of degrees awarded, according to data provided by Cynthia Deutsch, interim dean of institutional effectiveness and strategic planning. During that same time period, theres only a 4.5% decrease in the total number of graduates. Were seeing fewer students who are able to come here, but were seeing a higher percentage of students who are being successful, Capps said. The president of the college emphasized CVCC is all about access and success of its students. Moving forward, Capps said with more support and more initiatives, reversing this enrollment trend is possible. We need the resources to be able to attract more students here and help them succeed, Capps said. With a business partner now involved, Patrick County officials said plans to reopen their only hospital could improve economic outcomes as well as urgent health care for the rural community. An emergency room operating in Patrick County would have untold positive impact for the community, said Sean Adkins, the countys director of economic development. One could say its the biggest obstacle to economic development, being without a hospital, Adkins said. Its hard to recruit a company here, especially manufacturing or industry, when theres no place for a worker to go if they get hurt. After the former Pioneer Community Hospital in Stuart closed in 2017, ambulance trips from Patrick County sometimes now extend out-of-state, often lasting longer than 90 minutes, officials said. That could soon change, with Chicago-based Foresight Health entering an agreement to buy the old hospital property, according to an email from President and CEO Sameer Suhail. We are still in the initial planning stages. At this time, were primarily focused on understanding how best to serve the people of Southside and Southwest Virginia with this endeavor, Suhail said in the email. So right now we are focused on listening to the community and getting input on what Foresight Health can do to best meet their needs. Patrick County values the 10-acre property on U.S. 58 at $4.5 million, according to property tax data, which does not yet as of Monday reflect the changing ownership. Suhail said the company wants to create long-lasting relationships and community partnerships, to expand and develop rural healthcare options throughout Southside and Southwest Virginia, perhaps beyond Patrick County. We are passionate about bringing healthcare services to communities that need them, and passionate about the job creation and economic opportunities that our community investments will bring, Suhail said. We hope not only to provide the area with terrific health care, but also with jobs, economic opportunity, and public-private partnership. Chicago-based news reports mention Suhail as the owner of companies connected to Loretto Hospital, a public facility under federal investigation related to improper COVID-19 vaccine distributions. Loretto Hospital paid companies owned by Suhail almost $4 million during the 2019 fiscal year, at a time when the hospitals owner was a close business partner of Suhails, according to reporting by Illinois-based Better Government Association and Block Club Chicago. In a written response, Suhail denied involvement in any wrongdoing. Ive always prioritized ethics and have always acted above board, he wrote. It should be made clear that no legal action has resulted from these investigations and that if any illegal activity did occur, it happened without my knowledge. If rogue actors did act in any way untoward, I would of course condemn it. Suhail said it is frustrating his name was tied to reports about Loretto Hospital in Chicago. The reopened Patrick County hospital will seat a local ethics advisory board, he said. What we are doing in Patrick County is a wholly new venture with a new leadership team, which will soon include local leaders who have worked effectively and ethically on rural healthcare projects throughout Southside and Southwest Virginia, Suhail wrote. We are invested in becoming true neighbors in this community and we will be making sizeable investments. To that end, he said the public can expect plenty of forums, town halls, and other community engagement activities as the process of reopening the Patrick County hospital proceeds. No timeline for reopening is available yet. State Del. Wren Williams, R-Patrick, ignited the effort to reopen his hometown hospital by introducing a bill approved this year by the Virginia General Assembly. On Monday, he said he was previously unaware of investigations related to the new buyer, and wants to see the concluded inquiries, when available. Regardless, he said, Im going to keep pushing to get our hospital reopened and restore healthcare access here in Patrick County. 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. Francis Marion University faculty and staff gathered recently to celebrate the career of Teresa McDuffie, who will retire this week after nearly 33 years with the university. At a reception held at The Cottage on FMUs main campus, McDuffie was presented with a special resolution by university President Fred Carter and lauded for her years of dedicated service. Teresa has been an amazing part of this university, and we all wish her well in her retirement, Carter said. From her work in campus technology, to her contributions with the African American Faculty and Staff Coalition, Teresa has done an outstanding job and has left an indelible mark on Francis Marion. McDuffie joined FMUs campus technology department as a computer technician in 1989. She later advanced to systems support technologist and network specialist, before becoming network systems administrator. McDuffie said she looks back fondly on her many years at FMU, and plans to remain in Florence with her husband, Bernard. I just thank God for allowing me to be a part of the Francis Marion family, McDuffie told her friends and colleagues. I cherish all of the memories and I love you all. McDuffies contributions to FMU were numerous. In addition to updating the network infrastructure on campus, McDuffie served as a founding member of the African American Faculty and Staff Coalition. McDuffie was also presented with the John J. Kispert Leadership Award in 2016. By Elizabeth Howcroft LONDON (Reuters) - Crypto entrepreneur Sina Estavi made headlines in March 2021 when he paid $2.9 million for an NFT of Twitter boss Jack Dorsey's first tweet. But his efforts to re-sell it have run aground, with a top bid of just $6,800 as of Thursday. The initial purchase was at the time among the most expensive sales of a non-fungible token, or NFT, and came amid a flurry of interest in the niche crypto assets which have since generated billions of dollars in sales. Estavi put the tweet up for resale on the popular NFT marketplace OpenSea last week, initially asking for $48 million. That price tag was removed after offers in the first week were in the low hundreds of dollars. As of Thursday, the highest bid was 2.2 of the cryptocurrency ether - equivalent to around $6,800. "My offer to sell was high and not everyone could afford it," Estavi, who was recently freed from jail in Iran, told Reuters via Twitter direct message, adding that he was no longer sure if he would sell the NFT. "It's important to me who wants to buy it, I will not sell this NFT to anyone because I do not think everyone deserves this NFT," Estavi said. NFTs are a form of crypto asset which can record the ownership of a digital file such as an image, video or text. There is no guarantee of an NFT's value and the market is rife with scams, fraud, counterfeits and market manipulation. But Estavi was confident in the value of his purchase. "This NFT is not just a tweet, this is the Mona Lisa of the digital world," he said. "VICTIM OF CRYPTO" Estavi, who lives in Malaysia, said he had been arrested last May during a trip to Iran and held in solitary confinement until he was freed in February. Iranian state media reported in May 2021 that he was accused of "disrupting the country's economic system". Estavi said he had been arrested because of the growth of his crypto exchange, Bridge Oracle, and described himself as a "victim of crypto". Story continues Reuters was unable to independently verify these details. "I need the support of the cryptocurrency community," Estavi told Reuters. While announcing the NFT sale in a tweet on April 6, he pledged to give 50% of the proceeds - which he expected to be at least $25 million - to charity. He said the rest would go to support Bridge Oracle. (Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft; Editing by Catherine Evans) Russias ambassador to Poland has been drenched with red paint thrown by protesters in front of the Soviet Soldiers Cemetery in Warsaw. Protestors attacked Sergey Andreev as he arrived to honour Red Army troops who died during the Second World War. Footage shared widely online shows paint being hurled from behind Mr Andreev before a protester beside him struck him in the face with the liquid. The ambassador is seen wiping away paint from his face but does not respond to demonstrators. The activists also successfully barred the envoy and other members of a Russian delegation from laying flowers. The activists, some of who were dressed in white sheets splattered with fake blood symbolising the victims of Russias war in Ukraine, carried Ukrainian flags and chanted fascist. (AP) Other officials who made up Mr Andreevs entourage were also seen to have been hit by the paint. Police arrived at the scene to help the ambassador and other members of his delegation get away. It comes after Russian president Vladimir Putin gave a speech marking the 77th anniversary of the triumph of the Soviet Union over Nazi Germany in 1945 in which he said Russias military action in Ukraine is a timely and necessary response to Western policies. Addressing the troops fighting in the Donbas region, which Moscow has pledged to liberate from Kyiv, Mr Putin said: Defending the Motherland when its fate is being decided has always been sacred. Poland, which borders Ukraine and is a member of Nato and the European Union, is a fierce opponent of Moscows invasion of the European Union. It has criticised Russia for genocidal and imperialist actions in Ukraine. (AP) Russia, for its part, has accused Poland of being the most evil and vulgar critic of Moscows actions. The two countries share a long and bloody history with military conflicts between the two countries dating back as far as the tenth century. ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- A Doon, Iowa, man pleaded guilty Monday to striking and killing a bicyclist with his minivan on a rural Sioux County road. Seth De Jong, 27, entered his plea to one count of vehicular homicide -- reckless driving. According to terms of a plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend De Jong receive a 10-year prison sentence, and his attorney will seek a suspended prison sentence and probation. A judge will determine the sentence at a hearing scheduled for July 18 in Sioux County District Court. De Jong will be required to pay $150,000 in restitution to the estate of Lorna Moss. A charge of vehicular-homicide -- operating while intoxicated will be dismissed. De Jong admitted to driving recklessly on Sept. 3, when he struck Moss' bicycle from behind while she was riding north on Hickory Avenue about two miles north of Hull. Moss, 69, was pronounced dead at a Sioux Center hospital. Investigators found alcoholic beverage containers inside De Jong's Dodge Grand Caravan, and reported that he had slurred speech and smelled of alcohol. 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. 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. OMAHA -- A Macy, Nebraska, man has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm. Allen Webster, 42, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Omaha to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was sentenced Friday to 70 months in prison. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Webster sold a handgun to a confidential informant on July 5, 2019. Because of a previous felony conviction, Webster was prohibited from possessing firearms. Webster was sentenced in September in Douglas County District Court in Omaha to five-eight years in prison for theft by receiving stolen property. After his release from state prison on that charge, he will begin serving his federal prison sentence. 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. As Putin marks Victory Day, his troops make little war gains ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his countrys biggest patriotic holiday without a major new battlefield success in Ukraine, and the Kremlin made little to no progress as the war ground through its 11th week on multiple fronts. While Western analysts in recent weeks had widely expected Putin to use the holiday to trumpet some kind of victory in Ukraine or perhaps announce a mass mobilization, he did neither. Instead, he sought to justify the war as a necessary response to what he falsely portrayed as a hostile Ukraine. On the battlefield, intense fighting raged in the east, the vital Black Sea port of Odesa in the south came under bombardment again, and Russian forces sought to finish off the Ukrainian defenders making their last stand at a steel plant in Mariupol. Biden signs Ukraine bill, seeks $40B aid, in Putin rejoinder WASHINGTON (AP) Washington is seeking to portray a united front against Russias invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden has signed a bipartisan measure to reboot the World War II-era lend-lease program to bolster Kyiv and Eastern European allies. The signing comes as Congress is poised to unleash more resources to fight the war. The House could vote as soon as this week on a $40 billion military and humanitarian aid package for Ukraine. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are urging Congress to act before May 19, when the existing drawdown funds run out. Earth given 50-50 chance of hitting key warming mark by 2026 A new report says there's nearly a 50-50 chance that world will hit a key warming threshold in the next five years. Monday's World Meteorological Organization forecast says there's a 48% chance that globe will temporarily hit 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times by the end of 2026. The 2015 Paris climate agreement set a goal of not exceeding that temperature level on a long-term average and climate scientists have detailed a host of dangers that worsen after that level of warming. The forecast also gives a 93% chance that sometime in the next five years, Earth will set a new record for the hottest year. Fugitive inmate captured after manhunt, ex-jail officer dead Authorities say a former Alabama jail official has died and the murder suspect she is accused of helping escape from custody has been apprehended in Indiana after more than a week on the run. The two fugitives were caught Monday in Evansville, Indiana, after U.S. Marshals pursued their vehicle and then crashed into it. Officials say Casey White surrendered and Vicky White shot herself, and was taken to a hospital. The two are not related. Vanderburgh County Coroner Steve Lockyear said White died from her injuries. The arrests ended a nationwide manhunt that began April 29. Marcos Jr. won Philippine presidency, unofficial count shows MANILA, Philippines (AP) The namesake son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos appears to have been elected Philippine president in an astonishing reversal of the 1986 People Power revolt that booted his father into infamy. Marcos Jr. had more than 30.5 million votes in the unofficial results. His nearest challenger, Vice President Leni Robredo, had 14.5 million with more than 96% of the votes tabulated from Mondays election. His running mate, Sara Duterte, had a formidable lead in the vice presidential race. The alliance of the scions of two authoritarian leaders compounded worries of human rights activists. Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte stuck to a battle cry of national unity during the campaign, even though their fathers presidencies opened some of the most turbulent divisions in the countrys history. S. Koreas new leader offers support if North denuclearizes SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Koreas new president says hell present an audacious plan to improve North Koreas economy if it denuclearizes. Yoon Suk Yeol made the offer during a speech at his inauguration ceremony in Seoul on Tuesday. Yoon says the door to dialogue will be open to resolve North Korean nuclear threats. He says his government will be ready to work with the international community to present a plan that will significantly strengthen North Koreas economy and improve its citizens livelihoods. But North Korea has previously rejected similar offers to provide incentives linked to progress in its denuclearization. Domestically, Yoon vowed to spur economic growth, which he said would heal much of the countrys social problems. Transgender treatment, doctors threatened by new Alabama law BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Two physicians who run a clinic in Alabama to treat children with gender dysphoria are bracing themselves now that a law that makes some of their work a crime has gone into effect. Dr. Hussein Abdul-Latif and Dr. Morissa Ladinsky lead a team in Birmingham, Alabama, that cares for more than 150 young people who are transgender or gender diverse. The law that took effect Sunday makes it a felony for medical providers to give puberty blockers and hormones to treat trans people under age 19. A federal judge is considering a lawsuit challenging the measure as unconstitutional. Rare cases of COVID returning pose questions for Pfizer pill WASHINGTON (AP) A small number of COVID-19 patients are relapsing after taking Pfizer's antiviral pill, raising questions about the drug at the center of the U.S. response effort. Paxlovid has become the go-to option against COVID-19 because of its at-home convenience and impressive results in heading off severe disease. The U.S. government has spent more than $10 billion to purchase enough pills for 20 million people. But doctors have begun reporting cases of patients who see their symptoms return several days after treatment. It's one of several questions about how the drug is holding up against a changing virus. Pfizer mainly studied the drug in unvaccinated patients during the delta wave. But most Americans now have had at least one shot as omicron variants dominate the outbreak. Putin's Victory Day speech passionate but empty Vladimir Putin had no victories in Ukraine to proclaim on Victory Day. Nor did his speech at the Red Square military parade offer any clear pictures of when a victory may come or how it would be achieved. Instead, the Russian presidents address Monday seemed to suggest that the war that many expected would be brief and decisive could be a long and brutal grind. Ahead of the holiday, which is one of the most important in Russia, expectations were wide that Putin would push for at least one unequivocal military success that he could flaunt in his speech. That might have been the city of Mariupol, but a determined Ukrainian contingent is still putting up resistance there. Pulitzer Prizes award Washington Post for Jan. 6 coverage NEW YORK (AP) The Washington Post won the Pulitzer Prize in public service journalism Monday for its coverage of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, an attack on democracy that was a shocking start to a tumultuous year that also saw the end of the United States longest war, in Afghanistan. The Posts extensive reporting was published in a sophisticated interactive series and found numerous problems and failures in political systems and security before, during and after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in the newspapers own backyard. The U.S. pullout and resurrection of the Talibans grip on Afghanistan permeated across categories and Ukrainian journalists were awarded a special citation. 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 WARSAW, Poland (AP) Russia's ambassador to Poland was splattered with red paint thrown at him by protesters opposed to the war in Ukraine, preventing him from paying respects on Monday at a Warsaw cemetery to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the attack, saying that we wont be scared while the people of Europe should be scared to see their reflection in a mirror. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau described the incident as highly deplorable. Diplomats enjoy special protection, regardless of the policies pursued by the governments that they represent, he said. Ambassador Sergey Andreev arrived at the Soviet soldiers' cemetery to lay flowers on Victory Day, which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Allies. The major Russian patriotic holiday was celebrated with pomp in a parade at Red Square in Moscow. As he arrived at the Soviet Military Cemetery in the Polish capital, Andreev was met by hundreds of activists opposed to Russias war in Ukraine. Red paint was thrown from behind at him before a protester standing beside him threw a big blob of it in his face. The protesters carried Ukrainian flags and chanted "fascists and murderers at him, while some were dressed in white sheets smeared with red, symbolizing the Ukrainian victims of Russias war. Other people in his entourage were also seen splattered with what appeared to be red paint. Zakharova said that admirers of the neo-Nazis have once again shown their face. She said that along with the removal of monuments to Soviet army World War II heroes, the attack reflected the course for the reincarnation of fascism. Some Russian commentators suggested that the attack on the ambassador could prompt Moscow to recall him and ask the Polish ambassador to leave Russia. The Polish government faced some criticism for not providing the ambassador with more security, allowing for an incident to occur that Russia could use to depict Poland as hostile to Moscow. Among the critics was a former interior minister, Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz, who said he couldn't understand why there wasn't more protection for the ambassador when for weeks you could feel how May 9 could end in Warsaw. Polands current interior minister, however, said Polands government opposed the ambassador against laying a wreath at the cemetery, and noted that police helped him to safely leave the scene. The ambassador had originally hoped to hold a Victory Day march in Warsaw, but national and city authorities opposed that and some viewed his appearance at the cemetery as provocative. The gathering of opponents of Russian aggression against Ukraine, where the crime of genocide takes place every day, was legal, Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski added. The emotions of Ukrainian women taking part in the demonstration, whose husbands are fighting bravely in defense of their homeland, are understandable. Protesters also marched in Warsaw on Sunday evening to protest the war, bringing a tank on a tractor and parking it in front of the Russian Embassy. Since the war began on Feb. 24, images of Ukrainian tractors hauling off Russian tanks have been symbols of Ukrainian resistance. The Soviet cemetery is set amid a vast park on the route linking the downtown to the international airport. It is the final resting place of more than 20,000 Red Army soldiers who perished on Polish soil fighting while helping to defeat Nazi Germany. While Poland has removed some monuments to the Red Army in the decades since it threw off Moscow-backed communist rule, it has allowed the cemetery to remain undisturbed. Though Soviet soldiers defeated the Nazis, earlier in the war the Soviet forces had invaded Poland following a secret agreement with the German Nazi government, and carried out atrocities against Poles, including mass executions and deportations to Siberia. Follow the APs coverage of the war at 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 TIANJIN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Tianjin Air Cargo, a cargo carrier based in China's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, has launched an air freight service connecting Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Bangkok, capital of Thailand, the company said on Monday. On Sunday, the service's first outbound flight left Nanning for Bangkok and later returned to China successfully. The new air route is the company's seventh international air freight route launched in Nanning. The new service is expected to boost air cargo business between Guangxi and Thailand, while helping cross-border e-commerce and foreign trade enterprises to explore the Southeast Asian market and share development opportunities, according to the company. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden announced Monday that 20 internet companies have agreed to provide discounted service to people with low incomes, a program that could effectively make tens of millions of households eligible for free service through an already existing federal subsidy. High speed internet is not a luxury any longer. Its a necessity, Biden said at a sun-drenched rose garden event with representatives from participating companies, as well as members of Congress. The $1 trillion infrastructure package passed by Congress last year included $14.2 billion funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides $30 monthly subsidies ($75 in tribal areas) on internet service for millions of lower-income households. With the new commitment from the internet providers, some 48 million households will be eligible for $30 monthly plans for 100 megabits per second, or higher speed, service making internet service fully paid for with government assistance if they sign up with one of the providers participating in the program. Biden noted that families of four earning about $55,000 annually or those including someone eligible for Medicaid will get a $30 monthly credit, meaning about 40 percent of Americans will qualify. This is a case where big business stepped up. Were trying to get others to do the same thing, Biden told the crowd to sustained applause. Its going to change peoples lives. Advocates were cautiously optimistic. It might be a game-changer, said Marty Newell, coordinator for Rural Broadband Policy at the Center for Rural Strategies in Whitesburg, Kentucky, where he said slow internet has plagued residents and businesses alike. Newell said he wanted to see more about what the program will mean going forward, but that his main question is given that increased broadband access has generally been a bipartisan issue in Congress -- What took them so long Biden, during his White House run and the push for the infrastructure bill, made expanding high-speed internet access in rural and low-income areas a priority. He has repeatedly spoken out about low-income families that struggled finding reliable Wi-Fi, so their children could take part in remote schooling and complete homework assignments early in the coronavirus pandemic, including, he said Monday, families driving to McDonald's parking lots to access wireless internet inside the restaurant. The 20 internet companies that have agreed to lower their rates for eligible consumers provide service in areas where 80% of the U.S. population, including 50% of the rural population, live, the president said. Participating companies that offer service on tribal lands are providing $75 rates in those areas, the equivalent of the federal government subsidy in those areas. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris also met Monday with telecom executives, members of Congress and others to spotlight the effort to improve access to high-speed internet for low-income households. The president said a top priority going forward will be increasing competition among internet providers in many parts of the country, noting that millions of Americans live in areas with just one provider and currently pay higher prices because of it. The participating providers are Allo Communications, AltaFiber (and Hawaiian Telecom), Altice USA (Optimum and Suddenlink), Astound, AT&T, Breezeline, Comcast, Comporium, Frontier, IdeaTek, Cox Communications, Jackson Energy Authority, MediaCom, MLGC, Spectrum (Charter Communications), Starry, Verizon (Fios only), Vermont Telephone Co., Vexus Fiber and Wow! Internet, Cable, and TV. American households are eligible for subsidies through the Affordable Connectivity Program if their income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or if a member of their family participates in one of several programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) and Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit. 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 Vandals set a fire inside the Madison, Wisconsin, headquarters of the anti-abortion group Wisconsin Family Action late Saturday or early Sunday, police and an official with the group said Sunday. Investigators are calling the fire at the building, on Madison's North Side near the Dane County Regional Airport, an arson. Julaine Appling, president of the lobbying and advocacy organization, said she and events coordinator Diane Westphall were getting ready for a Mother's Day brunch in Watertown when a building staff member informed her of the break-in. A person on the way to the airport before dawn saw smoke rising from the building and called police, Appling said. Police said flames were seen coming from the building shortly after 6 a.m. Nobody was hurt. Arriving at the office at 2801 International Lane at the same time as a reporter, two staff persons from the group found shattered glass from a broken window covering a corner office riddled with burned books. The smell of smoke persisted for hours after the fire, which damaged the corner office carpet and the wall beneath the window. The outside of the building was also sprayed with graffiti depicting an anarchy symbol, a coded anti-police slogan and the phrase, "If abortions aren't safe then you aren't either." "What you're going to see here is a direct threat against us," Appling said. The incident comes just days after a leaked U.S. Supreme Court opinion revealed a majority of the high court had agreed to overturn the landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion across the country. "Imagine if somebody had been in the office when this happened. They would have been hurt." Appling said police found remnants of at least one Molotov cocktail. Police said a Molotov cocktail was thrown inside the building but did not ignite. It appears a separate fire was started after that, police said. Madison Police Department Chief Shon Barnes said in a statement that the department is working on the arson investigation with federal officials and the Madison Fire Department. "It appears a specific nonprofit that supports anti-abortion measures was targeted," he said in the statement. Barnes said the police department will provide an update on the case at 2 p.m. Monday. On Twitter Sunday, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers condemned the apparent arson. "We condemn violence and hatred in all forms, including the actions at Wisconsin Family Action in Madison last night," Evers wrote. "We reject violence against any person for disagreeing with anothers view ... We will work against overturning Roe and attacks on reproductive rights by leading with empathy and compassion. We will defend what we believe in with our words and our voices in the streets, in halls of government, and at the ballot box. In Wisconsin, we must lead by example." Attorney General Josh Kaul called the arson "disgraceful and unacceptable." "This incident must be fully investigated and whoever is responsible should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he tweeted. Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said she understands that people are afraid and angry in the wake of the leaked Supreme Court draft but said violence isn't an acceptable response. "Madison believes strongly in the right to free speech, but it must be exercised nonviolently by all sides in this increasingly contentious debate," she said. Rhodes-Conway also said pro-abortion rights groups have also been targeted, and she called for Congress to pass a bill codifying the protections guaranteed under Roe v. Wade. In 2012, an anti-abortion activist threw a firebomb into Planned Parenthood's Appleton location. The perpetrator, an anti-abortion rights activist, was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The location closed a few years later after a mass shooting took place at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado. "This attack is abhorrent and should be condemned by all," Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said. Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch slammed the attack, saying "The radicals are trying to stop us but they know we wont be intimidated from defending life." Republican gubernatorial candidate Kevin Nicholson added, "Disgusting behavior from the left." From across the aisle, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Nelson said, "I am committed to protecting women's rights - but we must do it the right way. Violence and destruction are not the answer. I'm glad no one was hurt." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 So lets talk about That Word. Meaning the word the political left was using to define itself until the political right got hold of it and made it an object of ridicule. The word that quickly became unusable, even faintly embarrassing. No, the word is not woke. It is, rather, liberal, a word that, linguist Geoffrey Nunberg argues in his 2006 book, Talking Right, was already associated with profligacy, spinelessness, malevolence, masochism, elitism, fantasy, anarchy, idealism, softness, irresponsibility and sanctimoniousness by the late 1970s as a result of white backlash to Black progress, the national schism over Vietnam and the perceived failures of the Great Society. Then Ronald Reagan piled on. In 1988, he soon to be followed by George H.W. Bush dubbed it the L-Word, i.e., unsayable in polite company. Together, they conducted a master class in how, through relentless ridicule, a self-definition could be weaponized against those who chose it. Democratic leaders soon began refusing the label outright or accepting it only with prickly reluctance. The left was forced into a defensive crouch from which it has never quite emerged. Understanding how That Word was taken out of service is invaluable in understanding what is transpiring now with That Other Word. And here, yes, we are talking about woke. Because weve seen this movie before. Once again, the right mocks a word with undisguised glee it is slapped on a Florida education censorship bill; it is blamed by the L.A. County Sheriff for making the city unlivable; Rep. Matt Gaetz claims it will destroy the military. And once again, the left responds with a crouch. Or has no one else noticed how the word has magically disappeared from the mouths of all but its detractors? A list that, not incidentally, includes Democratic strategist James Carville, who made news last year by declaring, in a Vox interview, that Wokeness is a problem. But is it, really? Or is the problem not that the left keeps allowing the right to frame the debate? Is the problem not the failure to finally realize that there is no word the left can use to define itself that will stop those mean conservatives from picking on them? Because its not the words the right opposes. Rather, its the beliefs those words express. Like the belief that people should not have to breathe carcinogens in their air, drink poisons in their water or eat maggots in their meat. And that the work week should not be 80 hours long. And that children should not be in factories, nor hard-working families in slums. And that women should control their reproductive destinies, LGBTQ people should be treated like human beings, Black people should be free to vote. And that government has a responsibility to enforce it all. Those are noble causes to fight for. That those who have historically done so find it necessary to crouch in defense speaks to how upside down and inside out is this era and to the success of the right in defining those who are too often timid and inept in defining themselves. Woke means awake and aware. Liberal means generous and broad-minded. Progressive just to complete the triumvirate means characterized by progress. Each is preferable to its alternative. Thats not to advocate for any particular word. Rather, its to say that every moment spent debating words is a moment spent not advocating for the beliefs those words express. Its hard to fight from a crouch. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Stoya and Rich here. Its anonymous! Dear How to Do It, My boyfriend and I have been together for five years and are very in love. I want to spend the rest of my life with him and hate to imagine breaking up over thisjust as a preface. But recently, weve been struggling with some sexual incompatibility. Weve always had a really active and communicative sex life, but it has been teetering off recently because he wants me to be his keyholder, or the person who holds the key to his chastity device. He also prefers me to peg him rather than to do penis-in-vagina sex. I really understand that he may like to do less PIV, but Im uncomfortable with being a keyholder. I prefer kink to be more peripheral to my sex lifemore like something fun for a weekend, rather than a Tuesday night after work. This has been causing some tension. If I ask for PIV, or even for him to orgasm, he feels resentful, because hed rather build up to an anal session. He feels that coming too often takes away from his ability to have a prostate orgasm. He also hasnt been able to have a prostate orgasm (he thinks, but hes not sure) and wants to use the caging to try to get there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel a profound sense of loss that Im struggling to get over, and I am also having a hard time with the cage. I really love PIV with him, and I miss the ease of sex without toys and preplanning. I dont mind domming on occasion, but its not something I feel comfortable doing regularly. Im also having a hard time getting over the feeling that he doesnt want to have sex with mehe doesnt feel that desire the way I do. While I dont mind pegging, I dont find it particularly sexyI find the strap on clunky and disconnecting. Its very sexy to watch how he reacts, and weve found some compromise with me using my hand to move the dildo, but its generally not something I want to do every time. He says this makes him feel jealous, because in the past hes penetrated me every day but I wont do the same for him. Advertisement Advertisement We have been having long, emotional conversations about this, but both feel we are giving up something important. He feels if we have PIV or even if he ejaculates, hes giving up the chance to have a prostate orgasm. I feel as though my boundaries around the cage arent being respected, and that I miss vanilla sex. Were generally non-monogamous, but hes indicated he has a hard time finding and trusting other partners to do this with. Im emotionally wrecked and dont know what to do. Do you have any tips on how to strike a balance between kink and non-kink, topping and not topping? Advertisement Reluctant Dom Dear Reluctant Dom, I have some tips, but for your boyfriend, not you. To hear you tell it (and Im qualifying here to acknowledge that were just hearing one side of the story), you have damn near perfect form. Maybe too perfect, even! You might be generous to a fault. Youre willing to indulge your partner even by participating in some acts that youre not particularly enamored with or that trigger discomfort, for his sake. However, his satisfaction seems indirectly contingent on obstructing yours. All things being equal (and they arent playing out that waymore on that in a sec), youre at an impasse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know how you can proceed without compromise from both sides. Youve been compromising; its his turn. His desire to pursue prostate orgasms is cutting directly into your desire to continue having sex as you know it. What makes his position less tenable than yours is that its based in theory (which, Im assuming, has been gleaned from reading about prostate orgasms online, probably in the context of his kink). He thinks abstaining from PIV sex will eventually satisfy him. You know that PIV sex will satisfy you. There is often no use in being right in an argument between you and another person, but I think the shaky ground of his argument makes it so that he should at least consider accommodating you. Some people never get that prostate orgasm theyre looking for. Your boyfriend might be one of those peopleimagine if he ends up having disrupted your sex life in vain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats not to say that he shouldnt pursue his interests, but if he wants to be a big boy whose primary sexual outlet is getting railed, that means accepting the consequences of this kind of experimentation. His current desires are not what you signed up for, and youre under no obligation to participate. Youre basically at your limitif he needs more, something has to give. Hes having a hard time finding interested partners and, well, thats life. He should keep looking. And he should stop trying to manipulate you with the tit-for-tat whining that you mention (He says this makes him feel jealous because in the past hes penetrated me every day but I wont do the same for him). Thats baby stuff. It irons nuance out of the situation, as these are entirely different activities and it does not follow that if youre into one, you should be into the other. This is not a situation to Hey! No fair! ones way through. Advertisement Advertisement Youre uncomfortable, and youre not into what hes asking for. He keeps pushing it. Its his job here to course correct. I agree that it would absolutely suck to break up over this, but sometimes irreconcilable differences show up late to the party, unexpectedly. Even if its for the exercise alone, ask him how he sees this situation improving without your participationtell him to imagine a scenario in which you dont agree to do the things that youre uncomfortable with. What are his other paths to pleasure? This is something he needs to figure out for himself, and given the nonmonogamous nature of your relationship, he has the means to pursue them. What a great position to be in. If he doesnt take advantage of that, its on him. Advertisement Get the How to Do It Newsletter Sex advice from Rich and Stoya, plus exclusive letter follow-ups, delivered weekly. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Dear How to Do It, I am a woman in my late 50s and getting divorced. We didnt have sex for the last 10 years of the marriage because of my husbands lack of interest and sexual problems. Now I am ready to go, but cant find what I want online. Most of the men want sex once and never want to see you again. I want to find someone to date and have sex frequently. I have a very high sex drive, so just a sexual relationship would be okay for now. But I need at least a little bit of an emotional connection too. I went without it for so long, and now I want it all the time. What do you suggest? Advertisement Friends With Mild Benefits Dear FWMB, I think you should just try to date someone using whatever connecting channels feel right for pursuing that. Instead of explicitly looking for sex in spaces only devoted to hook-ups, look for someone that youd like to spend some time with. Definitely state your sexual interests up front, but maybe wait a date or two to get naked so as to reinforce your goal of a more ongoing sort of thing. That doesnt mean people will grasp it, but if you move directly to sex, theres at least a slightly greater chance that your connection will remain only in that realm, if it remains at all. That little bit of an emotional connection you seek is actually going to color the dynamic in such a way that it will look quite different from one that is just a sexual relationship. Even a drop of emotional connection will require a disproportionate amount of cultivation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You could easily look into local swingers parties/groups, but it really doesnt sound like thats what you want. You want someone that you like, that you have good sexual chemistry with, that you want to see again. Thats not something youre going to be able to order in for yourself. You need more than a few taps to get something that actually covers a range of different connections. A partner like that is special, no matter how casual the nature of your interactions. Finding such a mate requires work, inevitable disappointment, and a decent amount of confidence to state what youre looking for in no uncertain terms and face the possibility of being rejected for that. But from writing this column, I have a sense that there are people out there who are looking for what you have to offer (especially the skyrocketing libido), and I have little doubt that youll find a good match. Just have patience and be kind yourself. Advertisement Help us keep giving the advice you crave every week. Sign up for Slate Plus now. Dear How to Do It, Im a 43-year-old male. By choice, I never married or had children. In my 30s, I chose to have a rather active sex life with many different partners. Im absolutely confident I could still get laid regularly if I put forth the effort. I just dont want to anymore. My time is filled with a good job, a small-but-reliable social network, and caring for my beloved German Shepherd. Basically, life is great and Im grateful! I also feel my sex drive slipping away. Im certainly not asexual. Id enjoy a good fling if the right opportunity presented itself. If it doesnt happen thats also fine. It just probably wont because Im currently putting forth no effort toward that end. Is it okay to just retire from sex? Ive had my fun. Honestly, its a relief not to think about sex as much anymore. Is this normal? Should I go see a doctor? Maybe a therapist? It just seems to me that at my age I should still be putting myself out there. Im just too busy with things that feel more satisfying right now. I dont want to regret this in 20 or 30 years! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early Retirement Dear Early Retirement, You found happiness that doesnt involve sex? Youd make a mint if you could bottle and sell that. As it stands, think about pursuing a book deal because it seems like you figured out life. Look, the implicit message of just about everything Jessica Stoya and I have written in this column is that sex is an amazing component of life in its idealized state. The steady torrent of questions that fuels this column, however, shows a diverse spectrum of obstructions to said idealized state. Sex often comes with complications, hassles, and consequenceseven the most positive sex-positive person will find themselves wondering if its worth it from time to time. Cut out the sex, save yourself problemsthe allure of good sex, in fact, is why people put up with a lot of shit that they might not have in other situations. Advertisement If you dont want sex right now, it is your right to abstain. It seems that youve arrived at this conclusion quite naturally, after having a good decade of fun. Sounds like evolution to me. Beware, though, that your waning sex drive could be the result of decreasing testosterone, which has implications beyond the bedroom (moodiness, fatigue, and osteoporosis are just some of the symptoms of low T). It might be good to get that checked. Your doctor may suggest hormone replacement therapy. Its worth a conversation, at least. You dont seem like someone in desperate need of therapy, so unless you dont quite have the handle on the situation that you present in your letter, it doesnt seem like a must, though just having someone to talk to regularly about this stuff is useful to some people who arent anywhere near a crisis. If you want therapy, go to therapy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is one thing that you could potentially talk to a professional about, thoughyour anxiety, whose particular strain is a sort of preemptive FOMO. Who knows how any of us will look back on our choices in a few decades (if humans havent been burned off Earth by then)? Worrying about what you might think of yourself in the future is a great way to inhibit your present. Disabuse yourself of this notion. When you make your choices with the kind of clarity and reason that you evince in your letter, you set yourself up to understand your past behavior in the future. You cant say for sure whether youll look back in regret, but you can ensure that youll look back in comprehension. Advertisement Did you write this or another letter we answered? Tell us what happened at howtodoit@slate.com. Dear How to Do It, Im a 27-year-old man who has never been in a relationship or even had sex, for that matter. Whenever the subject of sex comes up or is hinted at I get uncomfortable and nervous. I dont want to be a virgin anymore, but I also dont know how to act or where to begin when it comes to seeking sexual partners. Where do I start? Very Virgin Dear Very Virgin, If you bone on principle alone, youre setting yourself up for underwhelming sex. My suggestion for satisfaction: Dont have sex because you no longer want to be a virgin; have sex because you want to have sex. Is your lack of sex a result of simple disinterest, or have other things been blocking you? Do you feel lust for other people? That lust is what galvanizes so manycan you put your finger on why its not doing the same for you? I dont recommend moving forward if you cant answer any of these questions. Advertisement Advertisement If you dont feel sexual attraction for others, you might be asexual. As always, I recommend reading Angela Chens Ace: What Asexuality Reveals About Desire, Society, and the Meaning of Sex. Whether you are or arent ace, the book could give you some useful language. Talking to a professional, especially a sex therapist, could also help you unblock. It would be unwise to go from zero to orgy-frequenter overnightmore power to you if you can pull it off, but I think easing in is going to be the safest course of action for you. Partners that you care about or at least find sexy will also help the process. Try to see things less in terms of taxonomy and more in terms of managing desire. After the first time, the virgin label will no longer apply to you. Then what? Thats for you to figure out. Rich More How to Do It My question has to do with casually viewing porn on the internet. If you believe the New York Times, child pornography is basically everywhere. As I am someone whose tastes run to younger-looking, smaller-breasted women (but no kids!), I am concerned about the possibility of accidentally viewing something illegal. Just how hardor easyis it to run across that on the major porn sites? Vladimir Putin observed Russias annual Victory Day celebrations in the Kremlins usual style, with thousands of troops parading through Red Square to honor the defeat of Nazi Germany on May 9, 1945. But this time, contrary to widespread expectations, he had no other victories to celebrate. Putin had hoped to pummel Ukraine into submission by this date, a full 75 days after he invaded his neighboronce the Soviet Unions second-largest republicfor daring to want to join the West. When that timetable didnt work out, he figured he could absorb, perhaps formally annex, the Donbas region, just across the Russian border, where Moscow-backed militias have waged a separatist war for the past eight years. Advertisement When Ukrainian troops resisted that offensive, some thought he would at least conquer the strategically important town of Mariupol on the Black Sea coast, which Russian troops have kept under siege for weeks. But they have not managed to overtake even that narrow target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign Up for the Surge The most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. In fact, in this largest, fiercest war in Europe since World War II, Putins soldiers have not yet captured and secured a single Ukrainian city. As part of an intense propaganda campaign, which has shut down free Russian media and outlawed any public criticism to a degree not seen since Josef Stalins times, Putin has likened Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys government to Hitlers Nazis (a preposterous claim not least because Zelensky, who is Jewish, lost relatives in the Nazis Holocaust). He did so again in his Victory Day speech on Monday, adding, as he has in previous speeches, that he had to invade Ukraine because the West was preparing to invade Russia. Advertisement Advertisement However, curiously, Putin did not mention Zelenskyor even Ukraineby name, noting only that Russian troops were fighting for the motherland, so that no one forgets the lessons of World War II. Some had expected that Putin would use the occasion to call for a mass mobilization of all draft-age men, thus escalating the fight from a special military operation, as he has called it, to an all-out war against not just Ukraine but its Western backers. But he made no such announcement. He made no false claims of battlefield victories, as some expected he might; but nor did he acknowledge mistakes or announce any shifts in strategy. Advertisement It is unclear at this point what Putins strategic aim is in this war, which has killed as many as 15,000 Russian troops and disabled much of its armored vehicles while leveling many Ukrainian cities and turning 5 million Ukrainian citizens into refugees. But he said nothing in his Victory Day speech to dispel the widespread view that this is going to drag on, and dredge more deeply into violence, for a long time to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, Russia has stepped up the deployment of artillery and other heavy weapons to the front lines of Donbas. But the Westespecially the United States but also several other NATO countries, including Germany, which until now has refrained from getting involved in military missionshas more than matched the effort. Putin has long deemed this a war with the West, and he is rightthough it was he, not U.S. President Joe Biden or anyone else, who made it so and who resolidified the Cold War division of Europe in a way that no one could have expected just a few months ago. It is hard to assess the degree to which Russian citizens support Putins war. Given the massive arrests of peaceful protesters, many skeptics or outright opponents of the war are probably hesitant to confide their true views to pollsters. Some hoped that the military would turn against the war, and in fact many soldierssent into battle without any preparation or special traininghave deserted, abandoning their tanks and weapons, which Ukrainians have captured and gone on to use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Andrei Soldatov, a Russian investigative journalist who has covered the military for years and is still in touch with many officers, says that the majority of them support the war, though many are critical of the way its being fought. Biden and other Western leaders have imposed onerous sanctions on Russias economy and on many oligarchs, in hopes that they might turn against Putin. Yevgenia Albats, one of Russias most intrepid journalists, recently reported that many of the countrys financial leaderswhom she interviewed on backgrounddo oppose the war and what it, Putins crackdown, and the sanctions are doing to Russias economy and society. But that doesnt mean theyre storming the Kremlins barricades. They are all too aware of the case of Oleg Tinkov, who was forced to sell his stake in Russias second-largest bank, with no chance of negotiating a price, after criticizing the invasion on his Instagram account. (Tinkov, who told his story to the New York Times, is now in hiding.) Advertisement Advertisement The Wests main aims in this war are, clearly, to help Ukraines population, keep its economy afloat, and make sure its army continues to stave off Russias offensive. However, these aims are widening, at some considerable risk. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated recently that the U.S. hoped to weaken Russia as a military power. The New York Times reported last week, on the basis of a shockingly indiscreet leak, that U.S. intelligence had helped Ukrainian soldiers find and target at least some of the dozen Russian generals killed on the battlefield. Advertisement Biden reportedly was apoplectic about the leak, fearing that Putin could take that as a serious provocation. Its likely Putin suspected the U.S. was behind the killings anyway; he may well believe the Ukrainians alone would be incapable of such work. Still, for American officials to acknowledge it, even in an unauthorized leak, can only intensify the tensions that make a widening escalation of the war more and more plausible. Whatever happens in this war, it is now very clear, from Putins words on Monday to the actions on all sides all around us, that the Russian-Western alliancewhich won World War II and which U.S., Russian, and European leaders jointly celebrated every May 9 until not so long agois kaput. The inability to obtain a safe and legal abortion has always put lives at risk. Thats why the recent leak of a Supreme Court opinion that proposes to strip away the constitutionally protected right to abortion has prompted some to say that we are turning back the clock on reproductive rights. Thats not quite right. Why? Because the end of Roe v. Wade should be understood in the context of our vast and underregulated surveillance economy, and the reliance of law enforcement on it. Its true that even if Roe is overturned, there will still be legal abortions available to those who live in or can travel to states where abortion remains legal. (That is, so long as Congress doesnt pass a national ban on abortions.) But for many, the digital breadcrumbs we leave will become potential evidence for criminal investigations. The likely end of Roe isnt just about losing control over our bodies; it emphasizes how much control weve lost over our digital selves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To begin, should the Supreme Court overturn Roe, states are free not just to ban access to legal abortions, but to criminalize it. These rights-stripping laws will arrive quickly. There are the trigger laws already enacted in some states that will ban abortions as soon as Roe is overturned. Some proposed bills go further. Republican lawmakers in Louisiana are pushing a bill that deems abortion a criminal homicide. By redefining a person from the moment of fertilization, even using an IUD or emergency contraception might fall within its scope. The proposed law could also subject the person seeking an abortion, not just the provider, to criminal prosecution. Add to this the way ordinary criminal justice works and the net of criminal liability becomes very wide. States may decide that you can be arrested and prosecuted for obtaining an abortion, broadly defined. But consider the other tools of the criminal law. People are frequently charged with attempt and conspiracy, and under the law of complicity. Surely these same tools would apply to criminalized abortion, too. Did you try and seek an abortion but fail, or just change your mind? Did you agree to help a family member obtain an abortion? Did you drive a friend to a neighboring state where abortion is legal? When states write new crimes into law, its up to local prosecutors to decide how to enforce them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Read: The Internet Can Help People Get Abortionsbut Its Not a Solution] These issues of scope and discretion are amplified enormously by the surveillance economy we live in. We leave sensitive medical and location information behind in our apps, online purchases, browser searches, and public movements. That information fuels the virtually unregulated marketplace where data brokers collect massive amounts of personal information on millions of people. Advertisement Advertisement This means that an underground network for abortion access in states where abortion is criminalized isnt really possible (unless you intend to live off the grid). Use Google to search for how to obtain an abortion, for yourself or for a friend? Order pills online for a medication abortion? Use a ride-hailing app to obtain an abortion? What if investigators ask Google to reveal everyone who searched for an abortion? Or everyone who was near a suspected provider of abortion services? Police are increasingly using keyword search warrants, which are exactly what they sound like, and geofence warrants, which look for every cellphone within a specific area and time, and theres no reason to believe that criminalized abortion would be exempt from their reach. Law enforcement agencies have found that our digital lives offer a rich trove of potential evidence, and their warrant power can provide them with access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You might wonder whether other constitutional rights protect you here, even if Roe disappears. The answer is uncertain. The Supreme Courts 2018 decision in Carpenter v. United States was revolutionary. For the first time, the court concluded that we have Fourth Amendment rights in corporate records that we do not possess and may not even know about. The Carpenter decision, however, involved the collection of cellphone location information compelled directly from a wireless services provider. At the moment it is unclear how broadly that case should be applied. Even so, Carpenter imposed a warrant requirement on the government; that creates an important, privacy-protecting hurdle, but not a barrier. And the government can skirt warrant requirements when it buys data instead of compelling it. There are virtually no restraints on the government as a consumer in the surveillance economy. Federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection have purchased access to databases containing the location information of millions of cellphones and their users. Government lawyers have defended the legality of these purchasesand the inapplicability of Carpenterby arguing that the government is a customer like any other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some women seeking abortions will face privacy threats at home as well. Many in abusive relationships already have partners who monitor their digital activity. Digital stalking and harassment is a common problem. Turning abortion into a crime can make things worse. Domestic abuse victims may face abusers who threaten to report them to the police for seeking reproductive health care, even for a miscarriage. Faced with these uncertainties, privacy advocates have responded by offering advice on what can be done to seek information and help without fear of prosecution. These measures include using end-to-end encrypted chats and Tor for private online searches, and stopping the use of period tracking apps. These privacy protests are similar to self-help measures weve been warned for years to use. Advertisement [Read: The Abortion Movie for Our Post-Roe Moment] In the case of abortion rights, however, these steps are less likely to help those most in need. We know that the typical abortion patient today is poor. About half of all women who obtained an abortion in 2014 were below the poverty line, with another quarter not much above it. We also know that the poor live in a unique matrix of vulnerabilities when it comes to privacy, technology, and surveillance. Those in low-income communities of color are often acutely aware of the privacy risks they face online. But research suggests that they are also least able to find the tools and learn the strategies to protect their digital privacy. Telling the typical person who might seek an abortion to install a virtual private network or focus on encrypted apps isnt going to help much. And the recourse to self-help misses the point. The coming digital insecurity for those who might worry about an arrest or prosecution for seeking, helping with, or providing an abortion in some parts of the country points to larger problems in our digital infrastructure. The leaked Supreme Court opinion shows us how few privacy protections we have. And how its going to get much, much worse. Read more of Slates coverage on abortion rights here. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Immediately after getting verified on Twitter, I started thinking about what I should write for my first blue-checked Tweet. It mattered because Twitter verification proved I was a real writer, making this the inaugural tweet of a real writer. Of course, a healthier marker of my writerly identity could have come from the years of bylines Id accrued, or my bimonthly paycheck from The New York Times, or the fact that I spend most of the day every day writing. But the brain worms of social currency had long ago convinced me that this little blue check was even more valuable than those things. I needed that first tweet to be perfectsmart yet hilarious yet effortless, which is of course a magic trick requiring tremendous effort. Advertisement After spending irreplaceable minutes of my mortal life puzzling over the task, it was solved for me: I was hacked. My first verified tweet was an unintelligible bots nonsensical screed about NFTs. So were the 3,000 tweets that followed. Not quite the effortless I had in mind, though I didnt lift a finger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you have a social media account, theres a possibility youre up next for being publicly hacked. I dont mean to panic you, just to prepare you. Ive watched both friends and celebrities get taken out on various platforms. In fact, it wasnt so long ago that Elon Musk was hackedon the very same app he offered billions to buy last month. There is no refuge even in death; they came for Gilbert Gottfrieds account mere hours after his obituary was posted. Methods exist to protect yourself against this (complex passwords, two-factor authorization) but I did both, and theywhoever they arestill got me. Advertisement Advertisement Mine was the best-case-scenario version of a hacking. My hacker didnt access my DMs, and even if they had, there was nothing salacious there to reveal. No photos were leaked. They didnt reach my bank account, my credit cards, or my email. As a NYT employee, I had access to the best minds on the security team, who worked with Twitter to turn my account back to me in 24 hours. I could have been ruined; I was merely inconvenienced. As far as hackings go: not so bad. Advertisement But it was still bad enough! I watched in real time as my hacker replaced my photo with that of a cartoon shark head (apparently an NFT), deleted my tweets, and started spewing out thousands of their own under my name, tagging thousands of people over the next several hours in an apparent ploy to direct clicks to a certain NFT drop. While trying to explain the experience to my 91-year-old grandmother, whos never owned a computer, I gave this comparison: Being hacked feels like being locked out of your home while watching through the windows as someone robs it. That sounds dramatic. I still mean it. I had spent years curating this online self, this insouciant Twitter Dorie, and in a matter of minutes every little joke and observation Id made, every link Id shared, every public conversation Id had with showrunners and essayists and researchers I admireall of it was wiped clean and replaced with NFT nonsense. Yes, they were just my tweets. But they were mine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I recognize, logically, that my internet ramblings do not matter. Compared with most media professionals (all of us theoretically in the public eye), I have a miniscule following. Even for those few people who do engage with my Twitter, engaging with tweets is the intellectual equivalent of blowing snot into a tissueone second of warm connection followed by immediate disposal. I know that the physical world I inhabit is more important than the virtual one: In the hours after getting hacked, when there was nothing left for me to do but wait, I watched one of my favorite dance companies perform, then shared dinner at a delicious Korean restaurant with a friend I adore. In the glow of that experience, the concerns of little words on a screen, themselves just a coded sequence of 0s and 1s, should have ceased to matter entirely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the truth is, I could barely focus on the show or the meal. I kept fixating on everything I was losing, the uncertainty of what else could be lost. Now no one on the internet would know that I was likable or smart, I worried. This is, of course, an idiotic thing to worry about while sitting next to a real friend who finds you likable and smart in real life. And like a real friend, she ordered two rounds of soju to mark the occasion, which softened the edges of my mind and helped me realize the problem: Getting hacked felt like being robbed because Id assigned real-world value to a virtual product. But that wasnt totally my fault, and it wasnt a total miscalculation. Twitter claims 330 million monthly users. It can entrap anyone, regardless of profession. For a writer, though, there is a degree to which an online persona is a career necessity. Its how I learn about what events and stories drive the cultural narrative; its how I forge relationships with other creatives; its how I sharpen the tool of my own thinking. Especially for a writer like me who dabbles in many genresnot just the commerce journalism of my day job but also essays and screenplaysits been a way to connect with people outside my company Slack. My tweets are much faster to read through than an essay or a scripta click on my Twitter page confirmed my voice and at least hinted at my comedic ability. Twitter matters. It has ruined elections and propelled careers and ruined careers and propelled elections. It has introduced me to geniuses and idiots, harassers and friends. Of course it matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And yet, though Ive enjoyed creating relationships with other writers and readers online, the fact is, none of those are real relationships, because none of it is really me. My online persona is just a flattened extract, a disembodied voice polished through edits, whereas the real me speaks loud and fast and with aggressive gesticulationsomething only my friends know. While a like strokes my ego, it does not make me feel as good as peoples laughter does. And of course, the pitch for this very essay was accepted on the basis of the ideas it containsnot my social media presence. When I lost my Twitter account, I wasnt mourning the death of some potential opportunity. It was that I felt like a part of me had died with the account. How will my grandkids know that I was pithy!?? I tweeted in jest afterward, but really, I worried about it. In creating these online selves, we effectively create our own immortalities. Nothing dies on the internet, the adage goes, and in fact, not even my deleted tweets are dead, existing in perpetuity on the Wayback Machine. Advertisement But even that eternal chain of 1s and 0s wont let me live forever. It wont make me matter. Getting hacked pushed me to confront the reality of why I posted in the first place; it wasnt just the fun of it, not just creative challenge or the job strategy. It was far more pathetic than all that: Tweeting, for me, was an attempt to matter, every like and follow another confirmation of how much I mattered. I know, of course, that shouting into the void of the internet does not make you matter, even if its echo will reverberate forever. You can be immortal but still also forgotten. When I tweeted, How will my grandkids know that I was pithy!??, I was framing the question wrong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont wish for you to get hacked, but the experience rattled my soul and made me reconsider how I use the internet, a reckoning that was frankly overdue. I still think Twitter is a powerful tool for a writer, perhaps even for a normal person. But I am trying to let go of its power to verify my worth. I still get a little satisfaction whenever a post gets attention, but in the weeks since the hack, Ive spent less time using the app, and less energy too. Even if it survives until then, I realize, my digital footprint will not matter in 100 years. It barely matters today. My grandkids will have to know Im funny just by knowing me, and I guess so will I. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. TEHRAN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian foreign minister said on Monday Syrian president's latest visit to Tehran signals the bilateral relations are "excellent" and "unbreakable." Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in an interview with the official website of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Commenting on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's Tehran visit on Sunday, the foreign minister said the leaders of the two countries are committed to expanding and deepening bilateral relations. At present, he said, the all-out expansion of economic, trade, tourism, scientific and technological cooperation is on the two sides' agenda. Describing the atmosphere of the meeting between Khamenei and al-Assad as "completely friendly," Amir-Abdollahian noted that it was thanks to Iran's role over the past years in helping Syria end the war and fight against terrorism in the country. He said al-Assad's trip was a new turning point in Tehran-Damascus ties, expressing hope that the two countries would be able to use each other's capacities in the economic, trade, tourism, cultural, industrial, scientific and technological fields. Amir-Abdollahian added he is convinced that a very bright future is ahead of the Iranian and Syrian peoples. The Syrian president left Tehran for Damascus on Sunday after his meetings. It was his second visit to Iran during his presidency. He took his first trip to Tehran in February 2019. Enditem Hungary could be excluded as well. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The European Commission could leave out Slovakia and Hungary from the planned embargo on Russian oil. Both EU member states are heavily dependent on its import. The news was reported by Reuters and the weekly Politico based on unnamed diplomatic officials. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Both media outlets reported that the commission will complete preparations for the newest sixth package of sanctions against Russia on Tuesday by the latest. The following day a COREPER meeting will take place in Brussels during which ambassadors of the member states are to evaluate the new package in regard to their national interests. Related article Related article Highly-dependent Slovakia looks for alternatives to Russian gas Read more Another package of sanctions The new sanctions are to include a gradual ban on the purchase of Russian oil by the end of 2022. Oil exports are the main source of revenue for Moscow and used to finance the war in Ukraine. According to diplomats cited by Reuters, Slovakia and Hungary could be offered an exemption or longer transition period. Both member states are heavily dependent on Russian oil imports and have difficulty finding alternative supplies. Hungary has repeatedly indicated that it will not agree with sanctions on energy. A compromise would therefore help the European Union avoid the possibility of a veto when voting on sanctions and maintain the unity of all member states. Related article Related article Poll: Slovaks against disconnecting from Russian gas Read more Dependence on gas as well The latest survey in Slovakia showed that as many as 62 percent of residents do not agree with disconnecting from Russian gas and oil if the consequence would be higher energy prices. The country is dependent on Russian gas and there is a chance it could be completely cut off from supplies around May 20 when Russian gas giant Gazprom is scheduled to receive payment for the next invoice if it is not paid in rubles. Gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria have already been halted. At the moment, tanks are 22 percent full, which should be enough to last until autumn. The most likely short-term alternative is the import of liquefied gas. Discovered in 2006 in Slovakia, finds from the prince's tomb will be on permanent display in Poprad. Work in the laboratory on a board from the floor of the tomb. In the foreground, parts of wooden furniture can be seen. (Source: SAV) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The wooden tomb of a prince more than 1,600 years old will return to Slovakia. Two lorries loaded with parts of the tomb will transport it from Germany to Nitra on Monday, May 9, as reported by the SITA newswire. The rare tomb from the Migration Period was found in 2006 in Poprad-Matejovce, eastern Slovakia. However, parts were then taken to specialised laboratories in northern Germany where experts have been working on its conservation. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement German specialists also took part in a fourth-month research in Slovakia alongside archaeologists from the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) and the Podtatranske Museum. Back then, experts had claimed the tomb from the 4th century AD was a rare European discovery, though it had been robbed. Dried Poprad timber Archaeologists still managed to find the well-preserved wood, leather, and textiles thanks to suitable soil conditions. A wooden table, leather-made bow case, parts of a patterned tapestry, wooden sarcophagus and other items from the Migration Period were found by archaeologists in the tomb. Read also: Read also: Virus probably killed prince from Matejovce 1,600 years ago Read more It's the dream of every archaeologist, said Matej Ruttkay, who heads SAVs Institute of Archaeology. The timber used to build the underground tomb weighed 10 tons. Because it was not possible to conserve the timber in a traditional way, due to technical and financial reasons, German experts invented a new method. Instead of impregnating the timber with a preservative solution, the specialists came up with the ecological method involving the natural drying of timber. The entire process has not ended, Ruttkay said, and will continue in the institutes air-conditioned depositories in Nitra. Permanent exhibition A permanent display on the life and the death of the prince is being prepared at the Podtatranske Museum in Poprad. It will include all the most important finds from the tomb. Read also: Read also: Archaeologists unearthed a Germanic tomb 15 years ago. When will it be exhibited? Read more The results of the research on the wooden tomb from Slovakia have also been published in a number of studies. Cherry orchard, rocky hills, and a special workshop are among the attractions. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The village Brdarka in the Kosice Region is not commonly known among people in Slovakia. Despite that, it becomes one of the most visited places of the region in May. People from various corners of Slovakia are lured here by a cherry orchard. When about 3,500 trees are in blossom, they offer a unique look at a part of the former heart of the Hungarian Empire. From Brdarka, cherries used to be exported to the English royal court and were a staple on tables of the cream of Viennese society. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The first few May weekends brought cars from eastern, central and western Slovakia to Brdarka. People admired the blooming orchard and then went to hike up the rocky terrain. Brdarka however offers much more. People with interesting stories live there, thanks to which the village with some 60 inhabitants is unique. There are also streams with crystal clear water and a workshop where especially Roma children work with clay. Some of them live in poverty and at the workshop some of them learn for the first time what it is like to draw with coloured pencils. Inconspicuous house Mostly voters of SaS and Progressive Slovakia were inclined to leave. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled If Slovakia were attacked, almost a third of the population would flee. Almost half would remain in the country, but would refuse to actively take part in the fighting. This stems from a survey by the Focus polling agency for the Na telo programme on the private television station Markiza. Mostly women aged 18 to 34 would leave Slovakia. Only 13 percent of people would be willing to fight with weapons in their hand. Significantly more men would be willing to do so as opposed to women, 23 and 3 percent respectively. In terms of willingness to fight, there were differences among generations. Men aged 18 to 34 were the most willing to fight at 31 percent, whereas only two percent of women above 55 years of age were so inclined. Seven percent of people said they would not know how to react to the occasion of war. Related article Related article Most of current military technology is expired Read more The survey also showed that voters of individual political parties have different attitudes towards war. Of the people who would remain in Slovakia but wouldn't want to fight, most are voters of Smer and Hlas parties, with 66 and 58 percent of voters respectively. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement On the other hand, 52 percent of Progressive Slovakia voters and 39 percent of Freedom and Solidarity voters would be inclined to leave. The two parties have a younger electorate, which might contribute to the high numbers. In terms of willingness to fight, 27 percent of extremist Republika party are in the lead, followed by Progressive Slovakia voters with 19 percent. Sme Called a Russian wheel in Slovak, the Ferris wheel was invented in America. A Russian wheel, as is it known in the Central Europe, in Bratislava. (Source: SME - Marko Erd) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled In the 19th century, caviar was either fed to pigs or thrown away. Once their shell has dissolved, the small fish eggs taste slightly sweet at first, immediately followed by a bitter taste. Together with ham, mayonnaise, and hard-boiled sliced egg, cavier eggs are one of the ingredient of a delicacy known as the Russian egg. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement After the Russian invasion, Slovak producers renamed the food as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine, and no longer use caviar. However, caviar remains the only clue as to whether the Russian egg had anything to do with the country at all. "Until the 1876 World's Fair no one ate caviar. At the exhibition the Russian delegation introduced three varieties of caviar, black, red, and pressed. The French dailies called it 'Russian crap'," says historian Vladimir Tomcik who wrote several books on the history of gastronomy. In his opinion, such a connection of the Russian egg with caviar and caviar with Russia might coincide, but at best is an indication, not a proof of Russian origin. Several food companies in Slovakia and Czech Republic even stopped calling food products Russian. The Ryba Kosice company started selling the picnic egg instead, the Ryba Zilina company introduced an alternative food called the delicacy egg. The Czech producer Bidfood renamed the Russian ice cream Ukrainian ice cream. The Sme daily tried to find the origin of names such as the Russian egg, Russian ice cream, or Russian wheel. Factually, their Russian origin is either debatable or absolutely untrue. Russian egg 'annexed' by Czechs The Russian egg was annexed by Czechs. In a relatively popular story, Russians are mentioned in regards to the origin of the food, though not as inventors, but as tasters. They were served the food by Italians. Evidence to the Italian origin is supposed to come from the fact that a salad called "vlassky" was used as an ingredient, and various sources call Italians by such a name. Slovak politicians marked the 77th anniversary of the end of the Second World War on social media and at cemeteries. President Zuzana Caputova commemorates May 8, the end of WWII, at a military cemetery in Zvolen, central Slovakia. (Source: TASR) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled This year, Slovak political leaders marked May 8 the day when the Second World War ended in Europe with the help of the Soviet Unions Red Army amid Russias invasion of Ukraine, and a day ahead of Victory Day celebrations in Moscows Red Square at which Vladimir Putin sought to gather more support for his invasion. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement On this day we cannot close our eyes to the bitter truth, President Zuzana Caputova posted on social media. Russias attack on Ukraine, she continued, is the betrayal of all the fallen who were fighting against actual Nazism. Zuzana Stevulova from the Human Rights League will take up the job in June. Zuzana Stevulova (left) and Justice Minister Maria Kolikova (right) at a press conference on May 9, 2022. (Source: Justice Ministry) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Human Rights League Executive Director Zuzana Stevulova has been announced as the new head of the Centre for Legal Aid, an institution that falls under the Justice Ministry. Justice Minister Maria Kolikova (SaS nom.), who was the centres first director after its founding in 2006, said the human rights activist and experienced asylum lawyer would start on June 1. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement For me, the centre is an exceptional project in Slovakia and in the wider European area, the new head said at a press briefing on May 9. The centre honours everyones right to access effective justice, but also the right to equality and human dignity, Stevulova added. Personal bankruptcy and refugees After Russias invasion of Ukraine, Stevulova was in contact with the centre to help launch cooperation in providing legal assistance to Ukrainian refugees. The Human Rights League and the centre established a helpline for refugees, and they assist them at large-capacity refugee centres. The Centre for Legal Aid provides legal assistance to everyone, including those who could not otherwise afford it. Five years ago, the centre expanded its agenda and started to handle peoples personal bankruptcy and help them escape a debt trap. Kolikova said that the centre has helped half a million Slovaks with their bankruptcy. I consider the centre to be a very important institution, the minister said at the press conference, adding that not every EU member state can boast such a legal aid centre. Closer to communities and minorities Stevulova would like to continue providing legal assistance to refugees within the Centre for Legal Aid but she considers it important to make the centre more visible among the public and lawyers. My goal is to also start cooperating with different non-governmental organisations and bring it closer to various communities in Slovakia. President Zuzana Caputova condemned Russia's invasion on Victory in Europe Day. Why do Slovaks call a Ferris wheel a Russian wheel? Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Good evening. The Monday, May 9 edition of Today in Slovakia is ready with the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Slovaks unwillingness to defend Slovakia Slovak people would not fight for Slovakia if their country were invaded, a poll shows. (Source: TASR) Slovak people would not rush to fight an aggressor if Slovakia were attacked, a Focus poll for TV Markiza has shown. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement In fact, a third of inhabitants would leave. Nearly half the population would stay in the homeland, but would refuse to face the aggressor in military action. Only 13 percent would be willing to fight with weapons in their hands. Looking at peoples political preferences, supporters of extremists are most determined to defend Slovakia. Military training: The Defence Ministry has opened an application process for voluntary military training after a two-year break due to the pandemic. The training will last 11 weeks. Each participant will receive 1,300. Military aid: Slovakia is considering the deliveries of infantry fighting vehicles (BVP) or T-72 tanks to Ukraine, but the country must first have adequate compensation for them, according to Defence Minister Jaroslav Nad (OLaNO). Russias invasion condemned on Victory in Europe Day President Zuzana Caputova paid tribute to WWII fallen soldiers at military cemeteries in central Slovakia on May 8, 2022. (Source: TASR) This year, Slovak political leaders marked May 8 the day when the Second World War ended in Europe with the help of the Soviet Unions Red Army amid Russias invasion of Ukraine, and a day ahead of Victory Day celebrations in Moscows Red Square at which Vladimir Putin sought to gather more support for his invasion. On this day we cannot close our eyes to the bitter truth, President Zuzana Caputova posted on social media. Russias attack on Ukraine, she continued, is the betrayal of all the fallen who were fighting against actual Nazism. The president, unlike most Slovak politicians who preferred to share social media posts to mark the red-letter day this year, honoured the fallen Soviet and Romanian soldiers, who liberated Slovakia from the influence of Nazi Germany, at the military cemeteries in Badin and Zvolen, central Slovakia. For a deeper insight into current affairs, check out our Last Week in Slovakia piece published earlier today. You can sign up for the newsletter here. PHOTO FOR MONDAY U.S. First Lady Jill Biden's message written in a guestbook at the Presidential Palace on May 9, 2022. (Source: TASR) U.S. First Lady Jill Biden ended her tour of Slovakia on Monday, May 9, with a meeting with President Zuzana Caputova. In a guestbook at the Presidential Palace, Biden described Slovakia as a beautiful country that shares the same values as the USA. We stand with Slovakia, she also wrote in the book. Read what the First Lady did in Bratislava on Saturday and on Sunday in eastern Slovakia. FEATURE STORY FOR MONDAY Russian wheel, Russian egg, Russian ice cream Along with ham, mayonnaise, and hard-boiled sliced egg, caviar is one ingredient of a delicacy known as Russian egg. After the Russian invasion, Slovak producers renamed the food as a sign of solidarity with Ukraine, and no longer use caviar. However, caviar remains the only clue as to whether Russian egg had anything to do with the country at all. A Ferris "Russian" wheel pictured in Bratislava. (Source: SME/Marko Erd) Until the 1876 World's Fair no one ate caviar. At the exhibition the Russian delegation introduced three varieties of caviar, black, red, and pressed. The French dailies called it 'Russian crap', says historian Vladimir Tomcik who wrote several books on the history of gastronomy. In his opinion, such a connection of Russian egg with caviar and caviar with Russia might coincide, but at best is an indication, not proof of Russian origin. Several food companies in Slovakia and Czech Republic even stopped calling food products Russian. The Ryba Kosice company started selling the picnic egg instead, the Ryba Zilina company introduced an alternative food called the delicacy egg. The Czech producer Bidfood renamed Russian ice cream as Ukrainian ice cream. What is the origin of names such as the Russian egg, Russian ice cream, or Russian wheel? Factually, their Russian origin is either debatable or absolutely untrue. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription. Thank you. IN OTHER NEWS Smer leader Robert Fico will not be present in the parliament during the virtual address of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, May 10. Fico will not listen to a person who lies on a daily basis, he said. will not be present in the parliament during the virtual address of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, May 10. Fico will not listen to a person who lies on a daily basis, he said. President Zuzana Caputova bestowed state awards on 25 people coming from different areas of life on May 8. The president posthumously awarded, for example, three members of the Christian anti-communist movement sentenced to death during political processes in the 1950s, as well as nurse Margita Kosturikova, who died of Covid-19 in January 2021. Athletes Marian Hossa and Matej Toth were also given an award. Alzbeta Gollnerova-Gwerkova, a translator who fought in the Slovak National Uprising and was killed by the Nazi police gestapo in the biggest mass killing in Slovakia, in Kremnicka, was also honoured. coming from different areas of life on May 8. The president posthumously awarded, for example, three members of the Christian anti-communist movement sentenced to death during political processes in the 1950s, as well as nurse Margita Kosturikova, who died of Covid-19 in January 2021. Athletes Marian Hossa and Matej Toth were also given an award. Alzbeta Gollnerova-Gwerkova, a translator who fought in the Slovak National Uprising and was killed by the Nazi police gestapo in the biggest mass killing in Slovakia, in Kremnicka, was also honoured. 3,414 Ukrainian refugees crossed the Slovak-Ukrainian border to enter Slovakia on May 8. 91 applied for temporary protection. crossed the Slovak-Ukrainian border to enter Slovakia on May 8. 91 applied for temporary protection. Ryanair will renew flights from Bratislava to Rome on October 30. The names of the fallen were read on the Day of Victims of Russian Fascism on May 9, 2022, at the Slavin war memorial in Bratislava. (Source: TASR) The non-parliamentary party Progressive Slovakia elected Vice-President of the European Parliament Michal Simecka as its party leader on May 7. as its party leader on May 7. A total of 53 new Covid-19 cases were reported on May 8. More on Spectator.sk TRAVEL TRAVEL Hundreds head to little-known Brdarka in May Read more POLITICS POLITICS Legal aid centre assisting Ukrainians to hire new head Read more |CULTURE |CULTURE Getting an idea of former life on the Slovak and Austrian sides of the Iron Curtain Read more If you have suggestions on how this news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. JINAN, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Shu Qiuhong runs a store selling "hanfu" -- the traditional clothing of the Han ethnic group -- in Jinan, the capital city of east China's Shandong Province. Shu, a native of southwest China's Guizhou Province, has a profound affection for traditional Chinese garments dating back to her childhood. "I have become friends with many customers as we have the same hobbies. We often exchange views on styles and production skills," said Shu, adding that young consumers make up a big part of her clientele. Over the past few years, China has seen a surge in young consumers interested in domestic brands and products that incorporate traditional Chinese style and culture, a trend known as "guochao." These are not merely flash-in-the-pan fads, but long-lasting trends that reflect the changing preferences and habits of Chinese consumers. In China, there are around 260 million people born between 1995 and 2009, who are often dubbed "Generation Z," according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. Growing up in a different environment from their elders, they have witnessed China's rise as a global economic powerhouse and formed a brand-new consumption concept. Beijing's Palace Museum has been at the forefront of the nationwide guochao trend, with lipsticks and blushes engraved with traditional Chinese patterns being the perennial bestsellers on the shelves. These products have proven immensely popular with Generation Z consumers. While maintaining tradition, constant innovation has revitalized domestic brands. Biohyalux, a sub-brand of Bloomage Biotechnology Corporation Limited, a major hyaluronic acid producer in Shandong, has seen its sales volume soar as it strikes a balance between technology and culture. Data show that in 2021, the revenue of Biohyalux increased 117.4 percent year on year, with young female consumers being an important part of its consumer base. The secret of business growth is its technology research and development. "Extracting 1 kg of hyaluronic acid used to require more than 20,000 roosters," said Zhao Yan, chairman of Bloomage Biotechnology. According to Zhao, hyaluronic acid in China used to mainly reply on imports. The import price per kilogram of products was as high as 1 million yuan (about 150,000 U.S. dollars). Bloomage Biotechnology's self-developed microbial fermentation method has turned the tables, with lower costs and higher product purity. Thanks to innovation and continuous upgrading of production technology, China has become the world's largest producer of hyaluronic acid. With such a large and dynamic consumer group, experts believe the consumption power of Generation Z is pushing forward constant innovation in various sub-sectors in China and the modernization of the consumer market in years to come. BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The National Endowment for Democracy (NED), which takes orders directly from the U.S. government and manipulates NGOs through the provision of funding to conduct subversion, infiltration and sabotage to serve U.S. strategic interests, is actually the "second CIA" of the United States, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Monday. Spokesperson Zhao Lijian made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked about the Fact Sheet on the National Endowment for Democracy released by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday. The fact sheet, with about 12,000 words in six sections, lays bare the true face of NED through hundreds of specific incidents gathered from public reports, Zhao said. He said the United States has long used democracy as a tool and a weapon to undermine democracy in the name of democracy, to incite division and confrontation, and to meddle in other countries' internal affairs, causing catastrophic consequences. "NED, as one of the U.S. government's main 'foot soldiers' and 'white gloves', has subverted lawful governments and cultivated pro-U.S. puppet forces under the pretext of democracy," Zhao said. NED was seen behind color revolutions instigated and orchestrated by the United States, including the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the Rose Revolution in Georgia, the Orange Revolution in Ukraine and the Arab Spring, Zhao said, adding that NED has been stirring up protests and demonstrations in Thailand, inciting the opposition parties in Nicaragua to seize power by force, funding anti-Cuba forces to manipulate public sentiment against the government, and long interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs through various means. "Hellbent on disrupting the world, NED has not brought social stability and development or contented lives and good work to other countries. On the contrary, it has caused a host of issues including withered livelihood, languishing economy and social confrontation," Zhao said. NED also extends its evil hand to China and invests heavily in anti-China programs every year to incite "Xinjiang independence," "Hong Kong independence," and "Tibet independence" activities by various means, said the spokesperson. "It also colludes with 'Taiwan independence' forces and attempts to incite division and disrupt stability across the Taiwan Strait, which has been met with indignation and opposition from the Chinese people on both sides of the Strait," Zhao said. Noting NED is actually the "second CIA" of the United States, Zhao said it is by no means an NGO that provides support for democracy abroad. "We believe the international community will see its true face more and more clearly, and more countries will expose its ugly track record in various forms," said the spokesperson. Noting peace and development remains the theme of our times, Zhao said those that meddle in other countries' domestic affairs are doomed to fail no matter what disguise they use. BANGKOK, May 9 (Xinhua) -- China's men's badminton team overcame an spirited challenge from France to claim a 5-0 victory in its first group match of the Thomas Cup here on Monday. China made it to the Thomas Cup final in 2021, but some big names like Olympic Champion Chen Long as well as Shi Yuqi are missing from the line-ups this time, while the doubles are still in a time of transition following the Tokyo Olympics. In the opening singles match, world no. 25 Lu Guangzu defeated Christo Popov in a grueling battle that lasted almost two hours. Lu had to save three set points to take the first set 25-23. In the second set, Lu held off three consecutive set points before losing 26-24. The match seemed to be slipping away from Lu when he was trailing and had to call for medical assistance after a failed save, but he managed to recover and take the set 21-15 while his opponent was held back by cramping. "It's a pretty tough match, as this is the first match of the Thomas Cup and my first time playing as the first singles," said Lu. "But I managed to stay focused throughout the match and more importantly to be able to hang on when I was trailing." In the following matches, singles Zhao Junpeng, Li Shifeng and doubles pair He Jiting and Zhou Haodong all defeated their French opponents respectively, hence nailing the victory for China. In the last doubles match, Christo Popov returned with his older brother Toma Junior Popov to take the first set against the Chinese pair Liu Yuchen/Ou Xuanyi. But Liu and Ou came back from behind to win the next two sets 21-16, 21-16 and put the final score 5-0. In the other group match, men's singles world no.1 Viktor Axelsen led Denmark to a 5-0 victory against Algeria. Enditem. BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Assets under the management of China's public offering funds reached 25.08 trillion yuan (about 3.78 trillion U.S. dollars) by the end of March, the latest data from the Asset Management Association of China showed. The volume went down 4.78 percent from that at the end of February, according to the association, an industry body supervised by China's securities regulator. The number of public offering funds increased from the end of February to 9,669, including 1,208 closed-ended funds and 8,461 open-ended funds. China had a total of 138 asset management companies by the end of March, including 45 foreign-invested companies and 93 domestic companies, the data showed. With a full stakes schedule mapped out for his sophomore campaign including Canada's $1 million Pepsi North America Cup, Ohio champion Gulf Shores prepped for his return to the racetrack in Sunday afternoon's qualifiers at Scioto Downs. The Brian Brown trainee sat third through early fractions of :31 and 1:01 before sweeping to command for driver Cameron McCown and beginning to pull away from early leader Fear No More, a Buckeye Stallion Series winner last year, past three-quarters in 1:29.1. Gulf Shores opened up six lengths through the stretch and held off the resurgent Virgil Morgan-trained Fear No More by a neck in 1:56.4, with his final quarter in :27.3. The unraced three-year-old Sneaky Hill finished less than a length behind in third for Morgan. Gulf Shores, who took his mark of 1:51.3 at Scioto while dominating his Ohio Sire Stakes division last summer, was just a nose shy of winning the Breeders Crown at the end of the year. The Downbytheseaside colt earned six wins and three seconds from 10 starts while banking close to $500,000 in purses for owners Country Club Acres Inc., Crossover Racing and Wingfields Brother LLC. Gulf Shores is among the top 10 ranked North America Cup eligibles, assessed as the sixth choice at odds of 10-1 in TROT Magazine's Spring Book. Hanover Raceway has announced that it will recognize 10-time Hanover Raceway driving champion Trevor Henry with a special day in his honour on Saturday, July 23 and many festivities taking place as part of the celebration. The day will also be a fundraiser in support of Canadian Tire Jump Start, a program that provides kids in need the opportunity to participate in sports. Henry will be on hand to have a meet and greet with his fans and sign autographs and take photos with them. Canada's reigning Horse of the Year Desperate Man, a horse that Henry drove to victory last season in the North America Cup and Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final, will also be at the Raceway for fans to get photos with and meet. Desperate Man will also lead the post parade for Hanover's Dream of Glory eliminations, which will be part of the July 23 race card. His owners, John and Kathy Cecchin and Paul and Nikki Davies, have also graciously allowed the racetrack to display their 2021 North America Cup trophy and OSS Super Final trophy along with other memorabilia from his career to date. There will also be a Trevor Henry custom made commemorative t-shirt created that fans can purchase at the event, with all proceeds going to Jump Start, as well as a silent auction that will include a signed set of Henry's race colours. "We're delighted to have this day in honour of what Trevor Henry has meant to Hanover Raceway and it's fans over the years," said Steve Fitzsimmons, Hanover Raceway General Manager. "He has the most driving wins and driving titles at our racetrack in our history and I know our fans will be thrilled to be part of this day to honour him. A huge thank you to Trevor and Shannon Henry for being very willing to be part of our vision for having this event. "This event has been in the planning stage for almost two years, but we wanted to wait until we could return to regular attendance levels and enjoy the social interaction with fans to make this event special," continued Fitzsimmons. "In the meantime, Trevor and Desperate Man won the North America Cup and the OSS Super Final last fall, so we reached out to the Cecchins and Davieses to see if Desperate Man could be part of this day. We're incredibly grateful that they were excited to have him be included in the day and I know our fans will be happy to meet and pet him and watch him lead the post parade for our Dream of Glory eliminations." (With files from Hanover Raceway) Live harness racing returns to Eldorado Scioto Downs with a slew of late closers for non-winners of one, non-winners of two, and Buckeye Stallion Series eligibles. The first series has its initial legs starting opening week for horses eligible to the Buckeye Stallion Series that did not race in the first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes. Horses must race in both legs (purse $15,000) to be eligible to the $30,000 (est.) final. There is a $150 entry fee for the series. The Nobleland Sam (three-year-old colt pacers) - May 14, May 21, May 28 The Falcon Almahurst (three-year-old filly pacers) - May 13, May 20, May 27 The Overcomer (three-year-old colt trotters) - May 12, May 19, May 30 The Full Count (three-year-old filly trotters) - May 12, May 19, May 30 The second series, named after Ohio Harness Horsemens Association (OHHA) past presidents or executive directors, is for five-year-old and under Ohio-sired horses who are non-winners of one pari-mutual race or $7,500 life. Horses must be eligible at the time the box closes for the initial leg. There is an entry fee for the series $100 if starting in the opening leg, $200 if the horse misses the first leg and enters the second leg. Legs will go for $13,000 and the finals for $30,000 (est.). The Jerry Knappenberger (colt pacers) - May 19, May 26, June 2 The Steve McCoy (filly pacers) - May 20, May 27, June 10 The Kevin Greenfield (colt trotters) - May 18, May 30, June 8 The John Konesky III (filly trotters) - May 17, May 30, June 7 Starting in mid-June, there will be an Ohio-sired non-winners of two or $15,000 life series with two $16,000 legs and $32,000 (est.) finals. Another series will be for horses eligible to the Buckeye Stallion Series that did not race in the second leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes. Each of the four divisions will have four legs and a final, also starting in mid-June. More details about these races will be available as race dates get closer. The 90-day live racing season will start on Thursday, May 12 and continue through Saturday, Sept. 17. All live racing days will have a 3:15 p.m. first post. (Scioto Downs) There was a moment when she and her husband, Matt, were hunkered down behind a boulder, holding hands and saying I love you as a storm of volcanic ash, rock and acids and rock engulfed them, turning a bright sunny afternoon to night, that Lauren Urey was almost certain they werent going to make it safely off the South Pacific island. I felt like I was going to get buried alive, she recalled. I thought there was no way we were going to survive this. Though others visiting New Zealands White Island perished when the islands volcano erupted on Dec. 9, 2019, the Ureys did indeed survive, though they suffered horrific burns, a nightmarish rescue and months and now years of surgeries, treatments and scars. In trying to regain their old lives, the Ureys have returned to their jobs and moved into a new home in Chesterfield County, and on Saturday they celebrated another major milestone on the long road back: Lauren, 35, graduated from Old Dominion University with a degree in medical laboratory science. A big day, Lauren said. Its Laurens second bachelors degree; she graduated from Radford University with a degree in marketing. However, locating a job with long-term prospects proved difficult in a shaky economy, so she shifted gears and looked toward the medical field for a career. She pursued an associates degree in medical laboratory technology from Reynolds Community College, which helped her land a job in the field. After taking a semester off, she enrolled in ODUs online medical laboratory science degree completion program, which she began in the fall of 2019. That same fall, she and Matt married (We met on Match.com, she says. Were one of those success stories.) in October and planned a honeymoon to Australia and New Zealand. She received permission from her professors to take her final exams early, and she and Matt left for Australia on the day after Thanksgiving. Their trip started in Australia, and then went on a Royal Caribbean cruise, making several stops in New Zealand. On Dec. 9, they took a shore excursion to New Zealands White Island, about 30 miles from New Zealands North Island in the Bay of Plenty, for an up-close look at an active volcano. According to The New York Times, an online promotion for the tour invited tourists to get close to the drama. Gas masks help you get near roaring steam vents, bubbling pits of mud, hot volcanic streams and the amazing lake of steaming acid. There was no mention, however, Matt Urey recalled, that the New Zealand agency that monitors geological activity in the country had reported increased activity at the volcano for several weeks and had raised the warning level to 2 on a scale of 0-5. Two is moderate to heightened volcanic unrest, while 3, 4 and 5 are levels of eruptions. They didnt tell us the volcano was already at level two, he said. That was never communicated to us. I didnt find out until after I woke up [from a medically induced coma]. We definitely would not have gone on that island had we known. Lauren agreed, saying, Were definitely not adventurous people. Were not the type to go skydiving or anything like that. Were a very, very boring couple. They thought the trip to the island would be a cool, fairly leisurely thing, she said, recalling a brochure that recommended against people in wheelchairs making the trip. It didnt sound like it was going to be that adventurous, she said. The Ureys have filed suit against Royal Caribbean. A trial is scheduled for Oct. 24, according to one of couples attorneys from a Miami law firm. The Ureys said their contingent of visitors were divided into two groups. They were in the first group that hiked to the edge of the crater for a look. They headed down as the second group approached the crater. A few minutes later, as the Ureys were part-way down the hillside, the volcano erupted. One of the other tourists said, Hey, everyone, look! A mushroom cloud of black ash began to rise from the crater. A tour guide yelled, Everyone, run! Recalled Lauren, I just had a sinking feeling in my stomach. They found a boulder that provided a minimal amount of shelter. Rocks pelted them, and black smoke and ash were coming out of everywhere, she said. I was holding my husbands hand and screaming and telling him how much I loved him. It felt like forever, she said, but they later learned the eruption lasted for only about two minutes. Trapped in a black fog and badly burned already, they struggled to make their way back to the water. Lauren fell multiple times; at least on one occasion, her right hand went into thick, blisteringly hot ash, severely burning her palm. Shes undergone numerous hand surgeries, the most recent of which was last week. They made it to an inflatable dinghy, which returned them to the larger tour boat and a painful, 90-minute trip to the mainland, their scorched skin exposed to the sun and saltwater. Lauren, who drifted in and out of consciousness on the ride, was the first passenger off the boat since she was in the most critical condition. She was taken to the burn unit at a hospital in Auckland. Matt was taken to a hospital in Christchurch, more than 600 miles away. Lauren was burned over 23 percent of her body, Matt over 53 percent of his. Physicians put both in medically induced comas, him for 12 days, and her for almost three weeks. They wouldnt see each other again until February, back in Richmond, at VCU Medical Center. As badly as they were hurt, in many respects, they were fortunate. Most of those in the second tour group had just arrived at the rim of the crater when it erupted. In all, 22 people were killed that day, including 20 visitors and two tour guides. The Ureys journey back to the life they knew has been long, and, at times, agonizingly slow. Besides therapy and other treatment, Lauren has undergone more than two dozen surgeries, averaging one a month, mostly at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. She hopes to be done with the surgeries by the end of the year. They both bear scars from the experience. Lauren struggles with post-traumatic stress and depression; Matt, 38, formerly an avid runner, can no longer run because he suffers from heat intolerance: his body is unable to cool down properly because his grafted skin doesnt sweat. Summers are pretty rough for me, he said. However, in some ways, their progress has been remarkable. Both long ago returned to their jobs: Lauren as a medical laboratory technician for Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Matt as a mechanical engineer at DuPont where he works, ironically, with flame-resistant fiber. Returning to hospital work during COVID-19 was risky for Lauren as she developed a lung infection because of the eruption, and COVID samples came through the lab where she worked on a daily basis. It was very stressful, she said. But we were short-staffed, and honestly I enjoy what I do. I like helping people, and I like staying busy. She took only a semester off from ODU before resuming her studies. For her perseverance, she was awarded one of the inaugural scholarships funded by the Commonwealth Transfusion Foundation, which emphasized that, aside from traditional students, they also wanted to support medical laboratory technicians pursuing their bachelors degrees. Ureys graduation also means a promotion at her job to clinical laboratory scientist, she said. Urey is looking forward to putting her surgeries in the rear-view mirror, so she and Matt can start a family. Shes determined to not let what happened on White Island dictate the rest of her life. I want to prove to everybody that just because something horrible happens to you it doesnt mean your whole life has to change, she said. It doesnt have to be the end of the world. It didnt stop me. It didnt stop my husband. It was horrible what happened, but we were not going to let this ruin what we had. Were determined not to let this be the end of the world for us. Serving the community by providing mental health counseling in a gentle and compassionate manner is what CareNet Counseling has been doing in Iredell County since 1998, and is celebrating its 50 years of care in North Carolina. As noted on the website, its mission is to improve the health of the mind, body, spirit and community through spiritually integrated counseling, psychotherapy, research and education, helping their clients achieve, restore and maintain mental wellness which improves their overall health. A division of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, CareNet came out of the chaplains department of the hospital years ago when people would go to the hospital and have conversations with the chaplains, Regional Director Cindy H. Ray said. They loved it, and theyd go back to their communities and would say I want to talk to somebody like that again, she said. So the hospital began providing seminary-trained mental health counselors. There are 70 therapists in our group across the state. With the combination of the growth of the area and the effects of COVID-19, there has been a major increase in the need for CareNets counseling services. Ray said: Blue Cross/Blue Shield said mental health coverage was up 700%. So we are all at our max and have waiting lists. That is one reason why CareNet is working to raise funds, said Neal Howes, its local community outreach person. The demand is growing. This office needs to hire more people. Mooresville is growing, Howes said. While affiliated with Wake Forest Baptist, Howes pointed out that each office is not funded by the hospital. Each is independently supported. We are self-sustaining; each office is, Howes said. Each has to raise their own funds. We are the Central Piedmont Region. Ray and two additional full-time counselors serve in the Mooresville office on East McLelland Avenue, and she said, she also goes to Statesville a couple of days a month to see people there as well. First Baptist Church Mooresville owns the building where CareNet is located locally, and First Baptist Church Statesville provides her office space in that location. Therefore, the offices are rent-free; however, with the growing needs of the community, along with the growing demands upon CareNet, the need for additional funds has grown. We need money to help people who cant afford counseling, Ray said. We need some client aid money so that people that fall between the cracks, can be helped. A lot of times pastors will call us and say We can pay this much, but people need more than two or three sessions sometimes she said, thus the need for additional funds to provide that aid. While no specific fundraising event is planned now, CareNet is reaching out through word-of-mouth and directing people to its website asking for financial assistance. Without the manpower to hold a big fundraiser, Howes said, Im trying to direct people to the website right now. So the main thing is if you take a look at carenetnc.org and you go to Central Piedmont, then people can both donate online and learn more about them. People also can donate with a check by making it out to CareNet and mailing to 146 E. McLelland Ave., Mooresville, NC 28115. Their goal is to raise $100,000. There are three therapists who serve in the Mooresville office, Ray said herself, Stacey Steck, (a licensed marriage family therapist) and Rebecca Setzer (licensed mental health). We offer counseling for depression and anxiety, mood disorders and personality disorders, Ray said. I have one therapist (Stacey) that is a marriage and family therapist, so he does a lot of couples work, premarital and couples and then he can work with families, too. And then Rebecca can work with teenagers and young people and individuals. I see a lot of women; I see men, too, individual counseling, and a lot of our clients are driven here by their physician. The pandemic not only changed the number of people reaching out for counseling; it also changed the way that counseling has taken place, as virtual sessions were conducted. Weve been real busy the past two years, and we had to switch and go to virtual for most of our sessions, Ray said. She has been seeing people in person once again, but she noted that the virtual sessions enable her to be able to talk with people who have been referred to her beyond Iredell County. Its been very effective, she said. And people have come to virtual counseling who probably wouldnt have come to the office. Ray and Howes are dedicated to their roles with CareNet as are all those who serve at one of the counseling locations. Its important for people to know how big we are across the state and how long weve been doing this and our dedication and commitment. Ray stressed. Weve been in Iredell County almost 25 years now and had a presence. Were passionate about the work we do and the people that we see. Being a therapist is a second career for Ray. Twenty years ago she went back to graduate school and had herself been helped and served by pastoral counseling. So God kind of tapped me on the shoulder and said, You can do this work, she said. It was quite an adventure, and I got a real world class education in Loyola University Maryland, and so its been following God since then. Im just real passionate about the work that happens between two people in this room. Its kind of a holy experience, a front row to see God working in peoples lives. Ray received her Master of Science in pastoral counseling and then continued for two years at Wesley Seminary, a program through Pheiffer University. For Howes, his commitment can be seen as twofold. He has been raising funds since he was 12 years old, attending community functions and learning those skills from his dad. He continued raising funds for various causes in college and afterward. Ive always been blessed to motivate and to raise funds, he said. Serving as a caregiver to two wives, both of whom he lost to cancer, and as a caregiver to his mother-in-law, as well as having additional health issues of his own, including the loss of his hearing in one ear at an early age, being diagnosed with bipolar disorder and receiving treatment, he said he has been there, not drastically, but Ive been there when it comes to feeling depressed and seeing the toll it takes. But, he said, Youve got two choices: You either stick your head in the ground or keep on running. So he kept moving forward, and while looking for something to do after retirement, Howes heard Ray speak about CareNet at the church they attend. They talked, and he got onboard. He is trying to raise awareness and help with CareNets current and long-term needs. But when it comes to raising the funds, he is quick to say its we not I. It takes everybody. For those considering or actively seeking help, Ray said she would encourage people by telling them: Its not as scary as they might imagine and that were a safe place for them to talk about and not judgmental, and that it is about gentleness and compassion. We work with the faith they bring. Were not evangelists or anything like that. We work with what the person brings to us and try to strengthen that whole mental health side of it. While Howes said he knows there are many causes out there, he stressed that, The trouble is, the demand is growing. Weve all heard about it. Depression. We need to hire more people, period. We need to hire more people because the areas growing, theres more demand. When youre working 70 hours a week, as he said Ray is sometimes doing, thats demanding, and its not good for her. Its not good for anybody. Asking for help is a sign of strength, Ray said, and when she tells people that, she said, you can kind of see people relax when you say its OK for you to be here. It means youre strong. You know you cant do it all. CareNet is there to help If you take a look at the name, Care we care and Net everyone needs a safety net, Howes pointed out. To schedule an appointment, call 704-871-1712 or visit carenetnc.org. Ray and Howes said that they would be happy to visit civic, church or other organizations that would like them to speak and provide the opportunity to learn how CareNet can help others. Contact Ray by calling the number above. Individuals and loved ones are always asking what could I have done, Howes said. You cannot go back, but forward, and one way is to make a donation to CareNet to help others have a positive mental health. Lt. Jenna Ruffin and Firefighter/EMT Hannah Hayes went on shift together April 14. It was Hayes first day as a full-time member of the Town of Chilhowie Fire & EMS. It became the departments first all-female shift. I kind of got a feel for it because I was the first female firefighter as a career in the county, said Ruffin. Its kinda cool that I have someone else now. I had someone to look up to with Jenna, said Hayes. I can show others how it feels. The young women enjoy working a 24-hour shift at the department. Its pretty nice actually, said Ruffin about the lengthy shift. We only work 10 days a month but we work 24 hours a day. I personally like it more than 8 to 5 or a 12-hour shift or anything. They work a schedule each month that goes from Wednesday and Saturday to Monday and Friday, and then Sunday and Thursday. I think its an adjustment, for sure, because if you work night shift then you usually sleep during the day then youre up at night, and then with this sometimes we work all day, said Hayes. Sometimes we sleep all night. Sometimes we do whatever during the day and were up all night, so youre not set to night shift or day shift, youre just switching back and forth all the time. So it definitely has its pros and cons but you adjust to it. Ruffin has been on duty full-time since 2017. Hayes began as a volunteer July through November 2021, went to part-time in November, then full-time last month. The department also has two female volunteers, seven part-time members and five full-time members. On a call-out, Ruffin said that for EMS it would be just the two of them unless they need help. A fire or a wreck call would go out on dispatch and all members with radios would hear it and respond as needed. We respond to fires, wrecks, medical calls, clean the station, check out the trucks with equipment, and theres always some sort of daily training, Ruffin said of their duties. Some days we build shelves, Hayes added. Hayes was inspired in this career first in the medical area and later in firefighting. As far as the EMT I originally started out wanting it to be a summer job while I went to college and I just fell in love with it and decided to go on and get my paramedic [certification], she said. And then the fire portion I really wasnt that sure about it at first and then once I got into it and I saw it, it got to become like Oh I really want to go in but I cant so thats what made me want to get my fire training and start on that side of it. Its an adrenalin rush for sure, and its exciting. Something I didnt want to miss out on. Hayes said she started with emergency medical services before graduating high school. Im the first in this career in my family and they all think Im crazy, she said. Im the first person in the medical field in my family. I had originally planned to go to nursing school but when I got my EMT I decided to go that way. Ruffin followed in family members footsteps as the second or third generation in firefighting. And her husband Hunter is a part-time firefighter with Chilhowie and full-time with Bristol. I started when I was still in high school, she said. I was 14 years old when I became a junior member and I fell in love with it, kind of like she (Hayes) did just in a different way. I started as a junior and just kept with it for the next 12 years of my life. This feels like home, where Im supposed to be, Ruffin said, and I cant see myself doing anything else. As future goals, Ruffin plans to take more officer, instructor and technical training while Hayes is finishing up paramedic training and plans to take swift water rescue training in June and some more specialized training. Ruffin said that training for department members includes Firefighter I and II, which is basic in Virginia. Emergency Medical Technician is basic on the medical side. From there, a person can move up to paramedic and instructor/officer training and more specialized aspects of training. Ruffin and Hayes have both been through training in the departments burn building, which is part of a developing complex on the south end of town. A new classroom building is being constructed to provide a permanent place for classroom instruction. The site is not only for Chilhowie firefighters but welcomes members from other departments for training. Both say their fellow department members feel like family and they have always been treated with respect and equality and they do not expect any special treatment. The people I work with are the best, Ruffin said. Were basically just one of the guys. Ive never been treated any differently because Im a female. I see them more than my own family, Hayes said. I never feel like were discriminated against in any way here. All the guys treat us like one of the guys. They said members of other departments treat them the same although the public can sometimes be a little shocked. Some people in the public can take it a little bit differently, Ruffin said. Its not really bad, theres still a mentality out there that its a very male-dominated field so I think thats probably a learning curve for the public but for people in the industry I think its pretty common. Especially for the public when its just us who shows up, Hayes said. But the people in the department, they treat us just like one of the guys so weve been very fortunate in that respect. And they both have high praise for Chief David Haynes. I never met someone who cares about his people more than he cares, Ruffin said. Its a great program, Hayes added. We have the best boss. I think hes very dedicated and puts a lot in this program. Both feel women can bring a different perspective to the fire service. First of all, we can do the job the same as a man, the job in general, Ruffin said. I do think that women can bring a unique perspective to some things in the fire service. Like paint colors, they said laughing. They were recently picking new paint colors for the department, not typically the strong suit for a man, they said, but what they were put in charge of. On the other hand, they said building shelves took them about nine hours and they said the men could probably have done it a lot faster. Theres things that women are better at and theres things that men are better at, Hayes said. Organization, Ruffin added. Were the organizers here. The best part of the job for both of them is the people they work with. Its like having a second family, Hayes said. And we get to go home knowing we did something for the greater good. Its rewarding. Theres a lot of really great aspects to it. I agree wholeheartedly, said Ruffin. The job is fulfilling in itself, but the people are the best. I very much enjoy the people that I work with. An Abingdon man who pleaded guilty to stealing hundreds of pieces of mail from more than 100 addresses in the area, including Chilhowie, has been sentenced to federal prison time. Bradley Alan Wolfe, 38, pleaded guilty to one count possession of stolen mail and one count bank fraud in December. On Monday, Wolfe was sentenced to serve three years in prison. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Virginia, Wolfe admitted to stealing mail from residential mailboxes in the Chilhowie, Glade Spring, Meadowview and Abingdon areas from March through September 2021. Items taken included multiple packages, cash, a U.S. passport, diabetes medication and multiple checks worth thousands of dollars, the release said. In one instance, the release said, Wolfe altered a stolen check worth $4,890 by replacing the payees name with his own and then cashing it at Eastman Credit Union in Abingdon. The Washington County Sheriffs Office and the United States Postal Inspection service investigated the case with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lena L. Busscher prosecuted. Editors note: Information is provided by the Cowlitz County Corrections Department and local law enforcement agencies. Each individual named in this report is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Failure to register Longview police Saturday arrested Kurtis Robert John Mathis, 37, of unknown address, on suspicion of failure to register as a sex offender with two prior offenses. Malicious mischief Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Saturday arrested Aaron Lee Sanders, 51, of Kelso, on suspicion of second-degree malicious mischief. Stalking Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Saturday arrested Michael Steven Sundt, 36, of Washougal, on suspicion of stalking. Hit and run Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Sunday arrested Nobl Christiaan J. Anderson, 21, of Battle Ground, on suspicion of hit and run with injury and hit and run unattended vehicle. Assault Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies Monday arrested Steven Wayne Fire, 42, of Woodland, on suspicion of first-degree assault and violating a protection order with assault. Harassment Longview police Sunday arrested Nathan Yesudas Sathya, 41, of Gold River, California, on suspicion of felony harassment and first-degree criminal trespassing. Burglaries 600 block of Oregon Way, Longview. Friday. Occurred sometime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. 300 block of Vivian Road, Kalama. Saturday. Wheels and tires taken from barn. 200 block of Cowlitz Street, Castle Rock. Saturday. Garage entered and window left open. 200 block of Colorado Street, Longview. Saturday. Two or three subjects inside. 1100 block of Mount St. Helens Way, Castle Rock. Sunday. Hole broken in front door, not large enough to crawl through. Stolen vehicles 800 block of West Side Highway, Kelso. Friday. Blue 2000 Ford Explorer. Washington BRX0010. Passenger side window taped up in black tape, Timber Unity sticker on the back. Parked by the train trestle near Carnival Market, gone the next day. 2000 block of Cimerron Street, Woodland. Saturday. White 1999 or 2000 Ford Excursion. Unknown license. Large dent in front bumper, windshield cracked, hood dented. Taken from driveway. Thefts 200 block of Hendrickson Drive, Kalama. Saturday. Laptop taken. 600 block of Embassy Loop, Woodland. Saturday. Man stole something off the porch. 1400 block of Dike Access Road, Woodland. Saturday. Purse taken at store. 100 block of Studebaker Spur 2 and Studebaker Place, Castle Rock. Sunday. Mercury boat motor taken, known suspect. Vandalism/malicious mischief 400 block of Oregon Way, Longview. Friday. Subjects from the Oregon Way Tavern knocked over concrete posts that block the sidewalk. Oregon Way and Industrial Way, Longview. Saturday. Someone broke windows out of vehicle and left on a long board. 200 block of Oregon Way, Longview. Saturday. Fence cut in several places. 200 block of Nevala Road, Woodland. Sunday. Mailboxes vandalized. 800 block of Dougherty Drive, Castle Rock. Sunday. Damage to vehicle. 800 block of Dougherty Drive, Castle Rock. Sunday. Damage to vehicle occurred overnight. 1800 block of Hemlock Street, Longview. Sunday. Broken window. 1500 block of of Dike Access Road, Woodland. Sunday. Front passenger window broken. Vehicle prowls 2700 block of Allen Street, Kelso. Sunday. Front passenger window smashed in. Occurred sometime overnight or early morning. Tennant Way, Longview. Sunday. Window broken out. 1300 block of Baltimore Street, Longview. Sunday. Windows smashed open, fans and an equipment charger taken. 1400 block of Dike Access Road, Woodland. Sunday. Two vehicles, unknown suspects. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 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. Interview: China to ratchet up support for market entities: official Xinhua) 08:20, May 09, 2022 A worker is seen at the workshop of Jiangsu Pacific Precision Forging Co., Ltd. in Taizhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 27, 2022. (Photo by Tang Dehong/Xinhua) BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to roll out measures to shore up market entities of all types, an official told Xinhua in a recent interview. To further ease the burden on firms, China will toughen its crackdown on irregular fee charges by government bodies and industry associations as well as in the fields of transport, public services and financial institutions, said Pu Chun, deputy head of the State Administration for Market Regulation. By the end of April, China's market entities rose by 10.5 percent from a year earlier to reach 158 million. Nearly 9 million were established in the first four months of this year, according to Pu. Pu said the steady expansion helped underpin China's macroeconomic fundamentals and signaled the economy's "strong resilience and potential" amid a complex and grim environment. "Market entities are expected to sustain rapid growth as the current COVID-19 situation comes under control and policies keep injecting momentum," Pu said. Some market entities are faced with unexpected difficulties, the official said, "but the country is ramping up policy support, and market entities' adaptability keeps growing." He called for more efforts to anchor market expectations, boost market confidence and create a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment. To this end, the country has pushed forward multiple reforms to streamline administrative procedures and broaden market access, with special attention paid to nurturing self-employed households, Pu said. China also strives to provide a level-playing field for all market entities in a bid to unleash market vitality, Pu said, adding that efforts have been made to increase policy transparency, eliminate discriminative policies and hidden market thresholds, and prevent regional protectionism. On maintaining market stability, Pu said that China is able to overcome challenges such as commodity price hikes and supply chain impediments with its integrated industrial system, a wide range of sectors, and market entities' high productivity. "All the problems and difficulties that we have met are temporary," he noted, adding that market regulators nationwide will keep an eye on the price fluctuations of commodities, and cooperate with relevant authorities to ensure an adequate supply of raw materials. Regulators will also monitor the prices of COVID-19-related medical products and necessities, and clamp down on hoarding and price gouging, he added. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) BEIRUT, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Minister of Social Affairs Hector Hajjar on Monday urged the international community to compensate Lebanon with 30 billion U.S. dollars for hosting Syrian displaced people over a long period, a statement by the Ministry of Social Affairs reported. "We rely on the international community's compensation for Lebanon, which has so far incurred losses estimated at 30 billion U.S. dollars," Hajjar said during the European Union's sixth conference titled "Supporting the future of Syria and the region" held in Brussels. Hajjar said that Lebanon's government pays an extra 1 billion dollars annually on energy subsidies and an additional spending of up to 3 billion dollars on bread for Syrians. The minister added that Lebanon currently hosts nearly 1.5 million displaced Syrians, accounting for 30 percent of the inhabitants in Lebanon, and they "live in tents, under inhumane conditions, distributed over 1,000 of the 1,050 Lebanese towns." Hajjar continued by emphasizing "the loss of many job opportunities for the Lebanese, as most of the displaced are engaged in a competitive and illegal economic activity, without contributing to paying taxes." Lebanese President Michel Aoun has on many occasions urged the international community to help Lebanon secure a safe return for refugees to their homeland as Lebanon is suffering from an unprecedented financial crisis and cannot bear any extra burden. Garena Free Fire MAX redeem codes for May 9, 2022: Check the latest set of codes here. Redeem them now to get rewards for free. Garena Free Fire MAX redeem codes for May 9, 2022: Who does not like getting rewarded and that too daily? Garena Free Fire MAX players can claim daily rewards. 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Don't miss out! pic.twitter.com/EPblgieqFM Garena Free Fire North America (@FreeFire_NA) May 7, 2022 Garena Free Fire MAX Redeem codes for May 9, 2022: FH6J I8W7 63TG 45BH NJ8K YIH2 U7GY FT8D GF3B H4J5 K6OY UH8K FG5H I48R 7F6T GB4N 56LU OJ98 FDYS TQF1 2I3RF 87U6 5XRZ ESDF ERB6 K7UO 9B8V 76DT EG4B 5N6M 7ULO 9H87 65SR F7K8 LPI0 J987 FD6S 54AQ EDF2 GH3U 4RTG 765C XR8S FG2E HJR5 F7DF 23VB 4N56 YOH8 765S 4AQE FGH2 J3EO F987 65TR FVB4 N56K 7YUJ ON8B 7V6C 5SEQ DWF3 V4BN 5TMY KHIB 8V7D F6O7 UH3O BI1J GT8Y KU8L IOJ9 H8G7 F6D5 SR4E FD2F VG1H 2J34 China will launch its Xuntian Telescope to unravel cosmic mysteries while challenging the technology of NASA Hubble Telescope. Heres how. NASA Hubble Space Telescope is set to get a major rival and that too from China. Hubble Telescope has spent 32 years and discovered new galaxies, stars, planets, comets, asteroids and a lot more. And it's still counting! Now, China is preparing to explore the universe and unravel the cosmic mysteries as it is set to launch its flagship space telescope soon. It is named as the Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST), or Xuntian which means 'survey to heavens. Authorities in Beijing claimed that it will compete with NASA's Hubble Telescope, Chinese news agency Xinhua reported. However, it should be known that NASA has already launched and placed in orbit a brand new one recently and it is called the James Webb Space Telescope. It is much better than the Hubble Telescope and can see much farther back in time and space than Hubble can. About Chinas Xuntian Telescope Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: China's flagship telescope, set to launch at the end of 2023, is aimed at exploring new insights into faraway galaxies, mysterious dark matter and dark energy, as well as the universe's past and future evolution. The Chinese Survey Space Telescope (CSST), also known as the Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST) as well as the Xuntian Space Telescope, is a space-based optical observatory that allows astronomers to conduct sky surveys and capture a general map or photos of the sky. The CSST is a bus-sized facility with a three-story building's length. Xuntian Telescope vs Hubble Telescope How will China's flagship telescope challenge the NASA Hubble Telescope? In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, Liu Jifeng, deputy director of the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC), explained that while the telescope's aperture is two metres, it has a field of view 350 times greater than Hubble's. On the contrary, NASA Hubble Space Telescope includes a 2.4-meter (94-inch) primary mirror, a smaller secondary mirror, and multiple recording devices that can detect visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light. The CSST has a three-mirror anastigmat design that allows it to achieve exceptional image quality over a wide field of view. It's also a Cook-type off-axis telescope with no obstructions that, when correctly sampled, may reach superior precision in photometry, location, and shape measurements. Beijing's space agency, the China National Space Administration (CNSA), has planned to place the telescope in the same orbit as its space station, Tiangong, which will be operational by the end of 2023. The Xuntian telescope will likely be the largest space observatory monitoring the cosmos in near-ultraviolet and visible light. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain U.S. labor board prosecutors have determined that anti-union meetings held by Amazon.com Inc. in Staten Island, New York, violated federal law, according to an agency spokesperson. The National Labor Relations Board's Brooklyn regional director will issue a complaint if the company doesn't settle, the agency's press secretary Kayla Blado said in an email. The regional official has determined that the company held illegal mandatory meetings and made illegal threats in those sessions, she said. Amazon said it holds the meetings to ensure employees understand the facts about unions and elections, and that for decades companies have been allowed to do so. "These allegations are false and we look forward to showing that through the process," Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said in an email. The upstart Amazon Labor Union last month decisively won an election to represent workers at an Amazon fulfillment center in Staten Island, the first time organized labor has gained a foothold at one of the e-commerce giant's U.S. facilities. Amazon challenged the result, alleging the union broke election rules and that the NLRB violated its duty to be impartial by giving employees the appearance that the agency favored the union. Among its claims, Amazon said the union inappropriately tried "to interfere with and 'shut down'" meetings with workers. During the election, Amazon held mandatory "information sessions," during which managers and consultants made the case that workers should vote to reject the union. The practice is standard operating procedure for the company, which also held the meetings during union campaigns in Alabama and at a second Staten Island warehouse, where the ALU lost an election earlier this week. "It's a bit rich for Amazon to complain about interrupting captive-audience meetings" that are themselves "inherently coercive," the union's attorney Seth Goldstein said in an interview. "We hope that Amazon will agree to end this unlawful union-busting practice." The NLRB general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, said last month that she would seek to ban such meetings, declaring in a memo to the labor board's regional chiefs that they constituted an unlawful threat to employees. The Amazon case could offer a vehicle for Abruzzo, an appointee of President Joe Biden, to get the issue before labor board members in Washington, where Democrats hold a majority due to other Biden appointments. Explore further Labor board seeks to force Amazon to reinstate fired worker 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Percent of Chicago households with Internet access, by community area. Data sources: American Community Survey (20152019) and City of Chicago Data Portal. Credit: University of Chicago Data Science Institute In 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act authorized $65 billion to expand broadband access and adoption, and address disparities highlighted by the COVID pandemic and the shift to remote work, school and health care. But to invest that funding most effectively for improving digital equity in the United States, new and deep data at a local scale must be gathered and analyzed to drive effective policy and advocacy solutions for the citizens and neighborhoods most in need. The Internet Equity Initiative, an innovative effort from the University of Chicago Data Science Institute, seeks to fill this gap through a combination of new research, data analysis and communication, and community collaboration. The initiative is driven by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from UChicago's Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and UChicago's Department of Computer Science. At today's inaugural Data Science Institute Summit, the initiative unveiled a new data portal that combines public and private data from 20 cities around the nation. The site makes data accessible to governments, community groups, data scientists, and other interested stakeholders seeking to improve Internet connectivity to mitigate the "digital divide." UChicago researchers used data gathered on the portal to create a new analysis on disparities that ranked Chicago neighborhoods by Internet connectivity. The resultswith neighborhood rankings included at the end of this releaseemphasize the need for continued, targeted intervention to improve connectivity in particular sections of the city. In coming months, researchers will continue to deepen the Chicago data, adding critical, fine-grained information on where to take action to improve Internet connectivity and, in turn, develop approaches and tools that can be used for similar efforts in cities around the nation. "It is now widely known and accepted that significant disparities exist in Internet connectivity across the United States," said Nick Feamster, Neubauer Professor of Computer Science and The College, Faculty Director of Research at the Data Science Institute, and principal investigator of the Internet Equity Initiative. "Existing datasets affirm the existence of that problem. Yet, we are now at an inflection point where completely new datasetsand new analysis techniquesare needed for us to understand the nature of the problem, to determine how to appropriately target investments, particularly at the city and local level, and ultimately evaluate the effectiveness of those investments." The portal also features "data stories" showing how the data collected by the new research initiative can be used to answer a wide range of research and policy questions. Current data stories discuss the level of home Internet connectivity needed to support video-conferencing applications for remote home and school, and a comparison of the Internet performance in two households from different neighborhoods in Chicago that pay for the same Internet service. "Ultimately, our aim is to reframe how all stakeholders think about Internet equity, so that discussions and decisions concerning this challenging problem can be grounded in sound data and analysis that directly speak to underlying causes and solutions," Feamster said. Finding Inequities Beneath The Surface of Data Using the portal, researchers found that, in Chicago, about 80 percent of households are connected to the Internet. But when the data is disaggregated to the 77 community areas of the city, it reveals deep, local inequities. Burnside, West Englewood, Fuller Park, Englewood, and West Garfield Park have the lowest percentage of households connected to the Internet, each with over one third of homes offline. In contrast, neighborhoods such as the Loop, Lincoln Park, and Beverly show over 90 percent connectivity. (A ranking of Chicago neighborhoods, by percentage of households connected to the Internet, follows at the end of this release.) These statistics come from an analysis performed by UChicago undergraduate students Lena Diasti and Amy Maldonado and Computational Analysis and Public Policy master's student Drew Keller, working with postdoctoral researcher Tarun Mangla from the Internet Equity Initiative. Together, they combined pre-pandemic information from the U.S. Census, the American Community Survey, the FCC, and the Chicago Data Portal to capture a localized snapshot of Internet connectivity in Chicago. The students also found that connectivity strongly correlates with income, unemployment, race/ethnicity, and an economic hardship index. The data highlights and motivates the need to look at the data at a community level, underscores the need for continued intervention to improve connectivity in particular sections of the city, and can help quantify the impact of recently launched programs such as Chicago Connected, which provides free high speed Internet to households with Chicago Public Schools students. "The students' analysis gives us a clear quantification of the disparities motivating the work we are doing to change the way we think about the Internet as critical infrastructure," said Nicole Marwell, Associate Professor in the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and principal investigator of the Internet Equity Initiative. "The new data we are collecting goes beyond the traditional metrics to understand a new question about how the performance of the Internet varies across Chicago neighborhoods. This new information can help us advise on where new investments can build Internet equity." Multi-Scale Science for a Complex Challenge To add critical detail to the picture in Chicago, the initiative is also working with local community organizations and residents to collect several different measurements of Internet performance in households across Chicago. These data are distinct from any other available data on Internet performance, thereby filling key gaps in existing datasets. Volunteers from across Chicago have installed a small device on their router, which allows the researchers to measure the performance of the Internet as data travels to and from the household. The study is currently in its pilot phase in 30 community areas and researchers are continuing to recruit volunteers and expand data collection. Researchers will conduct comparisons between neighborhoods, such as Logan Square and South Shore, with different community area-level statistics, while also examining variability across a larger set of neighborhoods across the city. Together, the initiative's portal and household-level research study on performance reflect a challenge that is national in scope but will require interdisciplinary, local research and intervention to address. "Answering these questions requires developing entirely new approachesfrom the types of data we gather, to the choices we make regarding where and how to gather it, to the techniques we develop to inform decisions," Marwell said. "While we are piloting this approach in Chicago, we are producing a set of tools, procedures, and analyses that will enable researchers in other cities to replicate what we are doing in Chicago in their own communities." Explore further Initiatives to close the digital divide must last beyond the COVID-19 pandemic to work Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Google and NASA are poised to harvest wide-ranging tech, space, and aviation synergies once a revamp of the iconic Hangar One in Mountain View is complete in 2025, officials said Friday. The tech titan's Planetary Ventures unit began a vast restoration this week, a project that's being undertaken by CBRE, a commercial real estate firm. When asked by this news organization whether Google and the nation's space and aviation agency could capture plenty of synergies when the tech titan moves into Hangar One, Eugene Tu, director of the NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, replied "Absolutely." "Google is about data and information and that is what we are about as well, particularly scientific and engineering data and information," Tu said in the interview. The NASA official sees plenty of ways that Google and the space agency can collaborate closely once the search giant establishes its Planetary Ventures unit inside Hangar One after the project is complete. "We are collecting so much information from our space and science satellites trying to understand what is happening with our home planet and what is happening to it in the future," Tu said. "A lot of the technologies and capabilities that Google develops, especially in machine learning, data mining will be synergistic and very helpful." The mammoth construction project itself, which is being managed by commercial real estate firm CBRE on behalf of Google and Planetary Ventures, is expected to start adding the claddingthe exterior of the hangarsometime in 2023, said Alex Saleh, a CBRE executive. "Construction is going to finish in 2025," Saleh told this news organization. A years-long effort led by Rep. Anna Eshoo, a Democrat whose district includes parts of Santa Clara County and San Mateo County, as well as Mountain View, overcame the one-time preference on the part of both NASA and the U.S. Navy to demolish the landmark due to the expense of a full-fledged rescue of the hangar, which was born in 1932 as a Depression-era construction project that employed hundreds. "This is an Alleluia moment," Rep. Eshoo said. "It marks the historic beginning of the restoration of our iconic Hangar One. I call this Operation Tenacious." Eshoo said that she and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, her ally in the quest to rescue Hangar One from the wrecking ball, were able to prevail in a battle that began in earnest in 2005 when the Navy proposed the demolition of the hangar after toxic PCBs were discovered in the structure in 2002. In 2012, a Google proposal to revamp Hangar One and other sites at Moffett Federal Airfield was languishing and gathering dust on a government shelf when Eshoo and Lofgren coaxed Daniel Tangherlini, then the director of the U.S. General Services Administration, which handles the government's real estate assets, to visit the site. That helped to turn the tide in favor of preserving and restoring Hangar One. "We went toe to toe with these bureaucrats," said Rep. Lofgren, a Democrat whose district includes parts of Santa Clara County. "I am looking forward to the completion of this project. Not only is this an icon, but it will also be a center for research and advancement of scientific innovation for our country." The hangar is so vast and high that the Statue of Liberty, if removed from its pedestal, could stand upright inside Hangar One. San Francisco's Salesforce Tower, if laid on its side, could be tucked away inside the cavernous space. As a result, it's clear that plenty of space exists inside Hangar One to allow areas for Google engineers to work once the tech company's Planetary Ventures moves into the site upon completion. Mountain View-based Google, whose iconic Googleplex headquarters are a short distance away, has said little about the work it aims to undertake inside Hangar One. But the NASA Ames Research Center director offered some possibilities on Friday. "You may see the development of more autonomous vehicles, particularly in aviation, just like you see with self-driving cars," Tu said. "You might see drones, not just for hobby purposes, but for flying cargo and people." Explore further NASA moon rocket faces more flight delays as repairs mount 2022 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. We develop the road network homogeneity to measure whether the part of the road network is similar to the entire network. Intracity homogeneity is strongly correlated with socioeconomic factors such as GDP and population growth. Intercity homogeneity reveals the directional urban similarity pattern from Europe to the United States and to Asia, which exactly aligns with the urban planning history. Credit: Nature Machine Intelligence (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s42256-022-00462-y Researchers at Purdue University and Peking University have recently carried out a study aimed at better understanding road networks in cities worldwide using machine-learning tools. Their paper, published in Nature Machine Intelligence, outlines the results of an in-depth, data-driven analysis of road map-related data captured in 30 cities worldwide. "Urban road networks (URNs) serve as the economic engine of a city and are shaped by multiple socio-economic factors (including population, economy) and urban development history," Dr. Satish V. Ukkusuri and Dr. Jianzhu Ma, two of the researchers who carried out the study, told TechXplore. "They play a central role in human mobility, good movement, biological virus spreading, and pollution generation. However, traditional road network metrics based on simple measures only provide a coarse characterization of URNs." Past studies suggest that there are a series of patterns in the spatial homogeneity of URNs. These patterns could be captured using graph neural networks (GNNs), advanced graph-based machine learning tools that are often used in computer vision and natural language processing applications. A key advantage of GNNs is that they can learn network representations by analyzing very large amounts of data. In their paper, Ukkusuri, Ma and their colleagues specifically used GNNs to analyze over 11,790 URNs in 30 cities worldwide, with the aim of predicting a new metric, dubbed network homogeneity. "Many urban planners have analyzed cities using case-by-case approaches that study each city in isolation," Ukkusuri and Ma explained. "However, the quantitative comparisons of the urban environment across different cities using global data are limited. We wanted to utilize the power of our machine learning method and the information from massive data to understand the urban system in a global manner, including cities from either developed countries or developing countries." Ukkusuri, a Reilly Professor of Civil Engineering at Purdue University, has been conducting research focusing on transportation system modeling, urban network analysis, and transportation sustainability for two decades. Ma, on the other hand, is an associate professor at Peking University who has been exploring the potential of graph-based machine learning in multiple fields, including biology. "Our common interest in URNs and past research experience on GNNs is what drove our team to explore the road network homogeneity over the last year," Ukkusuri and Ma said. "The primary objective is to mine fine-grained road network information and present its connections with intracity development and intercity urban similarity." Before conducting their analyses, the researchers divided all the URNs in their dataset into two parts: the "hidden region" and "observed region." Subsequently, they specifically trained the GNNs to learn the structure patterns of the road networks in the observed regions, so that they could then predict the structure of the network in the hidden region. In their paper, Ukkusuri and Ma defined the metric they investigated, "network homogeneity," as the F1 score of the model's performance in predicting the hidden region in the URN data. F1 scores represent the precision and recall accuracy of classifiers or machine learning methods. In the context of the team's study, a higher F1 score implied that the model was likely to accurately infer the hidden region from the observed region. It thus also signified a higher homogeneity of URNs. "Our network homogeneity metric quantifies the intracity and intercity similarity of URNs. The intracity similarity is perceived by moving agents via daily activities unconsciously, and by urban planners via professional examinations qualitatively," Ukkusuri and Ma said. "Besides, humans have characterized the intercity similarity long ago, when they called Budapest or Shanghai the 'Paris of the East.' Progress from qualitative evaluation to quantitative measure enables us to efficiently record, compare and predict urban evolutions in a standard manner." The evolution of road networks in big cities are typically guided by top-down urban planning policies. The graph neural network-based model and the metric introduced by Ukkusuri, Ma, and their colleagues could help to evaluate and compare some of these policies. We define the road network homogeneity as the F1 score of the link prediction task. We find the F1 score shares a negative relation with PC1 (network irregularity), suggesting that regular URNs are more likely to be homogeneous. The real-world links and predicted links in two URNs for three cities. Green links denote true positive (links exist in both reality and in predictions), red links denote false positive (links exist in predictions but not in reality) and blue links denote false negative (links exist in reality but not in predictions). Credit: Nature Machine Intelligence (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s42256-022-00462-y "In China, a common slogan during urbanization is: 'consistently follow a blueprint' (Chinese: ), which implies that urban stakeholders need to stick to a constant urban planning policy for a long period," Ukkusuri and Ma explained. "Urban planners could use the homogeneity metric we proposed to measure the similarity of URNs built at different ages and finally verify the temporal consistency of urban constructions within the period." In addition to introducing a metric that could aid the evaluation of urban planning policies, the researchers' study unveiled connections between URNs, a country's gross domestic product, and population growth. The results they collected confirm the close link between human activities and urban environments. "The insights from our study enable us to understand the complicated interplay between multiple factors in the urban system," Ukkusuri and Ma. "The unique feature of our work is that we bridge machine learning with urban science: the F1 score is a standard measure in machine learning, and homogeneity characterizes the network structure of URNs." Ukkusuri, Ma and their colleagues were the first to investigate whether URN systems can be analyzed by machine learning models in meaningful ways. Their findings suggest that advanced machine learning models could be used to extract rich information related to socio-economic factors and the evolution of cities over time. "Imagine when you walk around the corner of a street, sometimes you can even predict what the next block looks like simply based on the neighborhood you just pass," Ukkusuri and Ma said. "When you are driving in a city you have never been to, sometimes you feel very familiar with the surrounding area and feel it is just like another city you know. This could happen either in different cities in the same country or across multiple countries. It is surprising that this phenomenon is not random and could be largely determined by simple factors such as intracity and intercity homogeneity, and trace back to the urban planning culture from Europe to North America and Asia, from ancient cities to modern cities." The graph neural networks developed by this team of researchers could ultimately be used in different countries worldwide to measure the similarities between cities, evaluate urban policies and summarize urban activities. Remarkably, the model introduced in the recent paper could also be extended, both to analyze larger urban areas and to examine changes over longer periods of time. "Other researchers can investigate road networks in cities from different continents, of different sizes, while our study takes 30 large cities as an example," Ukkusuri and Ma said. "Besides, they can measure and compare the homogeneity of a road network at different ages of history. Beyond road networks, the homogeneity theories of street views, land use, and other infrastructure networks could also be established. There is much more opportunity to find more deep insights into complex urban systems." The team's recent study is one of the first that try to apply state-of-the-art graph neural networks in the study of URNs. In their next studies, the researchers would like to develop their model further and apply it to more data, to collect more information about the homogeneity of URNs. Currently, they are conducting a study examining URNs and their links to specific socioeconomic factors. In the future, Ukkusuri, Ma and their colleagues would also like to investigate the historical evolution of URN homogeneity. To do this, they will use time-series data collected in numerous cities worldwide and a more sophisticated neural network model. "We are inspired by a study on structural invariants of URNs in Paris from 1790 to 1999 (Kirkley, A., Barbosa, H., Barthelemy, M., & Ghoshal, G., 2018)," Ukkusuri and Ma said. "From the betweenness centrality in street networks to structural invariants in random planar graphs, we hope to investigate the homogeneity properties for a wide range of cities at the history scale, from modern cities with complete data to ancient cities with limited data, such as Machu Picchu in the Inca Empire during the 15th century." In addition to using machine learning models to examine the development of URNs over time, the researchers would like to use it to examine other types of data collected in urban environments. For instance, they would like to simultaneously analyze street view images, mobility interactions and internet browsing data, to identify more complex patterns that influence human lives in urban settings. For instance, this could help to better understand issues related to social equality and regional poverty. "Road network data is simple and relatively stable, which is suitable to start our analysis," Ukkusuri and Ma said. "We are currently working with Internet companies in Japan to explore the human-urban environment system using big data and machine-learning techniques." Finally, the researchers would like to conduct more studies investigating the general potential of AI in the field of urban science. Their work could also inspire other research groups to apply machine learning in the field of urban science, which could lead to interesting discoveries about the history and development of cities worldwide. "We realized that AI paves a new way to learn the underlying signatures present in cities and how they can be used to make cities more efficient and sustainable," Ukkusuri and Ma added. "Besides, we realize much attention needs to be paid to avoid misusing AI without domain knowledge in urban science. We will continue to explore the intersections of AI and urban science problems and hope to contribute to the interdisciplinary research community." Explore further Using AI to expand the quality and fairness of urban data More information: Jiawei Xue et al, Quantifying the spatial homogeneity of urban road networks via graph neural networks, Nature Machine Intelligence (2022). Journal information: Nature Machine Intelligence Jiawei Xue et al, Quantifying the spatial homogeneity of urban road networks via graph neural networks,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s42256-022-00462-y 2022 Science X Network Credit: CC0 Public Domain Atlanta-based Intercontinental Exchange has agreed to buy Black Knight, a real estate analytics company, for $13.1 billion, according to a news release from the companies. Black Knight offers a wide array of software and data and analysis for companies in real estate and housing finance. The company says its products lower costs and enable clients to grow with less risk. The acquisition is meant to mesh with ICE's own business in technology for the mortgage loan market, said Jeffrey Sprecher, the firm's chair and chief executive, in a statement. "ICE's simple mission has been to make analog and opaque financial transactions more digital and transparent," he said. ICE expects the deal to add roughly $125 million to its revenues within the next five years. Last fiscal year, ICE reported revenues of $7.1 billion. In the first quarter of this fiscal year, the company reported revenues of $1.9 billion, up 6% from the same quarter a year earlier. Black Knight, which is based in Jacksonville, has about 6,500 employees and finished last year with revenues of $386.2 million. The company traces its roots to a company named Computing and Statistical Services, which was founded in 1962. The release did not mention any potential impacts to operations in metro Atlanta. The ICE agreement with Black Knight has been approved by the boards for both companies, but still needs consent from the shareholders of Black Knight. After that, the deal would still need to pass muster with federal regulators. Assuming the pact gets thumbs-up all the way, the transaction would be final early next year, officials said. Founded in 2000, high-flying ICE operates numerous trading platforms for contracts for crude oil, sugar and other commodities, which affects the price of things such as gasoline and groceries. The company made its biggest splash nationally in 2013 when it purchased the New York Stock Exchange. 2022 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Meta experience expert Askia Luna demonstrates the Ray Ban Stories smart glasses during a preview of the Meta Store in Burlingame, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg Facebook parent Meta has opened its first physical storein Burlingame, Californiato showcase its hardware products like virtual and augmented reality goggles and glasses. The store, which is open to the public as of Monday, is made for people who want to test out products like Ray-Ban Stories, Meta's smart glasses and sunglasses, along with the Portal video calling gadget and Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headsets. Shoppers still have to order the glasses from Ray-Ban but can buy the other products at the store. "It's a very concrete step from moving away from social media and ads that mislead people and elections and spying and data and all those things to a very physical representation of clean, classy, well-designed, cool hardware that makes you go, ah," said Omar Akhtar, research director at Altimeter, a technology investment firm. Akhtar said he "didn't believe in virtual reality" until he sat and tried on the Quest 2 headset for the first timeand believes this will be the same for others who are able to put on the goggles and try it out. Apple pioneered physical retail stores in Silicon Valley and Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, is likely hoping it'll replicate at least some of that success. "The truth of it is that physical things never went away and they're never going to go away," Akhtar said. "Everybody realizes that even if we are going to step into the virtual world, we're going to need to access it with hardware." The exterior of the Meta Store is seen in Burlingame, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg A Meta Portal Plus is displayed during a preview of the Meta Store in Burlingame, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg Meta experience experts gather during a preview of the Meta Store in Burlingame, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg A Meta Portal Go is displayed during a preview of the Meta Store in Burlingame, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg A Meta experience expert, left, demonstrates the Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses during a preview of the Meta Store in Burlingame, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg A man experiences the Quest 2 virtual headset during a preview of the Meta Store in Burlingame, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg A woman examines the Meta Portal Go during a preview of the Meta Store in Burlingame, Calif., Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Risberg Explore further CES 2022: This new virtual reality headset can be worn like a pair of glasses 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: Vaclav Volrab, Shutterstock A group of energy specialists supported by the EU-funded IELECTRIX project has built a smart grid demonstrator in a district in New Delhi, India. The demonstration will show how innovative solutions involving local photovoltaic units and self-consumption can enable the creation of local energy communities. The Shakti demonstrationnamed after the Hindu goddess associated with the creative energy of the universeis led by French distribution system operator and IELECTRIX project coordinator Enedis. For this demo, Enedis is joined by four members of the IELECTRIX consortium: Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited in India, French manufacturer Schneider Electric, French service provider Odit-e, and Danish research and development company GECO Global. As reported in a news item posted on the "SmartCitiesWorld" website, this is the first full-scale EU-funded smart grid demonstrator to be set up in India. Through this demo, the project partners are working to build automation at the low-voltage level to ensure better service for consumers. The aim is to improve grid resilience and security of electricity supply and increase the integration of solar renewable energy sources into the network, as a result also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is also seen as an opportunity for citizens and communities to become involved in the energy distribution ecosystem and Delhi's green transition. "As the world leader in smart grids according to Singapore Power Group's Smart Grid Index, Enedis is committed to sharing its expertise and know-how in distribution networks internationally, and particularly in India, where customers are keen to find solutions that will enable the ecological transition while ensuring quality of supply and continuity of power at the highest market standards," states Enedis technical and international director Antoine Jourdain in the same news item. "With this demonstrator, Enedis and its project partners are testing technical solutions and economic models that can be replicated in Europe." Enhancing network stability and grid resilience The Shakti demonstrator is being hosted at the substation of Delhi's St. Xavier's School. The demo system includes rooftop photovoltaic panels with a maximum power of 200 kilowatts peak and a 200 kilovolt-ampere battery energy storage system. Comprising 42 lithium-ion battery modules, the battery system will help improve network stability by providing a power backup in the event of an outage. An energy management system controls the demo site's energy resources, connecting to available photovoltaic panels and the battery system to forecast and optimize energy consumption, production and storage. Other components include smart meters, a remote terminal unit for monitoring and controlling the low-voltage grid, and a smart transformer that enables grid resilience by automatically adjusting the voltage to keep it within defined limits. In addition to the Indian demonstrator, the IELECTRIX (Indian and European Local Energy CommuniTies for Renewable Integration and the Energy Transition) project has another three demo sites in Germany, Hungary and Austria. The results of the Shakti demonstration will be presented at the project's closing ceremony in October 2022. Explore further New study reveals small-scale renewable energy sources could cause power failures More information: IELECTRIX project website: IELECTRIX project website: ielectrix-h2020.eu/ Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Thousands of emperor penguins waddling around Antarctica have a stalker: A yellow rover tracking their every move. ECHO is a remote-controlled ground robot that silently spies on the emperor penguin colony in Atka Bay. The robot is being monitored by the Single Penguin Observation and Tracking observatory. Both the SPOT observatory, which is also remote-operated through a satellite link, and the ECHO robot capture photographs and videos of animal population in the Antarctic. The research is part of the Marine Animal Remote Sensing Lab (MARE), designed to measure the health of the Antarctic marine ecosystem. The project, funded by the independent nonprofit Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, focuses on emperor penguins' place on the food chain. In the Antarctic the food chain is relatively small and any change to a species that is lower in the food chain could impact the health of the emperor penguin (a predator). The team is hoping to learn more about how climate change might be impacting the animals that live in the Antarctic. Little is known about emperor penguins, largely because of how challenging it is for scientists to study them in Antarctica, lead scientist Daniel Zitterbart told USA TODAY. ECHO serves as a very slow-moving, battery-powered robot that through its antennas is able to capture the tag of each penguin. So far, it's been capturing data for eight weeks, according to Zitterbart. "It's supposed to drive around by itself in the Antarctic, knowing where the penguins are and very slowly try to scan individual penguins or scan groups of penguins. That is how we know where penguins are," Zitterbart said. Tracking the penguins also allows scientists to study penguin behavior over time, and see how they adapt. An illustration of the remote-controlled ground robot, ECHO. Credit: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Since 2017, researchers from MARE have been tagging 300 penguin chicks per year. They now have over 1,000 penguins tagged and the colony is composed of 26,000 penguins, according to Zitterbart. MARE plans to monitor the penguins for the next 30 years with the first set of data being complete in 2026. The data will be analyzed to help determine the overall health of the Antarctic and how the penguins are adapting. Explore further Counting Antarctic penguins with AI (c)2022 USA Today Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. French President Emmanuel Macron addresses a press conference after an informal meeting of EU heads of state at the Chateau de Versailles, near Paris, France, March 11, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) Macron's proposal comes as Ukraine, currently in conflict with Russia, is seeking the EU's support and asking to be admitted as a candidate country to enter the Union. BRUSSELS, May 9 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron believes that a "European political community" should be built that would be broader than the European Union (EU) and would include non-EU nations. He outlined his vision in a speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Monday. "How should we organize Europe in a political manner?" he asked. "And how can we go further than the European Union? It's our historic obligation now to respond to that question." The ultimate goal, he said, is to maintain stability on the continent. Relying on the EU only is not enough. "Given its level of integration and ambition," the EU could not be Europe's only organizing body, he said. Photo taken on Jan. 4, 2022 shows a decoration at the headquarters of the Council of the European Union (EU) marking France's hold of the half-year rotating presidency of the EU Council, in Brussels, Belgium. France took over the presidency on Jan. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng) This new organization would allow democratic European nations to "find a new space of political cooperation" in the areas of security, energy, transport, infrastructure investment and freedom of movement. To become a member state of the EU is a lengthy process, often taking years if not decades, Macron said, as the EU's membership criteria are very strict. His proposal comes as Ukraine, currently in conflict with Russia, is seeking the EU's support and asking to be admitted as a candidate country to enter the Union. The proposal complements the 49 proposals of the Conference on the Future of Europe that will be presented to the leaders of EU institutions. Vehicles pass the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) These proposals cover climate change and the environment; a stronger economy, social justice and jobs; the EU in the world; values and rights, rule of law, security; digital transformation; migration; and education, culture, youth and sport. Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. 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 During the busy month of March, more than 22,000 people from 63 countries visited the Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center. Many of them received a warm welcome from Sally Miller. The Grand Island woman, who has worked at the Crane Trust for 15 years, loves working and she loves the Crane Trust. In addition, she enjoys the people she works with and the people she greets. Although shes 87, shes known for her high energy level. In March every year, she runs circles around us all with her boundless energy and ability to keep going with a smile, wrote Wendy Bailey, who is Crane Trusts director of finance and human resources. Last Tuesday, the executive director of Nebraska Tourism came to the Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center to give Miller a statewide honor. She was presented with Nebraska Tourisms 2022 Frontline Employee Award. The award recognizes individuals that go above and beyond while interacting with travelers and locals and is given to people who strive to enhance visitors experiences and demonstrate high levels of customer service and pride in their destination, a news release explained. Miller tells visitors where they can see the sandhill cranes. She also tells them about the 10 miles of hiking trails nearby. Our hiking trails are wonderful, she says. She recommends they check out the bison herd and tells them about the observation tower and picnic tables. Some travelers take a break from the interstate by having a picnic lunch. She tells the tourists about the visitor centers art gallery and the additional artwork in the conference room. She is enthusiastic about the Crane Trusts features. One of the bison had a calf earlier this week, she noted. Miller often steps up to assist others who need help, Bailey said. The Crane Trust values Millers experience. Shes just really an outstanding employee, Bailey said. In addition to greeting people, Miller helps in the gift shop. Bailey points out Miller runs also runs the snack bar. So she does all the ordering for the snack bar. She does all the ordering for the gift shop as well, Bailey said. During crane season, which encompasses March, Miller works full time. The rest of the year, she works three or four days a week, working seven hours each day. When she was a young girl in Colorado, Miller knew nothing about sandhill cranes. But since moving to Grand Island, shes become an expert. Miller, born in Fort Collins, grew up in Denver. After high school, she attended Stephens College in Missouri. After getting married, she and her husband, Maurice, moved to Nebraska in 1958. They operated Miller Manufacturing in Stratton and Grand Island. That company produced disc harrows. The couple moved to Grand Island in 1982. Maurice passed away in 1986. She has two sons. Martin lives in Grand Island and Mitchell lives in Delta, Colo. In addition to her work with the Crane Trust, Miller also volunteers. She helps out in the gift shop at CHI Health St. Francis, at the Grand Theatre and at the Nebraska State Fair. She volunteers for the same reason she works at the Crane Trust. Because I like to keep busy and I like to meet people, she says. The Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center is proud of Sallys achievement and in awe of her dedication and hard work over the years, Bailey said in the news release. Miller feels blessed to be in good health. She doesnt take a single pill. How long will she keep working at the Crane Trust? As long as the good Lord gives me health to do it, she 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. A Mitchell County man will not be receiving a new trial for an attempted murder plot inspired by the television series "Breaking Bad," based on an Iowa Supreme Court ruling. Earlier, an Iowa District Court order had granted Mark Bernard Retterath, 56, of Osage a new trial. However, according to the May 6 ruling, the state contended that the District Court erred in its decision because of it was unable to review mental health records of Aaron Sellers, one of two State witnesses, due to Sellers refusal to consent. However, the state instructed the District Court to conduct an in-camera review of mental health records of the second witness, identification provided only as J.R. According to court records, the two witnesses testimony was crucial in proving Retteraths solicitation to commit murder charge. Retterath was sentenced to up to 35 years in prison in October 2016 after a jury found him guilty of attempted murder, solicitation to commit murder and third-degree sex abuse in the plot that unraveled when people he tried to recruit to carry out the killing went to authorities. Before Retteraths 2016 conviction, he had served 11 years in federal prison for drug and gun crimes before discharge of his sentence in November 2013. A few months later, Sellers met Retterath at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. According to court records, after a family friend accused Retterath of molestation, in 2015 Retterath was arrested on sexual abuse charges. Retterath was accused of performing multiple sexual acts without the family friends consent while acting as the family friends Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor. Retterath then asked Sellers to kill the alleged victim, according to Sellers testimony. While Sellers refused to commit the murder, he told Retterath he knew someone who might be willing to kill for Retterath. Retterath turned to the second witness, another member of his Alcoholics Anonymous group, about killing the alleged victim to keep him from testifying. That was when Retterath and the second witness discussed mimicking an episode of the television series "Breaking Bad" involving ricin. According to court records, after Retterath ordered castor beans to extract ricin, Sellers and the second witness called law enforcement authorities. Investigators found a printout that outlined how to extract ricin from castor beans and five examples of ricin-purification recipes while searching Retterath's home. Authorities also found a jar of castor beans in his house and a baggie holding about 10 beans in the pocket of a pair of Retteraths jeans. But at trial, Retterath contended that both witnesses were unreliable due to mental health issues. The state agreed their history of psychiatric conditions could impact their testimony, a decision that allowed the District Court to conduct the in-camera reviews. However, according to the states May 6 ruling, Sellers counseling records, which were presumed to be from his time in federal prison, were unavailable from controlling federal agencies, https://www.iowacourts.gov/courtcases/11396/embed/CourtAppealsOpinion. Jason W. Selby is the community editor for the Mitchell Country Press News. He can be reached at 515-971-6217, or by email at jason.selby@globegazette.com. Editor's note: Over the past few years, the York News-Times has celebrated our area nurses during Nurses Week which begins on May 6 every year, which is Florence Nightingales birthday. With the understanding of the challenges in the past few years and the dedication above and beyond which our nurses demonstrated, we are happy to present to you Nurses: The Heart of Healthcare featuring 10 extraordinary nurses in our community. In partnership with York General, we asked the community for nominations to celebrate our local nurses full of heart. From here, we owe a big thanks to our panel of judges who helped us narrow down the field. Thank you to everyone who joined in celebrating these people and making the nominations and also to our panel. Thank you to our partner, York General, in this second annual edition of the York News-Times. Last, but most certainly not least, thank you to all the dedicated nursing professionals. Your care for our loved ones does not go unnoticed. YORK -- Leah Lonsdale knew early on that her calling was in nursing. Her mother, Nancy Hengelfelt, a longtime OB director at York General Hospital, was an inspiration her entire life. A collage I made in Kindergarten, which my mother kept, was of a nurse, Lonsdale said, chuckling. I guess I already knew back then. It was always something I planned to do. And of course, I had a great role model. A native of Stromsburg, she attended the Bryan School of Nursing, graduating in 2003. She worked in oncology at St. Elizabeths while getting her BSN at Wesleyan. She then worked in the area of labor and delivery for 4 years. At some point, after getting married and having two small children, she was asked to join the Arthritis Center of Nebraska, which had more stable hours. She was there for four years. Then my mother talked me into moving back here, Lonsdale said. I had two little boys and I could work in labor and delivery again, which was my love. So in 2011, we moved back here and I became a charge nurse. In 2015, I took over this position (as med surg coordinator). She and her family live in Stromsburg now and she works at York General Hospital and Lonsdale said it was a great decision to make the move. I love my co-workers and working with all the departments in the York General family, Lonsdale said. We all know each other, it really is a close-knit family. We have our culture where we smile and greet everyone, and I think the patients and their families appreciate that. The best part of my job is taking care of the patients, connecting with them. The most challenging part of her job, she said, is sometimes the work load, getting pulled in different directions at once. If she could give her younger self some advice about this career, she said it would be to be prepared to work off hours and be proactive in managing your life/work balance; know its not always going to be easy. The people who nominated Lonsdale for this honor said, Leah is a great nurse. She is an excellent educator and represents the nursing profession very well. She has attention to detail that enhances patient care. She is very approachable and with her experience, she has been a mentor to many others. She is a very kind, compassionate and caring RN. She is a great asset to York General Hospital. I just love what I do, Lonsdale said. And I love being part of this team. RABAT, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita met with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry on Monday in Rabat on bolstering bilateral relations, economic and trade exchange. Speaking to the press following the meeting, Bourita expressed Morocco's condolences to the Egyptian victims of the deadly attack in Sinai a day earlier, and reiterated the kingdom's full support for all measures taken by Egypt to preserve its security and stability. "Morocco and Egypt share similar views on many regional issues," Bourita said, adding that the two countries agreed to hold the political consultation mechanism and the Moroccan-Egyptian Businessmen Council. For his part, Shoukry expressed Egypt's determination to further bolster its relations with Morocco by activating the political consultation mechanism, the economic commission and the business forum. The two sides also discussed the crises in Libya, the Palestinian issue and the fight against terrorism. Shoukry wished that the upcoming ministerial conference of the Global Coalition against the Islamic State terrorist group on Wednesday in the Moroccan city of Marrakech will be a success. Grant Spotlight High School Skilled-Trades Teachers Invited to Apply for $1.25M in Prizes Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Programs to Recognize 20 Outstanding Skilled Trades Teachers and Programs The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence awards $1.25 million to 20 outstanding skilled trades teachers and programs in U.S. public high schools. Five grand prize winners will be awarded $100,000 each, and 15 additional prize winners will receive $50,000 each, according to a news release. The competition is open to public high school skilled-trades teachers in the United States teaching such topics as agricultural mechanics, carpentry, construction, electrical, HVAC, manufacturing, plumbing, transportation mechanics, welding, or other skilled trades. Applications for Round 1 are due by 5 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, May 20, 2022; the Round 2 application deadline for selected finalists will be 5 p.m. Pacific on Friday, July 15. Finalists will be announced on Monday, June 27, 2022, and prize winners will be announced in October 2022. Judges will look for the following when selecting winners, according to the Tools for Schools website: Strong evidence of past teaching success and future innovation Thoughtful and in-depth application Positive data and results Inspirational storytelling Active engagement with learning modules Passion, creativity, and leadership Learn more about the competition and apply at https://hftforschoolsprize.org. 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. CARBONDALE CHOICES Memphis Center for Reproductive Health is opening a clinic in Carbondale starting August 1 as health care leaders brace for a potential overturn of Roe v. Wade. CHOICES is an independent nonprofit community health clinic that provides full-spectrum reproductive and sexual health services from abortion to hormone replacement therapy and birth services, according to the group's website. When the U.S. Supreme Court took up the Roe v. Wade case, Jennifer Pepper, president and CEO of CHOICES, and her team began to prepare for the potential overturning of the case, she said. The group began looking for a location for the new clinic as Tennessee is one of 13 states that currently have trigger laws that would ban abortion immediately or shortly thereafter decide whether to overturn Roe v. Wade, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights. Those are the dominoes we saw falling very early, Pepper said. We knew the protections that Illinois had put into place and with the Sexual and Reproductive Health Freedom Act and I was familiar with the area. It's three hours from Memphis by drive. It's also three hours from Nashville. Those are two major cities where people go to access abortion care right now. So we started visiting and meeting people in the community late last year. We had a very welcoming response from folks. Folks here understand that people need health care, and especially things that are typically considered stigmatized services like our abortion care or gender-affirming care. The folks of Carbondale have been great, we've really had a great reception and are very pleased to be coming in partnering with folks here. Illinois Sexual and Reproductive Health Freedom Act, which was signed in 2019, made Illinois the second state in the country to protect abortion rights should Roe v. Wade be overturned, according to the Guttmacher Institute. This law mixed with the close proximity of Carbondale's Amtrak station makes it a great place for CHOICES' second clinic, Pepper said. From her childhood through her adulthood, Pepper has seen firsthand how birth services and abortion services can drastically impact a persons life. I was raised not far from Carbondale by a single mom who struggled significantly to take care of my brother and me, Pepper said. So, I understood at a very early age how family size really impacts a person's ability to move through life and to achieve certain things. Its complicated right now, it's gut-wrenching. I have worked with and provided services to people seeking abortion in various roles for over a decade now. I understand that for every person that needs to access abortion, there's a very individual reason why they need to access abortion, and those reasons are varied and complicated and messy. People have to be able to do that for themselves. They have to be able to make those decisions for themselves because of that mess and because of that complexity. I'm weeping for folks that are going to need to access abortion and won't be able to. The official location of the clinic has not yet been announced nor have hours of operation been decided. However, the clinic will be open five days a week and the schedule is going to work in conjunction with the Amtrak schedule, Pepper said. CHOICES is also not yet aware of what insurances they will be able to accept immediately, Pepper said. However, national funds are available to make the medical procedure more accessible such as the National Network of Abortion Funds at https://abortionfunds.org/need-abortion/. A lack of funding for other services is another worry that Pepper has pending the U.S. Supreme Courts decision. While she does have some hope the leaked documentation may spur people into action, she is mostly disheartened. I'm worried about the other systems that are going to be called on to support the additional needs in the community, Pepper said. They don't get the proper funding or support that they need either. But I'm also hopeful that this galvanizes people in some way." While the clinic will only offer HRT and medication abortions to start, they hope to have the clinic running at full-capacity with all of services being offered in five years. We knew from the get-go, that if we opened a clinic, regardless of where it was that it was going to be a comprehensive center, Pepper said. That's who we are. That's what we do. So, we really sat back and said, 'We have to break these things into phases just from a practical standpoint.' What are things that can be implemented rather efficiently verse what things take some more time? For example, offering birth services just take some more time to figure out and so it is in the final phase of our approach. We really decided on gender-affirming care, because when we talk to folks in the community they told us there really wasn't a good place for those services or not ... There wasn't a lot of access for those services. So folks were having to go to St. Louis or Nashville. Though the clinic does intend to cover a wide variety of services, abortion and HRT are among some of the most stigmatized and important to have available. They are both highly stigmatized services, Pepper said. That means there are less providers available and they're harder to find. When those two things happen people that are poor, people of color and youth are disproportionately impacted, because they can't access transportation or they don't have the financial resources to get there. CHOICES has a long history of providing stigmatized health services because we know our community deserves it. People need access to health care. And so these all these things go together, because it is really about bodily autonomy and is about people being able to make the decisions for themselves, whether that is to carry a pregnancy to term or to terminate a pregnancy, whether that is to live in the gender you are assigned at birth or to make your own decision about your gender moving forward, whether that is to choose a long-acting type of birth control or a more short term. I mean, there are all kinds of decisions people have to make in their lives and so CHOICES, our model, is about being that healthcare provider for people, regardless of their decision, and helping support them in the best way we can. To keep up-to-date on the project view CHOICES website at https://memphischoices.org/. Love 1 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. JEFFERSON COUNTY The identity of the body found in March was announced Friday. The remains of 20-year-old Keriaye Winfrey of Indianapolis, Indiana, continue to be investigated following a recent identification of her body, police said. On March 21, the Jefferson County Sheriffs officers responded to a field and wooded area west of the intersection of Davidson Avenue and Veterans Memorial Drive to assist the Mount Vernon Police Department with the discovery of human remains, police said. A larger search of the scene was conducted on March 29, once weather allowed, by members of several different agencies. Evidence was recovered on both dates, police said. Evidence located on March 21 provided police with a lead to the possible identity of the remains. DNA was secured and then forensically compared with DNA samples provided by members of the deceased person's suspected family, police said. Last week, Detective Captain Wallace received confirmation the human remains were Winfrey. The cause and manner of Winfreys death is still being investigated by the coroners office, which is using the services of a forensic anthropologist. The following agencies have assisted in the case: Mount Vernon Police Department, Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services, Jefferson County Coroners Office, Mount Vernon Fire Department, Jefferson County Fire Protection District, Woodlawn Fire Department, Waltonville Fire Department, Illinois State Police Forensic Services, Canine Search and Rescue Teams and Litton Ambulance. Anyone with information can contact Detective Captain Wallace at the Sheriffs Office at 618-244-8004 or Crime Stoppers at 618-242-TIPS. 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. COLUMBIA Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corp., a family-owned rubber and plastic foam company, announced Monday plans to establish operations in Barnwell County. The companys $5.6 million investment will create 65 new jobs. Founded in 1964, Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corp. produces closed-cell sponge rubber and plastic foam. The companys brands include Durafoam Closed Cell Sponge Rubber & Plastic Foam and Bondaflex Recycled Rubber & Plastics Material Composites. With a commitment to sustainability, 98% of all waste generated by Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corp. is recycled. Located at 4445 Barnwell Road in Williston, Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corp.s Barnwell County facility will expand the companys manufacturing operations and accommodate growth to meet increasing demand. The expansion is expected to be completed by January 2023. Individuals interested in joining the Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corp. team should visit the companys contact page. The Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits related to this project. We are very excited about our expansion into Barnwell County and the state of South Carolina. We look forward to creating jobs and growing our company in the U.S. I want to personally thank the state and county officials who have helped to make this happen, and we look forward to a long and prosperous relationship," Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corp. President John Bonforte Jr. said. "South Carolinas rubber and plastics industry continues to progress and grow, and Monmouth Rubber & Plastics Corp.s decision to establish operations in Barnwell County and create 65 new jobs is further proof of that. Were excited to welcome them to South Carolina and look forward to their success, Gov. Henry McMaster said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A Cordova home and an Olar home were damaged by fire on Saturday, according to the American Red Cross. The Red Cross is assisting the five residents of the Cordova home, which is located on Red Cedar Drive. The group is also helping the three residents of the home on 4th Street in Olar. The Red Cross is providing financial assistance for immediate needs such as food, clothing and shelter, along with referrals to much needed resources. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn how to help with the efforts of the Red Cross. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MANIKGANJ, Bangladesh, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Mothers in Bangladesh have sacrificed their own happiness for their children's bright future while having few complaints about the daily ordeals they undergo. Mosammat Lipia Khatun is one such working mother who works at a brickfield in Manikganj, some 63 km northwest of the capital city. "We're working hard for a better future for our two children," Khatun told Xinhua when countries around the world were observing the Mother's Day on Sunday. Khatun, who joined the brickfield work after leaving behind her parents, brothers and sisters in her ancestral house some 200 km from Dhaka, said she and her husband are working hard just to see their children smile. Reshma Khatun, another mother working in the brickfield from Khulna's Naxa village under Koira sub-district, said she does not want her children to do what she is doing at the brickfield. "We're working hard to make our children well educated," said Reshma Khatun who earns less than 4 U.S. dollars a day. The United Nations General Assembly 2021 has adopted a resolution to graduate three nations, namely Bangladesh, Laos and Nepal, from the least developed country (LDC) category to the developing country grouping, a major milestone demonstrating the countries' significant development progress. Bangladesh is now scheduled to officially become a developing country in 2026 as the U.N. committee recommended that the country should get five years, instead of three, to prepare for the transition due to the impact of COVID-19 on its economy. The Bangladesh government enacted the "Parents Maintenance Act" in 2013 to deal with the increasing trend of negligence and abuses of elderly mothers, who make immense contributions to building a better future for their children and bringing economic prosperity to the country with a population of around 170 million. Despite poor wages and working conditions, another woman worker Lucky Khatun is struggling for a secured future for her and her daughters in the country. "I work hard here because I have two kids. I'm working for both the children," said the woman who lives in a tiny room near the brickfield. In recent years, the country's economic transformation has largely been driven by social changes initiated by women. In the last decade, Bangladesh is among countries in South Asia that has increased female employment while also cutting the wage gap between men and women significantly, says a World Bank report Voices to Choices: Bangladesh's Journey in Women's Economic Empowerment, released in 2019. The female labor force participation rate increased to 36 percent from 26 percent between 2003 and 2016, according to the report. Here are some of the entertainers, leaders, athletes and other notable people we've lost so far this year. Central Wyoming College graduated its first class of bachelors degree students last week and over the weekend. Laramie County Community College and Western Wyoming Community College will also be graduating their first classes of bachelors degree students this week. These bachelors degrees have been a long time in the coming. For a time, the only place where a student could get a four-year public school degree was at the University of Wyoming campus in Laramie. But several years of effort to make education more available in the Cowboy State has led to a UW branch in Casper and, most recently, four community colleges offering bachelors degrees with another one heading down the same path. In 2017, the Wyoming Community College Commission and the University of Wyoming agreed on a joint resolution to increase the percent of working 25- to 64-year-old adults with a valuable postsecondary credential to 60% by 2025 and 75% by 2040. The resolution also aimed to reduce achievement gaps among underserved student populations. Former Gov. Matt Mead issued two executive orders outlining similar goals the following year. One order established the Wyoming Educational Attainment Executive Council. The other laid out the councils goals: increase the percent of Wyoming adults with postsecondary credentials to 67% by 2025 and 82% by 2045, and address achievement gaps for underserved populations in Wyoming. The expansion of bachelors programs at community colleges was one prong of the strategy to increase these percentages. In 2019, the Legislature approved a bill that allowed Wyoming community colleges to each offer up to two distinct bachelors degrees. Now, four of the seven community colleges in Wyoming have started offering bachelors degrees (one of these colleges didnt have any graduates from its bachelors program this year). One other school Northern Wyoming Community College is in the approval process for a bachelors program. Casper College and Eastern Wyoming College arent pursuing approval to offer bachelors degrees right now. Central Wyoming College first offered a bachelors in applied science for organizational management and leadership. The degree has three tracks for either business and entrepreneurial, tribal or outdoor leadership. Central Wyoming College President Brad Tyndall said the college chose to offer this specific degree first because its really really practical. We needed to design something to allow anybody to stay local, Tyndall told the Star-Tribune. One reason Wyoming struggles to retain working adults, Tyndall said, is because the economy isnt very diversified; the degree is meant to equip students to create this missing economic diversity by starting new businesses and expanding small organizations. This is that Grow Your Own Business and entrepreneurship degree, it helps that photographer, that nurse, that welder start their own business, he said. The initial graduating class from Central Wyoming Colleges organizational and management leadership bachelors degree program had four students. Tyndall said that about 80 more students are currently enrolled in the program, and around 100 more have submitted applications for or expressed interest in the bachelors degree track. Central Wyoming College also started offering another bachelors degree program in early childhood education this past fall (there arent any graduates from this program yet). Tyndall said the college chose to offer this degree in response to the dire need for more day cares and teachers. Western Wyoming Community College offers a bachelors degree in business management. Laramie County Community College offers two of them one in applied management and another in health care administration. 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. Escaped inmate Casey White and former jail official Vicky White were taken into custody Monday in Indiana, according to an Alabama sheriff. Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said they two fugitives were caught near Evansville, Indiana, after a chase with U.S. Marshals. Marshals were pursuing a pickup driven by Casey White when the truck wrecked and he surrendered, the sheriff said. Vicky White was taken to a hospital. Casey White and Vicky White are in custody, Singleton said. "This has ended a very long and stressful and challenging week and a half. It ended the way that we knew it would. They are in custody. The two had been the target of a nationwide manhunt since April 29 when Vicky White, the assistant director of corrections for the jail in Lauderdale County, helped engineer the escape of Casey White, who was awaiting trial in a capital murder case. Vicky White had told co-workers she was taking the inmate from the jail for a mental health evaluation at the courthouse, but the two instead fled the area. The vehicle was found today in Evansville, Indiana, after U.S. Marshals received a tip Sunday that the 2006 Ford F-150 pickup was found at a car wash in the town, the Marshals Service said. Surveillance photos showed a man who closely resembles Casey White exiting the vehicle at the car wash, officials said. Investigators believe the pickup truck was stolen in Tennessee and then driven about 175 miles to Evansville, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. The Marshals Service said a warrant was issued on May 2 for Vicky Sue White charging her with permitting or facilitating escape in the first degree. Federal and local law enforcement officials have also learned Casey White threatened to kill his former girlfriend and his sister in 2015 and said, that he wanted police to kill him, the Marshals Service said. Investigators said they have been in contact with them about the threats and are taking measures to ensure their safety. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Lander Republican Sen. Cale Case is at risk of being censured by the Fremont County GOP for acting contrary to the will of the governed and the Wyoming Republican party platform. Case, an economist whos been in the legislature since 1993, often votes as a traditional, libertarian-leaning conservative. He has not gone along with many of the hard-line bills and platforms that have been pushed by more far-right Republicans in recent years. Theyre intolerant of dissent, Case told the Star-Tribune on Monday. The censure cites Cases pro-Medicaid expansion stance, calling it government overreach and accuses him of spreading misinformation in the media about the infighting over the Laramie County Republican Convention. The censure resolution is signed by Steven Lynn, a Fremont County GOP precinct committeeman. Lynn did not respond to request for comment Monday. The censure then finishes by requesting that the state GOP censure Case as well. The party of Lincoln and Ronald Reagans Big Tent has become the party of exclusion. Reagans 11th commandment about not speaking ill of fellow Republicans has become a relic of the past, Case wrote in a recent op-ed. I write to encourage those who believe in the Big Tent to either become or get back involved in party politics. In that same op-ed, Case blamed the shift on state GOP leadership. Party Chairman Frank Eathorne told Fox News a couple months ago that in Wyoming, we dont necessarily embrace the idea of big tent. Case is a longtime supporter of Medicaid expansion in Wyoming, a platform that many Republicans vehemently disagree with. In the last legislative session, Case tried multiple approaches to expand Medicaid in the state, but none prevailed. The censure also takes issue with the fact that Case provided a character reference at a sentencing hearing for the former Pavilion town clerk who stole from the municipality. Multiple sources, including Case, said they cant recall many state lawmakers being censured by their county party in recent years. Rep. Evan Simpson, R-Afton, was censured in March of last year by the Lincoln County Republican Party for not voting conservatively enough, according to members of Lincoln Countys Republican leadership at the time. The censure was later rescinded for technical reasons. The most notable Wyoming Republican censure in the recent past is U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney. She was censured for her vote to impeach President Donald Trump by at least a dozen county parties until the state party ultimately voted to censure her as well. The central committee meeting was set for Monday evening after the Star-Tribunes press deadline. Case was planning to attend. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 16 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. GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK Two of the beloved, embattled grizzly bear cubs took the lead, pushing down through the still-snowy flank of Signal Mountain ahead of their famous mother, grizzly bear 399. The grizzlies five, in all poked through the timber at 8:42 a.m., ambling across Teton Park Road and proceeding down to the receded shoreline of Jackson Lake. They came through the trees less than 100 yards from where Tom Mangelsen expected. The 76-year-old Jackson Hole photographer has practice patterning the movements of the 26-year-old matriarch bruin of Grand Teton National Park, a bear hes tracked since she started raising her litters roadside in 2006. He also knew where to head for the shot. Theyll go this way, Mangelsen said. He flipped a U-turn in his Ford SUV, pointed toward Jackson Lake Dam, and eased to a stop where the grizzlies, framed by the Teton Range, padded down the snowy shoreline in view of a roadside pullout. Mangelsen and a handful of fortuitous fellow photographers were silent, save for the clicking of camera shutters. But word spread quickly. Within a few minutes, a caravan of photographer-filled vehicles that had been staged nearby rolled into view. Soon there was a frenzy: scores of photographers and tourists jostling for a close look. Tyler Brasington, a Grand Teton bear management ranger who waited at the dam, had experience with bear jams here. He predicted the swelling crowd would next glimpse the grizzlies near Johns Pond, just above the dam. Theyve come through there before, Brasington said of the bears. Thats a very difficult area to manage a jam, just because theres no place for people to pull off. Less than a minute later, the five grizzlies ascended from the lake, crossing the road exactly where the ranger predicted. We can all stop right here, Brasington told frantic photographers and grizzly-watching passersby. A few folks momentarily heeded the guidance. But most proceeded onward, following five grizzly bears. For the next hour the crowd kept growing, cameras clicking and memories amassing as the fivesome swam the Snake River and the cubs dutifully played their parts: adolescent, charismatic animals, wrestling in view of the highway. Those same youngsters, accustomed to admiring throngs and adept at putting on a show, will very soon arrive at a perilous crossroads. Turn toward the unfamiliar remote expanses of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and the up and comers might just carve out a living. But if they choose, instead, to stay on the path that runs near humanity, theyll likely be caught and killed. Wednesdays sighting might be one of the last times bear 399 and her cubs are visible together as a family unit. Theyll still potentially be traveling together for another week or two, said Dan Thompson, who oversees large carnivore management at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Anytime between now and June, when breeding starts, shell really kick those 2-year-olds out. Once that happens, the independent subadult grizzlies will be on their own, facing a number of factors stacked against them. Wildlife managers have been clear: the subadults will lose the special treatment afforded to their mother, the subject of an intensive around-the-clock surveillance and conflict-reduction operation during 2021, a year when the famous sow spent more time on private land than within the protective borders of Teton Park. Due to their upbringing in a national park that attracts 4 million-plus visitors each year, the subadult bears also lack a fear of humans. Worsening their prospects, the youngsters know to associate ranches and residential yards with food, the result of deliberate wildlife feeding and unsecured livestock feed and apiaries the famous brood of bears managed to get into. In short, after a lifetime being conditioned to misbehave, the bears will be suddenly subject to a wildlife management regime that is more prone to kill problem grizzlies than to relocate them. It would be tough to relocate them successfully, Thompson said. The only other option is, they would likely be [killed]. That jibes with the long-term trend. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ultimately calls the shots on what becomes of federally threatened grizzly bears, but the Wyoming Game and Fish Department makes recommendations about their fates, and lays out the numbers on captures, relocations and removals in annual reports. A decade of data in those reports show that the number of grizzlies captured has been stagnant, at approximately 40 animals annually. But the agencies have generally moved away from relocating bruins that do get trapped. Between 2012 and 2016, 34% of trapped grizzlies were killed, according to WyoFiles calculations made from agency data. But in the five years since, fatal outcomes were more likely: 55% of captured grizzlies were put down. Were learning from our management actions in the past, Thompson said. With the potential and amount of human injuries, and worse, weve had the past several years, were just very reluctant to move a bear involved in a conflict, especially after October, but even into September. The reason fewer bears are being relocated during hunting season, Thompson explained, is public pressure. Theres no data, he said, that suggests a moved grizzly is more dangerous to people or less likely to survive in its new environment. Its just not tolerated anymore by the public, Thompson said. Wyoming Game and Fish intends to take the lead in managing bear 399 and her offspring if and when those bears depart Teton Park this year, together or independently. Thats a departure from 2021, when the state agency pulled back its on-the-ground management during the family groups extended stay in southern Jackson Hole. The federal government dispatched its own wildlife officials instead, running up a big bill in the process, according to Fish and Wildlife Services grizzly bear recovery coordinator Hilary Cooley. We spent $60,000 last year, the Fish and Wildlife Service in Jackson, Cooley said. We cant do that, and we shouldnt. Weve got 2,000 bears in the Lower 48 states. Ardent 399 admirers feel otherwise. The extraordinary sow the oldest-known female with cubs alive today in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is widely considered an ambassador of her species, and shes a force attracting legions of tourists who bolster the local economy. Fans argue that the famous bear, her progeny and other habituated, roadside grizzlies do deserve continued special treatment. The bears are the draw, in my opinion, Rochester, New York photographer Tom Knauss said from the road shoulder Wednesday. The peaks are nice and all that, but people come to see the bears they really do. To euthanize them, he said, would be a big mistake. Knauss called for the Park Service to rethink what it takes to keep bears with 399s bloodlines alive. Officials could strategically place road-killed ungulate carcasses in the national park, he said, to dissuade their departure. Thats an idea his partner, Ricki Swanson, thought was wise. We feed the damn elk on the [National Elk Refuge] to keep them out of town, Swanson said. All the things they say they cant do because its not natural, theyre already doing. Knauss and Swanson were not ready to write bear 399s four 2-year-olds off, but other roadside spectators took a dimmer view of the youngsters prospects. Roadside grizzlies should be managed to preserve viewing opportunities for the public, Alpine resident Walt Ackerman said. They should be considered golden ambassadors of their species, he said, and that should transcend boundaries and transcend agencies. He recognized thats not the reality, however. Theyre doomed, Ackerman said of the subadults. And the reason theyre doomed is because the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the park and this is my opinion has made it obvious that theyre trying to kill the next generation of roadside bears. Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team data suggests that bear 399 descendents, which learn to tolerate people, fare poorly relative to most grizzlies, Thompson said. Research focused on the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystems grizzlies shows that survival increases steadily with age: 61% of cubs survive their first year out of the den, while 68% of yearlings monitored make it through year two. By the subadult life stage, annual survival rates spike to 85% and some 95% of adult grizzlies survive any given year, according to the research. A study team parentage analysis suggests there are 16 to 17 individuals that are known or likely offspring of bear 399, not counting her current litter, Thompson said. Of those bears, five were captured and killed as a result of conflict most recently, Grizzly 962, a 4-year-old female from world-famous sows previous litter. Two more bear 399 cubs were killed by vehicle strikes. One to two more died from undetermined natural causes, he said. Only four of 399s known offspring that have been captured less than a quarter have no known conflict history, Thompson said. Four more were captured and relocated as a result of conflict. Three of those bears whereabouts are unknown, he said, and the fourth, a female from the same litter as 962, is now a problem bear thats frequenting residential areas in Red Lodge, Montana. Whats going on [with 399], its not a good scenario for her and for other bears, Thompson said. Having grizzlies walking through downtown Jackson doesnt help grizzly bears as a whole. Red Top Meadows resident Cindy Campbell, a longtime grizzly bear activist, said shes focusing her energy on the silver linings of the bear 399 clans wanderings. The five-grizzly family, she pointed out, more or less beelined it for ranchland in southern Jackson Hole after emerging from the den over Easter weekend. There were no reports, she said and Thompson confirmed, of the grizzlies getting into human-related foods. Lets celebrate small victories, Campbell said. Maybe its not so small that her and her family just spent however many days in the [southern] Jackson Hole valley with zero conflicts. Another cause for optimism Campbell perceived was increased public awareness and a policy shift. Bear 399, she said, has been a catalyst for change, encouraging residents to tuck away bear attractants and motivating the Teton County Board of Commissioners to require bear-proof trash cans and dumpsters throughout Jackson Hole. Grizzly 399 came through town on a white horse and said, This is screwed up, thats screwed up, Campbell said. And in the last year, our community stepped up, to a certain degree. Theres a new initiative, Jackson Hole Bear Solutions, thats providing free bear-resistant trash cans, livestock feed containers and electric fencing to residents who request it. Ackerman, the Alpine resident, helped get that program off the ground, convincing the nonprofit Wyoming Wildlife Advocates to take it on. Its an effort to try to solve some of the problems, he said. Its better than doing nothing, and nobody was doing anything. Mangelsen, meanwhile, is also contributing to the chorus calling on wildlife managers to change plans for handling the subadult grizzlies once they strike out on their own. The fivesomes behavior, he contended, should not necessarily be construed as conflict, just because they access human goods left out for the taking. It used to be like three strikes, Mangelsen said. Saying were not going to tolerate one strike now, thats a pretty lousy way to manage a species on the endangered species list. But Thompson said the problem-bear policy was never so simple. Relocation is never predetermined, he said, and theres no concrete number of grizzly bear blunders managers condone even if their tolerance of missteps has diminished. Twenty years ago you could maybe move a bear, even within the recovery zone, and it could find a vacant home range to make a living as a young bear, Thompson said. But the likelihood of that now is very low. Wyomings large carnivore manager repeated his preliminary plans for bear 399s offspring. If any of those bears are involved in a conflict involving food-rewards or something like that, Thompson said, I do not feel itd be appropriate to relocate them. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Carbon County Prosecutor Ashley Mayfield Davis has asked Carbon County Circuit Court Judge Susan Stipe to dismiss a second round of indictments against three Missouri hunters whom a jury found not guilty of corner crossing. Mayfield Davis filed the motion to dismiss criminal trespass and trespassing to hunt charges against Brad Cape, Zach Smith and Phillip Yeomans on May 4, according to court documents. The judge has not yet signed an order dismissing the new charges as requested, but is expected to soon, a clerk at the court in Rawlins said. A Carbon County jury found the three men, plus companion John Slowensky, not guilty on April 29 of a 2021 corner crossing incident at the Elk Mountain Ranch owned by North Carolina resident Fred Eshelman. Just before the trial started, Mayfield Davis served three of the men with a summons to appear at an arraignment on similar charges, but relating to a hunting excursion in 2020. Mayfield Davis wants that arraignment canceled and the 2020 charges dismissed. The essential facts in this matter were considered by the Jury, the motion reads. Therefore, rather than submitting the same evidence to another Jury, the State believes a dismissal would be in the interest of judicial economy and would ask the Court to dismiss the Information [charges] without prejudice. Without prejudice means the case could be filed again. Corner crossing is the act of stepping from one piece of public property to another at the common of two private pieces, all arranged in a checkerboard pattern. The hunters, in both 2020 and 2021 instances, said they never touched Eshelmans private land when they corner crossed during the two hunting seasons. Their trial for the 2021 incident lasted three days. A three-woman, three-man jury found them not guilty of criminal trespass and an alternate charge of trespassing-to-hunt in fewer than two hours. The defendants did not testify. In her motion, Mayfield Davis laid out a timeline for the second round of charges those for the 2020 incident she now wants dismissed. The prosecutors office first alleged the 2020 trespass on April 13, 2022, before the trial on the 2021 incident began, the motion says. The office filed those charges in response to the hunters request to dismiss their 2021 case. The information from 2020 corner crossing was to be used, and was used, in the trial for the 2021 incident, the motion says. Just before jury selection began in last months trial, a Carbon County Sheriffs Office deputy served three of the men with summons for new charges. It asked them to appear at a June 6 arraignment in Rawlins. Mayfield Davis latest motion asks that the judge vacate that scheduled arraignment. The men killed one elk in 2020 and two elk and a deer in 2021, court documents state. Eshelmans Iron Bar Holdings owns the Elk Mountain Ranch that stretches across more than 20,000 of Carbon Countys Elk Mountain. Across the West, some 8.3 million acres of public land are landlocked by any definition that corner crossing is illegal. A separate civil case, brought by Eshelman, is being considered in federal court where federal public land access laws could come into play. The checkerboard pattern of land ownership a construct of the railroad building era makes accessing public BLM and Wyoming School Trust land difficult without trespassing or corner crossing. The men used a Global Positioning Satellite map app to locate surveyed section-corner monuments before they corner crossed, testimony and evidence showed. They documented each monument and crossing point digitally, according to court documents and testimony. In 2021, they used a fence ladder to climb over two T-posts driven in the two separate Elk Mountain Ranch sections and chained together to go from one BLM section to another without setting foot on private land. Mayfield Davis argued that passing through the airspace above Eshelmans property constituted trespass. WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that made abortion access a federal constitutional right, the Mountain West would essentially become an abortion desert. Idaho and Utah would probably make the practice illegal. North and South Dakota have abortion ban trigger bills. Wyoming has an trigger law that would make abortions under most circumstances illegal if Roe is reversed. In light of the leaked Supreme Court opinion draft this week, a reversal seems very possible. Colorado and Montana which, at least for now, both have pretty secure protections around abortion access rights could be the only states in the region that offer abortion services if the Supreme Court upends Roe. The Supreme Court could overturn Roe v. Wade. What does that mean for Wyoming? Uncertain about what the leaked Supreme Court opinion on Roe v. Wade means for Wyoming? Here's an explainer on what it means for the state. Because in-state access is so limited, Wyomingites already access abortion services in Montana and Colorado pretty regularly. Theres only one clinic the Womens Health and Family Care Center in Jackson that currently offers abortion services in Wyoming. (Another one is on track to open this summer in Casper). Casper abortion clinic still scheduled to open despite leaked Roe v. Wade opinion The planned Casper abortion clinic is still scheduled to open this summer despite a leaked draft opinion showing the U.S. Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade. The lack of abortion services in Wyoming means that for some residents, seeking an abortion in Montana or Colorado is actually closer and more convenient than seeking one in state. Planned Parenthood of Montana CEO Martha Fuller told the Star-Tribune that she doesnt expect a huge influx of abortion patients from Wyoming following a potential abortion ban in the state. The reason for that is that we already see a large number of patients from northern Wyoming, she said. Fuller said that last year, about 8% of abortion patients in Montanas Planned Parenthood clinics were from Wyoming. How secure are abortion rights in Montana and Colorado? Abortion access rights seem secure at the moment in both Montana and Colorado. Abortion in Montana is protected under the 1999 Armstrong ruling. That protection is being challenged in court, and Montana legislators will probably try to limit abortion access in the 2023 legislative session, according to the Billings Gazette. But Fuller said it would probably be difficult for legislators to limit abortion access because Montanas constitution protects a very strong right to privacy. Theres legal precedent that applies that right to privacy to folks seeking abortion care, Fuller said. So whenever we get any kind of abortion bans or attempts to create regulatory obstacles to folks seeking abortion, we actually litigate those within the state of Montana under our state constitution. Colorados Gov. Jared Polis signed a law last month making abortion access a basic right. He said in a statement at the time that the bill will prevent any person from being forced to end or continue a pregnancy, and ensure that no one is forced to perform or have an abortion against their will or conscience. Support funds Legally speaking, an abortion ban in Wyoming shouldnt impact the financial support services that are available to Wyomingites who are seeking abortions out of state. The nonprofit organization Chelseas Fund gives Wyomingites financial support to access abortion services. According to nurse Cristina Gonzales, who works with the organization, a lot of people who access the fund go out of state to get an abortion. So far in 2022, 46 out of 74 of the organizations clients have done so, she said. Abortion rights supporters protest Supreme Court draft opinion in Lander About three dozen people gathered across from the public library in Lander on Tuesday, demonstrating in response to a leaked Supreme Court draft ruling that would overturn Roe v. Wade if made final. In addition to Chelseas Fund in Wyoming, Wyomingites can also use funds like the Cobalt Abortion Fund in Colorado and the Susan Wicklund Fund in Montana, even if they arent residents of those states. And Wyomingites already do. Board Chair of the Susan Wicklund Fund Kate Kujawa said nine Wyoming residents applied for financial support from the organization between May 2021 and April 2022. Amanda Carlson, director of the Cobalt Abortion Fund, said people from Wyoming made up about 10% of the organizations out-of-state clients last year. Abortion funds across the nation received a wave of donations following the Supreme Court Roe v. Wade opinion leak, according to ABC. Gonzales told the Star-Tribune that donations to Chelseas Fund increased following the leak, with three donors from across the country calling on Wednesday to make sizable donations. She said past recipients have also offered safe haven and transportation assistance. Fear-based limitations Wyoming cant enforce laws in other states. Doctors in Montana and Colorado could still give abortions to Wyoming residents even if the practice were to be banned in Wyoming. There also wouldnt be restrictions under current law that prevent a Wyomingite from traveling to other states to get an abortion. But a potential Roe reversal could make people afraid of getting an abortion even when legally theyre allowed to, Carlson said. How that actually impacts patients is very fear based, she said. Its important to note too that theres a lot of stigma around abortion care. A lot of the folks that we work with that are seeking funding might be dealing with internalized shame or an unsafe environment. Fuller had similar concerns. I think one of the fears is that if folks have complications or questions that they will not seek health care for fear of prosecution, Fuller said. That could also extend to people who are having a miscarriage. And its hard to know exactly how some parts of Wyomings abortion laws would play out under a potential Roe reversal until someone actually gets in trouble. That ambiguity in states abortion laws alone, Carlson said, could make people more hesitant to seek an abortion, regardless of its legality. I think that gray area is intentional, to make everyone sort of afraid and not knowing whos going to be liable she said. Limited regional access An abortion ban would obviously impact access within Wyoming, but not by a huge margin considering access is already so limited. Its also unlikely that a potential ban would dramatically increase the number of Wyomingites who go to Colorado or Montana for an abortion. But the regional repercussions of a Roe reversal could cut into out-of-state abortion access for Wyomingites. Thats because people from other states with restricted abortion access would probably go out of state for abortions too, stretching services thin in states where abortion would still be legal. When abortion becomes illegal or virtually inaccessible in one state, it pushes people in all kinds of different directions trying to find care, Carlson said. If more people are being pushed to, lets say, the clinic in Fort Collins where they only have so many hours in the day and so many staff, it sort of can create a domino effect. So now we have people in Cheyenne or in Fort Collins who are having a hard time getting appointments close to them, so it pushes them maybe to get to the Denver Metro area or Boulder. Colorado is already experiencing this. Demand at abortion clinics in the state increased after Texas passed a law earlier this year banning most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. Appointments are backlogged for several weeks at some place, according to NPR. Even though Fuller said she doesnt expect an immediate influx of patients following a potential Roe reversal, she said shes concerned about Montanas ability to provide services for out-of-state patients in the long-run under those circumstances. I am concerned about what might happen over time as states across the country go dark, Fuller said. As we saw with the example in Texas, folks would go to the neighboring state, but then if that neighboring state didnt have capacity, they would go to the next state, or people will go to a state where they have family or friends. So I think the influx of patients probably wont change much for neighboring states, but I certainly think we will probably start to see more patients from other states beyond just our immediate region. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 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. JAKARTA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo is scheduled to fly to the United States on Tuesday to attend the U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit which will be held in Washington D.C. on Thursday, the country's presidential secretariat said on Monday. Head of the Presidential Secretariat Heru Budi Hartono said the president is expected to return to Indonesia from the United States on Sunday morning. The conference will begin with a series of meetings on Thursday with the summit being held on Friday, when U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with the region's leaders. The upcoming special summit is the second U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit since 2016 and it will be the first in-person engagement for ASEAN leaders and the U.S. president since 2017. According to a statement on the website of the ASEAN Secretariat, the region's leaders and Biden will meet to discuss ways and means to intensify cooperation in COVID-19 response, climate change, maritime cooperation, and people-to-people ties, as well as connectivity and economic engagement. Founded in 1967, ASEAN comprises 10 countries of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The chairmanship of the regional bloc for 2022 is held by Cambodia while Indonesia is the country coordinator for ASEAN and the United States. A Guayaguayare mother of three was chopped to death at her home during a domestic altercatio 'Nobody is naturally violent, they were not born like that' Can Stuart Young tell me how to become a citizen, as he seems to be one from the country he SYDNEY, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) issued a warning on Monday to the state's vulnerable residents, urging them to prepare for what is expected to be an early and potentially severe flu season. Since Australia closed its borders to the world in the early stages of the pandemic, the common flu was all but eradicated locally, and as such this winter is expected to be Australia's first flu season in more than two years. Authorities have warned that the flu season may be starting early, as positive rates have reached 5.5 percent and related hospitalizations, especially among children, have already begun to climb. There were 1,024 new cases of influenza in NSW in the week ending April 30, compared to just 478 cases the previous week. On Monday, NSW Minister for Seniors Mark Coure urged residents over the age of 65 to book a free flu shot at their local doctor or pharmacy. "This is especially important for those who are immunocompromised or living in close proximity to someone who is susceptible to serious illness from influenza," said Coure. Authorities have also warned that young children, while less affected by COVID-19, are one of the most vulnerable groups to flu. "This year there is particular concern for those young children aged two and under, who have never lived through a flu season or gained any immunity to the virus," said Acting Executive Director of Health Protection NSW Dr. Vicky Sheppeard. Chair of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of South Australia Adrian Esterman told Xinhua on Monday that the pandemic has created a "perfect storm" of conditions for a potentially devastating flu season. "Over the last two and a half years, there has been very little circulating influenza ... Further, the uptake for influenza vaccine in Australia over this period has been lower than usual." "This means that the Australian population has had comparatively little exposure to influenza... (and) why it is so important to persuade people to have flu vaccination this year." Despite life largely returning to normal in the state, the majority of health restrictions having been lifted, COVID-19 daily cases and deaths continue to mount. On Monday the NSW reported 7,751 new COVID-19 cases and three deaths. Over the last week nearly 80,000 cases and 100 deaths have been reported. U.S. regulators are strictly limiting who can receive Johnson & Johnsons COVID-19 vaccine due to a rare but serious risk of blood clots. The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday the shot should only be given to adults who cannot receive a different vaccine or specifically request J&Js vaccine. The decision is the latest restriction to hit the company's vaccine, which has long been overshadowed in the U.S. by the more effective shots from Pfizer and Moderna. In December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended using the Moderna and Pfizer shots over J&Js because of its safety issues. Swiss drug giant Roche has invested millions of dollars expanding its Oro Valley campus to meet demand for its medical diagnostics, and now its employees have a place of their own. Roche Tissue Diagnostics this week unveiled the latest phase of its campus transformation the Employee Forum, a two-story, 45,000-square-foot building that features a conference center, an expansive cafeteria with rotating local restaurant fare, a gym, wellness center and meeting rooms. On Tuesday, company and civic leaders joined hundreds of Roche employees in the cavernous conference center to cut the ribbon on the building, which was five years in the planning. Jill German, who leads the site as president of Roche Tissue Diagnostics, said the new building was badly needed to connect employees on the sprawling campus and was designed based on feedback from Roches roughly 1,800 employees. We needed a place that people could gather in, people could connect in and be creative in, and at the same time, they voiced desires around health and wellness, and frankly that became even more pronounced during the pandemic, German said. The new buildings 2,500-square-foot fitness center is open to employees 24 hours a day, seven days a week and includes a large weight room, glass-walled rooms for instructor-led fitness classes, lockers and showers. Next door, a wellness center includes a lab to process blood samples and two exam rooms to conduct physicals or receive shots and vaccinations, staffed by a registered nurse, a nurse practitioner and medical assistant. Besides the 4,000-square-foot cafeteria with free coffee, the Employee Forum has a separate coffee bar near the entrance and the publicly accessible Innovation Center, which features interactive demonstrations of Roches tissue diagnostics platforms including several lab instruments. For business collaborations, the Employee Forum has eight conference rooms of various sizes, and the main cafeteria can seat up to 500 people for events. Roche, which has steadily expanded its campus on East Innovation Park Drive since the company acquired the former Ventana Medical Systems nearly 15 years ago, is looking forward to opening a new 60,000-square-foot manufacturing building in Marana by the end of the year. The new building will host Roches instrument manufacturing operation, while the Oro Valley campus will remain home to research and development and manufacturing of reagents chemicals used in diagnostic tests, German said. Contact senior reporter David Wichner at dwichner@tucson.com or 520-573-4181. On Twitter: @dwichner. On Facebook: Facebook.com/DailyStarBiz Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. 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. Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff announced that it will provide tuition-free college education for every Arizona resident with a household income of $65,000 or less, beginning in fall 2023. Affordability of college is top of mind for many, and this program ensures that tuition is not a barrier, NAU President Jose Luis Cruz River said. The effort, known as NAUs Access2Excellence initiative, was created to broaden access to higher education and increase attainment of valuable postsecondary credentials for Arizona residents. According to the schools announcement, NAU will maintain its tuition lower than other in-state schools and will continue to provide financial support for students living in households with incomes above the $65,000 mark. Flinn Scholars Five high school seniors from the Tucson area were among 20 students who received the 2022 Flinn Scholarship, which provides a full ride for college at one of Arizonas public universities. The 2022 Flinn Scholars from Tucson are: Portia Cooper of Sequoia Choice Arizona Distance Learning Yaritza Durazo of Sunnyside High School Karah Mayer of Tanque Verde High School Alicia Salazar Contreras of Cholla High School Noah Wellman of Catalina Foothills High School Cooper, Durazo, Salazar Contreras and Wellman will all attend the University of Arizona in the fall, while Mayer will continue her studies at Arizona State University. The Flinn Scholarship, valued at more than $130,000, helps students complete their undergraduate degrees without incurring student debt, as it covers the costs of tuition, fees, housing, meals and at least two study-abroad experiences. Scholarships for SUSD In addition to one of its students receiving the 2022 Flinn Scholarship, the Sunnyside Unified School District celebrated four other high school seniors who were also awarded prestigious scholarships to invest towards their education. Ernesto Jacobo, a student at Sunnyside High School, received the $20,000 Dell Scholarship. The award will provide him with a textbook stipend and laptop, among other resources and support. Jacobo will attend the University of Arizona, where he plans to major in landscape architecture. Victor Vigbedorth of Sunnyside High School received the W.A. Franke Scholarship. The merit-based, four-year award provides up to $15,000 per year for students accepted to the University of Arizona W.A. Franke Honors College. Alexia Apodaca of Desert View High School was awarded the Dorrance Scholarship, which is valued at more than $100,000. The award includes orientation and summer programs, a dedicated advisor and international travel. Apodaca will attend the University of Arizona. Christopher Flores, a student at Desert View High School, received the Gates Scholarship. The award covers the full cost of tuition, wellness and a study-abroad opportunity. In addition to the Gates Scholarship, Flores received about $67,000 in other scholarships and funding for college. He will attend the Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. Tatum Scholarship Caroline Richards, a senior at Marana High School, was named the winner of the first-ever Howard and Mary Ann Tatum Scholarship by the Rotary Club of Dove Mountain. Richards is a straight-A student, and president of the Key Club and the National Honor Society at Marana High. She competes on the cross-country and math teams, and is the head of advocacy for an organization devoted to improving mental health at her school. She will be attending Utah State University in the fall, where she plans to major in finance. The scholarship, which provides a total of $2,000, is in memory of Howard and Mary Ann Taum, charter members of the Dove Mountain Rotary Club who were devoted to serving the youth. Contact reporter Genesis Lara at glara@tucson.com Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. 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 San Rafael Fire started Saturday night (May 7) near the historic San Rafael Ranch House and exploded to the northeast on Sunday, pushed by high winds. Mandatory evacuations were ordered for ranches and homes in the path of the fire. An extensive air attack is underway to contain the fire using fixed-wing air tankers, including the DC-10 air tankers, and helicopters. The fire has burned 10,562 acres as of Monday morning, May 9. More information here While the seven Colorado River Basin states including Arizona hunt for 500,000 acre-feet a year in water savings in both the Upper and Lower basins, the biggest problem facing the river lurks in the shadows: a supply-demand gap that keeps growing. Over the past five years, the rivers annual water flow, greatly diminished since 2000 compared to 20th century averages, has tumbled even faster. Water demands have also fallen, but not nearly as fast. The result is an annual deficit far greater than the 500,000 acre-feet of additional water that savings that Upper and Lower basins state water officials hope to achieve annually in their respective basins over the next few years through short-term conservation plans, to prop up Lakes Mead and Powell. The deficit is also most likely more than the 1.1 million acre-feet a year of river water that the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada have already agreed to save over the entire course of their drought contingency plan, which they approved in 2019. Officials say they hope to find ways to close that gap as part of renegotiations of state and federal guidelines for operating the reservoirs that expire at the end of 2026. If youre asking me if 500,000 acre-feet of savings will prevent Lake Powell from hitting 3,490 feet, I dont think so, said Colorado Water Conservation Board chair Jaclyn Brown, referring to the elevation at which the adjoining Glen Canyon Dam would no longer be able to generate electricity. Sometime this summer, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is scheduled to take the first step toward renegotiating the guidelines, when it posts a Federal Register notice seeking comments from cities, farms, tribes and other entities and individuals on precisely what subjects the new guidelines should cover. But as has been discussed at numerous conferences, interviews and research papers over the years, major differences exist among the various parties involved in water as to what areas should be covered in the guidelines, let alone their substance. Annual deficits Here are three ways of looking at the rivers deficit: Since 2000, the Colorados average annual flow at Lees Ferry, the boundary between the two basins lying just west of the dam, has declined to about 12.2 million acre-feet compared to about 15 million from 1906 to 2000. But the flow has averaged about 10.6 million acre-feet annually over the past five years, including an expected 10.3 million acre-feet in 2022. Lees Ferry is where the Bureau of Reclamation measures annual natural river flows. As of 2020, the most recent year for which statistics are available, annual water use in both basins and Mexico was about 14.3 million acre-feet, matching the average annual use in almost every year since 2010. That figure includes evaporation in reservoirs. That puts the river at a deficit of about 2.1 million acre-feet, using the 12.2 million figure annual average supply figure as a baseline. But looking at only the average annual supply over the past five years raises the deficit to at least 3 million-acre feet a year. The deficit shrinks some, however, when you also account for additional water that flows into the river downstream of Lees Ferry from tributaries such as the Little Colorado and Paria rivers. Jack Schmidt, a Utah State University professor and water researcher, estimates an annual average of 760,000 acre-feet entered the river from tributaries and springs near the Grand Canyon from 1990 to 2021. The average has dropped to 710,000 acre-feet a year since 2017. The reclamation agency estimates about 780,000 acre-feet of additional tributary and spring flows. Adding that water and looking over a 22-year period, the deficit would average about a million acre-feet a year. Looking at only the past five years, including 2022, it would be in the 2.5 million acre-foot a year range. Thats not far from the 3.2 million acre-foot deficit that Reclamation had predicted in a 2012 study could exist by around 2050. Looking instead at total water storage in Lakes Powell and Mead, they held 43.4 million acre-feet on Sept. 30, 2000. By Sept. 30, 2021, their total storage had tumbled, on average, 1.2 million acre-feet a year to 16.3 million acre-feet. That annual loss is a few hundred thousand acre-feet less than all the water that Tucson, Phoenix and other Arizona cities, farmers and tribes got every year from the 336-mile-long Central Arizona Project canal system until CAP suffered its first mandatory cutbacks of about 512,000 acre-feet in 2022, as required by the Lower Basin drought contingency plan. Schmidt, director of Utah State Universitys Center for Colorado River studies, noted the scientifically accepted strategy for measuring and predicting annual river flows has been to rely on 30-year averages. But the sharp decline in flows since the turn of the century raises questions about that, and a recent paper by the center makes that point in critiquing past federal predictions of water levels at Mead, Powell and other reservoirs. The Bureau of Reclamation uses 30-year averages of temperature and precipitation to help it make monthly forecasts for reservoir elevations looking 24 months ahead. It recently updated forecasting methods, to base predictions on the period 1991 through 2020 instead of 1981 through 2010. But while that switch will likely improve forecasting, projections are likely to remain biased in favor of wetter forecasts because the 1991-2020 period was wetter than the millennium drought period from 2000 to the present, the centers February 2022 paper concluded. The last five years worth of deficits on the river are actually less than those that struck during another severe dry cycle on the Colorado from 2000 to 2004. In those five years, the river got about 9.5 million acre-feet of natural flow annually at Lees Ferry, compared to 10.5 million acre-feet from 2018 through 2022. But while river flows rose and stabilized some from 2005 through 2012, that wetter period didnt produce enough runoff for reservoir levels to recover to pre-2000 levels when they were nearly full, said Schmidt. All that we got was a pause in the emptying. Then when the flows got low again in 2012 and 2013, the reservoirs took another hit. From 2012 through 2018, we started catching our breath again, but boom. Look at 2020, 2021 and 2022, and theyre going to be down there again, Schmidt said. Were sort of going in stairsteps, with flows dropping then rising but not bringing reservoirs back to where we were, then dropping again, Schmidt said. Now, theyre at their lowest levels on record: 31% of capacity at Mead and 24% at Powell. Account overdrawn Overall, weve been overdrawn. I would liken it to a checking account and a savings account. If Lake Mead is the checking account, and the Lower Basin is overdrawing that account, then water is pulled from Powell, which is our savings account, said Jim Lochhead, CEO and manager of the Denver Water utility, in a recent virtual presentation done for the University of Arizonas Water Resources Research Center. Lochhead said. And were in a situation today where the checking account is overdrawn and the savings account is depleted. Fixing the deficit is going to require very hard and difficult conversations among the basin states. it will require significant reductions in water use, well beyond what has been felt so far, Lochhead said. We need to build up that bank account again. The system has been operated on the hope that the hydrology will bail us out. It hasnt happened. In the Las Vegas area, Southern Nevada Water Authority Deputy General Manager Colby Pellegrino said the authority is implementing new conservation programs at almost every board meeting. Weve got to continue to try to drive our demand down, said Pellegrino. When the seven basin states and the federal government start renegotiating the 2007 reservoir guidelines that expire in 2026, thats where I think we are really going to get to the meat of the discussion of how much we need to conserve, Pellegrino said. I dont think the (Upper and Lower) basins will be resilient in the face of a changing climate without taking a much more serious look at our water demands. Historic imbalance Why has this deficit kept growing? The decline in Lake Powell is directly related to low inflows in the Colorado River system since 2000 along with water depletions across the basin in excess of supplies, replied Chuck Cullom, director of the Upper Colorado River Commission, an administrative interstate water agency managing Colorado River issues for the Upper Basin. This historic imbalance between depletions, which includes evaporation as well as human water use, and available flows has historically been countered by pulling water thats stored in the reservoirs, he said. But those continued pressures are whats triggering the declines in water levels. Speaking specifically of Powell, Cullom said its decline is primarily due to difference between releases from Lake Powell to meet downstream depletions and the low inflows to Lake Powell due to prolonged drought and climate change. Using less diplomatic terms, many other Upper Basin water officials pin the majority of the blame on the Lower Basin states of Arizona, Nevada and California. Thats because the Lower Basin uses much more water each year than the Upper Basin, and more than what flows downriver from Powell. Upper Basin states are New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming. Various estimates put Upper Basin depletions, including evaporation and water sucked down by riparian trees and shrubs, at 4.4 million to 5.1 million acre-feet annually. In the Lower Basin, the federal government estimated in 2015 the three states and Mexicos users removed 10.5 million acre-feet, including evaporation and other, unspecified system losses. For 2022, that estimate dropped to 9.9 million, due to water delivery cuts required by the 2019 drought plan. Some Lower Basin water users, however, note the Upper Basin states so far have done little or nothing collectively to conserve river water since they approved their drought plan in 2019. The Lower Basin, by contrast, instituted the first in a series of water use cuts this year due to the drought plan. It also has approved a shorter-term, 500-plus plan to cut another 500,000 acre-feet in 2022 and 2023 by paying willing users to temporarily give up supplies. When we get into renegotiating the (2007 reservoir) guidelines with those characters we will have rough sledding. Theyre beginning to believe their own P.R. Those guys are putting their heels in the ground up there, said Bart Fisher, a longtime farmer and vice president of the Palo Verde Irrigation District that operates near Blythe, California, at the Arizona border. Last year, it agreed to sell up to 20% of its river water supplies for three years for $38 million to various state, municipal and federal water agencies, to have the water kept in Lake Mead. Were helping ourselves; the Upper Basin is not doing that. Theyre digging in, bickering between themselves, Fisher said, adding he was speaking for himself and not as an official of the irrigation district. But individual Upper Basin users have voluntarily taken water shortages from the river 20 of the past 21 years, countered Steve Wolff, director of the Durango-based Southwest Water Conservation District. The difference is in the Upper Basin, whose farms and cities mostly lie upstream of Lake Powell, depends on year-to-year swings in water availability from snowpack and runoff, said Wolff. The shortages there are often taken piece by piece among individual users rather than by big water districts as is done in the Lower Basin. We dont have the big storage units to feed our needs, he said, since the big reservoirs lie downstream of where most Upper Basin water users live and work. But theres little benefit in pointing fingers regarding the deficit because that doesnt help solve it, said water researchers John Fleck at the University of New Mexico, Sarah Porter at Arizona State University, and Southern Nevada water official Pellegrino. Rather than talking about blame we should talk about how we deal with the imbalance, said Sharon Megdal, director of the UAs Water Resources Research Center. Contact Tony Davis at (520) 349-0350 or tdavis@tucson.com. Follow Davis on Twitter@tonydavis987. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. 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. PHOENIX Groups that killed a voter-approved tax to fund education in court now are seeking nearly $1 million in legal fees from initiative organizers and the state. And given the campaign committee has virtually no assets that could mean taxpayers a majority of whom voted for Proposition 208 only to have it overturned in court now would be stuck with the bill. Thats because the campaign committee had about $21,300 on its last report. Legal papers filed in Maricopa County Superior Court contend state law entitles the four separate law firms involved in the challenge to recoup the money spent by multiple lawyers. The lead lawyers from the three main firms on the case Brett Johnson, Dominic Draye and Jonathan Riches told Judge John Hannah that action vindicates the rights of all Arizona taxpayers. That conclusion drew derision from Andy Gaona, who represents Invest in Arizona, the sponsor of Proposition 208. He said state laws allowing those who bring these kinds of lawsuits to collect their legal fees requires, at the very least, a showing that the ultimate ruling benefited a large number of people. Instead, those efforts benefited a few wealthy taxpayers, Gaona told Hannah, specifically individuals with taxable income of more than $250,000 and couples above $500,000. And whats worse, he said, it was done at the expense of undoing an initiative passed by the majority of Arizona voters to address a chronic lack of adequate funding for Arizonas public schools. And Brian Bergin, the private attorney who represents the state, said the expensive lawsuit was legally unnecessary. He pointed out that any individual who was affected by the new tax had the right to challenge it through existing legal mechanisms and would have obtained the same outcome. And Bergin told Hannah that even if legal fees can be awarded, the fact that it involved 11 lawyers from three law firms who were at the center of the case and another eight from another firm representing a private company that filed its own challenge should get a closer look. While there is nothing wrong, per se, with representation by multiple firms, the sheer number of attorneys involved raises concerns over duplicative time expended by multiple attorneys on the same or similar tasks, Bergin said. He said any one of the three main firms could have competently represented the challengers for a lot less. The fight over the legal fees are whats left of Proposition 208. Approved in 2020, it would have imposed a 3.5% tax surcharge on the incomes of those making more than $250,000 double that for married couples filing jointly to raise about $900 million for K-12 education. After foes were unsuccessful in knocking it off the ballot, voters approved the plan by a margin of 51.7%. That resulted in a new lawsuit by several Republican lawmakers along with individuals who said their incomes were high enough that the proposal affected them. While a trial judge upheld the measure, it was sidelined by the Arizona Supreme Court which concluded there was no way to spend the money without bumping up against a constitutional aggregate spending limit on education. And the justices said it was irrelevant that lawmakers themselves could waive that spending limit. It is now up to Hannah who actually sided with Invest in Education before being overturned by the Supreme Court to decide whether it is appropriate to award legal fees to the challengers and, if so, how much. Gaona said there are numerous reasons for Hannah to reject the request, at least as far as Invest in Arizona is concerned. And it starts with the attorney general sitting on the sidelines while an initiative approved by voters and presumed legal until proven otherwise just like laws approved by the Legislature forced Invest in Education to defend the measure. To hold those parties responsible for challengers fees would hardly be equitable, he wrote. Indeed, it would have a profound chilling effect on the fundamental right to legislate by initiative. And Gaona also pointed out that the foes did not actually win all of their legal arguments. Most notably, he noted, the GOP lawmakers and their allies argued that only the legislature can raise taxes or, if they do, it has to be approved by a two-thirds vote. Both arguments were rejected by the Supreme Court. Gaona, like Bergin, also urged Hannah to take a closer look at the nearly $1 million fee request by the four law firms. By quick comparison, the (Invest in Arizona) total fees for defending this case, before making all normal and customary reductions and adjustments, were around $391,000, or less than half the total amount sought by plaintiffs, he said. The contrast couldnt be more stark. No date has been set for a hearing. Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state politics and the Legislature since 1982. Follow him on Twitter at @azcapmedia or email azcapmedia@gmail.com . Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The Tohono Oodham Nations housing association is clearing land south of Sells to build a $16.9 million affordable housing development of 30 single-family homes in the village of Kawulk, also known as Cowlic. Kawulk, an Oodham word, translates to The Hill. The nations Ki:Ki Housing Association expects construction to be completed by September 2023. The project is expected to employ 80 temporary construction workers. The village of Kawulk has been working for more than eight years to bring new housing for its residents, said an official with the housing association. One of the largest barriers to developing new housing has been the lack of infrastructure in this remote area, said the official, adding that federal funding provided for piping interconnections for water delivery to the subdivision. The housing association is helping Oodham families come together in a safe and healthy environment and improving the community with new infrastructure, said Kimberly Mull in a news release. Mull is chairwoman for the board of directors of the Ki:Ki Association. This is especially important given the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on our nation over the past two years, Mull said. The houses in the Kawulk community have a Prairie Craftsman style design, which features flat or shallow hipped roof lines, rows of windows, overhanging eaves and adobe brick veneer accents. The design includes gabled roofs, open floor plans, wood framing and front porches that feature support columns and exposed rafters. Each home has a carport and covered back patios. Features also include energy-efficient light fixtures, windows and exterior doors, kitchen appliances and water heaters. The subdivision with newly developed infrastructure will have 14 three-bedroom and 16 four-bedroom houses. Travois Design provided consulting, architectural, asset management and compliance services for the development. The housing authority received a low-income housing tax credit award and hardship credits for high construction costs from the Arizona Department of Housing that generated over $11.8 million in investor equity from Red Stone Equity Partners for the project, officials said. Red Stone is a real estate investment firm specializing in the syndication of low-income housing tax credits and renewable energy tax credits to facilitate the development of affordable multifamily housing communities and renewable energy projects. The housing association also received a $600,000 Affordable Housing Program grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines. Red Stone Equity Partners is very grateful to have had the opportunity to partner again with the Tohono Oodham Nation and help facilitate the development of high-quality affordable housing units for low- and -moderate income tribal members, said Matt Grosz, managing director of Red Stones western region. Since 2019, other Red Stone projects with the Tohono Oodham Nation were the construction of 39 houses in the Black Mountain community in the San Xavier District, and 29 houses in Hanam Ke:k Village in the Gu Achi District. The developments include single family homes and townhomes. Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at cduarte@tucson.com or on Twitter: @cduartestar Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. 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. Santa Cruz County authorities ordered evacuations Sunday after a wildfire that started near Patagonia spread to 10,000 acres in less than 24 hours. The San Rafael Fire began Saturday night about 22 miles southeast of Patagonia and quickly spread northeast through heavy grass. Red-flag conditions Sunday saw wind gusts up to 45 mph. The fire was estimated at about 10,562 acres as of Monday. The wind-driven fire is zero percent contained, according to state fire officials. Crews worked Sunday into Monday building lines ahead of the blaze in an effort to slow it down, officials said. Santa Cruz County authorities ordered residents in the San Rafael Valley and residences on Canelo Pass Road and Canelo Pass to evacuate Sunday. More evacuations were possible Monday as officials were expecting more high winds. About 80 people have been evacuated from their residences, officials said. Multiple hand crews and fire engines are engaged in fire suppression efforts. Aircraft, including single-engine air tankers, very large air tankers, a large air tanker and helicopters, are also assigned to the blaze. More resources were added to the fire Monday, with about 120 people assigned to the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Arizona Department of Transportation closed Arizona 83 northbound at the Cochise-Santa Cruz County line at milepost 10. For updated traffic information, dial 511. The Arizona Trail from Parker Canyon Lake to Harshaw Road is closed because of the fire. The American Red Cross has established an evacuation center at the United Methodist Patagonia Community Church, 387 McKeown Ave., Patagonia, for those affected by the San Rafael Fire. Photos: San Rafael Fire burning south of Tucson San Rafael Fire San Rafael Fire San Rafael Fire San Rafael Fire San Rafael Fire San Rafael Fire, 2022 San Rafael Fire, 2022 San Rafael Fire, 2022 San Rafael Fire, 2022 San Rafael Fire, 2022 San Rafael Fire, 2022 San Rafael Fire, 2022 San Rafael Fire, 2022 San Rafael Fire, 2022 Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. SYDNEY, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Residents in eastern parts of Australia are being warned to prepare for heavy rain and potential flooding this week, as the states of Queensland and New South Wales (NSW) are facing renewed flood warnings. The Queensland Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said on Monday that showers and thunderstorms with possible heavy falls are forecasted for the next few days, which may cause flooding and renewed river level rises, particularly in the Western River and upper Diamantina River catchments. The BoM said heavy rain would likely develop overnight in some regions, which may lead to flash and riverine flooding, and widespread impacts to transport systems. The latest forecast summary from BoM suggested the capital city of Brisbane could receive up to 15 mm of rainfall on Monday, increasing to up to 60mm by Wednesday. Heavy rainfall will shift towards the east coast and adjacent inland southern Queensland on Wednesday and Thursday, although there is still uncertainty about where the heaviest rainfall will be. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services is urging residents to make preparations and plan ahead if they are traveling around this week and to stay up to date with the latest weather and flood warnings. Meanwhile, the BoM also warned that rain was on the way for some regions in northern NSW from later Tuesday. The bureau has already issued a warning for minor flooding for the Bogan River in the central western region of NSW. MARSHALL, Texas (AP) Students graduating from a historically Black college in East Texas were told at their commencement ceremony that an anonymous donor had paid their balances, officials said. Wiley College said in a news release that over 100 students were gathered for graduation Saturday when the school's president made the announcement. We are constantly communicating with donors to assist students in these ways so that they can begin their after-college experience with less debt, Herman J. Felton Jr., Wiley's president and CEO, said in the news release. The college said in the news release that the estimated total for the balances owed to the college by the graduating class of 2022 was about $300,000. The 2007 movie The Great Debaters starring Denzel Washington was inspired by debate in 1935 in which Wiley prevailed over the University of Southern California's nationally-known, powerhouse team at a time when the nation was heavily segregated. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. As Putin marks Victory Day, his troops make little war gains ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his countrys biggest patriotic holiday without a major new battlefield success in Ukraine, and the Kremlin made little to no progress as the war ground through its 11th week on multiple fronts. While Western analysts in recent weeks had widely expected Putin to use the holiday to trumpet some kind of victory in Ukraine or perhaps announce a mass mobilization, he did neither. Instead, he sought to justify the war as a necessary response to what he falsely portrayed as a hostile Ukraine. On the battlefield, intense fighting raged in the east, the vital Black Sea port of Odesa in the south came under bombardment again, and Russian forces sought to finish off the Ukrainian defenders making their last stand at a steel plant in Mariupol. Biden signs Ukraine bill, seeks $40B aid, in Putin rejoinder WASHINGTON (AP) Washington is seeking to portray a united front against Russias invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden has signed a bipartisan measure to reboot the World War II-era lend-lease program to bolster Kyiv and Eastern European allies. The signing comes as Congress is poised to unleash more resources to fight the war. The House could vote as soon as this week on a $40 billion military and humanitarian aid package for Ukraine. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are urging Congress to act before May 19, when the existing drawdown funds run out. Earth given 50-50 chance of hitting key warming mark by 2026 A new report says there's nearly a 50-50 chance that world will hit a key warming threshold in the next five years. Monday's World Meteorological Organization forecast says there's a 48% chance that globe will temporarily hit 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial times by the end of 2026. The 2015 Paris climate agreement set a goal of not exceeding that temperature level on a long-term average and climate scientists have detailed a host of dangers that worsen after that level of warming. The forecast also gives a 93% chance that sometime in the next five years, Earth will set a new record for the hottest year. Fugitive inmate captured after manhunt, ex-jail officer dead Authorities say a former Alabama jail official has died and the murder suspect she is accused of helping escape from custody has been apprehended in Indiana after more than a week on the run. The two fugitives were caught Monday in Evansville, Indiana, after U.S. Marshals pursued their vehicle and then crashed into it. Officials say Casey White surrendered and Vicky White shot herself, and was taken to a hospital. The two are not related. Vanderburgh County Coroner Steve Lockyear said White died from her injuries. The arrests ended a nationwide manhunt that began April 29. Marcos Jr. won Philippine presidency, unofficial count shows MANILA, Philippines (AP) The namesake son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos appears to have been elected Philippine president in an astonishing reversal of the 1986 People Power revolt that booted his father into infamy. Marcos Jr. had more than 30.5 million votes in the unofficial results. His nearest challenger, Vice President Leni Robredo, had 14.5 million with more than 96% of the votes tabulated from Mondays election. His running mate, Sara Duterte, had a formidable lead in the vice presidential race. The alliance of the scions of two authoritarian leaders compounded worries of human rights activists. Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte stuck to a battle cry of national unity during the campaign, even though their fathers presidencies opened some of the most turbulent divisions in the countrys history. S. Koreas new leader offers support if North denuclearizes SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Koreas new president says hell present an audacious plan to improve North Koreas economy if it denuclearizes. Yoon Suk Yeol made the offer during a speech at his inauguration ceremony in Seoul on Tuesday. Yoon says the door to dialogue will be open to resolve North Korean nuclear threats. He says his government will be ready to work with the international community to present a plan that will significantly strengthen North Koreas economy and improve its citizens livelihoods. But North Korea has previously rejected similar offers to provide incentives linked to progress in its denuclearization. Domestically, Yoon vowed to spur economic growth, which he said would heal much of the countrys social problems. Transgender treatment, doctors threatened by new Alabama law BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) Two physicians who run a clinic in Alabama to treat children with gender dysphoria are bracing themselves now that a law that makes some of their work a crime has gone into effect. Dr. Hussein Abdul-Latif and Dr. Morissa Ladinsky lead a team in Birmingham, Alabama, that cares for more than 150 young people who are transgender or gender diverse. The law that took effect Sunday makes it a felony for medical providers to give puberty blockers and hormones to treat trans people under age 19. A federal judge is considering a lawsuit challenging the measure as unconstitutional. Rare cases of COVID returning pose questions for Pfizer pill WASHINGTON (AP) A small number of COVID-19 patients are relapsing after taking Pfizer's antiviral pill, raising questions about the drug at the center of the U.S. response effort. Paxlovid has become the go-to option against COVID-19 because of its at-home convenience and impressive results in heading off severe disease. The U.S. government has spent more than $10 billion to purchase enough pills for 20 million people. But doctors have begun reporting cases of patients who see their symptoms return several days after treatment. It's one of several questions about how the drug is holding up against a changing virus. Pfizer mainly studied the drug in unvaccinated patients during the delta wave. But most Americans now have had at least one shot as omicron variants dominate the outbreak. Putin's Victory Day speech passionate but empty Vladimir Putin had no victories in Ukraine to proclaim on Victory Day. Nor did his speech at the Red Square military parade offer any clear pictures of when a victory may come or how it would be achieved. Instead, the Russian presidents address Monday seemed to suggest that the war that many expected would be brief and decisive could be a long and brutal grind. Ahead of the holiday, which is one of the most important in Russia, expectations were wide that Putin would push for at least one unequivocal military success that he could flaunt in his speech. That might have been the city of Mariupol, but a determined Ukrainian contingent is still putting up resistance there. Pulitzer Prizes award Washington Post for Jan. 6 coverage NEW YORK (AP) The Washington Post won the Pulitzer Prize in public service journalism Monday for its coverage of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, an attack on democracy that was a shocking start to a tumultuous year that also saw the end of the United States longest war, in Afghanistan. The Posts extensive reporting was published in a sophisticated interactive series and found numerous problems and failures in political systems and security before, during and after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in the newspapers own backyard. The U.S. pullout and resurrection of the Talibans grip on Afghanistan permeated across categories and Ukrainian journalists were awarded a special citation. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Patriotism, unease mix as Russia marks Victory Day in WWII The Russian holiday of Victory Day brings out patriotic displays of flags, military parades and marches by veterans' groups celebrating the country's triumph over Nazi Germany in 1945. At first glance, the preparations for Mondays celebration seem to be the same as ever. But the mood this year is very different, because Russian troops are fighting and dying in a war in neighboring Ukraine. The pride and patriotism usually associated with Russias most important holiday is mixing with apprehension and unease over what this years Victory Day may bring. Some Russians fear that President Vladimir Putin will use it to implement a broad mobilization of troops to bolster Russias forces, although the Kremlin denies it. More than 60 feared dead in bombing of Ukrainian school ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) Dozens of Ukrainians are feared dead after a Russian bomb destroyed a school sheltering about 90 people in eastern Ukraine. The governor of Luhansk province said Sunday that 30 people were rescued from the rubble of the school in the village of Bilohorivka but the rest probably didn't survive. Elsewhere, more explosions rocked the Black Sea port of Odesa. Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers making a last stand at a steel mill in the besieged city of Mariupol said they wouldn't surrender following the evacuation of civilians from the sprawling site. As the largest European conflict since World War II churned on, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. first lady Jill Biden made surprise visits to Ukraine. Court leak is catnip for those who love a juicy DC whodunit WASHINGTON (AP) Theres nothing official Washington loves better than a juicy whodunit. And the mystery over who leaked the Supreme Courts draft opinion in a landmark abortion case offers the added subplot of tantalizing questions about why the leaker did it. Its an intrigue in the tradition of Watergates Deep Throat or the Trump-era whistleblower Anonymous. The hunt for the high court leaker is afoot. Chief Justice John Roberts has ordered an investigation into what he called an egregious breach of trust. And amateur sleuths have been eagerly trading theories on social media. One way or another, big secrets in Washington have a way of eventually coming out. "Everything shook": Last civilians leave Ukraine steel mill ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) Pale and drawn, the last civilians sheltering in the bunkers beneath the sprawling steel mill in the decimated Ukrainian port city of Mariupol arrived late Sunday night in Zaporizhzhia, the first major Ukrainian city beyond the frontline. The seaside steel mill, where an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters are making what appears to be their last stand, is the only part of the city not under Russian control. Thanks to its warren of tunnels and bunkers deep underground, many civilians had chosen it as the safest place to take cover from the relentless shelling of Mariupol, a formerly thriving port city that has been largely reduced to rubble. EXPLAINER: What comes next with John Lee leading Hong Kong? HONG KONG (AP) A Hong Kong committee stacked with mostly pro-Beijing members has almost unanimously voted for John Lee to become the city's next leader. On July 1, the anniversary of Hong Kongs 1997 handover from Britain to China, Lee will take control of the semi-autonomous territory. Outgoing leader Carrie Lam leaves after five tumultuous years that spanned pro-democracy protests in 2019, a subsequent crackdown that snuffed out virtually all dissent, and the coronavirus pandemic. Lee was a career police officer and the city's security chief. His choice signals China's central government in Beijing is looking for someone reliable to ensure that its authority in Hong Kong is never questioned again. Strong, swirling winds complicate New Mexico wildfire fight LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) Fast winds are complicating the fight against fires burning across northeast New Mexico. Wind gusts were as fast as 50 miles per hour on Sunday. That forced some firefighting aircraft to be grounded, taking away a key tool for battling the blazes. The area's largest rural town is Las Vegas, New Mexico, and it appears safe for now thanks to fire lines and other preparations. But the northern and southern ends of the fire are proving trickier to contain with the fast winds. The National Interagency Fire Center says more than 20,000 structures remain threatened. Havana hotel death toll at 31 as dogs search for survivors HAVANA (AP) The death toll of a powerful explosion at a luxury hotel in Cubas capital has increased to 31 as search crews with dogs hunt through the rubble of the iconic, 19th century building looking for people still missing. The five-star Hotel Saratoga in Old Havana was preparing to reopen after being closed for two years when an apparent gas leak caused a massive explosion on Friday. The blast damaged nearby structures, including the historic Marti Theater and the Calvary Baptist Church. It's the headquarters for the denomination in western Cuba. Municipal authorities say burials for victims have begun, but some people are still waiting for news of missing friends and relatives. Dictator's son a front-runner as Filipinos elect next leader MANILA, Philippines (AP) Filipinos are voting for a new president with the son of an ousted dictator and a champion of human rights as the top contenders. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the strongman ousted in a 1986 People Power uprising, has led pre-election surveys. But his closest challenger, Vice President Leni Robredo, has tapped into shock and outrage over the prospect of another Marcos holding the top office. The winner of Monday's election will take office on June 30 for a single, six-year term and stands to inherit immense problems, including deep poverty and the legacy of a brutal anti-drugs crackdown led by outgoing leader Rodrigo Duterte. His daughter, Sara Duterte, has topped surveys for the vice presidential race. How climate scientists keep hope alive as damage worsens Many climate scientists share a sense of optimism with professionals in other tough jobs like emergency room doctors and researchers who study Alzheimers Disease even as they chronicle a world losing its protective balance with the sun. Psychologists say how those experts cope may help us in a world that seems to be going off the rails. Climate scientists who have been through a lot both personally and professionally say the key is often action. Don't wallow, they say. Do something. EXPLAINER: How 81-1 shot Rich Strike won the Kentucky Derby This doesnt happen. Horses at odds of nearly 81-1 dont win the Kentucky Derby. Jockeys who have never won any big stakes race of any kind dont win the Kentucky Derby. Owners with fewer than 10 career wins dont win the Kentucky Derby. Rich Strike and his connections disagree with those sentiments. One of the biggest upsets in racing history happened Saturday in the Kentucky Derby, when Rich Strike shocked the establishment by running past everyone and winning the first leg of this years Triple Crown series. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. MOSCOW (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday sought to cast Moscows military action in Ukraine as a forced response to Western policies and a necessary move to ward off a potential aggression. Speaking at a military parade on Red Square marking the World War II victory over the Nazis, Putin drew parallels between the Red Armys fighting against the Nazi troops and the Russian forces action in Ukraine. While lambasting the West, Putin gave no indication of a shift in strategies or made any indication that he was going to declare a broad mobilization, as some in Ukraine and the West have feared. Addressing the phalanxes of elite Russian troops filling Red Square, Putin said the campaign in Ukraine was a necessary move to avert what he described as a threat that was absolutely unacceptable to us (that) has been methodically created next to our borders." The danger was rising by the day, he claimed, adding that Russia has given a preemptive response to an aggression in what he described as a forced, timely and the only correct decision by a sovereign, powerful and independent country. The Russian leader has repeatedly accused Ukraine of harboring aggressive intentions, with support from the U.S. and its allies claims Ukrainian and Western officials have denied. In his speech at the parade, Putin again scolded the West for failing to heed Russian demands for security guarantees and a rollback to NATOs expansion, arguing that it left Moscow no other choice but to launch an action in Ukraine. The Russian leader emphasized that the Russian troops were fighting for the countrys security in Ukraine and called a minute of silence to honor the soldiers who fell in combat. Putin noted that some of the troops taking part in the parade previously have fought in Ukraine. He said that the troops in Ukraine have been fighting for the Motherland, so that no one will forget the lessons of World War II and there will be no place in the world for hangmen, executioners and the Nazis. The Victory Day that Russia marks on May 9 is the country's most important holiday, celebrated with military parades and fireworks across the county. As part of celebrations later in the day, Putin also joined demonstrators who carried portraits of their relatives who fought in World War II in the so-called Immortal Regiment march, walking with a photo of his father who fought the Nazis in the siege of Leningrad. The Soviet Union lost a staggering 27 million people in World War II, which it calls the Great Patriotic War. The conflict, which devastated the country and caused enormous suffering, has left a deep scar in the national psyche. Some in Ukraine and the West expected Putin to use his speech at the parade to switch from describing the Russian action in Ukraine that the Russian officials have called the special military operation to calling it a war. Putin didn't make any such shift in rhetoric or give any indication that the Kremlin may change its strategy and declare a broad mobilization to beef up the ranks. The Kremlin has focused on Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland known as the Donbas, where Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since 2014. That conflict erupted weeks after Russias annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. The Russian military has rearmed and resupplied its forces withdrawn from areas near Kyiv and other regions in Ukraine's northeast and moved them to Donbas in an apparent attempt to encircle and destroy the most capable and seasoned Ukrainian troops concentrated there. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Vandals set a fire inside the Madison headquarters of the anti-abortion group Wisconsin Family Action late Saturday or early Sunday, an official with the group said. Two group staff returned to their office at 2801 International Lane mid-morning Sunday to find shattered glass from a broken window covering a corner office riddled with burned books. The smell of smoke persisted hours after the fire which damaged the corner office carpet and the wall beneath the window was set. The building was also hit with graffiti depicting a coded anti-police slogan and the phrase, "If abortions aren't safe then you aren't either." Julaine Appling, president of the lobbying and advocacy organization, said she and events coordinator Diane Westphall were getting ready for a Mother's Day brunch in Watertown when a building staff member informed her of the break-in. A person on the way to the airport before dawn saw smoke rising from the building and called police, Appling said. A Madison Police Department incident report states, "Flames were seen coming from the facility shortly after 6 a.m." The report states, and Appling confirmed, that nobody was injured. "What you're going to see here is a direct threat against us," Appling said of the attack, coming just days after a leaked U.S. Supreme Court opinion revealed a majority of the high court had agreed to overturn the landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion across the country. "Imagine if somebody had been in the office when this happened. They would have been hurt." Madison Police Department Chief Shon Barnes said the department alerted its federal partners and are investigation the arson with the Madison Fire Department. "It appears a specific non-profit that supports anti-abortion measures was targeted," he said in the statement. Police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer confirmed arson investigators responded in the early morning and "are actively working this case at this time." "This is the local manifestation of the anger and the lack of tolerance from the pro-abortion people toward those of us who are pro-life," said Appling, who told the Wisconsin State Journal that law enforcement found remnants of at least one Molotov cocktail. Police called it an arson investigation. A Molotov cocktail, which did not ignite, was thrown inside the building, according to police. It also appears a separate fire was started in response, police said. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said on Twitter: "We condemn violence and hatred in all forms, including the actions at Wisconsin Family Action in Madison last night. We reject violence against any person for disagreeing with anothers view ... We will work against overturning Roe and attacks on reproductive rights by leading with empathy and compassion. We will defend what we believe in with our words and our voicesin the streets, in halls of government, and at the ballot box. In Wisconsin, we must lead by example." Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said she understands that people are afraid and angry in the wake of the leaked draft but said violence isn't an acceptable response. "Madison believes strongly in the right to free speech, but it must be exercised nonviolently by all sides in this increasingly contentious debate," she continued. Rhodes-Conway also pointed out that pro-abortion rights groups have also been targeted, and called for Congress to pass a bill codifying the protections guaranteed under Roe v. Wade. In 2012, an anti-abortion activist threw a fire bomb inside Planned Parenthood's Appleton location. The perpetrator, an anti-abortion rights activist, was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The location closed a few years later, after a mass shooting took place in a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado. "This attack is abhorrent and should be condemned by all," Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said. Republican gubernatorial candidate and former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch slammed the attack, saying "The radicals are trying to stop us but they know we wont be intimidated from defending life." Republican gubernatorial candidate Kevin Nicholson added, "Disgusting behavior from the left." Candidate Tim Michels called on Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul to "immediately issue unequivocal statements that this will not be tolerated, and offenders will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." From across the aisle, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tom Nelson said, "I am committed to protecting women's rights -- but we must do it the right way. Violence and destruction are not the answer. I'm glad no one was hurt." Barnes said the police department will provide an update on the case Monday at 2 p.m. This is a developing story; check back for updates. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. MIAMI (AP) Humans don't know what they're missing under the surface of a busy shipping channel in the cruise capital of the world. Just below the keels of massive ships, an underwater camera provides a live feed from another world, showing marine life that's trying its best to resist global warming. That camera in Miami's Government Cut is just one of the many ventures of a marine biologist and a musician who've been on a 15-year mission to raise awareness about dying coral reefs by combining science and art to bring undersea life into pop culture. Their company Coral Morphologic is surfacing stunning images, putting gorgeous closeups of underwater creatures on social media, setting time-lapsed video of swaying, glowing coral to music and projecting it onto buildings, even selling a coral-themed beachwear line. We arent all art. We arent all science. We arent all tech. We are an alchemy, said Colin Foord, who defies the looks of a typical scientist, with blue hair so spiky that it seems electrically charged. He and his business partner J.D. McKay sat down with The Associated Press to show off their work. One of their most popular projects is the Coral City Camera, which recently passed 2 million views and usually has about 100 viewers online at any given time each day. Were going to actually be able to document one year of coral growth, which has never been done before in situ on a coral reef, and thats only possible because we have this technological connection right here at the port of Miami that allows us to have power and internet, Foord said. The livestream has already revealed that staghorn and other corals can adapt and thrive even in a highly urbanized undersea environment, along with 177 species of fish, dolphins, manatees and other sea life, Foord said. We have these very resilient corals growing here. The primary goal of us getting it underwater was to show people there is so much marine life right here in our city, Foord said. McKay, meanwhile, sounds like a Broadway producer as he describes how he also films the creatures in their Miami lab, growing coral in tanks to get them ready for closeups in glorious color. We essentially create a set with one of these aquariums, and then obviously there's actors coral or shrimp or whatever and then we film it, and then I get a vibe, whatever might be happening in the scene, and then I soundtrack it with some ambient like sounds, something very oceanic," McKay explained. Their latest production, Coral City Flourotour, will be shown on the New World Center Wallscape this week as the Aspen Institute hosts a major climate conference in Miami Beach. Foord is speaking on a panel about how the oceans natural systems can help humans learn to combat impacts of climate change. The talks title? The Ocean is a Superhero. "I think when we can recognize that we're all this one family of life and everything is interconnected, that hopefully we can make meaningful changes now, so that future generations don't have to live in a world of wildfires and melted ice caps and dead oceans," Foord told the AP. Their mission is urgent: After 500 million years on Earth, these species are under assault from climate change. The warming oceans prompt coral bleaching and raise the risk of infectious diseases that can cause mass die-offs in coral, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Stronger storms and changes in water chemistry can destroy reef structures, while altered currents sweep away food and larvae. Climate change is the greatest global threat to coral reef ecosystems, NOAA said in a recent report. That gets at the second part of Coral Morphologic's name. What does it mean to be morphologic? It really means having to adapt because the environment is always changing, Foord said. The staghorn, elkhorn and brain coral living in Government Cut provide a real-world example of how coral communities can adapt to such things as rising heat and polluted runoff, even in such an unlikely setting as the port of Miami. Their video has documented fluorescence in some of the coral, an unusual response in offshore waters that Foord said could be protecting them from solar rays. The port is a priceless place for coral research," Foord said. We have to be realistic. You won't be able to return the ecosystems to the way they were 200 years ago. The options we are left with are more radical. Beyond the science, there's the clothes. Coral Morphologic sells a line of surf and swimwear that takes designs from flower anemones and brain coral and uses environmentally sustainable materials such as a type of nylon recycled from old fishing nets. We see the power of tech connecting people with nature. We are lucky as artists, and corals are benefitting, Foord said. - Jackson reported from Miami and Anderson from St. Petersburg, Florida. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. PHOENIX Three Republican candidates allegedly involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol can be on the 2022 state ballot, the Arizona Supreme Court said. Challengers to the candidates had no legal basis to argue they were unqualified to run based on claims the trio had participated in an insurrection against the United States, whether by being involved in its planning or actually participating, the justices said Monday in a brief order. Chief Justice Robert Brutinel, writing for the court, acknowledged there is a provision in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution dealing with disqualification. But even assuming that the challengers could prove that U.S. Reps. Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs and state Rep. Mark Finchem were somehow guilty of that a conclusion the justices did not reach or even consider Brutinel said that only Congress gets to decide how to enforce that provision. Finchem and Biggs have said nothing they did on Jan. 6 disqualifies them from being candidates. The justices also said that Free Speech for People, the group that sought to knock the trio off the ballot, filed suit under a law that allows courts to remove candidates who do not meet the qualification to run for a specific office. But that law, they said, covers whether a candidate meets requirements of Arizona law like being old enough or being a resident. It does not cover, the justices said, whether a separate federal law disqualifies their candidacies. Mondays ruling is virtually certain to end the matter as it based on interpretations of state law, meaning there is no possibility of seeking federal court review. The decision keeps intact the bid by Finchem, currently a Republican state representative from Oro Valley, to be the GOP contender for secretary of state. Biggs and Gosar are incumbent Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives who are seeking reelection. At the heart of the issue is the 14th Amendment, passed in the wake of the Civil War. While its main provision deals with equal protection under the law, it also denies both federal and legislative office to anyone who shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States. The lawsuit cites what it says is evidence that Biggs and Gosar helped plan the events of that day that led to the attack on the Capitol and that Finchem not only was involved in the planning but went to the Capitol that day, though there is no evidence he ever went inside. A trial judge threw out the case saying private individuals have no right to enforce that clause. And Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Coury also said they cant use state election laws to claim the trio are not qualified. Mondays Supreme Court decision affirmed that ruling. In a prepared statement, a spokesman for challengers said the ruling betrays the fundamental purpose of the 14th Amendments Insurrection Disqualification Clause and gives a pass to political violence as a tool for disrupting and overturning free and fair elections. It also claims the court was wrong for even refusing to allow them to present overwhelming evidence that the trio participated in insurrection. And the Arizona Supreme Court certainly did not rule that the Jan. 6 attack was not an insurrection, nor exonerate these defendants from evidence that they engaged in it, it said. Jack Wilenchik, who represents Finchem, sniffed at those arguments. Their overwhelming evidence consisted of the allegation that Finchem tweeted a photo of the crowd, he said. And Wilenchik said the bid to characterize the Supreme Court decision as absurd and indefensible is certainly in keeping with the level of respect that the extreme left shows for Supreme Court justices these days. Alexander Kolodin, Gosars attorney, said there was something ironic in the bid to knock the candidates off the ballot. The challengers in this case are sponsored by a group with the Orwellian name Free Speech for People, he said. But free speech is the constitutional right they tried and failed to deny to their opponents, Kolodin said. It was an honor to defend Congressman Gosars right to say whatever the hell he wants. While Mondays ruling ends the bid to keep the candidates off the ballot, it may not be the end of the legal battles. The only remaining question is whether the defendants will pursue claims against the plaintiffs for misusing the court system as a stage for political theater rather than a forum for resolving earnest disagreements of law and fact, said Kory Langhofer who represents Biggs. It wasnt just in Arizona that Free Speech for People sought to remove candidates from the ballot. It filed a separate complaint with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger charging that Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was similarly disqualified under the 14th Amendment. Raffensperger sent the case to a state hearing officer who concluded that challengers failed to prove their claim that she helped facilitate the Jan. 6 riot or engaged in insurrection. He then upheld the hearing officers finding and left Greenes name on the ballot. The organization bills itself as a nonprofit coalition of other groups formed after the U.S. Supreme Court deciding the 2010 Citizens United case which said that corporations and other outside groups have a constitutional right to spend unlimited funds on elections. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. The fatal shooting of a migrant in a remote canyon in February does not warrant prosecution, the Cochise County Attorneys Office said after a review of the case. There is insufficient evidence to contradict the explanation of the events by Agent Kendrek Bybee Staheli in the shooting death of Carmelo Cruz Marcos, the office said. Stahelis actions appear to be justified under Arizona law, Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre wrote in a May 6 letter to the Cochise County Sheriffs Department. Earlier news reports said the incident started after agents approached a group of migrants in Skeleton Canyon, about 30 miles northeast of Douglas, on Feb. 19. The letter cites a report, saying two agents on horseback Staheli and another agent, referred to only as Agent Tang were tracking the group in the dark through a remote, treacherous landscape in a potential two on ten apprehension scenario. After apprehending three people in the group, Staheli fired shots when Cruz picked up a large rock and appeared to be ready to strike him, the letter says, adding there were no witnesses to the interaction between Staheli and Cruz, and no physical evidence at the scene to contradict the account. The letter, however, goes on to say two witnesses who have a familial relationship, said they heard Staheli say something unusual before the shooting. Stahelis reported emotional state after the shooting strongly contradicts this claim, the letter says. Cruz, a 32-year-old father of three from Puebla, Mexico, was shot several times, according to the Pima County Medical Examiners report. The scene of the shooting was not processed until the next day. Officials cited the lack of aircraft, personnel and the time of the shooting for the delay, the letter says. McIntyre cited self-defense. In Arizona, the state is required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the shooters conduct was not justified. He also cited the state statute that says the use of deadly force is justified when the officer fears for his safety. Based upon the available evidence, the shooting was legally justified, and there would be no reasonable likelihood of conviction on any criminal charge if pursued, McIntyre wrote. The shooting has prompted at least one large vigil, and Cruzs family is calling for an independent investigation of the incident by the FBI and has retained an attorney. Border Patrol needs to answer questions about how the agent failed to de-escalate the situation, why the use of force was deadly, and why an investigation was not started until the next day, the familys attorney said in an April 5 news release. In the past, Border Patrol has investigated itself in use-of-force incidents, with their controversial Critical Incident Teams. Earlier this year, the agency announced all such investigations would be overseen by the Office of Professional Responsibility. U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced last week that the teams would be disbanded by Oct. 1. CBPs Office of Professional Responsibility responded to 193 incidents involving in-custody and other deaths, vehicle pursuits and use of force resulting in serious injury or death last fiscal year, according to the agencys 2021 employee accountability report. Although there have been a few prosecutions sought, no Border Patrol agent has ever been convicted in an on-duty killing incident since the creation of the office in 2003. Contact reporter Danyelle Khmara at dkhmara@tucson.com or 573-4223 . On Twitter: @DanyelleKhmara Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. 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. ISLAMABAD, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan condemned the deadly attack on a water pumping station in Egypt's western Sinai region, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said on Sunday night. "The government and people of Pakistan extend deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pray for the early recovery of those injured in the attack," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and reaffirms its solidarity with the brotherly people of Egypt, it added. The Egyptian military said at least 11 Egyptian soldiers were killed and five others wounded in clashes with terrorists in western Sinai on Saturday. The clashes took place as the Egyptian troops foiled an attack by a group of terrorists on a water pumping station in western Sinai, according to the Egyptian army. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) With time running short, the Missouri House on Monday passed a newly proposed map for the state's eight congressional districts that if the Senate agrees could be used in elections later this year. The plan approved 101-47 by the state House is projected to continue Republicans' 6-2 advantage over Democrats in the state's U.S. House delegation. It marked an attempt to avoid court intervention and break a stalemate with the state Senate before a Friday deadline to pass legislation. Though Republicans hold large majorities in the state Capitol, Missouri is one of the last states still struggling to enact a congressional redistricting plan based on the 2020 census. Republican factions have been squabbling about how aggressively to draw districts to their favor, and which communities to divide when balancing the population among districts. Though some remained unsatisfied Monday, a majority voted to advance the new plan. It's the best map that were going to get at this point, said Republican state Rep. Dan Shaul, chairman of the House's redistricting committee. But state Rep. Jerome Barnes, the ranking Democrat on the Houses redistricting panel, said the map was motivated by partisan purposes and not public input. The House first passed a redistricting plan in January. But that stalled in the Senate amid opposition from some conservative Republicans who wanted to tilt it even more to the GOPs favor. The Senate passed a redistricting plan in March, but the two chambers thus far have been unable to agree on a final version as lawsuits have mounted seeking to compel a new map. The latest plan appears to strengthen Republicans in the state's only competitive district suburban St. Louis' 2nd District, held by GOP Rep. Ann Wagner. To accomplish that while balancing populations, the map splits several communities. One of the most notable divisions is in Columbia, where the southern part and the University of Missouri campus would shifted into 3rd District that stretches eastward toward the St. Louis area. The northern part of Columbia would remain in the 4th District that stretches westward to the Kansas border. Democratic state Rep. David Smith, of Columbia, called the split ridiculous and absurd." But Shaul said it was better than a version previously passed by the Senate that would have split apart the university campus. The House defeated a Democratic amendment that could have given their party a better shot at winning three congressional seats. It also rejected a Republican amendment that could have bolstered the GOP's chances of winning seven seats by splitting Democratic-leaning Kansas City among several Republican-leaning rural districts. Lawmakers in charge of redistricting in some states have acted aggressively to draw lines to their favor. But that tactic has not always worked out. New districts are limbo in New York and Kansas, where courts struck down plans enacted by their Democratic- and Republican-led governments, respectively. Lawsuits also are pending against redistricting maps in other states, including Florida and Ohio. In New Hampshire, the Republican-led Legislature is working on a revised plan after GOP Gov. Chris Sununu pledged to veto the first version it passed. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Tom Gilbert Chief Photographer I joined the Tulsa World in 1988 after graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma. I lived in Saudi Arabia before graduating from Broken Arrow High School. I'm married to Karen Gilbert and have three grown children. Phone: 918-581-8349 Follow Tom Gilbert 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 This week we feature Heirloom Rustic Ales' Plague Doctor, a beer that uses dandelions during the brewing process. The canned beer is a French petite lager at a mere 2.9% ABV. "The unique thing that we add to this beer is we foraged around 27 pounds of dandelion flowers, and we add that in the beer it makes kind of like a dandelion tea. It adds a really cool floral element to the beer. But on top of that, we also naturally carbonate the beer. We can it, and then it actually ferments a second time in the can to create the carbonation, which allows us to get a really high carbonation level, similar to like a Topo Chico drink or something like that. This adds a lot of structure and texture to a really low alcohol beer to try to make it something a little more interesting for folks that aren't used to drinking something this sessionable," said Jake Miller, co-owner and brewer at Heirloom Rustic Ales, 2113 E Admiral Blvd. This type of brewing process started in Europe before hops were readily available. Brewers would use herbs and flowers in their brews to preserve them and add flavor. "Dandelions are one that's been really common for a long time. And I remember reading about that and thinking that that would be a really cool Oklahoma thing to do. And then I saw another brewer in Vermont that actually organized their entire community to pick with him to make sure that they get enough. And I thought that was also cool. So we've been doing that now for three years. This is the third vintage of this beer. Definitely, the one I'm most excited about just because we've foraged more than we ever have this year," Miller said. Heirloom Rustic Ales started almost five years ago in an old auto body shop in the Kendall-Whittier area. "The building used to serve as an auto body shop on the original route 66. There hadn't been anything in it for a few years when we took over. So we had to do quite a bit of work, but that's kind of the cool thing about these old cinder block buildings. They're gonna stick around forever. So it was a pretty easy remodel, all things considered," Miller said. The building has a bit of history to it. There was a double homicide that happened there. Miller explains, "We got on the phone with an old private investigator and he was asking us where we were located and we told him, and he said, oh, I know all about that building. It was probably like 10 or 12 years ago that he had investigated a double homicide inside our building. So not too keen on naming any beers after it or anything, but kind of an interesting piece of history that happened in here." Nearly all breweries have a style of beer that they like to brew and Heirloom is no different. Miller's history of brewing has taken him to many great towns and breweries. He brewed in Oregon and with Prairie Artisan Ales and in Florida at Saint Somewhere Brewing Co. "I had predominantly done barrel-aged beers or Saisons and somewhere along the way I think I was fishing and drinking weirdly enough. It was like a PBR or a Bush, something really watered down and really chill, and I realized how much I drank those kinds of beers and how much those beers really meant to me because when you're fishing for 10 hours, you know, you need to have something that's a little more, sessionable a little easier going. I started kind of going down this road of seeking out lagers," he said. "Some of the best lager brewers in the country lived in Oregon. So I would visit their spots during brew days after I had finished mine and started talking to different brewmasters there that had been brewing lagers for a decade or more. I really kind of switched gears entirely. Once Heirloom got a little closer to opening, I realized that I was going to mostly focus on those kinds of beers," Miller said. "It's been cool to have people drink those beers and engage with those beers. That was definitely when we started something; no one was doing that other than Marshall. And it's been really cool to see the reception of that and just the growth of lager here. Now, everybody makes several of them and it's been really fun to see that kind of grow here in this community." Past Beers of the Week Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in 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. The owner of the dogs that mauled a man to death west of downtown Tulsa in October 2020 was found guilty of manslaughter last month. Benjamin Ryan Spence, 36, was originally charged with second-degree murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in the dog-mauling death of Curtis "C.J." Wickham on Oct. 22, 2020. At a hearing on April 14, Spence waived his right to a trial and entered a no contest plea to an amended manslaughter charge. The plea means Spence did not deny or accept responsibility of the crime but agreed to punishment. Prosecutors dismissed the assault charge with Spence's plea. Plea documents say Spence produced Wickham's death by "culpable negligence" when his dogs attacked. District Judge Michelle Keely found Spence guilty of second-degree manslaughter and sentenced him to four years in Oklahoma Department of Corrections custody with credit for time he has already served. Spence has been in the Tulsa County jail since December 2020, when officers arrested him on his November 2020 charges. At the time of the dog attack, Spence was dating Wickham's ex-girlfriend and staying at her home. Witnesses testified during a preliminary hearing that Wickham had gone to the woman's house to retrieve a cellphone he believed had been stolen from him. Spence answered the door and immediately began swinging at Wickham, punching him once, a witness testified. Wickham fought back and gained the upper hand in the fight before Spence got his dogs and told them to "watch" Wickham, one witness testified. The girlfriend testified that she never heard Spence sic the dogs on Wickham which is what another witness originally told police but did see him make some sort of gesture as he was yelling. A neighbor fired a gun into the air to try to deter the dogs, and at the behest of the girlfriend's screams, Spence and a passerby eventually tried to pull the animals off Wickham, beating them with a shutter from the house, but the efforts were futile. Wickham died of blood loss from the dogs' bite wounds, according to a medical examiner's report. He was 26. The three pit bull dogs, identified in court documents as Rosie, Boomer and Sooner, had been sleeping with the girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter on the couch earlier, the woman testified. Any animal that has killed or seriously injured any person in the city of Tulsa could, by the proper court, be termed a dangerous animal and ordered to be euthanized, according to city code. The dogs were preserved as evidence throughout the district court proceedings, but the matter is set to be decided by a city judge in late June, a city spokesperson said. Spence remained in the county jail on Monday while awaiting transport to Department of Corrections custody. 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. A Bartlesville teenager pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder in Indian Country related to the 2021 death of a toddler. Terry Nathan Hindman, 17, faces up to 17 years in prison under the terms of a plea agreement with federal prosecutors. He admitted to throwing 23-month-old Elliott Myles Winget with excessive force across the room Sept. 29 onto a couch in a Bartlesville apartment that he shared at the time with his girlfriend and her toddler. Elliott hit his head on the wall behind the couch and landed on a table in front of the couch striking his head, Hindman wrote in his plea. Afterwards, he stumbled around and seem (sic) dazed. I did not seek medical attention and did not tell anyone of the incident, including doctors when Elliott was taken to the hospital later that day. Hindman wrote that he was watching Elliott again on Oct. 2 when the toddler began having breathing problems and was taken to a hospital, where he died five days later from blunt force trauma linked to the Sept. 29 incident. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Tulsa filed a single-count felony charge of second-degree murder in Indian Country on April 4. "The abuse this young child endured at the hands (of) Terry Hindman is horrific and his death a tragedy, said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. The U.S. Attorneys Office takes seriously our charge to protect Oklahomas children and will bring to justice those who harm them. The plea agreement, which requires judicial approval, calls for a prison term ranging from 168 to 210 months, with the exact term to be determined later by a judge. As part of the justification for the plea, the agreement notes that Hindman has had no prior contacts with law enforcement but is a chronic methamphetamine user, first using the drug when he was 14. He has been in custody since his first court appearance on April 7, court records show. The case was tried in federal court because Hindman is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. 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. STILLWATER In a city that uniquely blends rural Oklahoma with a progressive, highly educated college town, school restroom access for transgender students has become a dividing point for Stillwater residents. A statewide controversy erupted over the local school districts 6-year-old policy allowing students to use the restroom that matches their gender identity. A bill that would restrict school bathroom use to biological sex, not gender identity, is quickly moving through the state Legislature. The dispute drew crowds to March and April school board meetings in Stillwater, where attendees on both sides of the debate spoke extensively. I think weve got lots of good people in this room with lots of beliefs, and theyre passionate and want kids to do well, school board member Marshall Baker said at a packed April 12 meeting. I think were all trying in our own way to make that happen, and its not easy or clean. Its really difficult to take this many passionate people and then try to merge that and make sure everybody belongs at school. Stillwater is currently the only city outside the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas to elect a Democrat to the state Legislature. With Oklahoma State University in town, nearly half of the citys 48,000 residents have a bachelors degree or higher a demographic that nationally leans Democratic, according to the Pew Research Center. Yet Payne Countys Republican representation at the state Capitol still outnumbers its lone Democrat, and county voters convincingly favored Donald Trump over Joe Biden in the 2020 general election, 60% to 37%. Some conservative residents described Stillwater Public Schools restroom protocol as left-wing pandering. Local LGBTQ+ advocates say a gender-affirming restroom policy is crucial to the wellbeing of transgender students. To single these students out to a private restroom, as Oklahoma lawmakers suggest, would be othering for transgender youth, whose sense of belonging is already vulnerable, said Mik Taylor, executive director and chairperson of the Payne County Pride Association. Taylor said the advancement of Senate Bill 615, which would prohibit Stillwaters policy, was especially a blow to the local LGBTQ+ community. The bill passed the state House last week and would have to survive the Senate before it could reach the governors desk. No behavioral incidents have been reported in Stillwater schools as a result of the restroom protocol, the school district said. Regardless, Republican state leaders and some local residents have painted the policy as a safety threat, particularly in girls restrooms. I know those trans kids, Taylor said. They wouldnt hurt a fly. Some in the community say female students no longer feel safe using school restrooms for fear of who might enter. One district mother said her 13-year-old daughter now avoids using the restroom at Stillwater Middle School. Thats not from hating anyone, the woman said while speaking at the April 12 school board meeting. We dont hate other kids. She doesnt feel safe and doesnt feel, I guess, her privacy is protected. Stillwater mother Erin Dyke said she hopes to see the existing policy continue. Both of her elementary-age children will enroll in the Stillwater district next school year after a period of homeschooling during the pandemic. I want gender-affirming policies in place in my childrens school, Dyke said. Anybodys child may be put in the position where they feel that just going to the bathroom is a point of stress and anxiety, and it shouldnt be the case. Many at the April board meeting urged Stillwater officials to limit restroom access by birth sex. Speakers echoed rhetoric from state leaders, calling the policy a symptom of woke beliefs. One attendee is now suing the school board because he wasnt allowed to finish his address against the protocol. Brice Chaffin, 42, registered to speak about the policy at the April 12 meeting but was escorted out by police when his remarks detailed the laws of gravity, biblical passages, sin and sexual impurity. Board members cut off his speech with a minute left on the timer for remaining too far off topic. Chaffin, of Stillwater, and the conservative group Reclaim Oklahoma Parent Empowerment filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the school district in Payne County District Court. They allege that the school board violated Chaffins religious liberties. The lawsuit asks that a judge order the school district to pay Chaffin an apology, attorneys fees and any other applicable damages. This sort of heavy handedness in quashing religious expression cannot be allowed to stand, he said. Chaffin, who is running as a Republican candidate for House District 33, called the restroom policy illogical and asinine while speaking with reporters on Wednesday. He said his four children do not attend Stillwater schools. Some objecting parents said they were unaware that the school district allowed restroom access based on gender identity. A petition calling for a reversal of the policy is now circulating among parents, churches and the local Republican Party. The school board unanimously passed a resolution stating it would not alter the protocol unless the state left it no choice. Lawmakers quickly prepared that overriding action last week after Attorney General John OConnor urged them to expeditiously craft a bill on school restrooms before the legislative session ends this month. Dyke, who has lived in Stillwater for six years, noted that outside influence fanned the controversys flames. A representative of a conservative think tank arrived from out of town to speak against the policy at the April school board meeting, and Gov. Kevin Stitts education secretary, Ryan Walters, has been one of Stillwaters loudest critics. Walters posted four videos and a scathing letter to social media to denounce the policy. He called the restroom protocol radical and so far left I expect it from San Francisco, but not in the state of Oklahoma. Walters is running as a Republican for state school superintendent. I wouldnt say its neighbors in Stillwater with different opinions from other neighbors, Dyke said. I would say from my own observations that there are certain political interests with more resources who are using the gender-affirming bathroom policy in Stillwater to forward political aims. Teacher of the Year: Rachel Fulks was recently named Claremore Public Schools 2021-22 Teacher of the Year. An English as a second language teacher at Claremont Elementary School, Fulks works with more than 40 students across six grades each day to help them understand the material covered in their primary classrooms. Fulks will represent the Rogers County district in the State Teacher of the Year contest. New name: The Tulsa Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously last week to adopt a recommendation from an ad hoc committee to name the cafeteria at Central Middle and High School in honor of Francis Duncan. A Central graduate, Duncan was a custodian at the school for more than 40 years. He died in September. COVID-19 by the numbers: Seven area school districts had published updated COVID-19 case counts by the close of business Friday. Tulsa Public Schools reported four cases among its students and one among its employees. Campuses with at least one confirmed case were Eliot, Kendall-Whittier, Mayo Demonstration and McKinley elementary schools. Bartlesville Public Schools reported no cases among its students and staff, but it reported two students in quarantine due to close-contact exposure. Bixby Public Schools had one reported case among its students and none among its employees. Broken Arrow Public Schools reported six cases among its students and one case among its employees. BAPS does not differentiate among campuses in its public reporting. Collinsville Public Schools had no reported cases among its staff and two among its students. Jenks Public Schools reported four student cases and one case among its employees. Along with the lone employee case, three of the four student cases were at East Elementary School. Sand Springs Public Schools had no reported cases among its staff and students. Owasso and Skiatook public schools did not publish an update by the close of business Friday. Berryhill, Glenpool, Sapulpa and Union have stopped publishing regular case count updates. School board calendar: The boards of education for Allen Bowden, Berryhill, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Claremore, Collinsville, Glenpool, Liberty, Mounds, Owasso, Sapulpa, Skiatook, Sperry and Union all have meetings scheduled for Monday. The board for Keystone Public Schools is scheduled to meet Tuesday. The board for Epic Blended and Epic One-on-One charter schools is scheduled to meet Wednesday in Oklahoma City. The final bell: Wednesday is the last day of school for Keystone Public Schools. Thursday is the last day of classes for Mounds and Pretty Water. Friday is the last day of classes for Allen Bowden, Anderson and Mannford. Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton, Tulsa World 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 number of state dams in poor or worse condition that would likely threaten human life should they fail has nearly tripled since 2019, a Tulsa World analysis of federal data indicates. Data this year from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Inventory of Dams shows that of the nearly 5,000 dams in the state, 35 were rated as poor or worse and were located in an area where loss of life was probable in the event of a failure. In 2019, the last time the Tulsa World analyzed dam condition numbers, only 13 dams deemed a high hazard in the event of failure were rated as poor. The increase in the number rated in poor or unsatisfactory condition could be linked to a toughening of inspection criteria, according to Zachary Hollandsworth, Dam Safety Program manager at the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. Ill say weve been a little stricter with our condition assessments lately, Hollandsworth said in an interview. The agency has recently released more guidance to dam owners regarding condition assessments. State law requires dam condition assessments based in part on danger to life and property should a failure occur. A dam is deemed high hazard and subject to greater regulatory scrutiny when the loss of human life is probable should a failure occur. Hollandsworth said the OWRB focuses most of its regulatory energy on monitoring the condition of the 115 dams across the state that are under its direct jurisdiction. A poor condition rating for a dam can occur for a variety of factors, including the need for more information about a structure, Hollandsworth said. Well often times assign a dam a poor condition if there needs to be more studies conducted to know whats going on, he said. The Lake Carl Blackwell dam in Payne County, one of those rated as in poor condition, is undergoing a remediation study, Hollandsworth said. The lake is the largest in the state in storage capacity whose dam is considered to be in a high-hazard location and rated as in poor condition. Theres a study being conducted right now that we have partially funded through FEMAs new high-hazard-potential dams rehabilitation grant, Hollandsworth said of the Lake Carl Blackwell dam. Well end up with a design for remediation of the slope. Its a very steep slope. It does have some stability issues, and we are trying to remediate that right now. The study is expected to be complete by the end of this year, Hollandsworth said. We dont think that it is in any type of imminent failure, but for the long term use of this dam, its important to do this work, he said. As dams across the state continue to age, the need to maintain them will increase. Most of our dams were built in the 60s and 70s, Hollandsworth said. Thats what we expect, and we are seeing a lot of dams that are getting some work on them. Of the 35 dams rated as poor or unsatisfactory and considered a high risk for the loss of human life due to failure, 14 are located within the Tulsa region. The area dams, their owners and the counties in which they are located are: Carlton Lake (Robbers Cave State Park), Oklahoma Department of Tourism, Latimer County Cushing Lake, city of Cushing, Payne County Hominy Lake, city of Hominy, Osage County Jim Hall Lake, city of Henryetta, Okmulgee County Lake Carl Blackwell, Oklahoma State University, Payne County Nichols Lake, city of Henryetta, Okmulgee County Okmulgee Lake, city of Okmulgee, Okmulgee County Orchard Lake, privately owned, Adair County Pawhuska Lake, city of Pawhuska, Osage County Sahoma Lake, city of Sapulpa, Creek County Shell Creek Lake, city of Sand Springs, Osage County Stigler Lake, city of Stigler, Haskell County Waxhoma Lake, city of Barnsdall, Osage County Weleetka Lake, town of Weleetka, Okfuskee County 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. OWASSO Interim Owasso Public Schools Superintendent Margaret Coates was hired this week as the districts permanent superintendent. The Owasso school board unanimously voted for Coates' hiring during a special session in the Dale C. Johnson Education Service Center on Monday. She possesses a set of qualities that makes her a visionary leader with many exciting long-term goals for the district, the board said in a letter. We believe she will be a dynamic leader of our district for many years to come. Coates, who has served as interim superintendent since November 2021, now fills the districts leadership seat formerly occupied by Amy Fichtner, who resigned that month after three years. Im thrilled to be serving in this role, and just honored and deeply humbled, Coates said at Mondays meeting. We have amazing teachers, leaders, students, community. This is the place to be, and Im so glad that Im here, and Im just looking forward to the journey ahead. Owasso Public Schools partnered with the Oklahoma State School Boards Association over the last several months in a search for a new superintendent for the district but ultimately agreed to retain Coates for the long-term. Coates "has an all students first philosophy, the board said in the letter. That perspective, combined with her demonstrated ability to develop educational leaders, work as part of a team, listen and communicate effectively and enforce policies, set her apart from the other candidates. Coates retired as the districts assistant superintendent for teaching and learning in June 2021 before returning as interim superintendent last fall. She began her education career in Owasso as a geometry teacher at Owasso High Schools West Campus in 2002 before serving as assistant principal from 2007 to 2012. She also held the role of assistant superintendent of secondary education for Broken Arrow Public Schools from 2012 to 2018. Owasso Public Schools plans to release soon a 100-day plan that details Coates focus areas of culture, organizational excellence, connection with stakeholders, academic excellence, innovation, school bonds and strategic planning. 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. MIAMI BEACH, Fla. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Russias invasion of Ukraine has made energy independence more important than ever during a climate conference in South Florida on Monday. Pelosi said during the opening session of the Aspen Ideas: Climate 2022 in Miami Beach that the House has already passed legislation to combat climate change, and they continue to work with the Senate to gain bipartisan support. We have all the reason in the world to do this, Pelosi said. Its hard to understand why there are obstacles to it. Pelosi, who visited Ukraine earlier this month, said climate change has always been an issue of health, economics and security, and she pointed out that nations that have bought oil from Russia, including the U.S. and some European countries, have effectively funded the attack on Ukraine. The fact is that people cant get away with that kind of behavior, and they cannot be financed in doing it by our dependence on fossil fuels in their country, Pelosi said. KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: No end in sight for Ukraine war as Putin hails Victory Day Russian ambassador to Poland hit with red paint Russia marks WWII victory overshadowed by Ukraine More than 60 feared dead in bombing of Ukrainian school Follow all AP stories on Russias war on Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday that Europe, as it did in World War II, once again has to think about the price to be paid for peace on the continent. Zelenskyy added that Europe has to think about the price to be paid by Russia for bringing the evil of total war to Europe again. In his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said history will hold Russia responsible. And we, Ukrainians, will continue to work toward our defense, our victory and on restoring justice. Today, tomorrow and any other day that is necessary to free Ukraine from the occupiers, Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy ended his radio address by thanking all those defending the country and promising that the Ukrainian flag will one day once again fly over all of its cities. The Ukrainian flag will return. Because this is our country. A free European country, Zelenskyy said. KYIV, Ukraine The Ukrainian military said Russian forces fired seven missiles from the air at Odesa on Monday night, hitting a shopping center and a warehouse. One person was killed and five were wounded, the military said. While seeking strategic targets, obsolete missiles managed to hit an extremely dangerous shopping center and a warehouse for consumer goods, Natalya Gumenyuk, a military spokeswoman, said on Facebook. Photos on the post showed what appeared to be the warehouse engulfed in flames. WASHINGTON Washington sought to portray a united front against Russias invasion of Ukraine on Monday as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan measure to reboot the World War II-era lend-lease program that helped defeat Nazi Germany to bolster Kyiv and Eastern European allies. The new legislation is largely symbolic, but comes as Congress is poised to unleash more resources of $33 billion or more to fight the war. It all serves as a rejoinder to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has seized on V-E day, the anniversary of Germanys unconditional surrender and Russias biggest patriotic holiday, to rally his people behind the invasion. Before signing the bill, Biden said that Putins war was once more bringing wanton destruction of Europe, drawing reference to the significance of the day. Flanked by two Democratic lawmakers and one Republican, Biden signed the bill, which had sailed through the Senate last month with unanimous agreement, not even the need for a formal roll call vote. It passed overwhelmingly in the House, drawing opposition from just 10 Republicans. It really matters, Biden said of the bipartisan support for Ukraine. It matters. Despite their differences over Bidens approach and perceived missteps in confronting Russia, when it comes to Ukraine the members of the House and Senate have held together in a rare bipartisan fashion. Other measures, including calls to investigate Putin for war crimes, have also gained widespread support. WASHINGTON Lithuanias top diplomat said Monday that removing Russian President Vladimir Putin from power is the only way to protect the West and its allies from future threats from Moscow, urging an even tougher stance than the U.S. and many NATO allies have been willing to pursue since Russias invasion of Ukraine. In an interview with The Associated Press in Washington, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said Putins annual Victory Day speech was underwhelming and that the gloomy faces of generals and others were signs of failing in the Ukraine war. Yet, he said a wounded Putin may be even more dangerous and that the only way to remove the threat is to remove him. From our standpoint, up until the point the current regime is not in power, the countries surrounding it will be, to some extent, in danger. Not just Putin but the whole regime because, you know, one might change Putin and might change his inner circle but another Putin might rise into his place, Landsbergis said. And so as long as a regime that intends to wage wars outside Russian territory is in place, the countries surrounding it are in danger, he said. And, if one thing was proven to those who doubted it after 2008 in Georgia in 2014 when the first war in Ukraine started, it is that Russia is an aggressive country. Thats very clear. Lithuania is one of the three Baltic states that among NATO allies are particularly concerned about possible Russian designs on forcefully returning them to Moscows rule. Lithuanian officials, including Landsbergis have been especially outspoken about their fears but his overt calls for regime change go beyond what most NATO allies have been willing to express. BRATISLAVA, Slovakia The first telephone call Jill Biden made from her black SUV after an unannounced meeting with her Ukrainian counterpart inside the embattled country was to her husband, President Joe Biden. Biden and Olena Zelenska, who had not been seen in public since President Vladimir Putin sent Russias military into her country nearly 11 weeks ago, had just spent about two hours together at a school in Uzhhorod in western Ukraine. With her visit to the Ukraine war zone, the U.S. first lady was able to act as a second pair of eyes and ears for the president, who so far has been unable to visit the country himself. Sometimes the first lady is able to do things and get into places where the president cant, said Myra Gutin, author of The Presidents Partner: The First Lady in the Twentieth Century. Jill Biden wrapped up her four-day trip to Eastern Europe on Monday after meeting in Bratislava with Zuzana Caputova, Slovakias first female president. Her trip over the border on Sunday to meet with Zelenska and refugees from elsewhere in Ukraine was a highpoint of the visit. Seated across from Caputova, Jill Biden said she told her husband in their phone call just how much I saw the need to support the people of Ukraine and about the horrors and the brutality that the people I had met had experienced. BERLIN The leaders of Germany and France welcomed the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin didnt announce any steps to expand the war in Ukraine, including to other countries, in his speech marking the end of World War II. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters in Berlin that it important there had been no escalation, at least as far as the rhetoric is concerned in Putins Victory Day speech. What actually happens in Ukraine is something well see in the next days and weeks. His comments were echoed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who added that the goal of diplomatic efforts remains a cease-fire in Ukraine. In effect, today was marked by no verbal escalation nor a geographic escalation nor an escalation in the use of arms he said. Is this sufficient for us? No. We will remain concentrated on our only goal, do all to get a cease-fire and help Ukraine to negotiate under the terms it decides for itself, because we are on the side of sovereignty and Ukrainian territorial integrity, Macron said. No more, no less. BUCHAREST, Romania U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during an official visit to non-NATO member Moldova on Monday that the consequences of Russias war against Ukraine escalating are too frightening to contemplate. Guterres, who arrived in Moldovas capital Chisinau on Monday, said in a joint press conference with Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita, that the impact of Russias war in neighboring Ukraine is profound and far-reaching. The U.N. chiefs visit to Moldova, one of Europes poorest countries, which has a population of about 2.6 million people, follows a series of unsettling incidents that have rocked Moldovas pro-Russia breakaway region of Transnistria, which has put officials in Chisinau on high alert. In late April, three men launched grenades at the regions state security office, and two large broadcast antennas were downed a day later. On Friday, Police in Transnistria said explosive devices were dropped from a drone leaving 1-meter-deep craters near a village. I am deeply concerned about the continuation and possible spread of the war Russia is waging in Ukraine, Guterres said, adding that Moldovas sovereignty and territorial integrity must not be threatened or undermined. Transnistria, a small strip of land with a population of about 470,000, has been under the control of separatist authorities since a 1992 war with Moldova. Russia bases about 1,500 troops in the breakaway region, ostensibly as peacekeepers. No casualties were reported in the incidents. WASHINGTON The United States is suspending 25% import taxes on Ukraines steel in a show of support for the countrys beleaguered economy during the Russian invasion. The Commerce Department said Monday that it would withdraw the tariffs for a year. Ukraine accounts for only about 1% of U.S. steel exports. Some of the countrys largest steel communities have been among those hardest hit during the war, including the Mariupol mill thats the only part of the strategically important port city not under Russian control. We cant just admire the fortitude and spirit of the Ukrainian people we need to have their backs and support one of the most important industries to Ukraines economic well-being, Commerce Secretary Gina M. Raimondo said. For steel mills to continue as an economic lifeline for the people of Ukraine, they must be able to export their steel. The steel levies were imposed in 2018 by the Trump administration, which deployed a little-used provision in U.S. trade law to call foreign steel a threat to American national security. The move outraged U.S. allies, and critics said they did little address the real cause of stress for U.S. steel producers: massive overproduction by the Chinese, whose steel shipments to the U.S. are already limited by other trade barriers. The Biden administration has removed most of the tariffs on steel from the European Union, the United Kingdom and Japan, allowing their metals to come in duty-free up to a quota. No such quota applies to the Ukrainian imports in the move announced Monday. WARSAW, Poland Polish officials say the country is ready to increase its energy assistance to neighboring Ukraine and provide steady deliveries. Polands government ministers made the declaration Monday during a Polish-Ukrainian Energy Forum attended also by other countries and by the International Energy Agency. Climate and Environment minister, Anna Moskwa, said a round-the clock effort is being set in motion to ensure energy security to Ukraine. Poland has been supplying Ukraine with some energy and fuels ever since Russias Feb. 24 invasion. The level of the support is to be increased. Ukraines first deputy minister for the economy, Yulia Sviridenko, said the country urgently needs diesel fuel and gasoline because Russias invading troops are destroying its fuels infrastructure, including a refinery. Poland is in the process of cutting its dependence on Russian energy sources and increasing deliveries from other countries. BRUSSELS European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is traveling to Hungary in a bid to secure unanimity on the EUs executive arms proposal to ban oil imports from Russia. A spokesman for the European Commission said von der Leyen will meet with Hungary Prime minister Viktor Orban on Monday to discuss issues related to European security of energy supply. Hungary has blocked progress in discussions to adopt the sixth EU package of sanctions targeting Russia for its war in Ukraine, and ambassadors from the 27 EU countries have so far failed to agree on the details of the new round of measures. Von der Leyen has proposed having EU member nations phase out imports of crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year. Hungary says it will not vote for the proposed sanctions, saying it would have the effect of an atomic bomb on its economy and would destroy its stable energy supply. ODESA, Ukraine The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, has lamented that silos full of food for export is blocked in the Black Sea port of Odesa, which he visited on Monday. The Ukrainian city has been the target of Russian missile attacks over recent days. In a tweet, Michel said he was with Ukraines prime minister examining the wars effect on the port. I saw silos full of grain, wheat and corn ready for export, Michel wrote. This badly needed food is stranded because of the Russian war and blockade of Black sea ports. Causing dramatic consequences for vulnerable countries. We need a global response. Ukraine is a global grain exporter, and U.N. officials have warned that failure for those products to ship will hurt food security in importing countries, especially poorer ones in Africa and elsewhere. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a statement said he spoke with Michel during the Odesa visit. It is important to prevent a food crisis in the world caused by Russias aggressive actions, Zelenskyy said. Immediate measures must be taken to unlock Ukrainian ports for wheat exports. ROME The head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church under the Moscow patriarch has made a personal and faith-based appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin for safe passage to Ukrainian soldiers defending the besieged port city of Mariupol. Metropolitan Onufry recalled in an open letter Monday that Putins own family survived the siege of Leningrad in the 1940s. He said Putins relatives experienced what it is like to live in isolation from the great land, under constant bombardment, without food, water, medicine, when death can come at any moment from the impact of a heavy weapon, hunger or lack of medical care. He said the civilians and soldiers of Mariupol are in the same situation today, a reference to the Ukrainian troops still defending the Azovstal steel mill. He wrote: We hope that you will Christianly agree to the extraction procedure for the Ukrainian garrison in Mariupol, and give the opportunity to surrounded civilians, police, border guards and the military to enter the territory controlled by Ukraine or the territory of third countries. Onufrys church enjoys broad autonomy but is loyal to the Russian Orthodox Church and its patriarch, Kirill. It is separate from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which split into an independent church in 2019. BERLIN The Russian ambassador in Berlin used a wreath-laying ceremony commemorating the end of World War II to repeat Moscows claims that it is fighting against Nazism in Ukraine. Sergey Nechaev told reporters Monday that Ukraine will be de-nazified for sure. It will succeed, he said. We need a peace without Nazism, in Ukraine and in Europe. The diplomat also cited a need for good cooperation, of course, but at eye level, without ultimatums and without threats and without sanctions. The occasion was the 77th anniversary of Nazi Germanys defeat, traditionally celebrated by Russia on May 9. A small group of people waved Russian and Soviet flags, despite a ban on doing so by Berlin police, imposed to prevent violence between pro-Russia and pro-Ukraine protesters. WARSAW, Poland Protesters threw what appeared to be red paint, to symbolize blood, at the Russian ambassador as he arrived at a cemetery in Warsaw to pay respects to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. Ambassador Ambassador Sergey Andreev came to the Soviet soldiers cemetery to lay flowers. A group of activists opposed to Russias war in Ukraine were waiting for him. The protesters carried Ukrainian flags, while some were dressed in white sheets smeared with a red color, symbolizing the Ukrainian victims of Russias war. Other men in the diplomats entourage were also seen splattered with what appeared to be red paint. BRUSSELS The European Commission will aim to deliver a first opinion in June on Ukraines bid to become a member of the European Union. The 27 EU nations have been fully united in backing Ukraines resistance to Russias invasion, adopting unprecedented economic sanctions against Moscow since the start of the war in February. But leaders are divided on how fast Brussels could move to accept Ukraine as a member. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in a message on Twitter that she discussed Monday with Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy EU support and Ukraines European pathway. Looking forward to receiving the answers to the EU membership questionnaire. For now, Ukraine has an Association Agreement with the EU, which includes a far-reaching free trade pact and helps to modernize Ukraines economy. The Ukrainian fast-track bid could take years, with unanimity among current members required to include a new member. KYIV, Ukraine Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a video address to the war-ravaged nation on Monday, marking the defeat of the Nazi Germany in the World War II, and promising that Ukraine will soon have two Victory Days. We will never forget what our ancestors did in World War II. Where more than 8 million Ukrainians died. And every fifth Ukrainian didnt return home. In total, the war claimed at least 50 million lives, Zelenskyy said. We dont say we can repeat. Zelenskyy stressed that soon there will be two Victory Days in Ukraine. And someone will not have even one left. We won then, we will win now, too, he said, in reference to Russias war against Ukraine. MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to cast Moscows military action in Ukraine as a forced response to Western policies. Speaking Monday at a military parade marking the World War II victory over the Nazis, Putin drew parallels between the Red Armys fighting against the Nazi troops and the Russian forces action in Ukraine. He said the campaign in Ukraine was a timely and necessary move to ward off what he described as an absolutely unacceptable threat just next to our borders. The danger was rising he said, adding that Russia has preemptively repulsed an aggression in what he described as a forced, timely and the only correct decision by a sovereign, powerful and independent country. The Russian leader again scolded the West for failing to heed Russian demands for security guarantees and a rollback to NATOs expansion, arguing that it left Moscow no other choice but to launch an action in Ukraine. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. ROME, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Italy will face short-term energy supply problems if Russia opts to cut gas sales to the country, Italian Ecological Transition Minister Roberto Cingolani has said. Speaking on the sidelines of the City Enterprise Festival in Vicenza, Cingolani said Italy's transition away from Russia had already started, but will take time. Like other European Union member states, Italy is seeking to reduce its dependency on Russian natural gas due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Previously, Italy imported around 29 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia every year. Italy has now struck deals that will replace most of those imports. "Imports of 25 billion cubic meters of gas are ensured from 2024 onwards," Cingolani said. The gap between previous levels of Russian imports and the new supply deals will be covered by imports of liquified natural gas, alternative energy sources, and conservation initiatives, he explained. MUSKOGEE For nearly 100 years, Muskogees Veterans Administration hospital has been an anchor of the community, holding down the citys west flank from Honor Heights as dependably as the Arkansas River marks the east. Not anymore. In March, a VA reorganization study recommended closing the Jack C. Montgomery Medical Center when the new VA hospital planned for downtown Tulsa opens in a few years. Muskogee would get a new VA clinic instead. The recommendation caught local leaders and congressional members by surprised. Theyd been assured the center would remain open as an in-patient mental health treatment facility. Muskogee is not giving up without a fight. We are here today because we are as mad as hell at Washington turning its back on rural Oklahoma, Muskogee Mayor Marlon Coleman told a rally on the Depot Green south of downtown Saturday afternoon. We were told the VA would not close Jack C. Montgomery. At the very least, we were told, we would have first-class mental health care. Saturdays rally was organized at the instigation of Don Nichols, a retired VA employee though not with the hospital who spearheaded a petition drive thats gathered 11,500 signatures. Nichols said Coleman told him the mayor thought theyd need at least 10,000 to get the VAs attention. Nichols said he believes the chances of keeping the hospital open are Good very much so. Coleman puts the odds at 50-50. The VA secretary (Denis McDonough) said if hospitals are serving underserved populations, they will not be closed, Nichols said. He figures Muskogee fits that description on several fronts. Many of its patients are American Indian and/or African American, rural and low income. By coincidence or perhaps not two former congressional staffers involved in the negotiations leading to the creation of the Tulsa VA hospital were at Saturdays rally campaigning. Both said the decision to close the Muskogee facility surprised them. The VA promised it would not be closed, said Mike Stopp, former chief of staff to 2nd District Congressman Markwayne Mullin. We asked them multiple times. They said that wasnt going to be an issue. Stopp, now managing the campaign of 2nd District candidate Wes Nofire, is an Army veteran and U.S. Military Academy grad who says hes been going to the Muskogee VA for 13 years. Six of my (West Point) classmates have died by suicide, including one just last month, Stopp said. Were still struggling with a need. Luke Holland was U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofes chief of staff before resigning earlier this year to enter the 14-way GOP primary to succeed his former boss. This is a total reversal of what was talked about, Holland said. Several veterans gave testimonials about the importance to them of the Muskogee hospital. Some predicted veterans from southeastern Oklahoma would not travel to Tulsa for medical care. Coleman said the threat of losing the hospital is not just about Muskogee. This could be a flagship issue for the assault on rural America, he said. Earlier, addressing the crowd, Coleman said urban dwellers couldnt enjoy their skyscrapers and penthouses if it wasnt for the henhouses in rural Oklahoma. 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. The Oklahoma Legislature is considering Senate Joint Resolution 43, which would ask voters to repeal constitutional reforms put into place after a 1967 judicial scandal that gained national attention. If the Legislature gets its way, it would significantly alter our present judicial system and regulation of lawyers. Its transparent that the legislative leaders want to return to a time when political influence controlled how judges attained their positions and reinvent the entire court system to their liking. This includes setting attorney qualifications and overseeing discipline of the legal profession. It is important to know the history of our current system. At statehood, Oklahoma judges were selected by partisan elections. Fundraising activities directly contributed to scandals in the mid-1960s. The results were criminal convictions of two Oklahoma Supreme Court justices for bribery and income tax evasion and the removal by impeachment of a third justice for similar malfeasance. Rightly outraged by these events, Oklahoma voters overwhelmingly passed two constitutional amendments with sweeping reforms on July 11, 1967. The changes created judicial independence from partisanship and restructured the courts. As adopted in 1967, the Oklahoma Constitutional amendments created the Judicial Nominating Commission, charged with interviewing applicants for the states appellate courts. The JNC vets candidates and submits three nominees to the governor when vacancies occur outside the normal, nonpartisan election process. The JNC has a diverse mix of professionals and geography. Membership consists of 15 commissioners: six are non-lawyers appointed by the governor, and one non-lawyer commissioner each is selected by the Senate president pro tempore, the House speaker and JNC members. The Oklahoma Bar Association elects six lawyer commissioners from the congressional districts existing in 1967. The process for selecting nominees includes interviewing candidates after receiving a detailed personal application, extensive criminal background check, review of federal and state tax records, law school class rankings, and Bar Association disciplinary records and passage record. After the final interview, commissioners vote by secret ballot, and the top three candidates are submitted to the governor for appointment. The JNCs value lies not only in the comprehensiveness of its vetting process but also in its neutrality to present the best-qualified nominees. Also, the 1967 constitutional amendments ban political activities for judges. They also vested judicial power within certain designated courts within the Judicial Department; created new appellate and judicial court systems by abolishing the previous courts; required nonpartisan elections of district court judges and retention ballots for appellate judges; and provided for general administrative authority by Oklahomas Supreme Court over all courts within the state. The current legislative proposal would undo these time-proven controls against political interference. If enacted, a new constitutional article would reverse the 1967 reforms and replace them with these changes: Abolishment of the JNC in favor of political appointments by the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate; Abolishment of the present district court system in favor of undefined courts the Legislature may from time to time ordain and establish; Removal of all existing judges and justices upon expiration of their current term of office subject to reappointment and confirmation; Allowance for partisan judicial elections; Authorization for the Legislature to enact term limits on appellate judges and justices; Provision for statutory changes to the number of Supreme Court justices, judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals and all other judges; and Regulation by the Legislature for discipline and admission to the practice of law without stated licensing requirements for those attorneys who do not appear before the Oklahoma courts. Limitation of Oklahoma Supreme Court jurisdiction to the admission and discipline of attorneys to address acts or omissions committed in the context of a case or controversy before the Oklahoma courts. Collectively, these provisions are intended to reassemble piecemeal and illogically the entire court system. Inherent in the government is the notion of the co-equal status of the executive, legislative and judicial branches. Oklahomas Legislature is seemingly intent on disrupting this centuries-old tenet by subsuming the judicial branch to its own political whims and those of the governor. Despite what some would believe, neither our judicial system nor the way we select judges is broken. Currently, judges operate on the rule of law and remain independent of political influences. However, the judicial branch is under constant criticism from elected officials without much experience or understanding of the purpose of this government branch. This, perhaps, is why the criticisms are so vehement and their foundations so fragile. The latest diatribe against the judiciary is designed primarily for constituent fundraising activities, not to fix a system about which few in the Legislature are able to identify meaningful, concrete problems. As a result, our elected representatives are intent on manufacturing a problem where none exists, thereby enabling this farce. The proposed constitutional changes are not only short-sighted in their immediate effect on the daily operation of Oklahomas judicial system, but they would increase the risk for political chicanery. Consistency and neutrality of the states courts are predicates for the publics confidence in the judiciary as arbiter for all, with equal footing and without partisan bias, whether real or apparent. While this Legislature seeks to tear down the existing system, there is no guarantee the proposed system would be better for the states citizenry. Oklahomas judiciary, however partisan it may have been prior to 1967, exists and should continue to exist outside the realm of political influence. William R. Grimm, a Tulsa attorney for nearly 50 years, has served as president of the Oklahoma Bar Association and Tulsa County Bar Association with honors including a commendation from Gov. Mary Fallin and several service and leadership awards. He is a current member of the Judicial Nominating Commission. 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. In this episode, Ginnie Graham and Bob Doucette note that the editorial board has not taken a stance on abortion, but that Oklahoma law needs to follow court guidance, or federal law. Other opinions are covered in columns and letters to the editor. Vietnams Ministry of Public Security is coordinating with several banks to pilot a service allowing residents to withdraw money at local ATMs with their chip-based ID cards. People now have another means to withdraw cash at ATMs aside from their bank cards and QR codes, a representative from the Police Department for Administrative Management of Social Order (C06) under the Ministry of Public Security, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Monday. Using chip-based ID cards can minimize the risk of card forgery and ensure safety in financial transactions, the representative continued. After the customer inserts their ID card at the ATM, the system will immediately check the information and verify it via biometric face and fingerprint recognition. The C06 has been coordinating with some major banks to develop this service and is piloting it at some locations in Hanoi and northern Quang Ninh Province. BIDV and VietinBank are among the first banks to work with the C06 to deploy the service. Following the pilot phase, the service will be applied in the entire ATM network of these lenders. With the use of chip-based ID cards, it takes only six to eight seconds to verify customers information for each transaction, according to a representative of VietinBank. The verification process and transactions were done in a quick, simple, and convenient manner, Do Manh Hung, a customer of BIDV, said after trying the new service. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! With its large forest reserves, Vietnam has great potential for developing a forest carbon credit market, and a draft project to develop the carbon market in Vietnam with a view to piloting a carbon credit exchange by 2025 was already submitted to the prime minister for approval, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Each carbon credit represents one ton of carbon dioxide (CO2), or one ton of other greenhouse gases converted into one ton of CO2 equivalents, which will bring significant benefits to sellers including farmers, forest owners, or high-tech enterprises. Carbon credits are viewed by experts as new resources in Vietnam, giving the country much-needed funding to improve income for forest growers and to protect and expand forest coverage. It was expected that Vietnam would be able to sell 57 million carbon credits to international organizations annually, with each of the credits fetching as much as US$5, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported. In 2020, forest reserves in Vietnam stood at around 990 million cubic meters and the figure could reach up to 1.25 million cubic meters in the next 10 years. Dr. Nguyen Ba Ngai, vice-chairman of the Vietnam Forest Owners Association, said that the carbon credit market in the world has been established for a long time, including voluntary and compulsory markets. Currently, carbon storage services are now available in 23 localities nationwide, including Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam. With a total of 628,000 hectares of forest, the province can store approximately one million tons of carbon every year, meaning one million carbon credits can be put up for sale internationally, said Le Minh Hung, director of the Quang Nam Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The province is expected to sell some six million carbon credits for $30 million by 2025, Hung said, adding that the province has asked for the governments permission to be the first in the country to join the voluntary carbon market. Quang Nam submitted a pilot project on forest carbon credit business to the prime minister, and if approved, the scheme will be piloted from this year until 2026, said Tran Ut, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. To date, five foreign companies and organizations have expressed interest in purchasing forest carbon credits from the province, the first locality in the country allowed by the prime minister to set up the project, according to Ho Quang Buu, deputy chairman of the provincial administration. Dr. Ngai said that the World Bank has recently, through a partner fund, signed agreements with Vietnam to pilot the purchase of 10.5 million tons of forest carbon credits. In addition, a number of other international organizations are exploring the possibility of purchasing forest carbon credits from Vietnam, including several non-for-profit organizations that have piloted it in a small area in Kon Tum Province in the Central Highlands region, Ngai added. Currently, Vietnam is testing three major carbon credit trade agreements, including the Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) signed with the World Banks Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) in October 2020. Under the deal, Vietnam will reduce 10.3 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions from six north-central provinces until 2025 to receive up to $51.5 million, the VNA reported. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development also signed a letter of intent with the Organization for Forest Financing (Emergent), a trustee of the Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance (LEAF) Coalition, under which Vietnam will transfer 5.15 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions reduction from forests in the south-central region and Central Highlands to LEAF/Emergent between 2022 and 2026. The deal will bring the country another $51.5 million, the VNA said. The main beneficiaries of the carbon credit market project are forest owners, organizations, households, individuals, and communities. With an area of about 43,000 hectares of natural forest, considered having great potential for carbon credit sales, mountainous Nam Tra My District is among the locales selected by the Quang Nam administration to pilot the sales. Nguyen Vinh Hien, deputy director in charge of Nam Tra My Protection Forest Management Board, said that selling forest carbon credits would create a source of funding. Forest protection forces and locals will benefit from revenue from the sale, thereby forests will be protected better by resident communities from deforestation or other damage, Hien said. Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh recently demanded the Ministry of Finance coordinate with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and agencies concerned to draft a domestic carbon market development plan in line with the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection. The ministry said it had submitted a draft project to develop the carbon market in Vietnam to the prime minister. According to the ministrys proposed road map, along with the completion of a legal framework, Vietnam will start piloting a carbon credit exchange by 2025, and the market will officially operate from 2028, the agency said. The world carbon credit trading market is heating up, estimated to reach $1 billion in 2021, with prices of carbon credits varying from country to country, according to S&P Global. China's carbon credit price in April 2022 was $9.29 per credit while the market prices in Europe have fluctuated sharply, from $15 to $96 per credit since early 2020. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Blue tungsten winking from the walls of abandoned mine shafts, in a town that's seen better days, could be a catalyst for South Korea's bid to break China's dominance of critical minerals and stake its claim to the raw materials of the future. The mine in Sangdong, 180 km southeast of Seoul, is being brought back from the dead to extract the rare metal that's found fresh value in the digital age in technologies ranging from phones and chips to electric vehicles and missiles. "Why reopen it now after 30 years? Because it means sovereignty over natural resources," said Lee Dong-seob, vice president of mine owner Almonty Korea Tungsten Corp. "Resources have become weapons and strategic assets." Sangdong is one of at least 30 critical mineral mines or processing plants globally that have been launched or reopened outside China over the last four years, according to a Reuters review of projects announced by governments and companies. These include projects developing lithium in Australia, rare earths in the United States and tungsten in Britain. The scale of the plans illustrates the pressure felt by countries across the world to secure supplies of critical minerals regarded as essential for the green energy transition, from lithium in EV batteries to magnesium in laptops and neodymium found in wind turbines. Overall demand for such rare minerals is expected to increase four-fold by 2040, the International Energy Agency said last year. For those used in electric vehicles and battery storage, demand is projected to grow 30-fold, it added. Many countries view their minerals drive as a matter of national security because China controls the mining, processing or refining of many of these resources. The Asian powerhouse is the largest supplier of critical minerals to the United States and Europe, according to a study by the China Geological Survey in 2019. Of the 35 minerals the United States has classified as critical, China is the largest supplier of 13, including rare earth elements essential for clean-energy technologies, the study found. China is the largest source of 21 key minerals for the European Union, such as antimony used in batteries, it said. "In the critical raw material restaurant, China is sitting eating its dessert, and the rest of the world is in the taxi reading the menu," said Julian Kettle, senior vice president for metals and mining at consultancy Wood MacKenzie. The stakes are particularly high for South Korea, home of major chipmakers like Samsung Electronics. The country is the world's largest consumer of tungsten per capita and relies on China for 95% of its imports of the metal, which is prized for its unrivalled strength and its resistance to heat. Tungsten is illuminated with mineral light in a mine in Gangwon Province, South Korea, March 31, 2022. Photo: Reuters China controls over 80% of global tungsten supplies, according to CRU Group, London-based commodity analysts. The mine at Sangdong, a once bustling town of 30,000 residents that's now home to just 1,000, holds one of the world's largest tungsten deposits and could produce 10% of global supply when it opens next year, according to its owner. Lewis Black, CEO of Almonty Korea's Canadian-based parent Almonty Industries, told Reuters that it planned to offer about half of the operation's processed output to the domestic market in South Korea as an alternative to Chinese supply. "It's easy to buy from China and China is the largest trading partner of South Korea but they know they're over-dependent," Black said. "You have to have a plan B right now." Sangdong's tungsten, discovered in 1916 during the Japanese colonial era, was once a backbone of the South Korean economy, accounting for 70% of the country's export earnings in the 1960s when it was largely used in metal-cutting tools. The mine was closed in 1994 due to cheaper supply of the mineral from China, which made it commercially unviable, but now Almonty is betting that demand, and prices will continue to rise driven by the digital and green revolutions as well as a growing desire by countries to diversify their supply sources. European prices of 88.5% minimum paratungstate - the key raw material ingredient in tungsten products are trading around $346 per tonne, up more than 25% from a year ago and close to their highest levels in five years, according to pricing agency Asian Metal. The Sangdong mine is being modernised, with vast tunnels being dug underground, while work has also started on a tungsten crushing and grinding plant. "We should keep running this kind of mine so that new technologies can be handed over to the next generations," said Kang Dong-hoon, a manager in Sangdong, where a "Pride of Korea" sign is displayed on a wall of the mine office. An old mine train is seen outside the tungsten mine in Gangwon Province, South Korea, March 31, 2022. Photo: Reuters "We have been lost in the mining industry for 30 years. If we lose this chance, then there will be no more." Almonty Industries has signed a 15-year deal to sell tungsten to Pennsylvania-based Global Tungsten & Powders, a supplier to the U.S. military, which variously uses the metal in artillery shell tips, rockets and satellite antennae. Yet there are no guarantees of long-term success for the mining group, which is investing about $100 million in the Sangdong project. Such ventures may still struggle to compete with China and there are concerns among some industry experts that developed countries will not follow through on commitments to diversify supply chains for critical minerals. Seoul set up an Economic Security Key Items Taskforce after a supply crisis last November when Beijing tightened exports of urea solution, which many South Korean diesel vehicles are required by law to use to cut emissions. Nearly 97% of South Korea's urea came from China at the time and shortages prompted panic-buying at filling stations across the country. The Korean Mine Rehabilitation and Resources Corporation (KOMIR), a government agency responsible for national resource security, told Reuters it had committed to subsidise about 37% of Sangdong's tunnelling costs and would consider further support to mitigate any potential environmental damage. Incoming President Yoon Seok-yeol pledged in January to reduce mineral dependence on "a certain country", and last month announced a new resource strategy that will allow the government to share stockpiling information with the private sector. An empty village is seen near the tungsten mine in Gangwon Province, South Korea, March 31, 2022. Photo: Reuters South Korea is not alone. The United States, European Union and Japan have all launched or updated national critical mineral supply strategies over the last two years, laying out broad plans to invest in more diversified supply lines to reduce their reliance on China. Mineral supply chains have also become a feature of diplomatic missions. Last year, Canada and the European Union launched a strategic partnership on raw materials to reduce dependence on China, while South Korea recently signed collaboration deals with Australia and Indonesia on mineral supply chains. "Supply-chain diplomacy will be prioritised by many governments in the coming years as accessing critical raw materials for the green and digital transition has become a top priority," said Henning Gloystein, director of energy and climate resources at the Eurasia Group consultancy. In November, China's top economic planner said it would step up exploration of strategic mineral resources including rare earths, tungsten and copper. Tungsten is illuminated with mineral light at an Almonty office near a mine in Gangwon Province, South Korea, March 31, 2022. Photo: Reuters Investment globally of $200 billion in additional mining and smelter capacity is needed to meet critical mineral supply demand by 2030, 10 times what is being committed currently, Kettle said. Yet projects have faced resistance from communities who don't want a mine or smelter near their homes. In January, for example, pressure from environmentalists prompted Serbia to revoke Rio Tinto's lithium exploration licence while U.S. President Joe Biden's administration cancelled two leases for Antofagasta's copper and nickel mines in Minnesota. In Sangdong, some residents are doubtful that the mine will improve their lives. "Many of us in this town didnt believe the mine would really come back," said Kim Kwang-gil, 75, who for decades lived off the tungsten he panned from a stream flowing down from the mine when it operated. "The mine doesn't need as many people as before, because everything is done by machines." The director of a military-run hospital in northern Vietnam has been apprehended for abusing positions and powers while performing official duties. The criminal investigation agency under the Ministry of National Defense confirmed on Sunday it had arrested Colonel Diem Dang Thanh, director of Military Hospital 110, for abusing positions and powers while performing official duties. Ngo Manh Tri, principal of ASEAN College of Medicine - Pharmacy, was also taken into custody for a similar offense. The legal procedures have been approved by the Central Military Procuracy. Thanh and Tri were involved in the violations related to the training and degree issuance by ASEAN College of Medicine - Pharmacy for officers and employees of Military Hospital 110. As this is a complicated case, the standing committee of the Central Military Commission ordered competent authorities to expand their investigation and determine the violations of relevant organizations and individuals. Following the arrest of Thanh, a deputy director is now in charge of managing Military Hospital 110. Thanh, 54, has worked at the infirmary since his graduation from the Vietnam Military Medical University in 1991. He was appointed as director of the hospital in September 2011 after assuming the deputy director position for two years. Military Hospital 110, under the 1st Military Region of the Vietnam People's Army, is located in Bac Ninh Province and in charge of providing medical examination, emergency treatment, and treatment for military units as well as agencies, companies, and residents where these units are stationed. The second branch of the institution is situated in Bac Giang Province. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! This week on Foreign Correspondent, reporter Matt Davis visits the Hawaiian Islands to hear from the people fighting to keep their culture alive. Hawaii is being sold to the global elite. Its not give and take. Its just take, take, take, take. Filmmaker Chris Kahunahana They took it away in three generations. Were going to get it back in one. Whatever it takes. Waterman Pomai Hoapili. Its a slice of paradise for some but behind the postcard facade, native Hawaiians have a different story to tell. Theirs is a stuggle for land, language and culture, forcibly taken from them by the United States of America. Housing prices in Hawaii were already sky high, but in the midst of the pandemic they exploded as mainland Americans bought up island boltholes. The housing crisis is hitting native Hawaiians hardest, forcing many out of their own homes. The state of Hawaii now has the third highest homeless rate in the USA. This is one of many problems facing native locals who are fighting to Keep Hawaii Hawaiian. Reporter Matt Davis visits the Hawaiian Islands to hear from the people fighting to keep their culture alive. In a visually stunning journey, Davis explores the lives of people on the frontline of this modern-day native Hawaiian rennaisance. Resistance is not only how we get our land back, says school principal Kalehua Krug. But it is also medicine that resistance is how we heal. At his school on the island of Oahu, the curriculum focuses on redsicovering the modern story of Hawaii after the kingdom was overthrown in 1893. The students study the Hawaiian language, hula dancing and other cultural practices alongside the mainstream curriculum. Davis takes a tour around the back streets of Waikiki with celebrated filmmaker Chris Kahunahana, the first native Hawaiian to direct a feature film. Hawaii was seen as Hollywoods back drop. It served as a beautiful location for a Caucasian centred hero, he tells Davis. His movie Waikiki shows the darker side of these tropical islands the reality for many native Hawaiians. Davis visits the powerhouse community leader Twinkle Borg who has set up a permanent camp to provide shelter for Hawaiians who are sleeping rough. She reveals an extraordinary plan to reclaim land and build a village for her community. And he goes out on the jet ski with waterman Pomai Hoapili in the middle of the worlds most famous surfing competition the Pipeline Pro. Between surfing on the North Shore and rescuing people caught in the giant waves, Pomai has enrolled in Hawaiian language classes. He practices speaking with his 10-year-old daughter, whos also learning. He says its urgent for native Hawaiians to practice their culture. Be Hawaiian, speak Hawaiian live HawaiianIf we stop down the line, people stop talking about us, we disappearweve got to keep practicing. In Hawaii to compete in the Pipeline surfing competition, the worlds best surfer Kelly Slater asks the world to pay respect. Everyone who comes Hawaiian should, should take care of this place and really respect the culture and the locals, says Slater. Its their home and its your place to visit, but, you know, take care of it and look after it and ever one can enjoy it. 8pm Thursday on ABC. A fifth marginal seat debate, the SKY News Peoples Forum: Longman will be held on Wednesday featuring Liberal National Party MP Terry Young and Labors Rebecca Fanning. Live from Queensland, the one-hour forum will be hosted by AM Agenda Host Laura Jayes and feature questions from voters. Longman was a surprise pickup for Scott Morrison at the 2019 federal election but on a margin of just 3.3% it is the Coalitions most vulnerable seat in Queensland. Both Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese know a favourable result in Longman will be crucial in the overall race for a majority, but both major parties are polling low primary votes in the Sunshine State. The debate will be broadcast live on Sky News and available to live stream at SkyNews.com.au and across News Corp Australia news websites including news.com.au and The Courier-Mail. Wednesday May 11 at 2:00pm AEST on SKY News. In a new doco series crime journalist Debi Marshall investigates four murders & five bombs that hit at the heart of the judicial system. 8:30pm Tuesday on ABC. Better Call Saul The Repair Shop The Cheap Seats The Good Doctor Wild Territory Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (1st R) and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission (EC), attend a working dinner at Orban's residence in Budapest, Hungary on May 9, 2022. (Vivien Cher Benko/Hungary's Prime Minister's office/Handout via Xinhua) BUDAPEST, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission (EC) here on Monday, reaching no agreement yet over the proposed Russian oil embargo. "This evening's discussion with PM Viktor Orban was helpful to clarify issues related to sanctions and energy security," von der Leyen tweeted following the 90-minute-long working dinner at Orban's residence in the Castle District of the Hungarian capital. "We made progress, but further work is needed. I will convene a VC (video conference) with regional players to strengthen regional cooperation on oil infrastructure," she added. An unnamed European Union (EU) source said on Monday that the EC was considering offering funds to landlocked Eastern EU states such as Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic to modernize their oil infrastructure in order to persuade them to accept the Russian oil embargo. In its sixth sanction package aimed against Moscow, the EU plans to phase out Russian crude oil within six months and refined products by the end of the year, according to von der Leyen. But Hungary and other Eastern European countries, whose economies are largely reliant on Russian oil, are not ready yet to accept the sixth sanction package in its current form. "Discussions with the EC president Ursula von der Leyen ended, the topic was of course the next round of sanctions in Brussels and its impact on Hungary and the Hungarian economy," said Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who also took part at the meeting. "This round of sanctions in Brussels would cause enormous problems for Hungary if it came into force, because Hungary's energy supply is secure now, but the adoption of this sanctions package would compromise our energy security, because it would be impossible for us to obtain enough oil," Szijjarto said in a video message posted on his Facebook page. "As long as the EC does not offer a solution to these problems, of course Hungary cannot support this series of sanctions," he said. Next week our Travel Guides dont wander too far. Theyre in Sydney taking in the sights, food, a coast walk, tall ship, The Rocks, Double Bay and more. With millions of tourists each year seduced by one of the sexiest cities on the planet, our Guides will spend a week living like a local and go behind the fabulous beaches, the houses, and the famous Harbour Bridge to discover if Sydney has a beauty thats more than skin deep. Will our Guides decide if the other side of Sydney is worth seeing or is it just a pretty face? To kick-off their holiday in true Sydney-style, our Guides walk along the 4km stretch of stunning coastline from Bondi to Bronte a morning ritual for eastern suburb residents showcasing some of the hottest scenery in the city both natural and sculpted. Next, its time to trial some of the latest fitness crazes sweeping Sydney including an outdoor aerobics class with RetroSweat that leaves some of our Guides in need of a hip replacement! And Supball at Manly Wharf which is a unique cross between netball, waterpolo, lacrose, and rugby all done on a stand-up paddle board. Our Guides holiday hits The Rocks where they step back in time exploring Australias oldest European settlement loved by tourists and locals alike for its cafes, pubs, and markets. Next is a harbour cruise on-board a Tall Ship for a genuine sailors experience. Some of our Guides overcome their fears and scale 22 metres high to the crows nest for the best vantage point and others prefer the view safely from the deck. 7:30pm Wednesday May 17 on Nine. Amended. UK actor Dennis Waterman best known for Minder, The Sweeney and New Tricks, has died aged 74. A statement from Watermans family said: We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved Dennis passed away very peacefully in hospital in Spain, on Sunday afternoon, with [his wife] Pam by his side. The family kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this very difficult time. Waterman (pictured right) had a showbiz career that spanned 60 years. Born in London in 1948, Waterman began his showbiz career at a young age. He was invited to join the Royal Shakespeare Company at the age of 12 after a role for the Childrens Film Foundation. He first found fame playing the tough cop George Carter in The Sweeney, before his role as the bodyguard Terry McCann in Minder. He later starred as Gerry Standing, a retired police officer brought back as part of a cold case unit, in New Tricks. He also had TV roles in Where The Heart Is, The Canterbury Tales and Moses Jones. His last film role was in Never Too Late in 2020, filmed in Australia. Waterman was also known for singing the theme songs to many of his shows, caricatured by David Walliams in Little Britain. He had a keen interest in music and had chart success in Australia, New Zealand and Britain. Matt Lucas tweeted, I grew up watching Dennis Watermans iconic performances in The Sweeney and Minder. His guest appearance in our Little Britain Live show at Hammersmith Apollo in which he hilariously duetted with Davids absurd impersonation of him remains the absolute highlight of my career. Actor and writer Reece Shearsmith said: RIP Dennis Waterman. When I worked with him on New Tricks he made me the best cups of tea. And of course I just spent the time grilling him about Scars of Dracula. Waterman also performed regularly in British theatre. On television in Britain, Im sort of the cheeky chappie, everybodys mate, but Ive never played anything like that in the theatre, he once said. Its strange that you get cast as different things in different parts of the media. Source: The Guardian By Dave Larsen The Horn of Africa has experienced severe droughts in recent decades, leading to devastating socio-economic consequences for the continents easternmost peninsula, which is dominated by rain-fed agriculture. The National Science Foundation awarded two University of Dayton researchers a three-year, $308,799 grant to establish a link between rain-producing climate patterns and water supply in the region, which includes Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. The grant started May 1 and runs through April 2025. The goal of the project is to understand the current availability and future sustainability of water resources in the region under climate change. The knowledge we obtain from this project will facilitate better planning for water resources, and also help decision and policy making for the sustainable development of Ethiopia, particularly in terms of increasing food security and reducing vulnerability, said Zelalem Bedaso, assistant professor of geology. Bedaso, an isotope geochemist, is collaborating with climate scientist Shuang-Ye Wu, professor and chair of the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences. The project also will involve nine University of Dayton undergraduate students, including three who will travel to their research site in Ethiopia, as well as an exchange with faculty and students from Bahir Dar University in northern Ethiopia. Students will get experience in scientific research, working in a group, learning to work with other scientists, but also it promotes global learning, Bedaso said. Bedaso and Wu tested their approach with a 2019 study published in the Hydrological Science Journal about the future sustainability of the Dayton regions groundwater. That project was supported by a grant from the University of Dayton Hanley Sustainability Institute. In mid-May, Bedaso and Wu will travel to Ethiopia for several weeks to meet with local research partners, obtain permits and set up their sample collecting stations before the June 1 start of the long rainy season. They will work in the Omo-Gibe River Basin, which has one rainy season in the north and two rainy seasons in the south. Thats a really unique basin that can capture all of the variabilities that we need for data collection and modeling, said Bedaso, the projects principal investigator. We will have at least five monitoring stations to collect surface and groundwater isotopes throughout the year. Wu, co-principal investigator, specializes in climate modeling. In the first phase of the project, she will broadly categorize the climate patterns that produce rain, based on data and statistical models. The rainfall pattern in that region, East Africa in general, is very complicated, Wu said. We will use modern technology to categorize them into different types of rain and then see whether they have different historical trends. That, hopefully, will help us refine the future projection of rainfall. In the second phase of the project, they will use rainfall isotopes as a tracer to determine how much rainfall gets into streams and is stored in groundwater. During heavy rainfall events, much of the rain becomes runoff and drains into streams, Wu said. Whereas moderate and small rainfall events could lead to a higher proportion of groundwater recharge. The final phase will link their findings to establish distinct signatures of rainfall from different weather types, and quantify their specific contribution to surface flow and groundwater recharge. These results will allow them to determine how precipitation and water resources change with global warming in the region. That is the end objective, to look at the long-term sustainability of water resources for a region where water is scarce and agriculture is mostly dependent on rainfall, Wu said. The National Science Foundation (NSF) award is the second in recent months for Bedaso. Last fall, he received a three-year, $156,776 grant to study seasonal rainfall variability during the last 200,000 years in East Africa to understand the impact of extreme weather on early humans and the ecosystems on which they depended. He plans to remain in Ethiopia for an additional month this summer to conduct research for that study. Bedaso and Wu hope to return to Ethiopia in December, at which time they may start bringing students, at a rate of one per year. We are an undergraduate department, but our faculty are all very productive, Wu said. We have NSF and NASA grants. So, partly by necessity, one of our missions is to involve undergraduates in all these high-level research projects. For more information, visit the Department of Geology and Environment Geosciences website. Photo (left to right): Zelalem Bedaso and Shuang-Ye Wu. DUBLIN, May 09, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Precision Farming Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report by Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), by Application (Yield Monitoring, Weather Tracking, Field Mapping, Crop Scouting), by Region, and Segment Forecasts, 2022-2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global precision farming market size is anticipated to reach USD 20.84 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 12.8% over the forecast period. Precision farming, also known as site-specific crop management or satellite farming, is a farm management concept that uses information technology to ensure optimum health and productivity of crops. The precision farming technique largely depends on specialized equipment such as sensing devices, antennas and access points, and automation and control systems. It also includes maintenance and managed services. The process also incorporates a broad range of technologies such as bio-engineering, robotics and automation, imagery and sensors, and big data. The growing number of applications for telematics in agriculture is anticipated to supplement the growth of the market. Telematics services include tracking devices that deploy the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to show the position of the equipment for management purposes. Major agriculture equipment manufacturers are adopting telematics services for their equipment to improve farm efficiency, thereby reducing the cost of agricultural operations and maximizing profitability. Improved management can also help reduce environmental impact. Telematics technology is used to capture and transfer data from the farm equipment through sensors installed on tractors and other field monitoring equipment. The increasing adoption of telematics systems by agricultural equipment companies is expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. Furthermore, with GPS guidance and automation advancements, drones are poised to transform the agriculture industry in the forthcoming years. The ability of drones to precisely analyze the soil at the beginning of the crop cycle and detect a plant infected with bacteria or fungus is anticipated to propel the growth of the drone segment. Story continues However, the low rate of technology adoption among farmers is likely to hamper market growth during the study period. This may be due to factors such as the absence of stringent standards and limitations on the exchange of data. Furthermore, farmers lack independent consulting and advisory services owing to the absence of validated agronomic models for Variable Rate Technology (VRT) to make decisions on investments. In addition, independent services are not linked to co-operatives, government bodies, and farmer associations where farmers can get additional information to make better decisions. Precision Farming Market Report Highlights Increasing government support for adopting modern agricultural techniques and the growing need for efficiently monitoring the health of crops are expected to drive market growth The cloud-based software model is anticipated to gain a significant share of the market over the projected period as it reduces energy consumption and provides storage for a large amount of data while facilitating cost saving Innovations in GPS mapping and related farming applications are enabling farmers to operate more efficiently and increase their profit margins Demand for drones is expected to grow in the agriculture field as they are increasingly used to monitor irrigation systems Yield monitoring is expected to continue leading the application segment in terms of revenue share. It is widely used in soil monitoring since it detects soil qualities that may be used to increase yields The digital revolution in the agricultural sector, along with government financial incentives to farms, is likely to drive demand for precision farming in Europe in the forthcoming years Asia Pacific is expected to showcase the fastest growth owing to the availability of the largest agricultural land, which provides growth opportunities in countries such as China, India, Australia, and Japan Key players in the precision agriculture market include AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (Agribotix LLC); Deere and Company; Proagrica (SST Development Group, Inc.); Farmers Edge, Inc.; and Granular, Inc. Market Dynamics Market driver analysis Growing awareness of precision farming Challenges involved in agricultural work Growing awareness of the benefits of agriculture drones Growing government support for the adoption of modern agricultural methods Market restraint analysis High initial capital investment Market challenge analysis Scarcity of trained farmers Lack of technology adoption among farmers Market opportunity analysis Growing application of telematics in agriculture Companies Mentioned Ag Leader Technology AgJunction, Inc. AGCO Corporation AgEagle Aerial Systems Inc. (Agribotix LLC) CropMetrics LLC Deere and Company DICKEY-john Corporation Farmers Edge Inc. Grownetics, Inc. Granular, Inc. Raven Industries, Inc. Proagrica (SST Development Group, Inc.) Trimble, Inc. The Climate Corporation (a subsidiary of Monsanto Company) Topcon Corporation For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1qftmm View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220509005578/en/ Contacts ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 ROME (Reuters) - Italy's infrastructure minister said on Monday it was "too early to say" whether the Rome government would exercise its special veto powers in the takeover bid for Atlantia planned by the Benetton family and U.S. fund Blackstone. "We need to know the overall plan and evaluate it," Enrico Giovannini told a conference in Rome. Rome sometimes uses its special vetting 'golden powers' to shield strategic assets and may choose to apply them to protect Rome's airports, which are operated by Atlantia's AdR unit. (Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte, writing by Agnieszka Flak; Editing by Keith Weir) David Ungi was one of the UKs most wanted fugitives. (SWNS) One of the UKs most wanted fugitives has been arrested by authorities in Spain after spending nearly seven years on the run. David Ungi, 30, was apprehended along with three other men as he entered a gym in a shopping centre in Coin, Malaga. He was sought in connection with the killing of Vinny Waddington, 18, who was shot in July 2015 while riding on the back of a motorbike in Liverpool. The shooters used a 12-gauge shotgun and fired it at the victim from an Audi A3 before ramming his bike off the road. Read more: Man jailed for 23 years for the attempted murder of young child Luke Kendrick and Ryan Bate received life sentences for murder, but Ungi, a third suspect, fled the country within 24 hours of the killing and hadnt been seen since. However, following a joint operation between Spanish authorities and three crime agencies in Britain, he was arrested on Thursday and now faces extradition back to Britain. Ungi is also wanted in connection with supplying heroin, and during the arrest officers seized a 9mm Ruger firearm and ammunition from a rucksack. Ungi was the third most wanted National Crime Agency target captured in the space of a week. Read more: Road rage drivers killed cyclist after arguing for 6 miles Alleged murderer Callum Halpin was detained in Portugal on Monday, while Alex Male, wanted on drugs charges, was also arrested at Lisbon Airport on Saturday last week. Steve Reynolds, National Crime Agency regional manager in Spain, said: Three of the UKs most wanted fugitives being arrested in a week is a fantastic achievement. Ungi is a very dangerous person, and his arrest is good news for communities both in Liverpool and Spain." He added: "There are still a number of fugitives on our most wanted list, and they should know we will never give up and were never far behind them. The audio of an emergency call in which a woman reports Ezra Miller threw a chair at her has been released online. On Saturday, editors at TMZ posted a minute-long clip in which an anonymous woman requests police officers attend her Hawaii home after an alleged altercation with the actor last month. "I have Ezra Miller at my house right now. We have been offering our home to them and they came into our home and are threatening us right now. They hit me in the head with a chair." Anonymous woman during the call. Some forces in the US and the West despaired of Hong Kong's unity for the better By Global Times editorial (Global Times) 08:50, May 09, 2022 The election of the sixth-term chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was held successfully on Sunday. John Lee Ka-chiu was elected with 99.16 percent of the votes. This shows that "patriots governing Hong Kong" is deeply bolstered by all sectors in the Hong Kong society, and the democratic development of Hong Kong has turned a new page after the improvement of the electoral system. Some people in the US and the West are quite reluctant to see this new page. Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Sunday openly denied the mainstream public opinion in Hong Kong, and exploited the rhetoric used by "lecturers of democracy" to smear Hong Kong's new electoral system, attacking the practice as being "another step in the dismantling of the 'one country, two systems' principle." In response to this law-abiding, open and fair election, the US and the Western media outlets have launched a full-scale attack, and some politicians have expressed their "sour grapes mentality" as a conditioned reflex. Facts have proven that some forces in the US and the West have tried every trick in the book to destabilize Hong Kong. Although it has been nearly 25 years since Hong Kong returned to the motherland, they still miss the page on which the Treaty of Nanking was signed 180 years ago. They are very nostalgic for the chapter in which Hong Kong citizens were not given freedom during 156 years of British colonial rule. What they are reluctant to remember, and what we must underline, is that Hong Kong today is not the land that Britain occupied in the war of aggression when it forcibly sold opium to China. Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, which has entered the era of "patriots governing Hong Kong." Why fear for comparison between Hong Kong's past and present! Gone are the days when those who were against China attempted rampantly to destabilize Hong Kong in 2019. The Chinese central government made its assessment of the situation and decisively stopped riots, restored order, transitioned from chaos to stability and brought the city back on the right track of development. The improved electoral system of Hong Kong is conductive to selecting officials based on their integrity and ability and their working hard for the people. This is the embodiment of high-quality democracy. Lee has served Hong Kong for more than 40 years. He is very familiar with Hong Kong. In fighting the violent demonstrations against the extradition bill, he played a key supporting role in restoring order and rebuilding confidence. Lee is thus widely welcomed by the public. His election is a vivid practice of "patriots governing Hong Kong." All walks of life in Hong Kong have full confidence in him leading the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to consolidate the transition from chaos to order and to start good governance. Behind the many problems that have emerged in Hong Kong in recent years, there is invariably the shadow of some US and Western hostile forces. The more chaotic Hong Kong becomes, the better it is in their interests. A united and progressive Hong Kong has interrupted their minds to mess up Hong Kong. Those black-clad violent protesters, whom some US media called "former activists," are now feeling "desperate." "Patriots governing Hong Kong" will certainly make the US and Western hostile forces as well as their proxy in Hong Kong desperate. Only when they are desperate, there is hope for Hong Kong Today in Hong Kong, people yearn for stability and unity in their hearts. Throughout the whole process of the Chief Executive Election, the Hong Kong society has demonstrated its unity and enterprising spirit, which is the new glory of the "Lion Rock Spirit" that Hong Kong people have always taken pride in. We believe that Hong Kong will create brilliance in the new journey, and the practice of "one country, two systems" will be stable and far-reaching. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) KIEV/OTTAWA, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Sunday, announcing more military aid to Ukraine and more sanctions against Russia. According to a news release on Sunday, Trudeau said that Canada would be providing Ukraine with an additional military aid worth of 50 million Canadian dollars (40 million U.S. dollars), including drone cameras, high-resolution satellite imagery, small arms as well as ammunition. The prime minister also said Canada will impose new sanctions on 40 Russian individuals and five entities in connection with the Kremlin and Russia's defense sector. Trudeau announced the reopening of the Canadian embassy in Kiev, which was closed on Feb. 12. According to the Ukrainian presidential press service, Zelensky said "Canada's defense support for Ukraine was discussed in detail." Zelensky said negotiations are underway with the Canadian side to lift trade restrictions for Ukrainian exporters and abolish the visa regime for Ukrainian citizens. Hulu goes old-school in more ways than one. Not only does Candy take place in the 1980s, it will unfold like a traditional event miniseries, streaming a new episode every night this week before its Friday conclusion. Produced by and starring Jessica Biel, Candy recalls the real-life story of Candy Montgomery (Biel), a seemingly prim, responsible and devout Texas housewife accused of the brutal ax-murder of her best friend, Betty Gore (Melanie Lynskey) after embarking on an affair with Bettys husband (Pablo Schreiber). Not unlike The Americans, Stranger Things and Halt and Catch Fire, this miniseries makes the most of the curly perms, particular fashions, decor and monochromatic beige and browns of Reagan-era decor. Its a little hard not to go over the top when dealing with Texas ax-murdering church ladies. Biel is no stranger to the role of a pleasant wife who suddenly snaps, having played one in the first season of The Sinner, which she also produced. Lynskey was most recently seen in Showtimes Yellowjackets and may be best known from playing Rose on Two and a Half Men. She is rather unique in having made a remarkable movie that was pretty much overshadowed by another actors debut. She co-starred in the 1994 thriller Heavenly Creatures, based on a murder that shocked New Zealand in the 1950s. It was Lynskeys luck that her co-star was a young Kate Winslet in a role that would launch her career. The film also marked the mainstream breakthrough for a New Zealand director named Peter Jackson, who would go on to helm the Lord of the Rings, trilogy among other efforts. Produced by Snoop Dogg, the 2021 documentary When Claude Got Shot is broadcast on Independent Lens (9 p.m., PBS, TV-14). Five years in the making, the film follows a story of gun violence from the perspective of the shooter and his victim. In this case, would-be lawyer Claude Motley returned to his home city of Milwaukee for a school reunion, only to be shot in the face by 15-year-old Nathan King during an attempted carjacking. Days later, King was shot in self-defense by the woman he was attempting to rob. Her bullet left him paralyzed from the waist down. While a glib report might consider this a matter of just deserts, this film follows the three people whose lives were derailed by gunfire and Claudes long path to forgiving his young attacker. TCM spends 24 hours with the films of Busby Berkeley, starting with the 1936 musical short Stage Struck (5 a.m., TV-G), featuring Dick Powell and Joan Blondell, who appeared in many of Berkeleys films set on or around the Broadway stage. Just as sound was being introduced to movies, Berkeley would electrify the screen musical with kaleidoscopic choreography and dizzying camera movement. Even his movie titles, like Fast and Furious (1:30 p.m., TV-G), would be recycled in later decades in different genres. Other highlights Faced with tragedy, a long-reigning monarch (Helen Mirren) learns that her characteristic stoicism is interpreted as indifference in the 2006 true-life drama The Queen (6:15 HBO Signature). Written by Peter Morgan (The Crown). A winner emerges on American Song Contest (7 p.m., NBC, TV-14). The voice of Dwayne Johnson animates the 2016 musical Moana (7 p.m., ABC, TV-PG). Drone software lands in the wrong hands on NCIS (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14). Jimmys business flourishes on Better Call Saul (8 p.m., AMC, TV-14). A ride-along on We Own This City (8 p.m., HBO, TV-MA). The truth emerges about Maggie on NCIS: Hawaii (9 p.m., CBS, r, TV-14). Teens face peril on New Amsterdam (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14). Tripe galore on Gentleman Jack (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA). Cult choice A suburban housewife (Rosanna Arquette) is mistaken for a wild downtown scenester (Madonna) in the 1985 comedy Desperately Seeking Susan (7 p.m., TMC). Series notes Calvin is recognized on The Neighborhood (7 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) ... Suspicion falls on a hero who may be contriving dangerous situations on 9-1-1 (7 p.m., Fox, TV-14) ... Spencers rocky road on All American (7 p.m., CW, TV-PG) ... Deles dream deferred on Bob Hearts Abishola (7:30 p.m., CBS, TV-PG). A man must be saved from a trash compactor on 9-1-1: Lone Star (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) ... Simone seeks out distractions on All American: Homecoming (8 p.m., CW, TV-PG) ... An unorthodox surgeon on The Good Doctor (9 p.m., ABC, TV-14). This article has been contributed by my husband, Rev Tim Wilson What would you do if you are convinced from the Bible that you must disobey the government in order to obey God? How would you respond to pressure from the media, other Christians, and the world to go against your biblical convictions? Are you committed to obedience to Christ, no matter what the cost? In some form, these questions and more have been asked by Gods people for thousands of years. We see in Scripture some of the brave men and women who have followed God, rather than the government in tests of their faith e.g. the Hebrew midwives, Daniel and his friends, Paul and the other apostles, and Jesus. However, in the western church, over the past few centuries, there has been little threat to our faith and the government has seemingly provided the church with freedom to worship. For the whole world this all changed during the covid crisis of 2020-2021. As every country (and even state) took different approaches to the situation, churches in the west were faced with a dilemma theyve never encountered before... what ischurch and what is the role of the government and the church? For my friend and pastor, James Coates, the answers to all these questions Ive posed, landed him in jail for more than a month. My personal relationship with Pastor James I still remember the moment meeting pastor Jamesat the end of 2015. We only chatted briefly as I attended a conference his church was hosting, but I was surprised by his sincereand warm welcome. Next, I was struck by his obvious high view of Gods Word even in the way he read the Bible. A few months later we began attending his church (GraceLife Edmonton) and I was captivated by his preaching, as he preached clearly from Scripture, in a manner I had never been exposed to. This method of preaching (expository preaching) was nothing new or original, but simply a devotion to the Word of God and a commitment to study and proclaim Gods Word with clarity, authority, and application. The love and care the congregation also demonstrated to one another (and us) surpassed anything we had ever experienced and the depth and love for theology was unlike anything we had known before. James life and ministry was such a great testimony that by the end of that year I had enrolled in the seminary he graduated from and in 2017 I began studying at The Masters Seminary (TMS) in Los Angeles, California. During our time in LA, we were also blessed with continued relationship with GraceLife and I was able to meet with James on numerous occasions when he attended in-person classesfor his doctorate program. Following my graduation, my family and I moved back to Canada and I began ministry only one hour from GraceLife. In the Lords gracious providence, this proved to be a great source of support, strength, love, and wisdom through a challenging year of ministry. We are so grateful for the support of GraceLifein this season, even though they were experiencing great challenges themselves. During and since this time, Pastor James also remained a sounding block, a source of wisdom, and a patient but direct counsellor. My reason for including this background information is not to boast about any association with him, because compared to the impact Pastor James has had on people for more than a decade at GraceLife, my story and personal relationship with him is limited. However, I hope this background provides an honourable and honest picture of this man (who has since become famous), so that we can learn valuable lessons from his life and understand the faithfulness he has demonstrated to His Lord in his greatest trial. Pastors James personal story before, during, and after his imprisonment The fame that surrounds pastor James is a result of the stance he, the elders of GraceLife, and the whole church took in response to the government restrictions to Covid. As is fitting with pastor James, such a stance was based on a high view of the Bible, submission to Gods Word and Christ, a settled conviction on theology, and a love for people. These motivations (not politics, finances, or power) led to a prayerful and thoughtful unified decision among the elders at GraceLife, to boldly continue meeting as a local body of believers. As noted, in his recent book, this decision was not taken lightly and there was much patience and humility throughout the decision-making process and how this was then communicated with the church. As history now shows, this decision also became the public face of resisting the government mandates and received media attention all over the world. This was clearly not the purpose of the churchs response, but such was the biblical conviction from pastor Jamesthat ultimately, he was arrested and imprisoned. I think its important to note his continued submission to Christ,rather than submission to the government, was only in matters that related to the church. This is clearly articulated through several sermons he preached that clarify and defend his theological convictions on the response taken and the biblical answers to the questions about the role of the government and the necessity of church. Pastor James has recently co-authored a book called, God vs Government: Taking a Biblical Stand when Christ and Compliance Collide. This book provides the biblical basis and the personal story of pastor James and the experience of GraceLife through the challenges they encountered during the Covid crisis of 2020-2021. The book was co-authored with Dr Nathan Busenitz of TMS and Grace Community Church, who provides a similar account of the challenges faced in California. Since his jail time, pastor James has certainly received fame and the church has almost tripled in size. However, such focus and growth has only offered more opportunities for Gospel ministry and increased the exposure to the teaching of Gods Word! At the end of the day, pastor James knows lots of people dont agree with his stance, but his motivation is to be faithful and pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Word, no matter the consequences may this always be our motivation too. Putin Gives No Way Out of War on Victory Day. He wrongly framed his invasion of Europe as an extension of the fight against Nazism. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir V. Putin praised his country's army for "fighting for the Motherland" in front of an armored vehicle and soldiers in full uniform. Delivering a defiant speech at the start of annual Victory Day celebrations in which he falsely depicted his invasion of Ukraine as an extension of Europe's struggle against Nazi Germany. Putin was seated in Moscow's iconic Red Square, wearing a buttoned-up black puffer jacket with a victory ribbon tied around his chest. At the same time, he watched soldiers and military vehicles drive past in the background. However, he had a big green blanket wrapped around his legs, which had been provided for him on his seat when he first arrived at the observation platform. It is estimated that the temperature was roughly 48 degrees Fahrenheit. Russian President Vladimir Putin's physical and mental health continues to deteriorate, with frequent allegations that he has Parkinson's disease and will undergo cancer treatment within the next few months. Vlad then delivered an 11-minute address in which he stated that Russia was battling Nazis in Ukraine and that the West was planning an invasion of Crimea, among other things. The significantly truncated speech did not comport with expectations that Putin would either declare victory over Kyiv or command a total mobilization of the Russian army against the Ukrainians. In addition to demonizing Ukrainian fighters as "Nazis," as he has done throughout the war, Mr. Putin did not announce any changes to the military campaign. Still, he attempted to channel Russian pride in defeating Nazi Germany into support for his invasion of Ukraine during the raucous military parade in Moscow's Red Square. The speech appeared to be directed at a domestic audience; he insisted once more that Russia had been coerced into the war and offered a rare acknowledgment of the toll taken by the fighting, promising that his government would do "everything possible" to assist the families of fallen soldiers who died in the fighting. However, he did not reiterate his implicit warnings of nuclear annihilation. Notably, after more than two months of battle in which his army has frequently failed and is now trapped in a more violent stalemate, he did not declare "winning" in Ukraine, implying that the conflict will continue. According to a speech issued on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rebuked Russian President Vladimir Putin's view of history, stating that the Russian leader's conflict was "repeating the awful atrocities of Hitler's reign in our time." Russian forces have increased the intensity of their attacks across eastern and southern Ukraine, launching a barrage of missiles and artillery across the Luhansk region on Monday, despite their inability to gain significant additional land. In the east, Ukrainian forces have waged a vigorous counteroffensive that has pushed Russian soldiers to relocate to the area around Kharkiv, preventing them from strengthening stalled operations elsewhere. Ukrainian troops have been supported by more weapons supplied by the United States and its allies. Zelinsky said He invoked the spirit of The Blitz by comparing despot Vladimir Putin's ruthless forces to those of Adolf Hitler's Nazis on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the conclusion of World War II in Europe. "The British people did not forget how the Nazis cleaned out Coventry, which was bombed 41 times," he said, praising the country for remembering the tragedies of war and standing behind his country. Mister Zelensky used the opportunity to dig at other countries that remain in Putin's good graces. "Unfortunately, there are those who, having survived all these crimes, having lost millions of people who fought for victory and achieved it, have desecrated their memory and feat today," he said. He claimed that the Russian invaders had massacred around 20,000 Ukrainians since February 24, more than twice the number of people killed by the Nazis throughout their two-year rule of the country. But Mr. Zelensky said that although "evil has returned," there would be "peace again" one day. He added: "We will overcome the winter; it will definitely end. And we will meet our dawn together with the whole country. Family and loved ones, friends and relatives will be together again." Fear of climate change and investor apprehensions are holding back fossil fuel expansion in Europe. North African gas producers confront political risk. The eastern Mediterranean gas supply has been affected by regional tensions and Asian competitiveness. Europe turns to the United States. In Russia's battle with Europe over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, natural gas supplies have become a powerful tool of leverage. In addition, the stakes are incredibly high for Europe, which relies on Russia for 40 percent of the natural gas that it uses to heat and illuminate its homes and businesses. Also facing difficulty is the world gas market, which has historically experienced less price volatility and political manipulation than the oil market during times of crisis. While Europe is looking to the United States to help make up for a portion of the gap, fossil fuel growth faces opposition from environmentalists and investors alike. Producers of natural gas in North Africa are grappling with the effects of regional political unrest. Regional tensions and competition from Asia have made the prospect of fresh gas from the eastern Mediterranean more challenging to realize. President Bill Clinton's former climate adviser Paul Bledsoe stated that Russia's invasion of Ukraine had "accelerated the globalization of gas markets and greatly complicated them." Energy has already become a point of contention between Europe and Russia, with Europe taking steps to reduce its reliance on Russian coal and oil imports. Although natural gas is more difficult and expensive to carry than oil, the trade nexus is more restricted. When Poland and Bulgaria refused to accept Russia's demand that they make payments in rubles, the country was forced to halt gas deliveries to them. As a result of Russia's February invasion of Ukraine, Germany continues to purchase Russian natural gas. Still, the country has rapidly delayed plans for a second Russian gas pipeline, Nord Stream 2. Since Russia momentarily halted gas imports through Ukraine in 2006, supplies have been reasonably constant. The United States, which has grown to become the world's top producer and exporter of natural gas following a boom in shale drilling, had so much gas that it flared off excess output, similar to Iraq and other oil-rich countries who treat gas as a waste commodity. Gas prices around the world were rising in the months leading up to the invasion for a variety of reasons, including declining hydroelectric capacity in Latin America due to drought and a lack of wind in Europe to propel renewable energy. As a result of the disruption in Russian supply, prices in much of the world have risen even higher, and the use of coal has climbed much more. Its gas fields are in decline, and Europe generates only one-fifth of the country's total gas demand. The remainder of the country's gas is imported, with roughly half of it coming primarily from the Russian Federation. As a result, while Russian imports have decreased in recent weeks, Norwegian output and imports of liquefied natural gas, or L.N.G., have surged to make up for the shortfall. To receive enormous tankers packed with chilled natural gas, Germany, the critical engine of the European economy, is scrambling to construct pricey facilities. As Charif Souki, executive chairman of Tellurian, a gas corporation building an export terminal in Louisiana, explained, "What the invasion of Ukraine has done is taken one of the three key suppliers of natural gas on a worldwide basis out of consideration for future planning." "In the future, no one will be able to rely on Russia. Now is the time for the United States to surpass all others as the world's natural gas powerhouse." Europe's countries have stated that they intend, in part, to reduce their reliance on more than 150 billion cubic meters of imported Russian gas per year by importing an extra 50 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas (L.N.G.), which is around 50% more than they presently import. This will not be a simple task since the worldwide L.N.G. market is only 523 billion cubic meters per year, and approximately 20% of that volume currently travels to Europe. Nevertheless, In the United States and Qatar, new L.N.G. export facilities are being built. Still, demand is growing even faster, particularly in Asian countries attempting to reduce air pollution caused by coal burning. As a result, the United States is left with only the United States, despite several of its gas fields having limited pipeline capacity and having attracted only a small number of significant drillers due to historically low gas prices. In response to the Russian incursion, the Biden administration has committed to increasing L.N.G. supplies to the European Union by 15 billion cubic meters, or around 40%. Even though this represents just around one-tenth of Russian gas shipments to Europe, American energy experts believe that American companies could produce and ship significantly more gas by expanding the number of gas pipelines and export terminals. The expansion of export operations in the United States is anticipated to be completed by 2026, with three new ports being built. Several others await permits, long-term customers, or investors to be built out. L.N.G. capacity should be quadrupled by 2030, according to E.Q.T., a significant gas producer, a suggestion that has garnered widespread backing from the oil and gas industries. "We have the resources in the ground," said David Braziel, chief executive of R.B.N. Energy, an analytics firm. "And we could develop them if you indicated to the administration that they want to develop natural-gas resources." On the other hand, environmentalists point out that natural gas extraction generates methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and warn that establishing a multibillion-dollar infrastructure will ensure that carbon emissions continue for decades. The Biden administration has shown support for renewable energy and natural gas, but this has not been enough to please both environmentalists and the oil and gas sector. With the sanctions on Russia, the Mediterranean region has emerged as a major natural gas supply for much of Europe. Although Mediterranean gas development has progressed, particularly in deeper waters, supplies to Europe have encountered a number of stumbling blocks in recent years. Even though Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi ruled Libya with harshness and anti-Western rhetoric, Italy has long been reliant on Libya for energy. However, opposing armed factions, particularly one backed by Russia, frequently prevent oil and gas resources and export facilities from being developed. In October, contract renewal talks between Algeria and Morocco came to a stalemate due to a dispute over payments between the two countries and the worsening of relations in general. Spain receives much of its natural gas from Algeria through pipelines, and Algeria would welcome the opportunity to pump more gas to Spain and Portugal through a pipeline through Morocco. Egypt has re-established operations in two L.N.G. ports, exporting its own natural gas and Israeli natural gas from Israel's increasing offshore gas reserves. On the other hand, China has provided such lucrative long-term contracts that European purchasers are finding it difficult to compete with them. According to Middle East Petroleum and Economic Publications, which is based in Cyprus, North Africa's gas exports to Europe decreased by 5 percent in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the previous year. With the ongoing improvement of relations between Israel and Turkey, energy experts believe the prospects for an underwater pipeline between Israeli gas reserves and Turkey, which would connect Israeli production to European markets, are becoming more promising. However, because a pipeline would have to pass through the Cypriot Seas, the lingering territorial disputes between Turkey and Cyprus could make such projects more difficult to complete. An emerging Cypriot gas field known as Aphrodite appears promising, but its limited reserves will likely prevent it from producing for more than a few years. What a ban on Russian oil could mean for Russia and the EU | DW News The world is one step closer to witnessing the murder of hundreds of thousands of people by using a strategic nuclear weapon in Ukraine. Putin could be on the verge of pulling the nuclear trigger to blackmail the world into surrounding Ukraine to Russia. The world is about to become significantly more dangerous. On Monday, Victory Day, Russia's most patriotic and solemn holiday, will be observed. A steady stream of respected Vladimir Putin experts has warned that the Russian dictator will declare war on Ukraine on Monday and order a mass mobilization of 500,000 new Russian military recruits. Before anyone concludes that a half-million, even 200,000 new Russian military recruits will reverse Russia's devastating losses in Ukraine, it should be remembered that training these recruits will take 3-6 months. The loss of 25,000 Russian soldiers and the wounding of 45,000 have severely harmed Russia's ability to wage a ground war. Russia's offensive and defensive capabilities have been severely weakened by the loss of over 1,000 tanks and thousands of military transports and its ability to replace thousands of missiles and heavy ordinances. Russia's military might have been severely weakened even before the U.S., and NATO has supplied tens of billions of dollars in heavy offensive weaponry for all intense purposes. According to experts, Putin's mental health may have been harmed by cancer treatments, as his special military operation appears to be collapsing in a wave of failures that has devastated Russian military morale. The sinking of Russia's Black Sea flagship, a guided-missile cruiser with 510 crew members, on April 14 after being hit by two Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles was devastating. It was reportedly hit by a Ukrainian missile battery and is currently on fire after being struck by one or more Neptune anti-ship missiles. Still, Ukraine has now crippled a second Black Sea flagship, the Admiral Makarov, and an Admiral Grigorovich-class frigate. If this is confirmed, Russia may be down to three major surface combatants following the loss of the missile frigate Admiral Makarov. This could lead to Putin declaring war on Monday during his Victory Day speech. According to many who study and watch Putin, the Russian military's poor physical and emotional condition and its severely hampered ability to wage war could have cancer-stricken Putin feeling paranoid and threatened. In that case, he could order the use of a strategic nuclear weapon to signal to the rest of the world that he is willing to kill every last Ukrainian to win his war. Putin's choice of Gen. Alexander Dvornikov to lead the country's operations in Ukraine sent a chilling message. Dvornikov oversaw Russian troops in Syria and had a history of targeting civilians, raising concerns among officials that the invasion of Ukraine could worsen as he is expected to renew the assault in Ukraine's Donbas region. Dvornikov is known as the Butcher of Syria, where he demonstrated a disregard for innocent lives lost. He's also unlikely to reject or refuse to use a tactical nuclear weapon in Ukraine if Putin orders it. The United States and NATO are not likely to react to Russia using a nuclear weapon by entering the Ukraine war. However, it will lead to the Biden Administration declaring Russia a "sponsor of terrorism" and being about the most intensive sanctions and blockade of a country in human history. Countries determined by the U.S. Secretary of State to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism are designated pursuant to three laws: section1754(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961). The four main categories of sanctions resulting from designation under these authorities include restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance; a ban on defense exports and sales; certain controls over exports of dual-use items; and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions. Designation under the above-referenced authorities also implicates other sanctions laws that penalize persons and countries engaging in certain trade with state sponsors. Currently, four countries are designated under these authorities: Cuba, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), Iran, and Syria. The consequences of making it illegal for any country to buy, sell or trade with Russia will be seen immediately in the world's financial markets. On Friday, I recommended in my online investment newsletter service WorldOpportunityInvestor.com that investors, in anticipation of the danger of Putin declaring war on Ukraine on Monday and approaching the use of a strategic nuclear weapon, immediately add to the number of shares of Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE: OXY) and Cheniere Energy, Inc (NYSE: LNG). Crude Oil could jump from $10 to $20 a barrel, and natural gas could jump 25% in price in just a few short days if Russia declares war. In which case, OXY and LNG could quickly jump 25% in price in sympathy. Russia has reiterated its claims in recent days that the U.S. is preparing "provocations" to accuse Moscow of using weapons of mass destruction (WMD). The United States, Great Britain, and Ukraine have warned that Russia is preparing to "fabricate a pretext for using chemical or strategic nuclear weapons" by claiming a fake chemical attack by Ukraine. Putin has made a career of false-flag attacks since he became the President of Russia. If I see any indication that Putin is being humiliated in the coming weeks via Russian military losses, I will recommend buying PUT options in the S&P and BitCoin. The use of a nuclear weapon would result in the same plummet or worse in the days following September 11, 2001. Putin could make a declaration of war on Ukraine Monday LONDON Leaders from the Group of Seven developed democracies pledged Sunday to phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil, as they met with Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, for online talks to stress their support and to display unity among Western allies on Victory in Europe Day, which marks Nazi Germanys surrender in 1945. Cutting out Russian oil supplies will hit hard at the main artery of (President Vladimir) Putins economy and deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war, the G-7 countries, which include the U.S., Britain, Canada, Germany, France and Italy and Japan, said in a statement. We will ensure that we do so in a timely and orderly fashion, and in ways that provide time for the world to secure alternative supplies, they added. Casting a look back at World War II, the leaders stressed unity in their resolve that Putin must not win. We owe it to the memory of all those who fought for freedom in the Second World War, to continue fighting for it today, for the people of Ukraine, Europe and the global community, they said. U.S. President Joe Bidens call with the G-7 leaders and Zelenskyy lasted about an hour. Italy Prime Minister Mario Draghis office said in a statement that the G-7 leaders reiterated the commitment to diversify energy sources, reducing dependence on Russian supplies. Italy, heavily dependent on Russian natural gas when the war began, has since secured several agreements for alternative gas supplies from other countries. Draghi is scheduled to meet with Biden in Washington on Tuesday. The U.S. also announced new sanctions against Russia. They include cutting off Western advertising from Russias three biggest television stations, banning U.S. accounting and consulting firms from providing services to any Russian, and piling additional restrictions on Russias industrial sector. The White House announced the new sanctions ahead of the May 9 Victory Day, when Russia traditionally celebrates Nazi Germanys defeat in 1945 with huge military parades. Putin is expected to talk about what Russia calls its special military operation in Ukraine and address troops on Red Square on Monday. The U.S. and European allies were seeking to offer counter-messaging that Putin is further isolating Russia from the rest of the world and doing enormous harm to the Russian economy. Ahead of the call, U.K. officials said Britain will provide an extra 1.3 billion pounds ($1.6 billion) in military support to Ukraine to help the nation defend itself against Russian forces. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a surprise visit to Ukraine Sunday, touring the northern town of Irpin. Jill Biden also made an unannounced visit on Sunday, holding a surprise Mothers Day meeting in western Ukraine with first lady Olena Zelenska. I wanted to come on Mothers Day, the U.S. first lady told Zelenska. I thought it was important to show the Ukrainian people that this war has to stop and this war has been brutal and that the people of the United States stand with the people of Ukraine. Meanwhile, across the country in the east, more than 60 people were feared dead Sunday after a Russian bomb flattened a school being used as a shelter, Ukrainian officials said, while Moscows forces kept up their attack on defenders inside Mariupols steel plant. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was appalled by the reported school bombing Saturday in the eastern village of Bilohorivka and called it another reminder that it is civilians that pay the highest price in war. Authorities said about 90 people had been taking shelter in the basement. Emergency crews found two bodies and rescued 30 people, but most likely all 60 people who remain under the rubble are now dead, Serhiy Haidai, governor of Luhansk province, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Russian shelling also killed two boys, ages 11 and 14, in the nearby town of Pryvillia, he said. Luhansk is part of the Donbas, the industrial heartland in the east that Russias forces are bent on capturing. Capt. Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Ukrainian Azov Regiment, a unit holding the Mariupol steel mill, said the site was targeted overnight by warplanes, artillery and tanks. We are under constant shelling, he said online, adding that Russian ground troops tried to storm the plant a claim Russian officials denied in recent days and lay mines. Palamar reported a multitude of casualties. Lt. Illya Samoilenko, another member of the Azov Regiment, said there were a couple of hundred wounded soldiers at the plant but declined to reveal how many able-bodied fighters remained. He said fighters didnt have lifesaving equipment and had to dig by hand to free people from bunkers that had collapsed under the shelling. Elsewhere, on Ukraines coast, explosions echoed again across the major Black Sea port of Odesa. At least five blasts were heard, according to local media. The Ukrainian military said Moscow was focusing its main efforts on destroying airfield infrastructure in eastern and southern Ukraine. South of Kharkiv, in Dnipropetrovsk province, the governor said a 12-year-old boy was killed by a cluster munition that he found after a Russian attack. An international treaty bans the use of such explosives, but neither Russia nor Ukraine has signed the agreement. This war is treacherous, the governor, Valentyn Reznichenko, wrote on social media. It is near, even when it is invisible. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BOSTON (AP) Mario Batalis sexual misconduct trial opened Monday in a Boston court with his accuser recounting how shed been shocked, surprised and alarmed as the celebrity chef aggressively kissed and groped her while taking selfies at a restaurant in 2017. The 32-year-old Boston-area software company worker said she felt confused and powerless to do anything to stop Batali. It was all happening so quickly and it was happening essentially the whole time, the woman testified in the trial, which resumes Tuesday in Boston Municipal Court. Just a lot of touching. She said she felt embarrassed until she saw other women step forward to share similar encounters with Batali. This happened to me and this is my life, the woman responded when prosecutors asked why she'd come forward. I want to be able to take control of what happened, say my piece and have everyone be accountable for their actions. But Batalis lawyer, Anthony Fuller, sought to discredit her, arguing that the assault never happened. He said the accuser has a financial incentive to lie as she's seeking more than $50,000 in damages from Batali in a separate civil lawsuit pending in Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston. Shes not being truthful, Fuller said. This is being fabricated for money and for fun. During cross examination, he produced financial statements showing the woman ate at Eataly, the Italian marketplace Batali once had an ownership stake in, weeks after the encounter and continued to patronize the Boston bar where the alleged assault took place. You go to the restaurant of the guy who you claimed brutally assaulted you?" he said. That doesnt make sense. The woman said she didnt recall going to Eataly and maintained she isnt speaking out for financial gain. She also strongly pushed back at Fuller for questioning why none of the many photos taken with Batali that night showed the alleged assault. The woman said the photos were all taken relatively close up and didnt show how Batali, who she said was visibly drunk, was grabbing her private areas, touching her face and even sticking his tongue in her ear. She said he also invited her up to his hotel room afterward, which she declined. I have never been touched before like that, the woman said. Squeezing my vagina to pull me closer to him, as if thats a normal way to grab someone. But Fuller argued the accuser isnt a credible witness. He honed in on her recent admission of attempting to avoid jury service by claiming to be clairvoyant. She was also accused in that case of violating the judges orders to keep an open mind and not discuss the case with others. In court on Monday, however, she maintained that she can predict major events before they happen to a certain extent. Monday's trial opened after Batali in a surprise move waived his right to a jury trial and opted instead to have a judge decide his fate. Batali, who pleaded not guilty to indecent assault and battery in 2019, could face up to 2 1/2 years in jail and be required to register as a sex offender if convicted. Batali is among a number of high-profile men who have faced a public reckoning during the #MeToo social movement against sexual abuse and harassment in recent years. The 61-year-old was once a Food Network fixture on shows like Molto Mario and Iron Chef America. But the ponytail-and-orange Croc-wearing personality's high-flying career crumbled amid sexual misconduct allegations. Four women accused him of inappropriate touching in 2017, after which he stepped down from day-to-day operations at his restaurant empire and left the since-discontinued ABC cooking show The Chew. Batali has offered an apology, acknowledging the allegations match up with ways he has acted. I have made many mistakes, he said in an email newsletter at the time. My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility. Last year, Batali, his business partner and their New York City restaurant company agreed to pay $600,000 to resolve a four-year investigation by the New York attorney generals office into allegations that Batali and other staff sexually harassed employees. In Boston, he opened the downtown Eataly location and Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca in the citys Seaport District. Batali has since been bought out of his stake in Eataly and the Babbo restaurant has closed. 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 CEDAR FALLS -- Emily McVicker of Cedar Falls was honored at Ohio University's College of Health Sciences and Professions 2022 Student and Faculty Awards in Athens, Ohio. More than 40 individuals, student organizations and community partners were honored during the virtual event. Recipients were recognized for their contributions and accomplishments during the 2021-22 academic year. WEBSTER CITY Jury selection began Monday in the trial for a Grundy Center man accused of killing an Iowa State Patrol trooper during an April 2021 standoff. Michael Thomas Lang, 42, is charged with murder, attempted murder and assault on a peace officer. His trial was moved from Grundy County to the Hamilton County Courthouse in Webster City. Also Monday, Judge Joel Dalrymple heard the states request to disallow Lang from arguing self-defense and stand your ground in the shooting, which took the life of Sgt. Jim Smith. Assistant Attorney General Douglas Hammerand is also asking the court to bar the defense from asking if authorities had warrants in the fatal standoff, and he argued the law doesnt allow residents to resist arrest even if they dont think the arrest is lawful. Even if the person believes the arrest is unlawful, or the arrest is in fact unlawful even if he thought in his own mind they needed a warrant, he doesnt get to shoot them. Thats not how it works, Hammerand said. Langs attorneys have indicated they plan to argue self-defense. It is a question to the jury whether law enforcement was indeed acting lawfully, Hawbaker said. All we are asking is it be put to the jury. The judge will rule on the request later. More than 100 people were called to the courthouse Monday morning for voir dire. Out of an initial panel of 36 potential jurors, about half indicated they had heard something about the case before coming to the courthouse. Attorneys and the judge then called each of those potential juror into chambers individually to determine what they knew. Lang is represented by Hawbaker and Konrad Kamizelich. Hammerand and Grundy County Attorney Erika Allen are prosecuting the case. Authorities allege Lang struggled with a Grundy Center police officer during a traffic stop around 7:20 p.m. April 9, 2021, and then fled home. When Smith and other officers entered Langs home to detain him, Smith was shot and killed with a shotgun, according to authorities. After an hours-long standoff, an Iowa State Patrol tactical team moved on the house and was met by gunfire, authorities said. Lang was injured in the gunfight with troopers and ultimately detained. Jury selection will resume Tuesday followed by opening statements once a jury is seated. 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. INDEPENDENCE A 19-year-old inmate at the Buchanan County Jail died Sunday after he was found unresponsive by correctional officers. Jaden Antoine Johnson of West Union was found in his cell at approximately 2:35 a.m. by officers performing routine checks, according to a news release. Correctional officers immediately called for assistance and CPR was initiated. Shortly thereafter, Buchanan County Sheriffs emergency medical services rescue deputies and AMR Ambulance personnel arrived on scene and applied additional lifesaving measures. However, Johnson was ultimately pronounced dead at the Buchanan County Correctional Center. As part of the standard procedure, Johnsons body has been transferred to the Iowa State Medical Examiners Office in Ankeny for an autopsy. At this time, jail officials said the preliminary cause of death appears to be asphyxiation via suicide. This incident remains under investigation. Johnson was in jail for the allegedly stealing a 2008 Chevrolet Malibu sedan April 5 from Larson Construction Company in Independence. 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 man has been arrested in connection with an early morning shooting that sent him and a woman to the hospital. Waterloo police arrested 38-year-old Roy Morrell Steward on a charge of felon in possession of a firearm. Detectives investigating the shooting interviewed several witnesses confirming that Stewart sustained the gunshot wound pursuant to a struggle he had with bystanders," Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald said. Police and paramedics were called to a home at 263 Western Ave. around 5:10 a.m. Monday. Officers located Ashley Cronan suffering from a non-life threating gunshot wound to the leg. Waterloo Fire arrived and transported Cronan to UnityPoint-Allen Hospital for treatment. Police also located Stewart near the scene with a gunshot wound to his hand, and he was transported to the same hospital. Police said the injuries dont appear to be life-threatening. Police continue to investigate the incident. 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. In Jordan Petersons 12 Rules for Life, he breaks down the reason why many get bullied at a young age, surprisingly its not because the victim had done anything to deserve it or because the bully found some sense of justice in their belittling. The reason, Peterson states, is often because they are unwilling to fight back. The emotional and physical posture of a person may have some effect on being bullied initially but its the continual pushing of the bully that exposes an unwillingness to stand up for themselves. Elected bullying Recent years in Australia and around the world have shed light on a similar relationship between the state/ federal governments and the governed. An increase of power to elected and un-elected officials has created a disproportionate gap between personal responsibility of a citizen and sovereignty of leadership over the people. The vaccination mandates in Australia were imposed on the population under the guise of countering the health threats of COVID, but has now exposed a side-effect of sole reliance on the government for health and safety and an abdication of personal responsibility on the people. The people are no longer trusted with their own health decisions and the onus defaults to the government as a sole protector. But protection is not what has happened. If the people of Australia had a posture that was visible to the government, it would be the frame of someone slouched over, chin tucked into their chest and unwilling to fight back. The thing is posture is a great determinant of your situation and where youre headed, and it speaks volumes to a bully who is looking for a victim. Jordan Peterson characterises this using the example of lobsters. Which lobster are you? Lobsters brain chemistry works in a similar way to humans when it comes to victory and defeat according to Peterson. When a lobster comes across another lobster, it immediately sizes its opponent up, looking at strength, health, size, mood and posture before engaging. The lobsters who have won many lobster fights before have a tall posture both physically and mentally, theyre not the one to back down from a fight before its begun. On the other hand, a lobster who is new to the whole standing up for yourself thing or has experienced defeat before, will often wear that defeat through their slouched posture and will most likely back down from a fight. The point that Jordan Peterson is making here is that your posture towards life and its events has a massive impact on the outcome of those events. It doesnt take long before a lobster identifies who is vulnerable and who should be left alone. The same principle applies to humans on who can be bullied whether in school, in the workplace, or by your own government, your posture determines your vulnerability or your strength. Stand up straight with your shoulders rolled back If youve seen your posture as someone to be trampled, oppressed or even a loser in the past by no cause of your own, Peterson encourages that you cant remain that way. You cant remain a victim of circumstance or hurt and to counter these feelings; recognise your bad habits of thought and correct them. Likewise, the posture of a nation determines its acceptance of bullying by another nation or their own government. The only way to destabilise power is to sacrifice your own comfort in favour of your future and the potential benefits that will come of it. Petersons fascination with good and evil, chaos and order, Jesus and sin, points to the chaos that comes from acquiescence and laziness most of all when he states, Satan embodies the refusal of sacrifice; he is arrogance, incarnate; spite, deceit, and cruel, conscious malevolence. Sacrifice your convenience. The convenience of slouching instead of standing up straight and rolling your shoulders back. The convenience of political acquiescence and ignorance in the face of injustice and tyranny. The convenience of checking your phone first thing in the morning instead of reading your Bible. WATERLOO A Waterloo man has been arrested for allegedly shooting his girlfriends dog last week. The dog was treated at a local veterinary clinic and later released, according to police. Waterloo police Friday arrested Damon Terrell Frazier, 52, of 1120 Beech St., on charges of animal abuse, reckless use of a firearm, use of a weapon in a crime and carrying weapons. Part of the incident was recorded on video, according to court records. The video allegedly shows Frazier outside in the 300 block of Lamont Street around 11 a.m. Friday. Frazier is seen picking up the dog and placing the dog in a garbage can. He then draws a handgun, aims at the can and looks away as he fires a single shot, according to court records. Police were called about the incident on Friday afternoon. Court records show police arrested Frazier on Wednesday in connection with a separate incident involving a dog and a gun. Officers were called to the area of Adrian and Lafayette streets shortly before 8 a.m. for a person walking a dog in the street, blocking traffic. When police approached, Frazier moved to the sidewalk and continued walking, carrying an open can of beer, despite police requests to stop. Officers eventually stopped him and found a .40-caliber pistol and a bottle of THC tablets in his coat pockets. He allegedly gave police a fake name when questioned, court records state. He was detained for public consumption, interference, harassment of a public official, disorderly conduct and carrying weapons while intoxicated, and was later released from custody. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 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. WAVERLY The Historic Preservation Commission is ready to unveil, celebrate and dedicate some new landmarks to help remember Waverlys Third Street Southeast Green Bridge. The iconic structure, which was a connection to the southeast part of the city, was removed at the end of last year after much debate about its fate. An inspection found it was no longer suitable for traffic because of advanced corrosion. And now about five months later, The Visionary Sightseeing Binoculars public art installation will be dedicated on Saturday along with two special signs, all located in South Riverside Park off First Street Southwest. Theyll be found near the playground and bike trail. Waverly has a history of putting up art and sculptures in public parks, said Karen Lehmann, commission chairwoman. And its really heartwarming to hear the many stories about how the bridge has meant so much to so many people. Its always unfortunate to see history disappear, but we can celebrate that it existed and honor it by keeping its memory alive. The commissions goal is not just to memorialize the historic structure, but to provide Waverly with a unique destination for community activities and tourism and be a place of pride for the town and Bremer County. The art display is a stereoscope and will allow a viewer to see up to four 3D images of the bridge two historical, one contemporary and another from an aerial view through binocular-like lenses aimed in the direction where the distinctive historic truss bridge used to span the Cedar River. One sign shares additional information about the bridge and its history, as well as additional photographs. The other has more details about the art display, the artist and project donors. The evolving program starts at 10 a.m. on a Saturday, part of Preservation Month. Were excited to launch and celebrate historic preservation, said Lehmann. Artist Rebecca Hackemann, associate professor of art/photography at Kansas State University and also a former Waverly resident, will give remarks about her creation after the Waverly Historic Preservation Awards are presented and the art display is dedicated. Mayor Adam Hoffman will cut a ribbon in celebration of the momentous occasion. WHPC Commissioner Don Meyer will be the master of ceremonies. In addition, each attendee will be given a ticket upon arrival. A drawing will choose the lucky winner who gets to look first through the stereoscope. In case of inclement weather, the presentation will be held at the Waverly Civic Center following the dedication. In order to make this possible, the City Council agreed to give $10,000 and that commission will match through fundraising. Already, $8,000 has been raised with the help of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa. The public art display and signs are just two of three prongs commemorate the bridge. A large bronze plaque is in the works with the help of Waverly-Shell Rocks Go-Hawk Manufacturing high school team, and will be constructed in Brookwood Park on top of a base of materials salvaged from the bridge. Thats expected to be finished next year. Love 0 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. WATERLOO -- Glen Keith, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and teacher, is hosting a meet and greet from from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday for his Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors campaign. The event will be at Single Speed Brewing Company in Waterloo, 325 Commercial St. The public is welcome to attend. Keith will discuss his vision and issues facing citizens of Black Hawk County. Waverly Ambassadors recognize businesses WAVERLY The Waverly Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors has presented several awards to new local businesses. The Golden Thistle Home & Gifts,114 E. Bremer Ave., received a First Dollar award with a ribbon cutting. New owner Sherry Bormann purchased and re-opened the store in March 2022. A ribbon cutting took place and a First Dollar award was presented to Bobby Hart DesignFarm,106 2nd St. SE, an art studio. DesignFarm offers youth art lessons Wednesdays and Thursdays for ages 7 and up and plan to offer two summer camps. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/DesignFarmWaverly. The Progress Award was presented to Stacy Hoard, new store manager at the Waverly Hy-Vee at 1311 4th St. SW. Hoard has been with Hy-Vee for 28 years. The Ambassador Committee held a ribbon cutting for Soifer Family McDonalds at the largest PlayPlace structure in Iowa. McDonalds,1203 4th St. SW, began remodeling the restaurant and PlayPlace area in 2020. For more information,visit soiferfamilymcdonalds.com. The Ambassadors Program is the public relations arm of the Waverly chamber. For more information, call 319-352-4526, or email waverly@waverlychamber.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DES MOINES - Waverly volunteer Don Meyer, received the Governors Leadership Award for his time as the 2020 and 2021 board chair for the Waverly Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Program. Waverly Chamber Executive Director Travis Toliver was one of 53 Main Street Directors who received the 2022 Spirit of Main Street Award, for his work in helping to lead Waverlys Main Street Program and staff during the pandemic. Main Street Iowa hosted the annual Main Street Iowa Development Awards celebration at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. The program honored the efforts of those who work tirelessly to revitalize Iowas downtowns the heart and soul of communities across the state. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Patriotism, unease mix as Russia marks Victory Day in WWII The Russian holiday of Victory Day brings out patriotic displays of flags, military parades and marches by veterans' groups celebrating the country's triumph over Nazi Germany in 1945. At first glance, the preparations for Mondays celebration seem to be the same as ever. But the mood this year is very different, because Russian troops are fighting and dying in a war in neighboring Ukraine. The pride and patriotism usually associated with Russias most important holiday is mixing with apprehension and unease over what this years Victory Day may bring. Some Russians fear that President Vladimir Putin will use it to implement a broad mobilization of troops to bolster Russias forces, although the Kremlin denies it. More than 60 feared dead in bombing of Ukrainian school ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) Dozens of Ukrainians are feared dead after a Russian bomb destroyed a school sheltering about 90 people in eastern Ukraine. The governor of Luhansk province said Sunday that 30 people were rescued from the rubble of the school in the village of Bilohorivka but the rest probably didn't survive. Elsewhere, more explosions rocked the Black Sea port of Odesa. Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers making a last stand at a steel mill in the besieged city of Mariupol said they wouldn't surrender following the evacuation of civilians from the sprawling site. As the largest European conflict since World War II churned on, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and U.S. first lady Jill Biden made surprise visits to Ukraine. Court leak is catnip for those who love a juicy DC whodunit WASHINGTON (AP) Theres nothing official Washington loves better than a juicy whodunit. And the mystery over who leaked the Supreme Courts draft opinion in a landmark abortion case offers the added subplot of tantalizing questions about why the leaker did it. Its an intrigue in the tradition of Watergates Deep Throat or the Trump-era whistleblower Anonymous. The hunt for the high court leaker is afoot. Chief Justice John Roberts has ordered an investigation into what he called an egregious breach of trust. And amateur sleuths have been eagerly trading theories on social media. One way or another, big secrets in Washington have a way of eventually coming out. "Everything shook": Last civilians leave Ukraine steel mill ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) Pale and drawn, the last civilians sheltering in the bunkers beneath the sprawling steel mill in the decimated Ukrainian port city of Mariupol arrived late Sunday night in Zaporizhzhia, the first major Ukrainian city beyond the frontline. The seaside steel mill, where an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters are making what appears to be their last stand, is the only part of the city not under Russian control. Thanks to its warren of tunnels and bunkers deep underground, many civilians had chosen it as the safest place to take cover from the relentless shelling of Mariupol, a formerly thriving port city that has been largely reduced to rubble. EXPLAINER: What comes next with John Lee leading Hong Kong? HONG KONG (AP) A Hong Kong committee stacked with mostly pro-Beijing members has almost unanimously voted for John Lee to become the city's next leader. On July 1, the anniversary of Hong Kongs 1997 handover from Britain to China, Lee will take control of the semi-autonomous territory. Outgoing leader Carrie Lam leaves after five tumultuous years that spanned pro-democracy protests in 2019, a subsequent crackdown that snuffed out virtually all dissent, and the coronavirus pandemic. Lee was a career police officer and the city's security chief. His choice signals China's central government in Beijing is looking for someone reliable to ensure that its authority in Hong Kong is never questioned again. Strong, swirling winds complicate New Mexico wildfire fight LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) Fast winds are complicating the fight against fires burning across northeast New Mexico. Wind gusts were as fast as 50 miles per hour on Sunday. That forced some firefighting aircraft to be grounded, taking away a key tool for battling the blazes. The area's largest rural town is Las Vegas, New Mexico, and it appears safe for now thanks to fire lines and other preparations. But the northern and southern ends of the fire are proving trickier to contain with the fast winds. The National Interagency Fire Center says more than 20,000 structures remain threatened. Havana hotel death toll at 31 as dogs search for survivors HAVANA (AP) The death toll of a powerful explosion at a luxury hotel in Cubas capital has increased to 31 as search crews with dogs hunt through the rubble of the iconic, 19th century building looking for people still missing. The five-star Hotel Saratoga in Old Havana was preparing to reopen after being closed for two years when an apparent gas leak caused a massive explosion on Friday. The blast damaged nearby structures, including the historic Marti Theater and the Calvary Baptist Church. It's the headquarters for the denomination in western Cuba. Municipal authorities say burials for victims have begun, but some people are still waiting for news of missing friends and relatives. Dictator's son a front-runner as Filipinos elect next leader MANILA, Philippines (AP) Filipinos are voting for a new president with the son of an ousted dictator and a champion of human rights as the top contenders. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son and namesake of the strongman ousted in a 1986 People Power uprising, has led pre-election surveys. But his closest challenger, Vice President Leni Robredo, has tapped into shock and outrage over the prospect of another Marcos holding the top office. The winner of Monday's election will take office on June 30 for a single, six-year term and stands to inherit immense problems, including deep poverty and the legacy of a brutal anti-drugs crackdown led by outgoing leader Rodrigo Duterte. His daughter, Sara Duterte, has topped surveys for the vice presidential race. How climate scientists keep hope alive as damage worsens Many climate scientists share a sense of optimism with professionals in other tough jobs like emergency room doctors and researchers who study Alzheimers Disease even as they chronicle a world losing its protective balance with the sun. Psychologists say how those experts cope may help us in a world that seems to be going off the rails. Climate scientists who have been through a lot both personally and professionally say the key is often action. Don't wallow, they say. Do something. EXPLAINER: How 81-1 shot Rich Strike won the Kentucky Derby This doesnt happen. Horses at odds of nearly 81-1 dont win the Kentucky Derby. Jockeys who have never won any big stakes race of any kind dont win the Kentucky Derby. Owners with fewer than 10 career wins dont win the Kentucky Derby. Rich Strike and his connections disagree with those sentiments. One of the biggest upsets in racing history happened Saturday in the Kentucky Derby, when Rich Strike shocked the establishment by running past everyone and winning the first leg of this years Triple Crown series. 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 One of the more confounding political riddles pundits love to debate is how Democrats lost rural America. If the past month is any indication, however, it looks less like the Dems lost rural America and more like they are just lost in rural America. For example, on April 28, the White House asked Congress for $33 billion to purchase more weapons of war and supply more economic and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. According to Politico, $500 million of the request is targeted at American farmers [to] help boost domestic production of wheat, soybeans, rice and other food commodities lost to the global market when Russia invaded Ukraine. There are several problems with this request, but two stand out. First, as described, $100 million of the new money would go toward providing a $10-per-acre payment to farmers who plant a soybean crop after a winter wheat crop in 2023. If this is such a red hot idea and a $10-an-acre subsidy is, at best, lukewarm why wait a year? The 2021/22 winter wheat crop will be harvested in the coming months, leaving tens of millions of acres ready for double-crop soybeans this year. Second, the Biden proposal offers another $400 million [to] fund a two-year increase in loan rates for U.S. producers to encourage them to grow more select food commodities, including wheat, rice and oilseeds like soybeans, sunflowers and canola. Its very unlikely, however, that higher loan rates will deliver more of these needed commodities let alone in the time frame the White House says they will be neededbecause thats not how commodity loan rates work. Loan rates really give producers liquidity to hold on to a harvested crop until they market it. I dont know if they encourage more production, a senior Republican Senate aide (with kind deference to the White House) told Politico shortly after the administration announcement. So, Im not sure how loan rates are going to be helpful. If the Biden request survives Congress and already theres talk of modifying the plan both ideas might have a short shelf life. Even Joe Glauber, the chief economist at the United States Department of Agriculture under Secretary Tom Vilsack during the Obama Administration, is at a loss to explain Bidens Big Ag ideas. I dont think that this sort of intervention from the government makes any sense, other than to read it in a pure political sense, Glauber remarked shortly after the proposals were announced. The same is true for the Biden Administrations other big April farm idea: expanding sales of E-15, gasoline with a 15%% ethanol blend rather than the usual 10%, between June 1 and Sept. 12. The announcement, made in ethanol-loving Iowa, was touted as a way to lower nationwide gasoline prices by 10 cents per gallon. Thats a big job for such a tiny hammer since less than 2% of all gasoline stations nationwide have E-15 pumps. Indeed, theres little evidence that this relatively tiny boost in ethanol sales if it materializes at all will impact U.S. gasoline prices this summer. Moreover, the Biden ethanol plan overlooks an authoritative March report from the National Academy of Sciences that estimated that corn-based ethanol was at least 24% more carbon-intensive than gasoline when emissions from land-use changes were included, reported the New York Times April 12. So, in fact, the Biden announcement of summer E-15 sales will actually work in the opposite direction of the administrations climate goals rather than being a benefit, Jason Hill, a professor of bioproducts and biosystems engineering at the University of Minnesota, told the Times. If Land Grant University professors think government expansion of ethanol is a bad idea, its probably a really bad idea. But bad ideas rarely stop politicians from pandering and posturing to constituents even if its the wrong pandering and posturing. So, pundits, stop wondering about rural Dems; theyre there. They just dont know where there is anymore. The Farm and Food File is published weekly through the U.S. and Canada. Source material and contact information are posted at farmandfoodfile.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Briefing by Russian Defence Ministry The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine. High-precision air-based missiles of the Russian Aerospace Forces have hit 11 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration, 4 company strongpoints, 8 ammunition depots of the Ukrainian Troops near Konstantinovka, Antonovka, Elizavetovka, Dolina and Lisichansk as well as 2 air target detection radar stations near Kramatorsk and Krestischa. According to the updated information, 6 Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters have been destroyed during the night near Artsiz in Odessa Region near the Chervonoglinskoe military airfield by Onyks high-precision missiles from the Bastion coastal missile system. Operational-tactical and army aviation of the Russian Aerospace Force have hit 2 strong points and 5 areas of concentration of AFU manpower and military equipment. Missile troops and artillery units have hit 318 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration. The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 400 nationalists and up to 48 armoured and motor vehicles. During the day, Russian air defence means have shot down 1 MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force over Severodonetsk city. In addition, 3 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle have been over Novozvanovka, Khartsyzsk and Izyum. 1 Ukrainian Tochka-U rocket was intercepted near Ivanovka, Kharkov Region, and 2 Smerch multiple-launch rockets were intercepted near Bolshaya Kamyshevakha and Izyum. In total, 162 Ukrainian aircraft and 124 helicopters, 790 unmanned aerial vehicles, 299 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,967 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 347 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,432 field artillery and mortars, as well as 2,778 units of special military vehicles were destroyed during the operation. On May 7, on direct orders from Zelensky, the Ukrainian General Staff, with the direct involvement of advisers from the USA and Britain, planned a major provocation to seize Zmeiny Island. Over the past two days, the Kiev regime has made several desperate attempts to land air and sea assaults on Zmeiny Island, which is important for controlling the northwestern part of the Black Sea. The Ukrainian provocation was thwarted as a result of the competent actions of a Russian Armed Forces unit on the island. The enemy suffered heavy losses. 4 Ukrainian airplanes, including 3 Su-24 and 1 Su-27, 3 Mi-8 helicopters with paratroopers on board, and 1 Mi-24 helicopter have been shot down in the air while repelling the attacks near Zmeiny Island. Within two days, 29 Ukrainian UAVs have been shot down in the air, including 8 Bayraktar TB-2 strike UAVs. Meanwhile, 4 Bayraktar drones have been shot down this afternoon. Also, 3 armoured Ukrainian amphibious assault boats carrying Ukrainian naval personnel were destroyed during an attempted landing on the night of May 8. As a result of Zelenskys thoughtless provocation, more than 50 Ukrainian saboteurs have been killed at sea and on the coast during the landing and attempts to consolidate on the island. 24 bodies of dead Ukrainian servicemen were left on the shore of Zmeiny Island. #MoD #Russia #Ukraine #Briefing @mod_russia_enjoy WtR Friends, my dear brother Daniil Martynov has just reported to me operational information, and I am sharing it with you the city of Popasnaya of the LPR has been completely liberated from Ukrainian invaders! I thank the soldiers for their service and courage shown during the liberation of this important and complex strategic settlement, which had been fortified by the Ukrainian military for years in advance. Residents of another city in Donbass can now return to civilian life. So, friends, justice triumphs! I am very glad that this city is finally OURS! Ahmat-Strength! Allahu Akbar! WtR All the Japanese living in the USA during the Second World War, most of whom were actual citizens and had been Americans for many years if not multiple generations were removed from society and interned in isolation camps within the USA and all criminal recourse by the Japanese found that the American courts chose the government process and not the legal Japanese residents. Thus, they were interned and kept locked away. I do not recall any German citizens living in the USA at the time, being put into camps and such If and when Washington declares actual war with Russia, do you want to take any bets how long before the Russian Americans, some citizens, some residents, will last walking around free before being rounded up based on the ugly demonization going on there now? This is how authoritarian regimes deal with things when they massively screw things up WtR They are not done yet on doubling/tripling/quadrupling down on stupid. The Russian Orthodox Church basically is the Greek Orthodox Church (Roman Byzantium) that broke away from the main Greek Orthodox church when the Turks captured Constantinople. The followers of Paul more than Peter Everyone ignores that this is a Holy War and yet, they do things like this above and give you reasons, if you are willing to look, about that religion is an issue So what will they do next, if we allow them and they do get away with this sacrilege? Will they confiscate Orthodox church property in the west and Church funds next? Will it extend to Greek Orthodox and they do the same? I would not put that past them. For it seems that nothing maters to these evil scum in the west and they will take what they want. That is what a dying Empire does It is a Holy War, you know? A draft of the EU sanctions note states that Patriarch Kirill is therefore responsible for supporting or implementing, actions or policies which undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, as well as stability and security in Ukraine, Politico reported. It has been reported that he has called for the spiritual purification of Ukraine. The Patriarch of Moscow and all of Russia will now be listed along with rapists and torturers. Source: EU sanctions target head of the Russian Orthodox Church The Week Still think it is not a Holy War? Guess Again WtR By Russian_Village A survivor of six heart attacks and a brain tumor, a grumpy bear of a man, whom has declared Russia as his new and wonderful home. His wife is a true Russian Sweet Pea of a girl and she puts up with this bear of a guy and keeps him in line. Thank God for my Sweet Pea and Russia. Thanks to unprecedented measures taken by the leadership of the Russian Federation, with the active participation of representatives of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, humanitarian operation to evacuate civilians from Azovstal plant is now complete. During the period of the operation (from May 5, 2022), 51 people (18 men, 22 women, 11 children) were rescued, including 1 person on May 7, 2022. Each citizen is provided with security and qualified medical and psychological assistance. Rescued civilians, accompanied by representatives of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, departed for selected temporary accommodation sites. #MoD #Russia #Ukraine #HumanitarianResponse #HumanitarianAid @mod_russia_en WtR The Russian ambassador was attacked in Poland. He was doused with red paint while trying to lay a wreath at the cemetery of Soviet soldiers in Warsaw. This is reported by the correspondent of @rian_ru. WtR The Joint Coordination Headquarters of the Russian Federation for Humanitarian Response, in co-operation with the authorised federal executive authorities and law enforcement agencies, continues to thoroughly document numerous facts of the Kiev regimes inhumane attitude towards its own people and the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes: in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Peoples Republic, AFU units are stationed and firing positions are equipped in school No 20 and kindergarten No 87. At the same time, civilians from nearby houses are forcibly detained in the basements and all approaches to the buildings are mined; in Kharkov, militants of nationalist battalions have equipped a stronghold and ammunition depot in the building of the childrens regional infectious diseases hospital No 22, with artillery mounts placed in the adjacent territory. The hospital staff and all civilians, including critically ill children, were forced to leave the medical facility under threat of physical violence; in Slavyansk, Donetsk Peoples Republic, neo-Nazi Ukrainian armed formations have mined a railway bridge of Slavyansk-Kramatorsk branch and a road bridge across Sukhoy Torets river, which they plan to blow up, accusing allegedly advancing units of Russian troops of doing this; in Zaporozhye, the administration, hiding the true purpose of using citizens as human shield, banned the evacuation of civilians under the pretext of security. Any attempts by residents to leave the city in private cars and on foot are harshly suppressed by militants of the territorial defence battalions at checkpoints. Civilians who show the slightest resistance are physically abused, vehicles are seized and people are sent back on foot. The number of daily violations by the Kiev regime of the norms and principles of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions in terms of the prohibition of placing heavy weapons in residential areas, using civilians as human shield and civilian infrastructure for military purposes, indicates the absolutely conscious use of inhumane battle tactics by Ukrainian neo-Nazis. We recall that because of the same radical approaches of Nazi Germany towards civilians, the leadership of the world community developed and documented most of the norms and principles of international humanitarian law after the end of World War II, which are still in force today. We call on the countries of the so-called collective West, which unconditionally support the Kiev regime, to stop turning a blind eye to these flagrant facts and condemn the war crimes of the Kiev authorities against their own people. In addition, the Odessa regional administration has banned satellite TV providers broadcasting Russian and Moldovan TV channels in order to restrict the information space and deny people access to an alternative view of the situation around the special military operation. Residents of flats and private households are forced to dismantle existing satellite equipment, and anyone who fails to do so is accused of being pro-Russian without evidence, and their computers, tablets and smartphones are confiscated. Citizens are taken to an unknown destination, and their fate is not known to their relatives. Such criminal actions by the Kiev authorities are aimed at concealing from the citizens of Ukraine the current catastrophic situation in the country, caused by the destructive policy of official Kiev, and show a complete indifference to the fate of millions of Ukrainians. Despite all the difficulties and obstacles posed by Kiev, over the past 24 hours, without the involvement of the Ukrainian authorities, 19,834 people, including 970 children, have been evacuated from dangerous areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics and Ukraine to the Russian Federation. Since the beginning of the special military operation, a total of 1,185,971 people have been evacuated, including 206,610 children. The state border of the Russian Federation was crossed by 152,989 personal vehicles including 2,018 per day. More than 9,500 temporary accommodation centres continue to operate in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and are fully equipped with recreational facilities and hot meals. 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 day, the hotline of the Interdepartmental Coordination Headquarters of the Russian Federation for Humanitarian Response, the federal executive authorities, the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and various civil society organizations received 149 appeals from Ukrainian citizens with requests to evacuate to Russia, the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics and to areas controlled by the Russian armed forces in Zaporozhye, Nikolaev, Kharkov and Kherson regions, a total of 2,755,112 such appeals in the database from 2,135 settlements. 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 Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation, Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography, 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, Federal Agency for Youth Affairs; republics of Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Karelia, Crimea, Tatarstan, Altai, Trans-Baikal, Krasnodar and Primorsky Territories, Arkhangelsk, Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, Moscow, Rostov, Tula and Chelyabinsk regions and Moscow city; 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 Russian Humanitarian Mission, the Russian Union of Russian Women, the Almaz-Antey Military Defence Concern, and interregional public organisation Federation of Military Tactical Games. More than 23,000 tonnes of basic necessities and food kits, including baby food and life-saving medicines, have been prepared at collection points. In the liberated territories, the Russian Armed Forces and military units of the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics are creating all the necessary conditions for a peaceful and safe life, providing the population with comprehensive assistance, including unimpeded access to any humanitarian aid. Since March 2, 18,530.6 tons of humanitarian cargo have already been delivered to Ukraine, 962 humanitarian actions have been carried out, including 2 actions in Kharkov and Kherson regions, as well as in Donetsk Peoples Republic, during which 983 tons of basic necessities, medicines and food were transferred to the civilian population of the liberated areas. On May 8, 5 humanitarian actions have been planned and are currently being carried out in Kherson region, in Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics, during which 233 tons of basic necessities, medicine and food will be distributed. WtR 1. Peacekeeping forces in Transnistria control the situation in the Security Zone, said Oleg Belyakov, co-chairman of the Joint Control Commission. 2. Three terrorist attacks were recorded during the day: the building of the Ministry of State Security of the PMR in the city of Tiraspol, the military unit near the village of Parkany and the towers of the radio and television center near the village of Mayak were damaged. 3. A decision was made to introduce a red level of terrorist threat in the country. The red level of terrorist danger is set for 15 days. 4. The Victory Parade on May 9 in Transnistria has been cancelled. The flower-laying ceremony will take place. 5. City educational institutions will work remotely until the end of the academic year. 6. The queue at the border due to the enhanced regime of document verification. People calmly cross the border. 7. Checkpoints will be set up at the entrance to the cities of Transnistria. Inspection of vehicles and citizens during the daytime will be selective, at night control measures will affect everyone entering the settlement. The power structures have been transferred to an enhanced mode of service. 8. Criminal cases have been initiated on the fact of the shelling of the building of the Ministry of State Security. Now establish all the circumstances and the perpetrators. A number of special examinations have been appointed. WtR Military parade was held on Red Square in Moscow to commemorate the 77th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 11,000 servicemen took part in the military parade. This years foot column is made up of 33 parade units. It consists of officers, sergeants and soldiers of formations and military units, students and cadets of military educational institutions, pupils of Suvorov and Nakhimov military schools, cadet corps and participants of the All-Russian Yunarmiya movement, as well as representatives of other security agencies of the Federal Security Service, the National Guard Service and the All-Russian Cossack Society. The parade unit of female military personnel is represented by representatives of 6 military educational institutions of the Russian Ministry of Defence: the Military University, the Military Signal Academy, a branch of the Military CSS Academy, the Military Space Academy, the Military Academy of Aerospace Defence and, for the first time, the Academy of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection. The mechanized column included 131 units of modern military equipment, as well as historical equipment represented by the legendary T-34-85 tank, which opened the passage of the mechanized column. The range of tanks is represented by T-72B3M, T-90M Proryv and the T-14 tank. The mechanized column also includes high-security armoured vehicles of the Typhoon family with various combat modules. Combat vehicles for motorized rifle units are represented by modern BMP-3 (IFV) and BMP-2 (IFV) with Berezhok combat module and promising BMP (IFV) Kurganets-25. Iskander-M operational-tactical missile system, Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system, MSTA-S self-propelled howitzer represent weapons of the missile troops and artillery. Modern medium-and short-range anti-aircraft missile systems Buk-M3 and Tor-M2 present weapons of the army air defence of the Land Forces. S-400 anti-aircraft missile system represents the air defence systems of the Aerospace Forces. The armament of the Airborne Troops is represented by BMD-4M and BTR-MDM Rakushka airborne assault vehicles. The 106th Guards Airborne Division parade unit on Rakushka armoured personnel carriers includes participants of the special military operation to liberate the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics. The mechanized column also includes launchers of Yars missile system, BTR-82A armoured personnel carriers, including promising wheeled armoured personnel carrier on the Boomerang platform In the evening at 22.00, artillery fireworks will take place in Moscow. #VictoryDay @mod_russia_Enjoy WtR Tommy Perez En espanol With soaring prices, supply shortages and growing wait lists for most goods and services not to mention a virus that continues to disrupt the workforce its tough to be a consumer right now, including a health care consumer. Back in September, the AARP Bulletin published a package of stories called Beat the System that detailed how to get the best possible customer service. Readers told us they found the advice collection hugely helpful. So in that spirit, were back with a new edition of Beat the System, this time focusing on how to find the health experts and health services you need in these challenging times. Our team of reporters interviewed dozens of insiders about how to separate the best from the rest, and their advice follows. But the experts also noted that certain approaches are timeless and universal meaning they still apply right now. So to start, here are the universal rules for finding the best in health care (and anything, really), 2022 style. Rule 1: Take appropriate time Yes, when competition is hot, you want to be flexible and move quickly when quality products or services come available. Even so, big decisions shouldnt be fast decisions, says Terrance Odean, a professor at the University of California, Berkeleys Haas School of Business and an expert in behavioral finance. Do the due diligence required and take the time to verify you are getting a real deal. And absolutely no decisions at 3 a.m., he says. Rule 2: Research is free Take advantage of the vast amount of free information available on the internet, social media and beyond to investigate the experts or services you are interested in. Start with price and reputation, of course, then get into the weeds, like efficiency ratings, certifications and areas of expertise. But put little stock in user ratings. Online reviews are increasingly bought, and theres no way to verify their authenticity. If you wish to scan, look for specific anecdotes and a personal writing style that a paid reviewer (or computer program) couldnt generate. Rule 3: Set priorities Great decision-making lies in the art of filtering. That requires knowing what features or skills are most important to you; use that to pare down your choices, says Katy Milkman, author of How to Change: The Science of Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. Rule 4: Pretend youre making a mistake Many of us are overconfident about how a choice will turn out, Milkman says. For a reality check, she suggests envisioning what could go wrong with your choice. Better to think about this now rather than later in order to help you prepare for and possibly prevent things that could go awry. Rule 5: Involve other humans A productive half hour on the internet can make you feel smart. Perhaps too smart. The golden rule: Always find a responsible friend, family member or adviser preferably someone who is as good or even better at decisions as you, says Odean and get into the habit of asking for his or her feedback before making a big decision. Finding the best hospital Theres no way to sugarcoat it: Our hospitals are in crisis. Yes, many have responded to COVID by upgrading their ventilation systems and adding new protocols that may reduce the risk of airborne illnesses, but that cant overcome the human cost: Eighty-seven percent of nurses surveyed recently reported they were burned out, and last September the American Nurses Association sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services urging the government to declare the current nursing shortage a national crisis. We dont always get to choose which hospital were treated in, but when we do, its more important than ever to match up our particular needs with a facility thats set up to manage them. Read the right rankings. Numerous organizations rank hospitals, but a 2019 report in the New England Journal of Medicine rated the raters and deemed U.S. News & World Report its top choice. Next in line was the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services star ratings program. Apply the insurance filter. Once you know the best hospitals in your area, check with your insurance provider to make sure it covers services within that facility (if youre a Medicare Advantage patient, confirm that the facility falls within your plans umbrella). Know your options in advance. Just like doctors, hospitals offer different specialties. Some have psychiatric services, others have specialties in bone health, oncology, drug abuse treatment, etc. An overwhelmed hospital might struggle to manage a problem thats outside its expertise, so become familiar with the options in your area. If that broken arm is a result of osteoporosis, it may make sense to travel a bit farther to a hospital with a bone center. If its a grandchild who took a spill, make sure you know which hospital has a pediatric ER. Going online and seeing what services they have available is really helpful in terms of some of the subspecialty services, says Marianne Gausche-Hill, M.D., president of the American Board of Emergency Medicine. Check for a GEDA. That stands for Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation, and it means the hospital has an ER that meets a higher standard of care for older Americans, according to a set of criteria established by the American College of Emergency Physicians. And check the H-caps. Each year, more than 3 million patients from more than 4,000 hospitals complete an HCAHPS (pronounced H-caps) hospital survey on everything from cleanliness to the responsiveness of the staff. Go to the Medicare website and conduct a search to see how hospitals scored. Check accreditation status. Make sure your hospital is accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The largest is the Joint Commission, a nonprofit that accredits more than 22,000 U.S. health care organizations and programs that meet its quality and care standards. Not all hospitals are accredited and some may be on probation so its an important indicator of quality, Gausche-Hill says. Visit qualitycheck.org to see if your hospital has met the Joint Commission standards, or call the hospital to verify its status with other accreditation agencies. Finding the best surgeon Someone is going to reach an instrument, or maybe even their hands, into your body. In a recent poll, 69 percent of surgeons say they feel overwhelmed, so having someone whos experienced and cool under pressure is paramount. Before signing up for any surgery, take these steps: Get the hard numbers. Go to the American College of Surgeons NSQIP Surgical Risk Calculator. Youll be able to plug in your age, sex, weight, chronic and acute health issues, and other prevailing factors, and get a no-nonsense statistical assessment of the surgerys possible downsides and chances of success for someone who fits your physical profile. This is great information to have as you start your research journey. Research your condition. You cant easily assess a surgeon if you dont have some grasp of the ailment or injury they are trying to remedy. So start by conducting research on reputable sites (think cancer.org, run by the American Cancer Society, or orthoinfo.org, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons site). Remember, disinformation is rampant on the web, so look at a few different sites, focusing on those representing accredited medical institutions or government agencies, not just individual doctors or media companies. Armed with a reasonable knowledge of the ailment and the surgery, you can ask more specific questions and understand the answers, says Mark Glover, M.D., a general surgeon with Austin Surgeons in Austin, Texas. Assemble the candidates. Your primary care physician is the best source for a referral, but dont just stop with her or his recommendations. Search your insurance providers website for a list of surgeons it covers and consider them, too. STATE OF NEW MEXICO COUNTY OF ROOSEVELT NINTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT No. D-911-CV-2019-00219 CITIZENS BANK, N.A., Plaintiff, vs. SHARON LOGEMANN a/k/a SHARON M. LOGEMANN, STATE OF NEW MEXICO TAXATION AND REVENUE DEPARTMENT, Defendants. NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 12, 2022, at the hour of 11:30 a.m., the undersigned Special Master will, at the main entrance of the Roosevelt County Courthouse, 109 W. 1st. St., Portales, New Mexico, sell all the right, title and interest of the above-named Defendants in and to the hereinafter described real estate to the highest bidder for cash. The property to be sold is located at 1317 South Avenue G, Portales, and is situate in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and is particularly described as follows: LOT FIVE (5), MCCASLAND SUBDIVISION OF BLOCK THREE (3), LEACH TOWNSITE, CITY OF PORTALES, ROOSEVELT COUNTY, NEW MEXICO, ACCORDING TO THE OFFICIAL RECORDED PLAT THEREOF. THE FOREGOING SALE will be made to satisfy a judgment rendered by the above Court in the above entitled and numbered cause on March 29, 2022, being an action to foreclose a mortgage on the above described property. The Plaintiffs Judgment, which includes interest and costs, is $101,968.17 and the same bears interest at 3.2500% per annum from December 23, 2021, to the date of sale. The Plaintiff and/or its assignees has the right to bid at such sale and submit its bid verbally or in writing. The Plaintiff may apply all or any part of its judgment to the purchase price in lieu of cash. The sale may be postponed and rescheduled at the discretion of the Special Master. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the real property and improvements concerned with herein will be sold subject to any and all patent reservations, easements, all recorded and unrecorded liens not foreclosed herein, and all recorded and unrecorded special assessments and taxes that may be due. Plaintiff and its attorneys disclaim all responsibility for, and the purchaser at the sale takes the property subject to, the valuation of the property by the County Assessor as real or personal property, affixture of any mobile or manufactured home to the land, deactivation of title to a mobile or manufactured home on the property, if any, environmental contamination on the property, if any, and zoning violations concerning the property, if any. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the purchaser at such sale shall take title to the above described real property subject to a one month right of redemption. Electronically filed /s/ Wesley Pool Wesley Pool, Special Master Pool Law Firm, P.C. 201 Innsdale Terrace Clovis, NM 88101-3061 575-762-8300 Journal: April 18, 25, May 2, 9, 2022 A new leader will be named to run the Museum of International Folk Art (MOIFA) in Santa Fe. On Monday, Khristaan Villela, MOIFA executive director was appointed as the Associated Director for Dissemination and External Affairs at the Getty Research Institute in Los Angeles. Kara Olidge was appointed as Associate Director for Collections and Discovery. I am so happy to welcome our new Associate Directors to the Getty Research Institute, says Mary Miller, director of the Getty Research Institute, in a press release. The GRI aspires to support and develop new knowledge based in the visual record and in the rich library collections of the Getty and Im convinced that this knowledge can transform our understanding of both the modern and pre-modern world. With Kara and Khristaan coming on board, I am confident that we will keep moving forward, embracing the history of the worlds art and visual culture in the broadest sense. Villela will oversee the Dissemination and External Affairs, newly reorganized to comprise exhibitions, digital media and content strategy, public programming, development, communications, and publications. The GRI is a leader in the preservation, creation, and dissemination of the knowledge about the worlds visual culture, Villela said in a press release. I look forward to working together with the GRI team to unify the voices of the scholarship, exhibitions, library, publications, and public programs at the Institute and to increase awareness of them among audiences in Los Angeles, elsewhere in the U.S., and globally. Villela has been with MOIFA since 2016. He is also the chair of Arts and Sciences for the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs, where he oversees multiple state museums. His salary is currently $112,531.64, according to the Sunshine Portal. According to the GRI, Villela will take his post at the beginning of summer. Nearly 40 law enforcement officials, tribal leaders, social workers and survivors of violence have been named to a federal commission tasked with helping improve how the government addresses a decadeslong crisis of missing and murdered Native Americans and Alaska Natives, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland announced Thursday. The committees creation means that for the first time, the voices guiding the Interior and Justice departments in the effort will include people most affected by the epidemic, said Haaland, the first Native American to be the leader of a Cabinet department. She said the panel includes members with diverse experiences and backgrounds, representing communities from Alaska and Washington to Arizona, Oklahoma and Michigan. It will craft recommendations on how the government can better tackle a disproportionately high number of unsolved cases in which Native Americans and Alaska Natives have disappeared or been killed. It will take a focused effort and time to unravel the many threads that contribute to the alarming rates of these cases, Haaland said during a virtual event. Some members of Congress have expressed concern that work to address the crisis as required under the law isnt on track. In the case of appointing members to the commission, federal officials are more than a year behind schedule. The Not Invisible Act, signed into law in October 2020, required that the commission be named by February 2021 and that findings be made public last month. Another law signed around the same time directed the U.S. Attorney Generals Office to find ways to increase cooperation among law enforcement agencies, provide tribes resources and address data collection. Savannas Act was named for 22-year-old Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who went missing while pregnant in 2017 before her body was found in a North Dakota River. U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, who faces a tough reelection campaign; Jon Tester of Montana; and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the vice-chair of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, outlined their concerns in a letter earlier this week. Both of these laws outlined specific time frames and deadlines for implementation; however, it is unclear which provisions have been undertaken, and it appears that almost every deadline has been missed, the lawmakers wrote. Deputy U.S. Attorney General Lisa Monaco said Thursday the naming of the commission marks a major milestone that follows ongoing work by a separate steering committee to marshal more federal resources to address the problem. She also announced the creation of a new position within the executive office of U.S. attorneys that will be responsible for working with victims and families to ensure they have a voice while navigating the criminal justice system. Federal officials also plugged work being done by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which now has 17 offices across the country that have at least one agent dedicated to solving casing involving missing or slain Native Americans. As for the 37-member commission, its mission includes tracking and reporting data on missing-person, homicide and human trafficking cases and increasing information sharing with tribal governments on violent crimes investigations and other prosecutions on Indian lands. The commission is expected to hold hearings and gather testimony before making recommendations to the Interior and Justice departments to improve coordination among agencies and to establish best practices for state, tribal and federal law enforcement. The panel also is tasked with boosting resources for survivors and victims families. Meanwhile, some communities already have created their own response plans to address the problem. In New Mexico, officials on Thursday rolled out the states plan, highlighting goals that include building more support services for survivors and families, doing more outreach on education and prevention and leveraging resources for tribal judicial systems. Fawn Sharp, president of the tribal advocacy group National Congress of American Indians, said during Thursdays virtual event that although funding for law enforcement in Indian Country has increased in recent years, it doesnt come close to meeting the needs. She pointed to research showing that failure to provide funding undermined the ability to provide adequate public safety in tribal communities. Having the authority to hold perpetrators accountable is an important first step, but tribal nations cannot follow through to hold bad actors accountable without adequate and consistent funding for tribal justice systems, she said. Other advocates said they were hopeful the federal commissions recommendations will cover the need for safe housing for victims of domestic violence and other social services and health care that could help prevent violence. WHY ARE TENTS ALLOWED ALONG THE HIGHWAYS? As the homeless population has exploded in the Albuquerque metro area, readers have been asking why tents are allowed in the highway right of way. That includes the tents, shopping carts and debris along the fences at the Interstate 40 and Coors interchange, and those precariously balanced along I-40 outside the Winrock Town Center fence. Such encampments are illegal, but there are so many the New Mexico Department of Transportation says it has to prioritize which ones to remove first, as well as go far outside the highway mission and try to get the unhoused help and tackle cleaning up the area once the campers have left. District Three Engineer Justin Gibson says in short, encampments on NMDOT property are not allowed. The camps that currently exist are a result of the current socioeconomic condition and are addressed as soon as practical by NMDOT and partnering agencies. But the complex problem of homelessness deserves his longer explanation. As you know, NMDOT is responsible for the operation and maintenance of our interstates, national highways and New Mexico state routes to include road and bridge infrastructure and associated NMDOT transportation network, and our mission is not one of being a human services resource agency, Gibson says. Encampments are a new and steadily increasing challenge for NMDOT. Encampments within the NMDOT right of way, especially along our interstate systems, are prohibited as this federal property under the purview of NMDOT and the Federal Highway Administration as part of the USDOT is access controlled, meaning access to and from the interstate is strictly controlled to ensure mobility of vehicular traffic including freight, commuters and local traffic. HOW THEY ARE REMOVED: Gibson says NMDOT, along with other partnering agencies, has a process in place to work to remove encampments within the right of way, but as you can see the resource of our staff conducting this process is heavily outweighed by the number of camps. On a daily basis NMDOT District Three receives calls about camps within NMDOT right of way, which are prioritized to a schedule to be given notice to be vacated. NMDOT District Three works in collaboration with multiple agencies to address the encampments of unsheltered individuals along I-40 and I-25, which includes the clean-up of abandoned trash and debris. District Threes main concerns are for the safety of the unsheltered individuals, the traveling public and the safety/condition of our state and national infrastructure. HOW THEY ARE PREVENTED: As for stopping the camping before it starts, Gibson says District Three has placed no trespassing signs in a number of NMDOTs right of way facilities in an attempt to advise individuals it is not safe to be in these areas. NMDOT will also be providing individuals booklets for resources available to them in the Albuquerque area. Our intent is we can educate the unsheltered community about the rules of our right of way and deter future instances of illegal encampments. The main number to NMDOT District Three is (505) 934-0354. I-40 WORK STARTS TODAY: Mike called to report I-40 is in rough condition coming into town from Tijeras, and signs have been announcing upcoming work. So what is it? Kim Gallegos with NMDOT District Three says beginning today, May 9, crews will work from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on an $8.1 million roadway rehabilitation project from Tijeras to Carnuel basically a total repave of the interstate. Two lanes of traffic will remain open both eastbound and westbound, and the project is expected to tun through January 2023. Check out nmroads.com for updates. Editorial page editor DVal Westphal tackles commuter issues for the metro area on Mondays. Reach her at 823-3858; dwestphal@abqjournal.com; or 7777 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109. PHOENIX The largest nuclear power plant in the U.S. is still looking for an alternative water source after scuttling plans to pump brackish groundwater west of Phoenix it first pursued in 2019. The Palo Verde Generating Station is the only nuclear plant in the world not adjacent to a large body of water to cool the plant. Instead, it uses reclaimed water piped more than 35 miles across the desert. That water is getting more expensive, and to keep the plant economical, Arizona Public Service Co. is exploring ways to use it wiser, including a test project with Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this summer, the Arizona Republic reported. The plant uses about 65 million gallons of treated wastewater every day more than 23 billion gallons a year to generate electricity. The contract with cities to sell the plant the treated wastewater runs through 2050 and gets more expensive after 2025. Thats just a fact of what is in our water contracts and it is important to us to look for ways to operate more cost-effectively, said Brad Berles, general manager of Palo Verde water resources. The water from the 91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant cost $53 an acre-foot in 2010. It will cost $300 an acre-foot in 2025. Starting in 2026, water rates will be set using a tiered formula, rising with water use. One acre-foot is approximately 326,000 gallons, or enough water to supply three single-family households in Phoenix for a year. APS is working with Sandia on a dry-cooling pilot project to be built at the New Mexico laboratory. Nuclear fuel is used to heat water in the plant and make steam. After steam from the plant spins a turbine and makes electricity, it is sent to large cooling towers outside the plant where much of it evaporates away. The Sandia project will study cooling the water before it goes to those towers. If we send cooler water to the towers we can reduce what we evaporate off, Berles said. Cooling the water with fans or other mechanisms would of course use energy. The point of the research is to determine whether the cost of the equipment and energy to run it would save money by reducing water use. Its a balance just like everything we look at, Berles said. Youve got to evaluate the pros and cons of it. Testing should begin in May or June, and gather data for four to six months. We are probably multiple years out from when we would do anything at the plant, he said. Another option APS is reviewing is adding another water-treatment facility to the nuclear plant. The wastewater that Palo Verde receives is treated before its used at the plant. Water is usually cycled through the plant and cooling towers about 25 times before it becomes too saline for another use. Once the chemistry of the water makes it unusable in the plant, it is pumped to massive evaporation ponds on the property where it simply dries up. APS is evaluating whether it would be cost-effective to treat the water again, after its used in the plant, to extend its useful life. There are different technologies that exist currently and new technologies being pursued by vendors in the water industry, Berles said. Theres a lot of ideas that people have out there. Editors note: The fire grew by 13,000 acres overnight and is now at 190,000 acres or 296 square miles. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal The northern reaches of the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire by Sunday evening had jumped east of N.M. 518 as the wildfire began a rapid march toward homes in and around the communities of Holman, Chacon and Guadalupita. Authorities pleaded with residents there to evacuate while they still can. Law enforcement and fire officials said the terrain, dry timber and howling, unrelenting winds are posing a dangerous situation for residents who have ignored evacuation orders. I cannot stress this enough. There is a lot of people up there. It is time to leave, Dave Bales, the incident commander, said during a fire briefing. We want you here to be able to work together as a community after this things over. If you dont leave you might not be here for that. Mora County Undersheriff Americk Padilla said the sheriffs office and State Police officers were making, in some cases, their third trip to evacuation areas and urging folks to leave. It gets a little frustrating, Padilla said. At the southern edge of the fire southwest of Las Vegas, New Mexico, crews were working to save structures in the nearby neighborhoods, said Todd Abel, an operations section chief. He said the fire has been active in the Mineral Hills area but crews were working to develop containment lines to stop the fire if it continued to journey south. If this fire continues to come down, we have those places that we can make a stand, he said. Dan Pearson, a fire behavior analyst, said the blaze was likely to continue moving south toward Barrillas Peak through Sunday night. He said he expected it to be close to San Geronimo by late Monday afternoon. Its really moving, and its moving fast, said San Miguel County Sheriff Chris Lopez. He noted that Romeroville west is on set status, meaning that those residents should be ready to leave at a moments notice. Fire officials on Sunday did report improved containment along the eastern edge of the fire near Las Vegas, New Mexico, and to the north. The biggest wildfire in the country by Sunday evening had swelled to 176,273 acres or about 275 square miles and was 43% contained, up from 21% contained Saturday evening. The fire has destroyed at least 170 homes and thousands of homes are within evacuation zones. Nearly 1,700 personnel are battling the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak Fire. Bales said crews worked tirelessly to try to keep the blaze west of N.M. 518 but the fire jumped the highway and has established itself in canyons and drainages that cant be accessed by firefighters. Bladen Breitreiter, the incident meteorologist, said Sunday that the north central part of New Mexico where the fire is raging is in the middle of a 59-hour red flag warning that started at 11 a.m. Saturday and will last until 9 p.m. Monday. Winds were stronger than 50 miles per hour at times on Sunday. Breitreiter noted a gust of 59 mph at the Las Vegas, New Mexico, airport. Were in it. Were in the middle of it, Bales said. This is what weve been talking about. Fire season in New Mexico has gotten off to a frenzied start and the Calf Canyon/Hermits Peak fire is just one of several large infernos in the state. The Cerro Pelado Fire, burning in the Jemez mountains, has grown to 37,425 acres and is 11% contained. Employees at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Los Alamos County residents were told Sunday to prepare for a possible evacuation. If you dont have to be at work, its time to prepare to telework, LANL Director Thom Mason said in a statement. Conditions can change quickly, it has been very dry, very windy, and we have to be respectful of that risk and ready for what comes next. Fire officials on Sunday said that crews are working to try to keep the fire south of N.M. 4. Firefighters were working Sunday to put out spot fires on the east side of Forest Road 289. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A political committee created by an Albuquerque city councilor and a former state Public Regulation Commission member is emerging as a player in New Mexico primary election races. The group called Working Together New Mexico PAC will report Monday spending about $57,000 during a recent four-week period, primarily on mailers targeting Democrats in two primary races the attorney general contest and a race for a northern New Mexico-based state House seat, according to information provided to the Journal. The political committee raised $65,500 during that time period, with $50,000 of that amount coming from a Texas-based political committee called New Mexico Strong that got its funding from oil giant Chevron. Contributions were also made by Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima, lobbyist Vanessa Alarid,Albuquerque City Councilor Louie Sanchez and former PRC commissioner Karen Montoya. The Working Together New Mexico PAC was established this year by Sanchez and Montoya and is focused on trying to elect commonsense Democrats to seven state House seats, two Bernalillo County Commission seats and two statewide offices: attorney general and state auditor. As proud Democrats, we founded Working Together New Mexico to elect candidates who will support the private sector, attack crime to keep our children and families safe and put our people first by moving to the middle for bipartisan results, Sanchez and Montoya told the Journal in a joint statement. The fledgling groups financial flex comes after progressive Democrats ousted more conservative Democratic incumbents in several 2020 legislative primary races. Moderates are attempting to turn the tables this year, targeting progressive incumbents in four House districts. One of the races the Working Together New Mexico PAC is targeting is the House District 40 seat currently held by Rep. Roger Montoya, D-Velarde. Montoya is facing a primary election challenge from fellow Democrat Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde, who previously held the seat but relinquished it in 2020 to launch an ultimately unsuccessful bid for Congress. A recent mailer sent by the political committee highlights Montoyas appearance in adult films several decades ago. That prompted Montoya to describe the PAC as despicable to the Santa Fe New Mexican, while also accusing the group of bullying. Meanwhile, the Working Together New Mexico PAC has also sent out mailers supporting the attorney general campaign of Brian Colon, said the groups executive director James Hallinan. Colon, who is currently state auditor, is vying against Bernalillo County District Attorney Raul Torrez for the Democratic nomination in the race to be New Mexicos next top prosecutor. The Working Together New Mexico PAC is registered as an independent expenditure committee, meaning it can accept campaign contributions in excess of the states contribution limits but cannot coordinate directly with candidates or fund their campaigns. Several candidates have already sought to distance themselves from the group, with House District 26 candidate Cherise Quezada of Albuquerque denouncing the PAC last month and saying she would stand up for labor unions and womens access to abortion. In addition, several progressive Democratic candidates asked Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver last month to investigate why Working Together New Mexico PAC did not file a campaign finance report in advance of a previous reporting deadline. But Hallinan said the group did not have to previously file because it did not meet a spending threshold that triggers mandatory reporting. All candidates and political committees who eclipse the threshold must file new campaign finance reports by Monday with the Secretary of States office. The primary election will take place June 7, with absentee voting set to begin Tuesday. ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his countrys biggest patriotic holiday Monday without a major new battlefield success in Ukraine to boast of, as the war ground on through its 11th week with the Kremlins forces making little or no progress in their offensive. The Russian leader oversaw a Victory Day parade on Moscows Red Square, watching as troops marched in formation and military hardware rolled past in a celebration of the Soviet Unions role in the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. While Western analysts in recent weeks had widely expected Putin to use the holiday to trumpet some kind of victory in Ukraine or announce an escalation, he did neither. Instead, he sought to justify the war again as a necessary response to what he portrayed as a hostile Ukraine. The danger was rising by the day, Putin said. Russia has given a preemptive response to aggression. It was forced, timely and the only correct decision. He steered clear of battlefield specifics, failing to mention the potentially pivotal battle for the vital southern port of Mariupol and not even uttering the word Ukraine. On the ground, meanwhile, intense fighting raged in Ukraines east, the vital Black Sea port of Odesa in the south came under repeated missile attack, and Russian forces sought to finish off the Ukrainian defenders making their last stand at a steel plant in Mariupol. Putin has long bristled at NATOs creep eastward into former Soviet republics. Ukraine and its Western allies have denied the country posed any threat. As he has done all along, Putin falsely portrayed the fighting as a battle against Nazism, thereby linking the war to what many Russians consider their finest hour: the triumph over Hitler. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what Russia refers to as the Great Patriotic War. After unexpectedly fierce resistance forced the Kremlin to abandon its effort to storm Kyiv over a month ago, Moscows forces have concentrated on capturing the Donbas, Ukraines eastern industrial region. But the fighting there has been a back-and-forth, village-by-village slog, and many analysts had suggested Putin might use his holiday speech to present the Russian people with a victory amid discontent over the countrys heavy casualties and the punishing effects of Western sanctions. Others suggested he might declare the fighting a war, not just a special military operation, and order a nationwide mobilization, with a call-up of reserves, to replenish the depleted ranks for an extended conflict. In the end, he gave no signal as to where the war is headed or how he might intend to salvage it. Specifically, he left unanswered the question of whether or how Russia will marshal more forces for a continuing war. Without concrete steps to build a new force, Russia cant fight a long war, and the clock starts ticking on the failure of their army in Ukraine, tweeted Phillips P. OBrien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Nigel Gould Davies, former British ambassador to Belarus, said: Russia has not won this war. Its starting to lose it. He said that unless Russia has a major breakthrough, the balance of advantages will shift steadily in favor of Ukraine, especially as Ukraine gets access to growing volumes of increasingly sophisticated Western military equipment. Despite Russias crackdown on dissent, antiwar sentiment has seeped through. Dozens of protesters were detained around the country on Victory Day, and editors at a pro-Kremlin media outlet revolted by briefly publishing a few dozen stories criticizing Putin and the invasion. In Warsaw, antiwar protesters splattered Russias ambassador to Poland with what appeared to be red paint as he arrived at a cemetery to pay respects to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. As Putin laid a wreath in Moscow, air raid sirens echoed again in the Ukrainian capital. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared in his own Victory Day address that his country would eventually defeat the Russians. Very soon there will be two Victory Days in Ukraine, he said in a video. He added: We are fighting for freedom, for our children, and therefore we will win. A Zelenskyy adviser interpreted Putins speech as indicating that Russia has no interest in escalating the war through the use of nuclear weapons or direct engagement with NATO. Speaking late Monday in an online interview, Oleksiy Arestovych pointed to Putins statement that Russia would honor the memory of those who fought in World War II by doing everything so that the horror of a global war does not happen again. Instead, he predicted Russia would make a sluggish attempt to take control of the Donbas, including Mariupol, and a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014. Arestovych said Russia would drag out the war while bleeding the Ukrainian economy with the aim of getting Ukraine to agree to give up that territory. Russia has about 97 battalion tactical groups in Ukraine, largely in the east and the south, a slight increase over last week, according to a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the Pentagons assessment. Each unit has roughly 1,000 troops, according to the Pentagon. The official said that overall, the Russian effort in the Donbas hasnt achieved any significant progress in recent days and continues to face stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian military warned of a high probability of missile strikes around the holiday, and some cities imposed curfews or warned people not to gather in public places. More than 60 people were feared dead over the weekend after Russian bombardment flattened a Ukrainian school being used as a shelter in the eastern village of Bilohorivka, Ukrainian officials said. Russia is perhaps closest to a victory in Mariupol. The U.S. official said roughly 2,000 Russian forces were around Mariupol, and the city was being pounded by airstrikes. As many as 2,000 Ukrainian defenders were believed to be holding out at the steel plant, the citys last stronghold of resistance. The fall of Mariupol would also deprive Ukraine of a vital port, free up troops to fight elsewhere in the Donbas and give the Kremlin a badly needed success. Odesa, too, has increasingly been bombarded in recent days. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces fired seven missiles from the air at Odesa on Monday night, hitting a shopping center and a warehouse. One person was killed and five were wounded, the military said. The war in the country long known as the breadbasket of Europe has disrupted global food supplies. I saw silos full of grain, wheat and corn ready for export, Charles Michel, president of the European Council, lamented in a tweet after a visit to Odesa. This badly needed food is stranded because of the Russian war and blockade of Black sea ports. Causing dramatic consequences for vulnerable countries. ___ Gambrell reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Bakhmut, David Keyton in Kyiv, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, and AP staff around the world contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine MOSCOW Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday sought to cast Moscows military action in Ukraine as a forced response to Western policies and a necessary move to ward off a potential aggression. Speaking at a military parade on Red Square marking the World War II victory over the Nazis, Putin drew parallels between the Red Armys fighting against the Nazi troops and the Russian forces action in Ukraine. While lambasting the West, Putin gave no indication of a shift in strategies or made any indication that he was going to declare a broad mobilization, as some in Ukraine and the West have feared. Addressing the phalanxes of elite Russian troops filling Red Square, Putin said the campaign in Ukraine was a necessary move to avert what he described as a threat that was absolutely unacceptable to us (that) has been methodically created next to our borders. The danger was rising by the day, he claimed, adding that Russia has given a preemptive response to an aggression in what he described as a forced, timely and the only correct decision by a sovereign, powerful and independent country. The Russian leader has repeatedly accused Ukraine of harboring aggressive intentions, with support from the U.S. and its allies claims Ukrainian and Western officials have denied. In his speech at the parade, Putin again scolded the West for failing to heed Russian demands for security guarantees and a rollback to NATOs expansion, arguing that it left Moscow no other choice but to launch an action in Ukraine. The Russian leader emphasized that the Russian troops were fighting for the countrys security in Ukraine and called a minute of silence to honor the soldiers who fell in combat. Putin noted that some of the troops taking part in the parade previously have fought in Ukraine. He said that the troops in Ukraine have been fighting for the Motherland, so that no one will forget the lessons of World War II and there will be no place in the world for hangmen, executioners and the Nazis. The Victory Day that Russia marks on May 9 is the countrys most important holiday, celebrated with military parades and fireworks across the county. As part of celebrations later in the day, Putin also joined demonstrators who carried portraits of their relatives who fought in World War II in the so-called Immortal Regiment march, walking with a photo of his father who fought the Nazis in the siege of Leningrad. The Soviet Union lost a staggering 27 million people in World War II, which it calls the Great Patriotic War. The conflict, which devastated the country and caused enormous suffering, has left a deep scar in the national psyche. Some in Ukraine and the West expected Putin to use his speech at the parade to switch from describing the Russian action in Ukraine that the Russian officials have called the special military operation to calling it a war. Putin didnt make any such shift in rhetoric or give any indication that the Kremlin may change its strategy and declare a broad mobilization to beef up the ranks. The Kremlin has focused on Ukraines eastern industrial heartland known as the Donbas, where Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since 2014. That conflict erupted weeks after Russias annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. The Russian military has rearmed and resupplied its forces withdrawn from areas near Kyiv and other regions in Ukraines northeast and moved them to Donbas in an apparent attempt to encircle and destroy the most capable and seasoned Ukrainian troops concentrated there. PHOENIX With anti-immigrant rhetoric bubbling over in the leadup to this years critical midterm elections, about 1 in 3 U.S. adults believes an effort is underway to replace U.S.-born Americans with immigrants for electoral gains. About 3 in 10 also worry that more immigration is causing U.S.-born Americans to lose their economic, political and cultural influence, according to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to fear a loss of influence because of immigration, 36% to 27%. Those views mirror swelling anti-immigrant sentiment espoused on social media and cable TV, with conservative commentators like Tucker Carlson exploiting fears that new arrivals could undermine the native-born population. In their most extreme manifestation, those increasingly public views in the U.S. and Europe tap into a decades-old conspiracy theory known as the great replacement, a false claim that native-born populations are being overrun by nonwhite immigrants who are eroding, and eventually will erase, their culture and values. The once-taboo term became the mantra of one losing conservative candidate in the recent French presidential election. I very much believe that the Democrats from Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, all the way down want to get the illegal immigrants in here and give them voting rights immediately, said Sally Gansz, 80. Actually, only U.S. citizens can vote in state and federal elections, and attaining citizenship typically takes years. A white Republican, Gansz has lived her whole life in Trinidad, Colorado, where about half of the population of 8,300 identifies as Hispanic, most with roots going back centuries to the regions Spanish settlers. Isnt it obvious that I watch Fox? quipped Gansz, who said she watches the conservative channel almost daily, including the top-rated Fox News Channel program Tucker Carlson Tonight, a major proponent of those ideas. Demographic change is the key to the Democratic Partys political ambitions, Carlson said on the show last year. In order to win and maintain power, Democrats plan to change the population of the country. Those views arent held by a majority of Americans in fact, two-thirds feel the countrys diverse population makes the U.S. stronger, and far more favor than oppose a path to legal status for immigrants brought into the U.S. illegally as children. But the deep anxieties expressed by some Americans help explain how the issue energizes those opposed to immigration. I dont feel like immigration really affects me or that it undermines American values, said Daniel Valdes, 43, a registered Democrat who works in finance for an aeronautical firm on Floridas Space Coast. Im pretty indifferent about it all. Valdes maternal grandparents came to the U.S. from Mexico, and he said he has tons of relatives in the border city of El Paso, Texas. He has Puerto Rican roots on his fathers side. While Republicans worry more than Democrats about immigration, the most intense anxiety was among people with the greatest tendency for conspiratorial thinking. Thats defined as those most likely to agree with a series of statements, like much of peoples lives is being controlled by plots hatched in secret places and big events like wars, recessions, and the outcomes of elections are controlled by small groups of people who are working in secret against the rest of us. In all, 17% in the poll believe both that native-born Americans are losing influence because of the growing population of immigrants and that a group of people in the country is trying to replace native-born Americans with immigrants who agree with their political views. That number rises to 42% among the quarter of Americans most likely to embrace other conspiracy theories. Alex Hoxeng, 37, a white Republican from Midland, Texas, said he found those most extreme versions of the immigration conspiracies a bit far-fetched but does believe immigration could lessen the influence of U.S.-born Americans. I feel like if we are flooded with immigrants coming illegally, it can dilute our culture, Hoxeng said. Teresa Covarrubias, 62, rejects the idea that immigrants are undermining the values or culture of U.S.-born Americans or that they are being brought in to shore up the Democratic voter base. She is registered to vote but is not aligned with any party. Most of the immigrants I have seen have a good work ethic, they pay taxes and have a strong sense of family, said Covarrubias, a second grade teacher in Los Angeles whose four grandparents came to the U.S. from Mexico. They help our country. Republican leaders, including border governors Doug Ducey of Arizona and Greg Abbott of Texas who is running for reelection this year have increasingly decried what they call an invasion, with conservative politicians traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border to pose for photos alongside former President Donald Trumps border wall. Vulnerable Democratic senators up for election this year in Arizona, Georgia, New Hampshire and Nevada have joined many Republicans in calling on the Biden administration to wait on lifting the coronavirus-era public health rule known as Title 42 that denies migrants a chance to seek asylum. They fear it could draw more immigrants to the border than officials can handle. U.S. authorities stopped migrants more than 221,000 times at the Mexican border in March, a 22-year high, creating a fraught political landscape for Democrats as the Biden administration prepares to lift Title 42 authority May 23. The pandemic powers have been used to expel migrants more than 1.8 million times since it was invoked in March 2020 on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Newly arrived immigrants are barred from voting in federal elections because they arent citizens, and gaining citizenship is an arduous process that can take a decade or more if they are successful. In most cases, they must first obtain permanent residency, then wait five more years before they can apply for citizenship. Investigations have failed to turn up evidence of widespread voting by people who arent eligible, including by non-citizens. For example, a Georgia audit of its voter rolls completed this year found fewer than 2,000 instances of non-citizens attempting to register and vote over the last 25 years, none of which succeeded. Blake Masters, a candidate for Senate in Arizona, is among the Republicans running for office this year who have played into anxieties about a changing population. What the left really wants to do is change the demographics of this country, he said in a video recorded in October. They want to do that so they can consolidate power so they can never lose another election. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 4,173 adults was conducted Dec. 1-23, 2021, using a combined sample of interviews from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population, and interviews from opt-in online panels. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 1.96 percentage points. The AmeriSpeak panel is recruited randomly using address-based sampling methods, and respondents later were interviewed online or by phone. WARSAW, Poland Russias ambassador to Poland was splattered with red paint thrown at him by protesters opposed to the war in Ukraine, preventing him from paying respects on Monday at a Warsaw cemetery to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the attack, saying that we wont be scared while the people of Europe should be scared to see their reflection in a mirror. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau described the incident as highly deplorable. Diplomats enjoy special protection, regardless of the policies pursued by the governments that they represent, he said. Ambassador Sergey Andreev arrived at the Soviet soldiers cemetery to lay flowers on Victory Day, which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Allies. The major Russian patriotic holiday was celebrated with pomp in a parade at Red Square in Moscow. As he arrived at the Soviet Military Cemetery in the Polish capital, Andreev was met by hundreds of activists opposed to Russias war in Ukraine. Red paint was thrown from behind at him before a protester standing beside him threw a big blob of it in his face. The protesters carried Ukrainian flags and chanted fascists and murderers at him, while some were dressed in white sheets smeared with red, symbolizing the Ukrainian victims of Russias war. Other people in his entourage were also seen splattered with what appeared to be red paint. Zakharova said that admirers of the neo-Nazis have once again shown their face. She said that along with the removal of monuments to Soviet army World War II heroes, the attack reflected the course for the reincarnation of fascism. Some Russian commentators suggested that the attack on the ambassador could prompt Moscow to recall him and ask the Polish ambassador to leave Russia. The Polish government faced some criticism for not providing the ambassador with more security, allowing for an incident to occur that Russia could use to depict Poland as hostile to Moscow. Among the critics was a former interior minister, Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz, who said he couldnt understand why there wasnt more protection for the ambassador when for weeks you could feel how May 9 could end in Warsaw. Polands current interior minister, however, said Polands government opposed the ambassador against laying a wreath at the cemetery, and noted that police helped him to safely leave the scene. The ambassador had originally hoped to hold a Victory Day march in Warsaw, but national and city authorities opposed that and some viewed his appearance at the cemetery as provocative. The gathering of opponents of Russian aggression against Ukraine, where the crime of genocide takes place every day, was legal, Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski added. The emotions of Ukrainian women taking part in the demonstration, whose husbands are fighting bravely in defense of their homeland, are understandable. Protesters also marched in Warsaw on Sunday evening to protest the war, bringing a tank on a tractor and parking it in front of the Russian Embassy. Since the war began on Feb. 24, images of Ukrainian tractors hauling off Russian tanks have been symbols of Ukrainian resistance. The Soviet cemetery is set amid a vast park on the route linking the downtown to the international airport. It is the final resting place of more than 20,000 Red Army soldiers who perished on Polish soil fighting while helping to defeat Nazi Germany. While Poland has removed some monuments to the Red Army in the decades since it threw off Moscow-backed communist rule, it has allowed the cemetery to remain undisturbed. Though Soviet soldiers defeated the Nazis, earlier in the war the Soviet forces had invaded Poland following a secret agreement with the German Nazi government, and carried out atrocities against Poles, including mass executions and deportations to Siberia. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal A little over a month ago, a woman filed a petition for a restraining order against her ex on behalf of her daughter, saying he had threatened the teenage girl. When asked if he had weapons she wrote he had a 9mm 380 Ruger. The daughter had reported Bradley Wallin had sexually assaulted her and Bernalillo County sheriffs deputies were investigating the case, authorities say. The temporary order of protection was granted and Wallin was told to stay away from the family. But on Sunday Mothers Day police say 52-year-old Wallin shot and killed the daughter and her cousin before killing himself in the parking lot of Party City near Cottonwood Mall. Alexia Rael, 17, and Mario Salgado-Rosales, 16, both died at the scene. Lt. Ray Del Greco with the Albuquerque Police Department said homicide detectives have learned that Raels mother and Wallin had been in a long time relationship but it had ended after Rael reported that he had sexually abused her. The mother ended up removing Mr. Wallin from her life, which led Mr. Wallin, we believe, to want to strike out at one of the individuals that he felt was responsible for having his behavior brought to the attention of the authorities, Del Greco said. He said the two cousins were buying party favors for a Mothers Day event on Sunday when they were killed. However, Del Greco did not know how Wallin found them there. Officers were dispatched to the Party City on Coors near Ellison NW around 12:30 p.m. because a caller reported a man had put a gun to his own head and killed himself in the parking lot. When they arrived they found three people dead, at least one of whom was still in the car when he was shot. Neither Raels nor Salgado-Rosaless mothers could be reached by the Journal on Monday. Wallins family also could not be reached. Friends who visited the site of the shooting on Monday described Rael as someone who was ambitious, bold and said what was on her mind. She was really positive, said Luciano Garcia, 17. There was never a situation that she couldnt turn into a positive one. Whenever you were around her she would make you feel like she was giving you her attention and you could always tell she really cared. Garcia said Rael and her cousin Salgado-Rosales were really close and he had been staying with her and her mother recently. They both attended the Digital Arts & Technology Academy. Wallin was the branch manager at First Financial Credit Union, according to his LinkedIn profile. He does not have a criminal history in New Mexico, according to online court records. The Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office has not released the report detailing the sexual assault allegations against him. Its unclear how long Wallin and Raels mother had been together or when the couple broke up. Facebook photos show the couple together smiling broadly and looking happy as far back as 2016. Journal staff photographer Adolphe Pierre-Louis contributed to this report. Bonn Group, a leading manufacturer of world-class bread and bakery products in India, onboards award-winning actress Sonam Bajwa as brand ambassador for its Americana range of premium biscuits. As a part of this association, the actress will be promoting the Americana biscuit range on several multimedia platforms. Amrinder Singh, director of Bonn Group of Industries, said, "We are exhilarated to welcome Sonam Bajwa into the Americana family. She is a brilliant actor and has recently built a strong fan-base with her amazing talent and back-to-back hit movies. Sonam has associated with us when we aggressively expand our manifestation and operations. I believe her charm and vibrant personality will certainly add more value to our brand." Reflecting further, Singh said that Americana's premium digestive range of biscuits is made up of whole wheat for easy digestion and a happy gut. The brand also has a whole wheat multigrain cracker in its healthy product range. He proudly stated, "Americana is the market leader in the coconut biscuit segment in North India. Americana has become a leading brand with the stakeholders' joint efforts, including all the valued customers." Americana brand biscuits are available in more than 1,50,000 outlets in North India, including Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi NCR. Moreover, Americana biscuits are also available on Bonn Group's eCommerce platform- bonncart.in along with other online stores like Big Basket, Swiggy, Walmart, Nature Basket, and a few more. Also, the brand is taking forward its journey zealously by expanding to Hyderabad and Bangalore markets. Sonam Bajwa is pleased to be a part of the Americana community. "Taste Jo Karde Deewana' is an innovative campaign I am associated with and goes quite well with the Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of the biscuits range, which offers both quality and taste. The company has a decent range of premium biscuits in its product portfolio that is delectable yet affordable. Being a part of Americana's growth will be an enthusing journey that I'm looking forward to." added Bajwa. Bajwa has a considerable fan base in Punjab and North India. Americana's association with her is slated to increase the brand's appeal among current and prospective customers. The collaboration will also provide the Americana Biscuit Range from Bonn Group with more excellent brand recall. The move aims to create a point of difference vis-a-vis competition for Americana. The fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry is rapidly growing, and therefore, the retail industry is ready to follow an omnichannel strategy. According to a Nielsen report, eCommerce for FMCG will reach US$ 400 billion by 2022, representing more than 10% of the global market for bakery products. BONN is a quality-driven FMCG company founded more than three decades ago in 1985 by visionary entrepreneur Manjit Singh. The brand 'BONN' has become synonymous with Bread and Bakery in many cities in North India, where the company enjoys a dominant market share. The Group produces a range of food products, including Bread, Biscuits, Cakes, Rusk, and Cookies sold in India and is exporting to about 55 countries on over three continents. The company is also the winner of the National Award for Quality Products from the Government of India and has certifications like HACCP by 'DNV' (a certificate body of the Netherlands) and an ISO 9001:2000 certifications by DNV. It is also approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards and got the BRC certification. The company has 12 manufacturing plants spread all over north India. Bonn is fully integrated, having a fleet of more than 500 trucks and an in-house setup for developing packaging. The company is a pioneer in starting the production of cookies on an industrial scale in India and is deemed the most preferred FMCG brand with a Pan-India presence shortly with bread, biscuits, cake, rusk, and other products. There has been a fundamental shift over the past couple of years, especially after the pandemic hit the world. The needs and expectations of the end customers have changed, which has resulted in companies to rethink their strategies and introduce stronger and more customer friendly product offerings and services. According to the recent research conducted by Salesforce, businesses across the globe consider customer experience ranked amongst the top five priorities. When it comes to product development, delivering better customer experience, or providing a seamless PC experience, Dell has always had a customer-first approach. This focussed approach has helped Dell to win for three years in row the TRAs Most Trusted Brand. The Most Trusted Brand Awards by Trust Research Advisory (TRA) is conducted through a survey with 1,617 consumer-influencers across 16 Indian cities. The target groups include working men, working women, and home influencers. Given how the consumer landscape has changed in the past couple of years, the selection criteria focused on three key aspects - Brand Trust Attributes, Brand Trust Behaviours, and Brand Trust Archetypes. Speaking exclusively to Adgully, Raj Kumar Rishi, Vice President and Managing Director, Consumer and Small Business, Dell Technologies, India, elaborated on how they assist in providing simple, intelligent and integrated solutions for customer needs. This focussed approach has resulted in Dell being among the worlds leading technology companies helping transform peoples lives. Customer centricity is the backbone of every business. TRA has judged you as the most trusted brand for 3 years in succession. What are the criteria followed by TRA for the award and what has been your secret sauce to continuously win this award? At Dell Technologies, we are obsessed with providing the best-in-class experience for our customers. We truly believe that customers are the ones who drive us to bring innovations to our product lines, every year. Being bestowed with this kind of industry honour for the third time in a row is a testimony to our efforts toward product innovation, quality, and customer support. The Most Trusted Brand Awards by Trust Research Advisory (TRA) is conducted through a survey with 1,617 consumer-influencers across 16 Indian cities. The target groups include working men, working women, and home influencers. Given how the consumer landscape has changed in the past couple of years, the selection criteria focused on three key aspects Brand Trust Attributes, Brand Trust Behaviours, and Brand Trust Archetypes. In recent times, we have increased our focus on evolving CX/ HX (customer/ human experience) design, digitally-enabled structural/ operating models, and our business metrics scorecard inputs and governance. They assist us in providing simple, intelligent, and integrated solutions for customer needs. This focused approach has resulted in Dell being among the worlds leading technology companies helping transform peoples lives. How much research from time to time has helped you in addressing customer pain points and how have you leveraged technology to strengthen and boost customer service experience? At Dell, customer data and insights sit at the core of all our strategies. Every decision is influenced by these insights and backed by technology adoption to create effective solutions. The research inputs are further classified into the below principles: Standardising processes for predictable & repeatable results Structuring similar functions together to enable global scalability with regional relevance Combining & simplifying workflows for seamless integration and rapid implementation Fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, agility, inclusiveness, andcollaboration Developing & empowering talent to drive innovation How much training and development contributes and helps in formulating a robust customer service strategy? What kind of training do you provide your customer service team to adapt to the changing customer behaviour? Training and development are unquestionably critical in framing a strong customer experience (CX) strategy. Dell has made significant investments in designing a robust training process for our Inside Sales Promoters (ISPs) that focuses on shifting and cultivating mindsets, behaviours, and skillsets. We hold weekly training for our 1,200+ ISPs, to equip them with the necessary soft skills, upselling and cross-selling techniques, and role-playing. Furthermore, we provide them with all the knowledge necessary for effective pitchingwhich results in them acting as trusted advisors. Furthermore, we place a strong emphasis on research and development (R&D), which allows us to better understand and stay ahead of the curve when it comes to adopting newer technologies such as AI, ML, and so on. Dell is a global brand with a good presence in many countries. What are some of the learnings and best practices you follow in India from your global offices? One of the key learnings has been to move beyond traditional product and market-centric strategies and focus efforts on the quality of customer experience with capabilities such as real-time engagement, actionable insights, and personalization. Additionally, driving a consistent, proactive, predictive, and data-driven support mechanism has helped us in identifying and resolving issues much faster. You have to keep your customers happy, across online and offline. How do you synergize your customer strategy so that the level of customer satisfaction is maintained consistently to deliver the desired results? Increasing reliance on PCs to connect to the outside world, and our current environment demonstrates the various roles that a PC can play in our lives. Amidst these changing dynamics, we are supporting customers with their purchase decisionby taking into consideration their persona, offers, and issues. By leveraging augmented intelligence, we have been able to intervene at the right time and find faster resolutions. Dell has created multiple touchpoints for consumers to choose from Dell.com, Dell Exclusive Stores (DES), Multi Brand Outlets (MBOs)/ Large Format Retail (LFR), and e-tail. We have established an expansive network of 632 DES, 852 LFRs, and over 5,000 MBOs spread across 348 cities in India. To further enhance customer experience, we have a bouquet of payment and financing options for them to choose from. Finally, to promote our annual Back to School and Back to College initiatives, we recently released a campaign titled Yeh Hai Padhai 2.0. The TVC showcases how learning has changed, and so has the way we learn. This is being supported by an influencer outreach featuring Harsha Bhogle, Tisca Chopra, Mandira Bedi, and Amrita Raichand. Internally, what kind of yardsticks and measurement techniques do you use to evaluate customer satisfaction for you to keep raising the bar every year? We have built a feedback loop with our customers online and offline. At Dells India website, we consolidate all the customer data in the form of product reviews, satisfaction scores, time taken to resolve issues, and repeats in the system thathelps us improve the website experience and product quality. On the offline front, we regularly incorporate feedback received on the prices, offers, and financing options, from stores across the country. These strategies and outreach have worked to our advantage allowing us to come up with breakthrough products and keep our customers satisfied. Dell Futurist is a program by Dell India for youthful and ambitious thinkers who wants to create a future where their passion transforms into their careers by enabling technology. The program has talked about different passions such as Visual Arts, Music, and Gaming, as they choose Sustainability and Art as the theme of the latest segment. The students are provided with a masterclass which helps them to build their passion with confidence and given the opportunity to be mentored by the best in the field. Dell Futurist invited students to present their idea of sustainability with a project or art and raise awareness in their own unique way. Partnering with 4000 colleges and universities across India, the competition encouraged students to think about sustainability and highlight the stark reality of many ecological problems in India. The winners were mentored by the best in the industry to help them build their case for their future. Digital-first creative agency, The Glitch, part of VMLY&R, conceptualized and executed the competition. The agency collaborated with eco-consultant Anirudh Sharma from Graviky Labs and Kunel Gaur managed by Art&Found to create a personalised masterclass educating students and allowing them to build sustainable project ideas and art. Five winners were selected from across the country who participated to co-create the final, 35-foot installation in Delhi, a city with one of the worst air quality indexes in the world. Drawn with ink made from filtering carbon and other pollutants from the air, it is one of the biggest eco-friendly murals in the country. Despite the third wave of COVID which brought a lot of movement restrictions, the team took the right advantage of technology by conducting AMA sessions with the students to plan and design the mural virtually and ultimately paint it in Delhi. Commenting on the program, Reaching the young, creative, aspiring minds who are inspired is crucial for us as a brand as our products are clear enablers in this journey and celebrate their process. Dell Futurist is for youthful and enthusiastic ones who desire to pursue their passions as their careers. Dell's flagship digital program intends to connect the passion areas for youth, and their future aspirations in terms of their professions and technology. We not only help them nurture their skills and get access to subject matter experts but also the leaders that inspire them!, Mayuri Saikia, Director India Consumer Marketing, Dell Technologies. We didnt want to create a token campaign that hypes the problem of pollution. For us, it was important to build sustainability into the mindsets of students and show them that they can make an impact on the world. The campaign was about giving them a canvas that combined sustainability, creativity, and technology. said Varun Anchan, Associate Vice President, Flux@The Glitch. Rahul Dcruz, Associate Creative Director, Flux@The Glitch added, Dell Futurist Sustainability+Art has been built over a span of 4 months, with partners from across the country and 4000 colleges and universities, to create Indias most sustainable mural in the worlds most polluted city. For us, the success of the campaign isnt just the mural but the fact that it was co-created with students who will take the baton forward of sustainability and art. Shoppers Stop, Indias leading premier fashion and beauty destination has roped in Sanya Malhotra as brand ambassador for select private brands, to further emphasize on the continued focus on their Private Brands as an important strategic pillar. This is in sync to Shoppers Stops strategy to strengthen engagement with women shoppers and simultaneously build their private label portfolio. Sanyas cheerful, warm, welcoming, and vibrant personality resonates well with Shoppers Stops brand positioning. Sanyas social presence, her playful and cheerful personality coupled with her style quotient, will help Shoppers Stop connect better across various geographies via its Private Labels. Speaking on the association, Venu Nair, Customer Care Associate, MD & CEO at Shoppers Stop said, Private brands continue to be a strategic pillar for Shoppers Stop. We maintain significant emphasis on increasing our Private Brands share. We are confident that having Sanya Malhotra for our private brands will help create a better resonance with our consumers. She beautifully fits in with the brands ethos and has a great persona to connect with the customers across geographies. Sanya Malhotra said, The endeavor of my first ever association with Shoppers Stop for its Private Brands, is to authentically connect with my fans with the style that I believe in. I am super excited to partner with Shoppers Stop. This is a brand I have grown with and loved. Im happy associating with them for their private labels. I look forward to showcasing their best collection for the year. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has condemned the deadly attack in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula that killed 11 troops on Saturday, Lebanon's Council of Ministers said in a statement. In a phone conversation with Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Mikati said "we condemn this terrorist act that targeted brotherly Egypt, its security and stability." "We express our sympathy with the people of Egypt and the families of the victims in this ordeal," Mikati was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. "We are confident that Egypt, under the leadership of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, is able to confront all dangers firmly and restore its prosperity," Mikati noted. The Egyptian army said at least 11 Egyptian troops on Saturday were killed and five others wounded in the clashes with a group of terrorists at a water pumping station in western Sinai. Artemis 1, was earlier scheduled to launch in late May 2022. However, due to multiple delays in its wet dress rehearsal, touted as the final test, the mega moon rocket has been pushed further. NASA now plans to take its final test in June, and if all goes according to plan it could set the stage for its first launch in August, Space.com reported. The Artemis 1 stack, a huge Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with an Orion crew capsule on top, rolled out to Pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida in mid-March for its "wet dress rehearsal", a crucial series of tests that includes fueling up the SLS. Although the wet dress began on April 1 and was supposed to wrap up two days later, the team encountered several problems, including a stuck valve on the mission's mobile launch tower and a hydrogen leak in one of the "umbilical" lines connecting the tower to the SLS. This led to delay and ultimately a halt after three fueling attempts. On April 25, team members rolled the Artemis 1 stack off Pad 39B back to KSC's cavernous Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to investigate the problems and make the necessary fixes, NASA officials were quoted as saying last week, adding that the probe of the faulty valve continues. However, even as the probe continues, the team remains optimistic for another wet dress try. "We're looking right now at that next wet dress in the early to mid-June timeframe," Jim Free, associate administrator for the Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate at NASA headquarters in Washington, was quoted as saying. For this the teams would have to roll out the SLS and Orion from the VAB by late May because the Artemis 1 team needs 12 to 14 days to prepare for the wet dress test, Free added. Free was confident that the fourth attempt would prove to be a success, but he acknowledged that "it may take more than one attempt to get the procedures where we need them". While NASA won't set a target launch date for Artemis 1 until the wet dress is complete, Free mentioned August as the likely earliest available time frame at this point. Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what his military promised him would be a one-week victorious blitzkrieg. Instead, 2 months later, nothing is going right. Putin knows that to remain in power, the Russian people must see him as winning his ill-defined special military operation in Ukraine. As what the Mafia would define as the boss of all bosses in Russia, Putin has no official deadline for success but, in the minds of many Russians, major success is expected by Victory Day, May 9. The question now is this: What is Putin willing to do to demonstrate some sort of victory by that date? Would he go nuclear for a victory by Victory Day? For Russians, May 9s Victory Day is their Veterans Day, Memorial Day, and a little bit of our Fourth of July all wrapped into one. It celebrates the Soviet victory over Germany in World War II. To understand the significance of this day, remember that Russians call WWII the Great Patriotic War. That title is well-earned. In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, the United States lost about 420,000 people in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific. By comparison, 25 million Soviets lost their lives in defense of the Motherland. Thats 60 times our losses. Despite the official Russian government line that their army is defeating fascists and neo-Nazis in Ukraine, the truth about the failure of Putins army is becoming well known. Although no one would dare tell Putin that something must happen by May 9, the Russian dictator is well aware of that feeling in the Kremlin and throughout Russia. Putin is not going to achieve anything resembling a total victory by that date. Everyone is aware he gave up on conquering Kyiv and concentrated all his forces on capturing Mariupol. The 2,000 undefeated Ukrainian soldiers holding out in the steel plant there are an undeniable signal to every Ivan that the Russian army, which promised to quickly overrun an entire country, cant even evict a brigade of Ukrainians from the twisted wreckage of a large factory. Putins latest tactic is a nonstop missile barrage targeting the steel plant. The impact of the warheads has turned the enormous former factory into a tangled wreckage of rusting steel stretching as far as the eye can see. But that may be a serious tactical error and a repeat of a problem that stalled the Allied war effort in Italy almost 70 years ago. As the Allies marched north in Italy, the old mountaintop monastery at Monte Cassino stopped their advance. Germans on the high ground could fire down on the Americans with virtual impunity. From the rabbits warren of buildings surrounding the old monastery, observers for German artillery located miles behind the battle lines could direct that artillery fire onto the Allies below with devastating accuracy. The Allies withdrew a few miles south so our bombers could reduce the old monastery to rubble. But as the bombs fell, the German troops retreated to the monasterys cellars. They survived the tens of tons of high explosives dropped on them. The cellars that once held the old monks wine provided the Wehrmacht with a bomb-proof overhead cover. Once the bombing was over, the Germans emerged to find the Allied bombing had given them an even more defensible position. What had been well-ordered buildings was now massive rubble that easily concealed snipers, sappers, and those critically needed artillery observers. Image: Mariupol. YouTube screen grab. The old monasterys destruction also gave the Allies another problem. They planned their attack using the pictures of the old monastery. In the aftermath of the bombing, it was nothing more than a huge pile of unknown debris that the Allies had to fight through yard by yard before proceeding further north through Italy. It took five months of bloody assaults before the Polish II Corps could raise their flag atop the ruins of the holy place that had become a hell for the Allies. Has Putin made the same mistake as the World War II Allied air power planners? By exploding hundreds of his missile warheads, has he turned the Mariupol steel plant into thousands of unknown battle positions for the Ukrainian defenders? As all too often happens in war, have high-tech battle strategies from armchair Kremlin generals made it harder for the individual soldier to conquer the enemy with little more than his low-tech rifle? If Putins army cannot conquer the Mariupol steel plant by conventional means before Victory Day, he faces a hard choice. By not announcing the Mariupol victory or trying to claim some lesser success as sufficient, Putin is significantly weakened. In Russia, there is no place for weakened leaders. Youre either ultimately powerful or you are gone. Its not just the reality of power but the perception as well. Even though the Kremlin knew Kennedy gave up our nuclear missiles in Turkey to get Khrushchev to remove his atomic-tipped rockets from Cuba, it made Russia look weak on the world stage. Adios, Nikita. Gorbachevs public admission that Russia could not afford the equivalent of the American Star Wars missile defense system drove him from his position of highest power to become a pitchman in Pizza Hut television commercials. No, Im not kidding about the Pizza Hut commercials. Check out Gorby on YouTube. Because Putin does not foresee a future flacking fast food, and his conventional forces may not be able to take the steel plant by Victory Day, a question kept the Pentagon leadership awake this weekend: Would a conventional forces failure in Mariupol convince Putin to employ tactical nuclear weapons? No one is expecting megaton city killers, but a small tactical nuclear warhead could be Putins only other option. The Russians have highly effective chemical and biological agents, but the assumption is that Ukrainian forces holed up in the factory have protection against that. Up until now, most people other than headline writers have considered Putins rattling of his rockets to be little more than political bombast. Of course, mention the word nuclear, and some European leaders and most American journalists will immediately grab a pacifier, hop into bed, and assume the fetal position. But this time, Putin cannot just scare people. He must give the Russian people are clear victory or pay a permanent political price. Its not just the general populace he must convince. The Kremlin power players and the oligarchs who support them must agree Russia will get some sort of a victory in Ukraine without a long-drawn-out war. They realize that, without that victory, the worldwide public perception of Russia and, consequently, their individual power are on the express elevator headed for the basement fast. The overhanging questions are, would Putin go nuke, and if he does, what would the Wests response be? So, as you read this, think about Putins actions before Monday ends. No one knows what Monday will bring but many world leaders, if not physically in their bunkers, are definitely adopting a bunker mentality. Ed Sherdlu is the pen name of a former CBS television network reporter. He uses a pen name because his mother would be so embarrassed to know that Eds 12-Step Journalism Recovery Program had been a failure. Decision: a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration. Origin: late Middle English (bring to a settlement): from French decider, from Latin decidere determine, from de- off + caedere cut. Websters. In a sense, important decisions frequently cut-off options and at times, even life itself. ******* One important issue as the 2022 American election approaches is the Solomons wisdom-requiring topic of abortion. The political, psychological, psycho-social, and spiritual domains are as consequential as the legal conundrums surrounding Roe v Wade. Many contemporary independent, educated, and mindful women say, It is my body and I decide what to do with it, my pregnancy, and my healthcare, period! In a basic legal and medical ethics sense of course, they are correct. Women in America have genuinely won the long battle against their early oppressed days as a mans chattel. They have fought and triumphed to gain unquestioned potential legal equality and political power. Americas first female vice president Harris is a good example. No male or female can undo this evolved and evolving political reality in America. But a womans choice to share her body with a man for pleasure, love, procreation, marriage, or all four, brings other complex issues into focus when a pregnancy occurs. Most ideally, a pregnancy involving a loving bond of shared intimacy between life-partners results in shared pleasure, responsibility, and two biological contributions, particularly two sets of DNA. In this preferable context an abortion decision involves two responsible persons, not one! If the partners starkly disagree about an abortion after careful prayerful consideration, then the womans decision would of course in the end be determinative; even if major psychological, marital, or relationship conflicts occur over the serious disagreement. It is best of course if the partners could come to an agreement about not merely birth control but ending a potential life of a member of their family. In too many instances the father or impregnating male is either unaware, indifferent, or absents himself from any role during or after the pregnancy or delivery. Such circumstances are profoundly sad for the mother, the man, and our American society. Absent fathers impose enormous psychological damage and consequences for children and a society. A Relevant Study Many years ago, a psychiatrist colleague and I did an unpublished study. We reviewed the labor and delivery records of mothers at a home for unwed mothers. The study group was comprised of mothers without the presence of the babys father during the pregnancy, delivery, or postpartum period. The other matched group had the significant presence of the babys father during the pregnancy, delivery and postpartum period. The group with present fathers had better APGAR scores, fewer infections, and fewer delivery and post-delivery complications for baby or mother. Unfortunately, in many abortion decision situations, the male or partner may be gone from the situation for various reasons. In the absence of a supportive partner, a woman faces the abortion decision alone or perhaps with some vital support from friends, family, clergy, and her physician. Part of what a woman faces in making the abortion decision in the twenty-first century is vast amounts of accumulated scientific knowledge about the tiny human embryo, fetus, and developing human infant in-utero. For example, the state of Utah has proposed a law requiring anesthesia of a fetus during abortion performed at or beyond twenty weeks out of concern for pain thought to be demonstrated in in the fetus. The subject is extremely complex as an important Fact Check.org 2015 article by Dave Levitan entitled ,Does a Fetus Feel Pain at 20 Weeks? summarizes thoroughly. Levitans work highlights the truly Solomon-like dilemma a woman or couple face in the contemporary abortion decision. Levitan describes the scientific facts about the experience of pain in the fetus and developing human infant in-utero. The article concludes, [T]he literature on fetal behavior, perception, organization, movement and responses focuses largely on fetuses above 28 weeks of gestation, with a relative lack of studies on the fetus between 20 and 24 weeks. This results in too much reliance on neuroscience, too much reference to animal work, too much extrapolation from both of these and too little real-world human investigation on which to base a realistic view. No one would deny that there are important issues to be confronted, but a sensible debate needs a solid base of rigorous empirical inquiry. Regardless of ones final conclusions, the very careful study of the emerging scientific information opens up ultimate questions and mysteries about human consciousness, morality, professional ethics, and the tiny world of a developing body, brain, mind, and spirit. In the authors opinion, abortion done in the last trimester is infanticide unless there are immediate medical emergency dangers to the life of the mother. After delivery abortion is in my opinion murder. A 29 week fetus (YouTube screengrab) Abortion done in the mid trimester is highly questionable unless there are highly traumatic psychiatric issues or severe immediate medical danger to the life of the mother. Rape and incest as a reason for an abortion at any phase of pregnancy raise complex issues for the obstetrician, psychiatric consultant, and the patient seeking an abortion. Often, ongoing psychiatric care is important after the abortion in those instances. Selected Relevant Vignettes (1) As a psychiatrist at a community mental health center I worked with a woman with severe mental illness who was raped by a fellow psychiatric patient at the state mental hospital. She was competent to decide and chose not to have an abortion. Her social worker and I helped her deal successfully with the traumatic issues and she became a good mother and worked to support herself and her baby boy with support from us and her friends and family. (2) As a medical student I interviewed and examined a sixteen-year-old girl who had been impregnated by her father. He had come home very drunk from a Saturday night party. He and his wife had argued, and he said he thought he was going to sleep in a guest room. But, by mistake, he crawled into bed with his daughter where intercourse occurred resulting in her pregnancy. I assisted at her abortion. To my knowledge the girl or her parents were not referred for psychiatric care or follow-up. I look back to that event and feel shame and regret for my passivity as a student reluctant and feeling powerless to speak out to my superiors at the time. (3) I once worked with an affluent couple in couples therapy. Early in their marriage and in the husbands successful business career, his wife became pregnant. He insisted they seek an abortion for her because he was consumed with his postgraduate business education at a top school. She refused and was at term when a stillborn baby boy arrived. The husband felt relieved and plunged further in his studies. His wife without his knowledge buried the little boy, named him, and every year remembered their stillborn son alone by herself. Many years later, with two adolescent children in their home, significant marital problems arose. The issue of their lost son emerged in the treatment. They struggled for a long time with complicated, grief, loss and sadness. For an array of various reasons, including pain over the lost son, they agreed to divorce. First trimester abortion in my opinion must always be approached seriously with counselling about all options including adoption. A competent abortion consultation must involve exploration of the womans feelings and thoughts about her decision. If there is an involved father/partner, he should best be included as well. In my clinical practice I found significant numbers of women and sometimes their life partners whose resolution of their feelings about the abortion decision had important on-going implications psychologically for themselves as individuals and their relationships. A hopefully successful psychological processing of the abortion decision, pro or con, involves a candid, genuine exploration of the options, emotions, meanings, and circumstances, because the decision for abortion involves the ending of a life and the awesome responsibility involved. A casual, arrogant, violent, or militant attitude about the abortion decision seems ignorant, self-absorbed, and spiritually out of touch. Some mental health professionals argue that babies born to a woman without partner support or ability for full commitment to motherhood result in a major population of unwanted children. Such children, they say, become a major problem to American society, the economy, social services, the courts, criminal justice system, and prison system. In my opinion, I think they are wrong and produce a simplistic, pejorative eugenic tone to the discussion about abortion. This view tends to infantilize, condescend, or take for granted a womans autonomy and prerogatives in her decision-making. A decision to abort in my opinion is never a perfunctory, routine, or a sociologically described healthcare decision. An individual or couples abortion decision involves considerations that go far beyond a political or legal debate about Roe v Wade. It involves profound and poignant individual, relationship, moral, and spiritual decisions about the sanctity of life itself. Supplying uniforms to the German empire, textile magnate Gunther Quandt made millions during World War I. Shortly after, when electrification was booming worldwide, he gained control of one of the world's largest battery-makers. He soon acquired one of Germany's primary arms and ammo manufacturers. This was just the beginning. He went on to gain stupendous wealth and power through deals with the Nazis. The story of Quandt, as told in David de Jong's Nazi Billionaires: The Dark History of Germany's Wealthiest Dynasties, evokes awe and dread. For it is about soulless profiteering and participation without any qualms in the enslavement and massacre of millions of Jews. It is well known that many dynastic German companies owe their standing to their complicity even willful participation in Nazi evil. De Jong investigated five key industrialists who funded Adolf Hitler's rise to power, were complicit in horrendous crimes, and reaped billions from that cold-blooded investment: Quandt, automaker Ferdinand Porsche, Richard Kaselowsky of the Dr. Oetker Group, financier August von Finck, and industrialist Frederick Flick. His book details their deals and post-war cover-ups. It also tells how they were virtually absolved of all wrongdoing because the West needed Germany as a bulwark against Russia and its East European satellites. Quandt's first engagement with Nazism happened in the early 1920s. On a visit to the U.S. with his wife Magda, they were approached by Kurt Ludecke, an ardent German nationalist raising funds for the fledgling, cash-strapped National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP). Rejected by the anti-Semite Henry Ford, he hoped to convert Quandt to the Aryan cause. Quandt was noncommittal, but Magda was swayed. By the time the couple divorced in 1929, with a generous settlement for her, she was mingling socially with the Nazis. She devoured Mein Kampf and joined the party, where she worked for her future husband, Joseph Goebbels, later chief of propaganda minister for the Reichstag. Quandt, who remained friendly with Magda and Goebbels, came under their influence. He began to believe, like many in post-WWI Germany, that Jews and communists were responsible for all the country's ills. World War II and Hitler's atrocities would not have happened without the millions Quandt and the other industrialists pledged for arming the stormtroopers who ensured his election. In turn, the plutocrats profited hugely when he began the war in Europe: there was an insatiable demand for uniforms, ammo, fighter planes, and batteries for torpedoes and rockets. The financiers of Hitler's rise were now the hardware merchants of his war effort. Quandt gained a seat on the board of Daimler-Benz in 1933 and was soon producing arms, besides batteries and textiles. He became a key supplier to the Luftwaffe. Auto engineer Porsche, who had served in the SS, wired the Fuhrer that he and his staff were putting their "will and ability at the disposal of the German people." His firms produced advanced tanks, the V-1 flying bomb, and other weapons systems. In 1934, Hitler gave him the contract to design a people's car the Volkswagen. August von Finck, who acquired a financial empire that included the Merck Finck bank and insurers Allianz and Munich Re, believed that G-d had sent the Fuhrer to save the German people. Kaselowsky, who married the widowed daughter-in-law of the founder of the Dr. Oetker group and became its chief executive, had a portrait of Hitler in his office suite. He'd gift signed copies of Mein Kampf to new employees. The company was a major supplier of food to frontline soldiers. (His stepson, Rudolf August Oetker, who ran the company and turned it into a household name after Kaselowsky's death in a 1944 air raid, was a former SS officer and ardent Nazi.) Frederick Flick profited handsomely from the army's demand for weapons-grade steel, acquired several mines and heavy industries, and was the Reich's top producer of light machine guns. All five benefited from the Aryanization program, the arbitrary takeover of Jewish-owned businesses from 1933 'til the war's end. Quandt expanded his conglomerate by plundering many valuable Jewish businesses. Porsche acquired the shares of his Jewish co-founder and chief engineer, who was charged with "racial defilement" for dating a non-Jewish woman. Von Finck promoted the "gradual cleansing of this trade [banking], which is so strongly influenced by the Jewish element." He took over Berlin's Dreyfus Bank and some of the Rothschilds' business empires in Austria. After routinely cheating Jewish bankers by undervaluing their assets, he claimed after the war that he did it in good faith to protect them from the Nazis. Flick's machine-gun factory was one among many businesses he took over from Jews. Rudolf August Oetker acquired a considerable art collection. In a 2013 publicity exercise, the Dr. Oetker group released a commissioned history of its Nazi connections. In 2017, it announced that it was hiring provenance experts to go over the Oetker collection to restitute robbed artwork to the rightful owners. They all employed slave labor, provided by Jews and other captives. IG Farben, Siemens, Daimler-Benz, BMW, Krupp, and other companies controlled by Quandt and Flick were the largest users of slave labor, available on request to any German business. The Dr. Oetker group used slave labor in its factories. Porsche used thousands of French civilians and other prisoners at his Volkswagen complex. From June 1941 onward, 60,000 soldiers were dying every month as the war progressed. Short of manpower, in early 1942, Nazi Germany began the biggest coercive labor program the world has seen. Some 20 million people from 26 countries, the vast majority from Poland and the Soviet Union, were forced to work in its factories and concentration camps. The Atlantic slave trade, which dealt in 12 million African slaves from the 16th to the 19th century, pales in comparison. At least 2.5 million captives died in the horrific work and living conditions. They would be taken from concentration camps to sub-camps near factories, where they were beaten, given little to eat, and made to toil in extremes of weather. Handling dangerous material without protection, they contracted lead poisoning and sustained third-degree burns. If a limb was caught in machinery, it would be yanked out. Pregnant women had to give up their babies at birth and return to work. But war crime investigators never focused on this industrial slavery. Powerful industrialists were charged with profiting through Nazi connections but not with slavery, and they spent no more than a few years in detention. Josiah DuBois lead attorney in the IB Farben case in the Nuremberg trials described the sentences as "light enough to please a chicken thief." The longest term handed out at the Farben trial, for instance, was eight years with time served, to Otto Ambros, head of the chemical warfare committee at the war ministry and production chief for Buna and Auschwitz. Flick received seven years with time served, in 1947, but got amnesty in 1950. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the predecessor to the CIA, had been keeping tabs on Quandt since 1941 and found he shared "in the responsibility for formulating and executing Nazi economic policies and for the economic exploitation of German dominated territories." He was held under house arrest for two years but released without charge in January 1948. Porsche was arrested in 1945 by the French post-war government, but his son was able to buy his freedom after 22 months. With the advent of the Cold War in 1947, President Harry S. Truman's priorities shifted from punishing Germany to enabling its economic recovery. American occupation made way for German self-governance. Suspected war criminals and Nazi sympathizers were handed over to German courts. Punishments were minor because Germans were reluctant to judge compatriots for what they themselves had indulged in. Truth was a casualty. While Nazi industrialists scrubbed their records clean, the U.S. oversaw a series of acts of clemency in 195051, including for Flick. The Korean war was on, so America needed Germany and its industry. The five dynasties highlighted in the book brazened it out: they were enthusiastic Nazis but claimed they were forced to join the party. Kaselowsky and Flick, for example, as members of Himmler's Circle of Friends, had toured Dachau and contributed to his racist Lebensborn program. Yet they all walked free. And their heirs have done little to acknowledge the crimes behind their riches. De Jong counters that silence with his meticulous research. Image: paul_houle via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped). America's disturbing supply chain problems aren't near to being fixed. On the news we hear of store shelves not having baby formula. At the center of such breakdowns is trucking. Everything but everything is transported to stores by trucks semi-trucks. Semi-trucks run on diesel, not petrol (gasoline), and the price of diesel is much higher than the price of petrol. Some truckers are reportedly at the point where they may have to shut down due to the price of diesel. On May 7 at LewRockwell, James Howard Kunstler wrote: The $6.49 price on a gallon of diesel is enough alone to tell you that the nation can't do business the way it's set up to do, and there isn't a new model for running things ready to launch not even Klaus Schwab's utopia of robots and eunuchs. ... US-inspired sanctions on Russia have quickly blown-up in America's face. How's that ban on Russian oil working? Do you understand that US shale oil the bulk of our production is exceptionally light in composition, meaning it contains not much of the heavier distillates like diesel and aviation fuel? 'Tis so, alas. Truckers just won't truck at $6.49-a-gallon, and before long they'll be out of business altogether, especially the independents who have whopping mortgages on their rigs that won't be paid. The equation is tearfully simple: no trucks = no US economy. It is apodictic that the price of diesel is incorporated into the price of everything transported by diesel. And again, everything is transported by diesel. Kunstler's reference to "U.S. shale oil" is on point, because it is shale oil from fracking that turned the U.S. oil business around in the decade from 2008 to 2018 and enabled America to become energy independent. Without shale oil, America would not have enjoyed her brief moment of energy independence, which Joe Biden destroyed with his monumentally stupid and vindictive energy policies. But, as Kunstler noted, shale oil doesn't contain as much of the distillates that can be made into diesel as do other types of crude oil what the industry calls "conventional oil." So what are we gonna do about our little diesel dilemma? The answer should involve those products that compete for the same distillates. According to a chart that breaks down the different products from a barrel of crude oil, it appears that heating oil uses the same distillates as diesel. If we're to get baby formula to America's stores, perhaps the government should mandate (and the current regime is always ready for another mandate) that folks who heat their houses with heating oil must switch to something else. Short of that, is it too early in what may turn into a galloping crisis to think about rationing diesel? A rational rationing system for diesel would give priority to truckers who are transporting essentials, like baby formula. Truckers transporting baby toys would go to the back of the line when fueling up. Kunstler was all over the "supply chain" issue years before our present problems. Indeed, he uses the term in the third chapter of the third novel in his World Made by Hand series: Meanwhile the supermarket shelves grew bare as the jobbers quit their resupply deliveries ... state government affected to distribute food, but diesel fuel was in short supply, too, and the few trucks sent out were easily hijacked. Even if one rejects Kunstler's central premise, these books are terrific reads, quite pleasurable, and I highly recommend them. Back on April 4 in these very pages, I mydamnself warned about the price of diesel. Since then, the price has only risen. It should be obvious now to all fair-minded Americans that the weakest link in the supply chain is our senile, sclerotic central government. Jon N. Hall of ULTRACON OPINION is a programmer from Kansas City. Image: Piqsels. When you think of everything that's gone wrong with the U.S. military from its wokester agenda to its failure to contain Russia to its breakdown in discipline to the presence of Gen. Mark Milley on the Joint Chiefs of Staff pretty much all of it has the name of Mark Esper, President Trump's former defense secretary, all over it. Rather than slink off into obscurity after such a performance, if not back to the big-bucks war-machine defense-contractor lobby whence he sprang, he's out shilling a tell-all book and promoting it on 60 Minutes in a bid to discredit the man he purportedly "served," President Trump. According to 60 Minutes interviewer Norah O'Donnell, he now calls Trump "a threat to American democracy." But his interview with 60 Minutes didn't come out the heroic way he probably thought it would. Unbeknownst to him, he demonstrated what a coward's coward and slithering snake he was while in office. Everything he did involved some new means of undercutting President Trump, or, as O'Donnell summed up, "subverted many of the president's wishes." The interview can also be viewed on CBS's site here. There were multiple bad things he described doing in that interview, but the summary line that stands out comes near the end, when he tells O'Donnell why he stayed in office instead of resigning on principle, which is what decent people do: O'Donnell: "Critics will say, 'Why now in a book? Why didn't you speak out during the Trump administration?'" Esper: "It's very simple. If I spoke out at the time, I would be fired, number one. And secondly, I had no confidence that anybody that came in behind me would not be a real Trump loyalist. And Lord knows what would have happened then." Why shouldn't someone who's busy disagreeing with and working to undercut the president get fired? Did he tolerate that kind of behavior when he was in the Army himself, or as a top lobbyist for Raytheon? What a hypocrite right there. Worse still was his reason for not resigning after he decided he disagreed with President Trump on everything his fear that Trump might get someone loyal to his aims as his replacement, "a real Trump loyalist," as he put it. So the only reason he sat there warming his seat at the Pentagon was to prevent Trump from hiring someone else who was interested in advancing President Trump's policy aims. What a guy. The arrogance of his logic comes in the part of his statement that came just before it in the video: O'Donnell: "You're a lifelong Republican. But in this book, you detail how you subverted many of the president's wishes. People will say you were disloyal." Esper: "I never disobeyed a direct order from the president of the United States. I was fortunate that he often didn't give direct orders. But otherwise, I did what I thought was best for the nation and our security, and completely within the authority granted to me under the law." That of course was the Alexander Vindman justification for his sleazy backroom tactics to impeach President Trump, that he knew better than Trump, who was elected by the citizens for this job, to determine what U.S. national security interests were. The other parts of the statement are disgusting, too that he never disobeyed a direct order and technically operated within the law, which means he worked the legal loopholes instead of doing anything the president or the lawmen could pin on him. There are plenty of ways to get around the law if you're lawyered up enough to avoid the legal responsibility, which is what snakes do. Slither much, Mr. Snake? Esper also claimed that Trump wasn't much for direct orders. Sound like a guy who's a big scary threat to democracy, as he claims? What a nightmare he must have been to President Trump. So let's get into some of his record now that he's laying it out to generate outrage against President Trump: One, he's a big fan of Joe Biden's Ukraine performance and seems to favor mission creep, drawing the U.S. closer and closer toward involvement in that conflict and eventually war. He had praise for House speaker Nancy Pelosi's Congress, too. The impeachment of Trump was brought up, too, which began with Vindman's leaks about Trump asking President Volodymyr Zelensky to keep up the corruption investigations, while seemingly withholding aid as leverage, while Esper bucked for the release of the aid without strings. Trump did release the aid, which neither 60 Minutes nor Esper notes, while ignoring that Biden himself used far more questionable leverage to get a prosecutor fired for investigating the energy company his son was involved with. Deal-cutting was always OK if Biden did it, you see, but not if Trump did. After that, he tells O'Donnell what a hero he was in preventing "dark things" from happening to the U.S. with Trump at the helm. His first example sounds like an outright lie: that "we had a proposal from the White House" to invade Venezuela, which would be very odd stuff, given Trump's aversion to getting the U.S. involved in foreign conflicts. Esper says he thwarted it, as if that socialist hellhole wouldn't actually benefit from a U.S. invasion, along with the rest of the hemisphere as terrorism-exporting Cuba went down as a natural side-effect. He also claimed there were calls to strike Iran and, horrors, blockade Cuba. Really? These were disasters avoided? Cuba should have been blockaded, given what it's getting away with, while the claim that Trump was itching to go neocon and start a war with Iran is obviously nonsense. Esper, though, was the white knight who marched in to "swat 'em down" to save us from such calamities. Yeah, sure. He later claimed that Trump wanted to send missiles over the Mexican border to hit the cartel hideouts, something President Trump has announced "no comment" on. Esper blithely dismissed that the U.S. was undergoing a flood of drugs from Mexican cartels and vaguely claimed there were other ways to stop it, but he didn't offer any ideas to O'Donnell. Left unsaid was that Mexico's president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has responded to pressure tactics in the past, as was evident enough when President Trump cut off trade with Mexico and shut the border in order to get his "remain in Mexico" deal through, which resulted in halting migrant caravans. Also left unsaid was that the U.S. had very much employed such tactics through its ally Colombia in 2006 and 2007, which had no problem launching cross-border attacks into Ecuador and possibly Venezuela when those nations were caught harboring drug-dealing terrorists on their territories. It's actually been done before, and yes, it tamped down that activity considerably. Getting rid of Mexico's cartels would have been a favor to Mexico, actually, given the threat these criminal groups pose to that government. Dismissing the idea as "ridiculous" was Esper at his stupidest. O'Donnell asked who "we" was in his quest to shoot down every idea President Trump presented, and he admitted it was "mostly me" but also Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who later became the architect of the Afghanistan pullout as well as the promoter of the wokester military. Esper, according to his Wikipedia entry, was buddy-buddy with Milley dating from his Army bureaucrat days, where they "ran the Army for over a year before finding themselves in charge at the Pentagon," as O'Donnell narrated. Found themselves, really? Like a Harold and Kumar movie? Very likely, it was Esper who got Milley into his current slot as America's top general. And the cronyism continued from there: Milley, in his testimony to Congress, explained that it was Esper who put him up to his infamous stunt just before the 2020 election and a couple of days after Jan. 6, which was calling up a Chinese general and assuring him that if the U.S. was going to attack China, he'd be the first to let them know ahead of time. The calls on 30 October and 8 January were coordinated before and after with Secretary Esper and acting secretary Millers staffs and the inter agency. Esper is the one who put Milley up to it, according to Milley's congressional testimony, and in retrospect, it sounds true. According to Bob Woodward's book Peril, Milley didn't bother to let the president know, either. One wonders if Esper was the one who told Milley to keep quiet. Esper goes on to lie again about his and Milley's "four nos" no strategic retreats, no unnecessary wars, no politicization of the military, and no misuse of the military, all of which have since been belied by events. Afghanistan under Biden got the ball rolling on strategic retreats, while unnecessary wars were belied by Esper's bid to get the U.S. more involved in Ukraine's affairs and letting Germany off the hook. The politicization of the military was obvious from the transgender agenda and the Critical Race Theory agenda that were promoted in the military on Esper's watch and which have worsened now that Milley is still there by himself. The misuse of the military as a magnet vehicle for transgender surgeries and his refusal to send troops to the literal frontier of the U.S. to head off a foreign invasion leave one wondering what the hell we have a military for at all. Two other things leap out: Esper's grandstanding on the George Floyd riots, which involved rioters who burned a historic church directly in front of the White House ("protesters," O'Donnell called them), and criticizing President Trump for wanting to call out the military after the violence got that close, as well as left dozens of cities in flames for months on end. Somehow, this was bad, and Esper saved the country from saving America's burning cities by his logic. Anyone normal would have called out the military under such circumstances except for a political animal like Esper, who wanted Democrats to politically benefit from that activity. Esper also lied and distorted his role in Germany, piously claiming that when President Trump ordered the pulling of U.S. troops from Germany and the sending of them to Poland, he went and undercut the aim of that order by sending Germany more of them. Left out was the real backstory, which can be read on Wikipedia, that Trump's maneuver was all about getting Germany to end its dependence on Russian energy sources through the Nord Stream II pipeline, which pretty well has put it in a bind now that Russia has attacked Ukraine, and made Germany a disgraceful laggard on sanctioning Russia for its assault. Sixty Minutes left that part out. Esper must have been among those Germans laughing at Trump when he warned them not to get dependent on Russian energy. All we see from this interview is a slithering snake whose main aim was to keep his job so he could continue to undercut President Trump. In every instance, he knew better, yet in every instance, he was wrong. No wonder he's a fan of Joe Biden, the man who has been "wrong on nearly every foreign policy issue," as former CIA director Bob Gates put it in his memoir. Joe, though, was just wrong. Esper went out of his way to burrow into the administration and act out the wrongs. The only conclusion one can reach from this is that Trump didn't fire this snake soon enough. That's sad. Image: Screen shot from 60 Minutes video via YouTube. Politico recently published what other media outlets have called a "bombshell leak," that being Justice Alito's draft opinion indicating that the Supreme Court may be about to overturn Roe v. Wade as soon as this summer. Much has been made of both the leak and the opinion, which have sent leftists and "progressives" into paroxysms of despair, anger, violence, and insanity. This includes vows to disrupt Masses at Catholic churches on Mother's Day. Just the kind of class and dignity you can depend on from them. Even those at the head of our government have offered desperate and inane opinions on the possibility of letting the states decide whether to allow the unfettered mass slaughter of babies. The ironically titled secretary of labor, Mary Walsh, recently told the online media company Insider Inc. that she has "serious concerns about the economic impacts of Roe potentially being overturned." She stated, "This will impact women individually, but also is going to impact our economy as a whole." A recent article in the Business Insider, a far-left "financial and business" website that makes the original Pravda seem like a "MAGA" mouthpiece, cited a "study" by the University of CaliforniaSan Francisco purporting to show that "women being denied an abortion dealt with significant financial blows but having access to one 'does not harm the health and wellbeing of women.'" The study somehow didn't mention that access to abortion is fatal to "the health and well-being" of babies. Probably just an inadvertent oversight. The same study claimed that when women had no choice but to give birth, they "experienced an increase in household poverty lasting at least four years relative to those who received an abortion" and that getting turned away from an abortion meant women's credit scores went down, and their debt went up. Moreover, the study averred that "[y]ears after an abortion denial, women were more likely to not have enough money to cover basic living expenses like food, housing and transportation." Well, when they were flush with cash prior to their pregnancy, perhaps they should have shelled out the nominal amount of cash needed to purchase birth control. Or dare I say it? perhaps they should have even considered self-control. And the article sadly asserts that children who are born because their mothers were tragically denied an abortion "are more likely to live below the federal poverty level than children born from a subsequent pregnancy to women who received the abortion." Huh? So kids who weren't aborted are less well off than those who were aborted? Or are less well off than those who were born after their mother had previously offed their big brothers or sisters? What's more, according to the Institute for Women's Policy Research, if state-level abortion restrictions were lifted, 505,000 more women would join the labor force and cumulatively earn over $3 billion every year. And more than one outlet has claimed, "Since 1973, Americans have had a constitutional right to an abortion." The Constitution was written in 1787 and ratified in 1788. How did justices suddenly discover a "right" to abortion nearly two centuries later? We all know that entities such as the Institute for Women's Policy Research are totally unbiased, especially with regard to issues pertaining to women/birthing persons. Yes, individual women who give birth and keep their children have less discretionary income to spend on other things. The same is true of fathers who stick around to help the mother and child. In days of yore, this was called parenting or "doing the right thing." On the other hand, Secretary Walsh's assertion that overturning Roe v. Wade would adversely affect "our economy as a whole" is preposterous on its face. Mass abortion seriously and negatively impacts the sale of diapers and formula. And onesies, teething rings, baby powder, cribs, changing tables, children's books, children's car seats, strollers, etc., etc., etc. "Pro-choicers" have serious concerns about the economic impact of doing away with murder?! Well, then, how about the economic impact of banning the sale and manufacture of firearms? Or of banning oil pipelines, drilling, fracking, nuclear plants, coal, etc.? What of the economic impact of the Biden administration's economic policies? It is ironic that progressives, who typically rely on emotional appeals and despise business and capitalism casually and callously dismiss the impact of slaughtering a powerless minority of innocents in favor of economic arguments. But these are not the brightest of people. Some of them protesting yesterday on and in front of property owned by Supreme Court justices held crudely made signs saying, "My Body, My Choice," "I Am A Person," and "No Forced Pregnancies." Let me take these in order. "My Body My Choice" had been a long-time staple of so-called "pro-choicers" until the pandemic at which point progressives loudly demanded that everybody get fully vaccinated and boosted, against his will if necessary, regardless of religious belief, health history, or assertion of bodily autonomy. Coming out of the pandemic, the "My Body, My Choice" sentiment and placards have been dusted off and redeployed. "No Forced Pregnancies"? No one, MAGA-supporter or not, is forcing you to get pregnant. No one is holding a gun to your head and saying, "Do it! Now!" It is your own risky behavior, for which you don't wish to be accountable, that leads to pregnancy. Lastly, "I Am A Person." Really? That's what you've got? No one is denying that. In fact, you would not be a person had your mother decided to abort you. What pro-life people are concerned about is that you as a person wish to extinguish the life of another person inside your person. This is not rocket science. It is a matter of the heart and soul. And life and death. Image: Screen shot from EWTN video via YouTube. The institutional representation of the Supreme Court of the United States is, of course, the Supreme Court building. Accordingly, it would seem that the appropriate location to demonstrate on issues before the court would be the area of permissible proximity to the official court structure, not the private homes of the justices. The White House has apparently given the green light to protests near the private homes of the justices of the Supreme Court that is to say, the private homes of Chief Justice Roberts and the five conservative justices. Would President Biden have remained silent had conservative groups protested in front of the homes of the leftist justices Justices Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor? More narrowly, imagine if conservatives had protested in front of the home of Justice Breyer in opposition to his political retirement to make it possible for Biden to appoint at least one far-left justice. It is not far-fetched to imagine that Jen Psaki would have denounced such a protest, going so far as to say that it is tantamount to an act of terrorism against a member of the Court. It is, furthermore, not unreasonable to imagine Attorney General Merrick Garland announcing that he is directing the FBI to investigate the persons who would dare undermine the Supreme Court by openly acting to intimidate its (leftist) members. Toleration by this far-left administration of leaks of drafts of Supreme Court opinions by conservative justices and, now, acts of direct intimidation of those justices make it clear just who would undermine our institutions of government, to sow chaos and discord the left, of course. Nov. 3, 2022 cannot occur too soon. Image: Pixabay, Pixabay License. PLA encircles Taiwan island with carrier drills amid US, Japanese provocations By Liu Xuanzun (Global Times) 08:51, May 09, 2022 A naval formation consisting of aircraft carrier Liaoning has conducted take-off and landing drills in the South China Sea on Jan. 1, 2017. The formation, which is on a "cross-sea area" training exercise, involved J-15 fighter jets, as well as several ship-borne helicopters. Photo: Navy.81.cn Starting a routine, realistic combat training mission in the West Pacific about a week ago, the Liaoningaircraft carrier group of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has reportedly been practicing intensively over the past few days in the Philippine Sea to the east of the island of Taiwan and south of Japan, a location that experts said is a vital place to stop potential external interference in event of a reunification-by-force operation in the Taiwan Straits. With the carrier group to Taiwan's east, the PLA also reportedly dispatched an increased number of different types of warplanes and additional warships from the Chinese mainland west of the island of Taiwan, effectively surrounding and enclosing the island under the watch of US and Japanese aircraft carriers, which are serving as "perfect practice partners" for the PLA drills, analysts said. After reporting a PLA Navy flotilla, consisting of the aircraft carrier Liaoning, a Type 055 large destroyer, three Type 052D destroyers, a Type 052C destroyer, a Type 054A frigate and a Type 901 comprehensive supply ship, sailed from the East China Sea through the Miyako Strait to the Pacific Ocean on May 2, Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff released monitoring reports for five consecutive days from Wednesday to Sunday. It said the carrier group conducted intensive, cross-day-and-night carrier-based aircraft training with live munitions in the Philippine Sea east of the island of Taiwan and south of Japan from Tuesday to Saturday. The Liaoningcarrier group was sailing slowly closer to the island of Taiwan as its drills went on, the Japanese releases show. The Philippine Sea where the Liaoningcarrier group is holding drills is a vital sea region should a reunification-by-force operation take place, Shi Hong, executive chief editor of Chinese mainland magazine Shipborne Weapons, told the Global Times on Sunday. By moving in tandem with aerial and maritime forces from the Chinese mainland, the carrier group could completely cut off the routes foreign forces may take if they militarily interfere with the Taiwan question, and this will bring significant advantages to the PLA, Shi said. Just as the Liaoningcarrier group was practicing to the east of Taiwan, Taiwan's defense authority reported significant increases of PLA warplane activities to the island's southwest and southeast in terms of both aircraft types and sortie numbers from Thursday to Sunday. A total of 31 PLA aircraft sorties featuring H-6 bombers, J-11 and J-16 fighter jets, KJ-500 early warning aircraft, Y-8 anti-submarine warfare aircraft and electronic warfare aircraft, as well as Ka-28 anti-submarine warfare helicopters were spotted by Taiwan's defense authority during those days. Since the Ka-28 is a vessel-based helicopter, it is almost certain that there were PLA warships sailing to the west of the island of Taiwan in addition to the Liaoningcarrier group in the east, observers said. By featuring many powerful vessels, the Liaoningcarrier group is already mighty by itself. It is possible that the carrier group and the forces from the mainland were having a joint exercise, testing different combinations of forces, practicing and enhancing all kinds of tactics, Shi said. PLA aircraft and vessels are not alone in the Philippine Sea, as Japanese and US forces are also present in the region. Japan's Ministry of Defense Joint Staff said that the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force dispatched the Izumo, a de facto aircraft carrier, to monitor the PLA carrier group. According to the Fleet and Marine Tracker by the news website of the US Naval Institute, US Navy's Abraham Lincolncarrier strike group was also operating in the Philippine Sea at least as of May 2. They are the most realistic practice partners for the PLA, because they could be the real opponents the PLA one day might have to face in the region, Shi said, noting that their presence could serve as excellent grindstones that can help enhance the combat capabilities of the Liaoningcarrier group. While Senior Captain Gao Xiucheng, a spokesperson of the PLA Navy, said on Tuesday that the Liaoningcarrier group's drills are not targeted at another party, it is always one of the PLA's greatest goals to liberate Taiwan and achieve national reunification, and all secessionists and external interferences are by default potential targets of the PLA, a Beijing-based military expert told the Global Times, requesting anonymity. With some of the most influential Japanese politicians making wrong remarks on the Taiwan question recently, claiming that "Taiwan's concerns are Japan's concerns," and that "Ukraine may be East Asia tomorrow," and with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi only "postponing" her visit to Taiwan after her alleged COVID-19 infection, it is important that the PLA releases a powerful deterrent with the drills and pragmatically enhances its combat capabilities, the expert said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Fort Worth, Texas is the county seat in Tarrant County. Around 35% of its population is Hispanic. In 2020, Tarrant County, along with other urban and/or heavily Hispanic districts in Texas, voted for Joe Biden. Admittedly, he won by a tiny margin in Tarrant County, but that did seem to suggest a shift toward Democrats in a major urban area. However, on Saturday, any pro-Democrat momentum seemed to have stopped dead when a conservative parents' organization was able to see all its candidates win in four suburban board elections. Most people have one thing they know with absolute certainty, and you cannot lie to them about that one thing. For example, because my parents lived for decades in Israel and were soldiers in its War of Independence, that was my truth, and, when NPR kept making statements I knew were untrue, that shifted me away from being a Democrat. Likewise, my beauty-conscious mother, who'd been dazzled by Jackie Kennedy, was finally convinced that the media were not to be trusted when they kept insisting that Michelle Obama was a Jackie Kennedyesque style icon. That was Mom's truth. And for almost all parents, there is always one overriding truth: their children's well-being. They want their children to thrive. This is especially true in affluent neighborhoods, where housing prices are often driven by the houses' proximity to the best schools in the region. In a pre-COVID era, affluent, college-educated parents found it easy to pay lip service to a whole bunch of leftist shibboleths: we love and respect all LGBT people, we do not judge people based on race, we trust our government institutions to take good care of us, and our public schools are fantastic because the teachers really care about the students. Image: Hall bulletin board in a North Carolina middle school. Twitter screen grab. All those commonly accepted beliefs allowed parents to be complacent about school board elections. They blithely assumed that those people running for school board seats, who campaigned on generic slogans such as "we want our schools to be the best" and "we want to make our schools a welcoming place for everyone," meant what they said. Elect these people, and good teachers would be hired, and the schools' policies would be geared to academic success in a supportive environment. These beliefs were shredded when COVID began. With kids at home watching their classes on computer screens, parents finally saw what was really going on in their kids' classrooms. What parents discovered was that their children were being told that their "gender identity" has nothing to do with biological reality, that White people are inherently racist and inferior, that Blacks are chronic victims of racism and can never rise above that, and that America is an evil country that has exploited racial and sexual minorities across the world for centuries. Because their children are their truth, most parents were appalled by what they saw. They do not want their five-year-old boy to be told he's a misogynistic, racist monster who can slough off some of that shame and sin by renouncing his gender. They did not want their ten-year-old girl to be told that, because she's Black or Hispanic, she's a double-victim who must always be dependent on the kindness of strangers in the government to fight her battles and support her. And they definitely don't want their 15-year-old to be able to read sexually explicit (bordering on pornographic) material advocating transgenderism that she is easily able to find on the school library shelf. In other words, they don't want this kind of thing for their children: A client sent a few pictures from her teenage daughter's math class in San Jose. How is this tolerated? pic.twitter.com/aWluWUMjve Domestic Terrorist (@domestic415) May 7, 2022 A lot of them [students] are queer because I am queer - 4th grade teacher pic.twitter.com/74LSrLKKoi Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 6, 2022 This is the wall decor in @traskbears, a middle school in North Carolina. pic.twitter.com/BIsrW4qBn6 Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) May 5, 2022 Given parents' new understanding of what the activists on school boards and in classrooms have been doing, I anticipate a wave of conservative school board takeovers across America. Certainly, that's what happened on Saturday in Fort Worth (hat tip: RedState): Candidates backed by conservative political action committees won their races in Fort Worth area suburban school board races. Patriot Mobile, a Grapevine cellphone company that calls itself "America's only Christian conservative wireless service provider," poured $500,000 into a PAC to support candidates in the Carroll, Grapevine-Colleyville, Keller and Mansfield school districts, where the races included debates about critical race theory and what books are on library shelves. Every one of its candidates won, according to unofficial results early Sunday with all vote centers reporting. Yes, $500,000 is a lot of money, but what clearly mattered was sending a message to the schools: you are not to teach racism and strange sexualities. Your mission is to educate our children, not indoctrinate them. I predict that we're going to see more and more headlines like this as we move toward the 2024 election. If we can get a handle on outright election fraud, the next few years should see ordinary Americans push back against the leftist madness that's been active for decades but is now fully revealing itself. The Roman historian and polytheist Tacitus considered the Jews depraved for not killing their weak, ill, or deformed babies. He and his hard, steely cold, and immoral value system died away. It was replaced by the Judeo-Christian concept of the sanctification of all human life. But, as the God of the Bible has been under vicious attack in the West for decades, Tacitus is back in full force especially among our "progressives," who lead us back down to this moral perversity. Our kids can shout out their abortions in our leftist government-run public schools but will be expelled if they stand and say, "May God protect all innocent human life." Our elite, our college professors, leftist media, and Hollywood figures have replaced our precious, life-affirming, God- and Bible-based American and Western values with a throwback pagan death culture. Legions of non-orthodox Christian and Jewish clergy, our purveyors of God's word, are all in with the smashing of our American moral compass. They exchange the centurion's sharp sword that hacked down the crippled boy or girl of ancient times with the icy, sterile steel of the modern abortionist's knife, tearing apart millions of innocent babies. And then, like Macbeth's wife, they try to wash away the dastardly deed with the anodyne words of "a choice," "a woman's right," and "reproductive health care." Tens of millions of American boys and girls have lost their lives in this woke, progressive, pagan frenzy of mass killing. With the leak of the draft of the Supreme Court decision on Roe, we have hope that the rule of law, basic human decency, and core Judeo-Christian morality will prevail in parts of America. No, the dismembering and disemboweling of living boys and girls will not be curtailed by ending the unconstitutional and immoral decision of Roe, but at least millions of these children will be saved in American states, red ones, as they bring back through the democratic process basic protection of innocent human life. Overturning Roe will return some moral justice, light, and basic goodness to this once almost completely God-fearing America. It will re-emphasize the logic and moral truth that slaughtering children up until the ninth month is not a moral good, a woman's right, a time to light up the Empire State Building for a big high-five, or simply a choice. It is a barbaric notion that has done diabolical harm for decades to our land and culture. Exodus notes that "God is a warrior." May His warring spirit gird the justices for the onslaught and fury of the death cult of the "progressive" leftist mob to do the right, the moral thing, the Christian, Jewish, and American thing and overturn the moral depravity of Roe. Image: John Stephen Dwyer. Our morning Mass did not see any protests. At the same time, we were ready, and a group of men known as "The Guardians" was ready to protect the entrance. Lots of what they call old-fashioned masculinity was on display, and no one was complaining. Unfortunately, there were problems in some other places. This is one such case as described by Kathryn Jean Lopez: This is pro-abortion NYC this morning blocking the doors of a church screaming about how God loves abortion. One dances with dolls she tells us are her aborted babies. "God killed his kid, why can't I kill mine?" Where do you start with this? Let me start with my late mother, who died almost a year ago. She always told us about making a good first impression. Her point was that impressions matter, especially if you are trying to persuade someone with your argument. I think my mother would have said in Spanish something about going home and rehearsing a new act. How does talking about killing babies help your argument? It does not, and that's reality. By the way, I thought it was the woman's body and it really wasn't a life. Second, let's go to Delaware and look for "the moderate" who probably went to Catholic Mass today. What a fat pitch right down the middle of the plate for a politician to hit 600 feet! What an opportunity to tell repugnant people to wash their hands, hose off their red paint, and respect the premises of a church. To be fair, maybe the moderate will say something today. Better than that, maybe someone in the media will ask him about it. Last, but not least, let's go to Justice John Roberts's residence. I hope Justice Roberts will finally understand that you can't negotiate with these people unless you double down on Roe. The Democrats need a whipping this November so they can finally separate themselves from people who openly call for killing babies on Mother's Day. Again, where have you gone, Mr. Moderate? "Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you," as that song goes. PS: Click for my videos and podcasts at Canto Talk. Image: Adam Fagen. The May 9 military celebration and parade commemorating Russian victory over Nazi Germany in World War II has come and gone with no new Russian stated aims in Ukraine by Putin. For over a month now, there have been no major breakthroughs in the established front fighting lines in eastern and southeastern Ukraine, and it could realistically be called a stalemate with minimal military action. After an initial surge of Russian tank and battalion movement from the north, east, and southeast of Ukraine, the Russians have largely halted any further massive movement of arms. They were repulsed from the capital Kyiv region and regrouped to concentrate mainly on the east of Ukraine and are trying to maintain a foothold in southeast Ukraine. Why Russia has been so ineffective so far is largely due to top-down command problems that weaken the Russians' effectiveness as a modern fighting force, and they don't have the ability to act like a Western army with an efficient lower-level command structure. Probably much more important is the fact that Russian morale is low due to poorly trained troops who were misled by their commanders into thinking they were in Ukraine mainly as a peacekeeping force. The Russian troops were not prepared for a serious armed resistance by the Ukrainians. Many troops are probably still wondering why they should be fighting Ukrainians in the first place. Not being prepared for such a long war, the regrouping of Russian forces has become a major seemingly insurmountable problem. Troop reserves were not prepared to replace the fallen soldiers, and any replacement soldiers have the same morale problem as the initial troop forces. Russian military tactics are merciless and brutal. Russia tries to take over villages and small towns by shelling them with artillery fire and then often pillaging and looting what remains of the rubble. Sometimes the troops then leave, and the Ukrainians sometimes retake the village or small town. Mariupol is an example of a surrounded, devastated city where civilians were mercilessly shelled randomly and left to starve in the city. Kherson is an example of a city that was captured early on in the war without much infrastructure damage where the Russians tried to establish the ruble as the currency, but as of now, it still does not have cell phone or internet service. There is currently what could be called a stalemate situation with neither side making any significant progress in the war. The entire eastern and southeastern front lines have stabilized, and little military action is going on. Ukraine is currently in a landlocked strategic situation with no commercial sea traffic going out of Odesa on the Black Sea due to a blockade by Russian ships. Russia is destroying railroad substations in Ukraine and causing severe shortages of fuel deliveries to the front lines and hampering railroad commerce. Military hardware movement from the west is also hampered, and most Western military hardware will be delivered by air or truck into the foreseeable future. Economically, Ukraine could be a basket case the longer the war lasts. Slow attrition of military hardware and troops is a problem both sides are experiencing. Ukraine will soon have to resupply troops on the eastern front from western regions of Ukraine and wait for military shipments of heavy arms from the Western nations. The problem with NATO military equipment is that Ukrainian troops have to be taught how to use it, so the shipments in many cases are not effectively used on the front lines in a timely fashion. Will Russia be able to hold on to newly occupied eastern and southeastern Ukrainian territory? Will Russia declare war on Ukraine and try to fully mobilize its entire military to fight in Ukraine? Will Putin remain in power long enough, since there are rumors that he is suffering from Parkinson's and is due for a cancer operation? How effective will arms shipments from the West be? Can Ukraine survive economically in a long, drawn out war? These are all debatable questions to which there are no clear answers now. In the meantime, the war is one of military hardware and troop attrition on both sides, which can't go on forever without some resolution. With continuing military, humanitarian, and economic aid from the West, Ukraine will survive. Whether Ukraine will win the war is still a debatable question. Seemingly, Russian troop morale is at an all-time low, and Russian military logistics is terrible. So there is room for some optimism as Ukraine inches its way toward some kind of victory in the long run. Russia seems to be a military paper tiger with a lot of military bling but severely lacking in basics, which is the successful logistical coordination of all that bling with troops on the battlefield in actual combat. "'THEY DECEIVED US AT EVERY STEP': TROOPS SAY RUSSIA'S WAR IS IN SHAMBLES" is a video that gives hope that Ukraine will win in the long run if it continues to get military, humanitarian, and economic aid from the West. However, a permanent stalemate with new borders for Ukraine is for now a more probable outcome in the long run if Russia continues its aggression. Photo credit: YouTube screen grab. Last Thursday evening, three innocent Israeli men were hacked to death with an ax, after terrorists heeded the call of a Hamas leader to "get your cleavers, axes, or knives ready." The violent murders, which left behind 16 newly orphaned children, were just the latest in a string of terrorist attacks across Israel in recent weeks. Any decent human being would condemn the killing of innocents. Last month, however, the NYU Law chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine released a vile anti-Semitic statement that, among other things, endorsed these killings of innocent Israeli civilians. After several Jewish students complained that the letter and ensuing statements of support violated the law school's non-discrimination and harassment policies, the dean sent a fairly milquetoast email announcing that the school would investigate the issue. Last week, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) sent a letter to NYU urging them to "stop investigating anti-Zionist statement." That letter was legally wrong and its moral relativism deeply offensive. FIRE should immediately retract it and encourage a full investigation. First, FIRE ignored the facts. In a clear attempt to minimize what the statement actually said, FIRE recognized some of SJP's blatant anti-Semitism in the letter before dismissing it all as nothing more than offensive political expression. In general, FIRE is right, and hate speech is protected. But FIRE failed to account for the main problem with this specific statement, and these particular complaints. As the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights has made clear, there are times when "speech" crosses over into verbal harassment and invidious discrimination. This is one of those times. As they explained in their formal correspondence with the deans, the Jewish NYU law students who complained about harassment have actual family and friends who live in Israel and who are being targeted by terrorists intent on killing all of them. Their classmates, including a total of 12 different student organizations, are openly endorsing the murder of not only their co-religionists, but also their actual family and friends, and they are doing so while using disgusting anti-Semitic tropes. Because they ignored these crucial facts, FIRE also misinterpreted the law. Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires recipients of federal funding to ensure that their programs and activities are free from harassment, intimidation, and discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin. A violation of Title VI may be found if a school fails to take reasonable steps to eliminate an environment that is "disparately hostile" for certain students relative to their peers. In its letter, FIRE writes that "there is no credible argument" that the behavior of these anti-Semitic law students rose to that level. To be frank, that is utterly ridiculous. The Jewish students at NYU are being confronted with a situation in which dozens of their classmates openly and proudly support the murder of their friends and family, all for the crime of daring to be Jewish in the Jewish homeland. If that does not constitute a disparately hostile educational environment for these students relevant to their peers, such that NYU should have to, at the very least, investigate, then that standard has been rendered meaningless. This episode also did not take place in a vacuum. NYU has had an anti-Semitism problem for years and was already forced to settle a similar Title VI complaint. That agreement required NYU to update its policies regarding anti-Semitism; provide anti-Semitism training to students, faculty, and staff; and report back to OCR on the success of those efforts. As of now, those reporting requirements are set to expire at the end of the academic year on May 31, but seeing as we are still having a conversation about whether it is problematic for NYU student organizations to call for the deaths of Jews, its efforts to this point have clearly failed, and the terms of that agreement must be indefinitely extended. For their part, FIRE's letter feeds into the false SJP narrative that confuses speech with harassment and conflates politics with demonizing hate. They should immediately correct the record. You can be pro-Palestinian without being anti-Semitic, and you can even be anti-Semitic without crossing the line into harassment. But when you openly support the murder of innocent "Zionists" while spreading classic anti-Semitism and your Jewish classmates complain, then you are not the victim of a "silencing campaign" you are in fact the perpetrator. Image: NYU School of Law. Just outside Baghdad International Airport there is a statue of a man wearing a turban with feathered wings strapped over his arms, about to jump from a high pedestal. The statue is identified as Abbbas Ibn Firnas, the father of aviation. But who was Abbbas Ibn Firnas? The statue of Abbas ibn Firnas near Baghdad International Airport. Photo: BaghdadiHistory Abbbas Ibn Firnas was born in the year 810 in Izn-Rand Onda, which was part of the Al-Andalusia Caliphate of Cordova. Located in todays Ronda, Spain, Al-Andalusia was a great center of learning in the Muslim world for engineers, architects and scientists. Young Abbas studied medicine and astrology but was more interested in engineering and making his own inventions. Abbas Ibn Firnas designed a water clock, devised a means of manufacturing colorless glass, invented various glass planispheres, made corrective lenses called reading stones, built a planetarium, and developed a process for cutting rock crystal that allowed Spain to cease exporting quartz to Egypt to be cut. He also liked poetry and music. The story goes that in 852, Firnas witnessed a daredevil named Armen Firman climb atop a minaret of the grand mosque in Qurtuba, wearing a contraption fabricated out of a wooden frame and silk, and jump. Firmans intention, like in the Greek story of Icarus and his father, was to fly. Instead, he plummeted straight down. Fortunately, the wing-like device broke his fall and Armen got away with only minor injuries. Abbas ibn Firnas. Abbas Firnas was impressed by Firmans jump. Twenty three years later, in 875, at the fairly advanced age of seventy, Firnas made his own flying machine out of a bamboo frame covered with silk cloth with actual eagle feathers sewed to it. Wearing the pair of wings, Firnas climbed the hills of Jabal Al-'Arus and jumped off a cliff. According to witnesses, Firnas glided down gracefully and was reportedly airborne for as many as ten minutes. As Firnas came down into his final descent, he realized that his design lacked a tail without which he was unable to control his landing. Firnas hit the ground hard and seriously injured himself. He lived another twelve years after his harrowing experience. While Abbas Firnass story is inspiring, there is only one historical account of Firnass alleged flight, written not by a contemporary historian in Firnass time, but an Algerian historian named Ahmed Mohammed al-Maqqari, a full seven centuries after the supposed events. Maqqaris description of Firnas included the following: Among other very curious experiments which he made, one is his trying to fly. He covered himself with feathers for the purpose, attached a couple of wings to his body, and, getting on an eminence, flung himself down into the air, when according to the testimony of several trustworthy writers who witnessed the performance, he flew a considerable distance, as if he had been a bird, but, in alighting again on the place whence he had started, his back was very much hurt, for not knowing that birds when they alight come down upon their tails, he forgot to provide himself with one. Al-Maqqari does not cite any source for the details of the reputed flight, though he does claim that one verse in a ninth-century Arab poem is actually an allusion to Firnas's flight. The poem was written by Mu'min ibn Said, a court poet of Cordoba under Muhammad I (circa 886), who was acquainted with and usually critical of Ibn Firnas. The pertinent verse runs: He flew faster than the phoenix in his flight when he dressed his body in the feathers of a vulture. Surprisingly, no other contemporary sources refer to the event. Its hard to trust a source written 750 years after the event, and it is astonishing that, if indeed several eye-witness recorded Firnass flight, we find no mention of it outside of Al-Maqqari. Furthermore, the story about Firnas witnessing Armen Firman twenty years prior and being inspired by the daredevil did not originally occur in Al-Maqqaris description. Some believe that Abbas Firnas and Armen Firman were not two different persons but the same. The names along with the date and details of his flight may have been mistranslated and confused in secondary writings. Given the flimsy evidence, its hard to tell whether or not Abbas Firnas flew successfully. Muslim scholars certainly seem to believe he did. Firnass name appears in the names of bridges, hills, parks, avenues and airlines, especially in Berber countries. There is even a crater on the moon named after Abbas ibn Firnas. References: # Abbas ibn Firnas, The Engines of Our Ingenuity # Lynn White, Jr., Eilmer of Malmesbury, an Eleventh Century Aviator: A Case Study of Technological Innovation, Its Context and Tradition, Jstor (ANSA) - ROME, MAY 9 - Premier Mario Draghi is flying to Washington on Monday where he will meet United States President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday. "The meeting will focus on coordination with Allies on measures to support the Ukrainian population and to counter Russia's unjustified aggression," a premier's office statement said. "The two leaders will also discuss the excellent bilateral relations and underline the solidity of the transatlantic bond. "Cooperation in the management of global challenges will be addressed, from energy security to the fight against climate change, from economic revival to the development of transatlantic security. "The two leaders will also exchange views on regional issues and on the preparations ahead of the G7 and NATO summits in June". Unease at the policy of sending weapons to Ukraine to help it defend itself from Russia, meanwhile, is growing within Draghi's broad coalition government, especially from the 5-Star Movement (M5S). On Sunday Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said that, while Italy "must support Ukraine and its army for legitimate self defence... we cannot contemplate supplying weapons to hit Russian soil". (ANSA). (ANSAmed) - ROMA, 09 MAG - Another 88 people have been rescued by Sea Watch, as the NGO announced via Twitter. It noted on Monday that "last night, our crew rescued 88 people from distress at sea. We now have a total of 145 guests onboard our @United4Rescue alliance ship. People who - if the #EU had had its way - would have drowned or been illegally pulled back to #Libya." (ANSAmed). BRUSSELS - European Parliament president Roberta Metsola said Monday during her closing remarks at the Conference on the Future of Europe that her institution would fight for a stronger Europe. She said that "we should listen more than we speak" and that the conference was important for everyone. She added that the next step should be a convention and that certain issues could not be put off any longer including a "true" security and defense policy. She noted that European countries could complement each other instead of compete with each other and added that on energy the bloc was still too dependent on autocratic regimes and that some zones were still isolated. West Bank attack thwarted in Tekoa, Palestinian killed Two youths behind Elad killings confess (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, 09 MAG - A group of Palestinians, apparently 4, tried on Sunday evening to enter the Israeli settlement Tekoa in the West Bank in what seems to have been a plan to conduct an attack. One was killed in reaction by the armed guards there. The public television channel Kan reported the news, saying that on the basis of initial information available, the man killed had sought to get inside a house using a knife. The others fled and the Israeli army is trying to find them. Meanwhile, two Palestinians captured on Sunday by the Israeli security forces after four days of searching for them confessed on Thursday to an attack in Elad (an Orthodox city in central Israel), where three Israelis were killed by an axe and two others were seriously injured. "Yes, Subhi and I beat people but I no not remember the other details," one of the attackers, Assad al-Rifai, 19, told the soldiers who found him hiding in a bush along with Subhi Abu Shkeir, 20. According to an initial reconstruction reported by the two soldiers, the two young Palestinian men said that they had reached Elad in a van driven by an Orthodox Jew, Oren Ben Iftach, who had previously taken them to the city, where they were employed. Once in Elad, the soldiers said, the men had killed the driver in his own vehicle and then waited until dusk before carrying out the other violence. Those looking for the men found them in the woods a few hundred meters from Elad. They found out their identity using a cell phone that had ended up on the ground and money that had the blood of one of the attackers on it. Army units arrived in their village of origin - Rumana, near Jenin - and arrested them. It is widely presumed that, like in similar cases in the past, their homes will be demolished. The Islamic Jihad said that one of the two men is a member of their organisation. (ANSAmed). French president urges common EU policy with Ukraine Calls for reconsideration of European 'architecture' (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, MAY 9 - "From a political point of view, Europe is wider than the EU", French president Emmanuel Macron said at the closing ceremony for the Conference on the Future of Europe on Monday. He added that "the historic challenge before us today is to "create a European political community, a new European architecture that would make it possible for democratic European nations in line with our values to find a new space of political and security cooperation in the fields of energy, transportation, investment, infrastructure, free circulation, and youth". He added that this would not, in any case, impede future EU accessions. (ANSAmed). Watch: Student becomes best friend with grandmother despite 52-year-age gap A 19-year-old student who let a stranded grandmother, 71, stay at her flat after she missed her last bus home, has revealed how the pair have become best friends despite a 52-year age gap. Rebecca McCurry, a sociology student at the University of West of Scotland didn't hesitate to offer Ann, a grandmother-of-five, a place to stay for the night after she spotted her wandering the streets of Glasgow alone. After joining a party McCurry was at and staying the night at her student halls, the thankful grandmother headed back to Dumfries and Galloway, but the pair stayed in touch. Despite having more than five decades between them the duo have become firm friends. They talk every day and have visited each other's homes going for walks, dinners and to the pub together. Read more: Loneliness epidemic: here's how to make friends as an adult Rebecca McCurry, 19, and Ann, 71, have become the best of friends despite a 52-year age gap. (SWNS) Ann had been in Glasgow visiting her sick brother when she got stuck trying to get home in March 2021. Unable to stay in a hotel due to COVID regulations and having missed the last bus home, she was grateful to McCurry for offering her a place to stay. McCurry first spotted Ann when she headed outside the party she'd been attending. "I couldn't believe it when she told me she'd been wandering around for so long," McCurry explains. "It was already about 11.30pm. I made her come in with me and I snuck her past my security by saying she was my granny." After taking Ann to her room, McCurry planned to head back to the party for a while but her unexpected house guest was keen to come too. "Ann just turned around and said 'Where's my invite?' so she ended up coming along," the student laughs. "Everyone loved her." The following morning McCurry was shocked to discover Ann in her bed the next morning having momentarily forgotten the previous night's events. "I saw her short hair poking out of my duvet and I freaked out thinking 'Who is in my bed?'" she says. "Then I remembered. "Ann couldn't stop calling me an angel but I was just glad to help." Read more: Moments of hope amidst the loneliness of lockdown captured in moving photographs The duo have struck up a successful age-gap friendship. (Rebecca McCurry/SWNS) The grandmother managed to get home safely the next day, but the unlikely friends kept in touch. "I find her so interesting," McCurry says. "She's a bit of a hippie and has so many cool stories and has done every job under the sun." McCurry has since been to visit Ann, with the friends going for dinner, a walk along the beach and to a local pub for some live music. "It was a lovely weekend," she says. "We just have the best time together. "I think she loves finding out what it is like to be a student these days and I love hearing all about her. "After meeting Ann I'm not scared to get old. "If that's what it is like to be a pensioner then count me in." Read more: Look at all the lonely people: Why do over 80% of retirees feel isolated? Intergenerational friendships are on the rise, partly due to the pandemic. (Getty Images) The benefits of age-gap relationships While close friends are often similar in age, recent research from AARP has found nearly four in ten adults (37%) have a good friend who is at least 15 years older or younger than they are. And it seems intergenerational friendships could be on the rise, thanks, in part, to the pandemic. "There are a variety of reasons we could be seeing a rise in age-gap friendships," explains psychologist and wellbeing consultant, Lee Chambers. "For many, the pandemic has brought communities closer and facilitated meetings, changed people's routines and patterns, and encouraged them to try new activities. "Technology has brought others together, while others have been meeting as they have spent time considering what's important to them and searching outside of their usual networks." Of course, our social net is also cast a little wider as we age and join fitness groups, book clubs and other social activities that span a variety of age-groups. Equally you may meet a new age-difference friend in the workforce, where, according to the AARP study, you're more than twice as likely to befriend someone from another generation than anywhere else. Striking up a friendship with someone much older or younger than you can be mutually rewarding for both of you. "From an external perspective, there is something exciting and novel about friendships where the age gap spans more than one generation," Chambers explains. "But behind the heart-warming stories, there are benefits for both parties in bridging the generation gap, and this includes boosting our mental wellbeing, widening our perspective and supporting an increase in empathetic and compassionate behaviours toward yourself and others." These kinds of friendships can also be positive in terms of breaking down generational stereotypes and assumptions and widening our perspective. An age-based skill swap may be another advantage to maintaining a relationship with someone of a different generation. "An older friend may offer the ability to share insights and wisdom, having lived through experiences and built life skills, while younger friends are more likely to be able to share skills around data, technology and popular culture," Chambers explains. Read more: Meet the woman with 92 grandchildren: Family spans six generations of girls Striking up an intergenerational friendship can be mutually beneficial. (Getty Images) More benefits come from having shared interests and connecting through passions and activities. "This facilitates discussion and joint expression, something valuable to both friends and a feeling of belonging," Chambers adds. "There is even the ability to feel more confident around other generations, gaining exposure to different and diverse viewpoints, and feeling more connected to our own family across the generations." One of the most important pluses however, has to be the potential these friendships have to ward off loneliness. "Age gap friendships give so much to both sides, and generate deep bonds that stave off loneliness and isolation, which is prevalent across the generations," Chambers explains. "Whether the older friend is sharing history and culture or the younger friend sharing the latest technology and trends, there is no better time to have a spectrum of friends across generations as we continue to navigate the dynamic world we live in." Additional reporting SWNS. A 43-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after another man died following a fall from a window in Liverpool. Police were called about 9.55pm on Sunday after a report a man in his 40s had fallen from the property on Longmoor Lane, near the junction of Inglis Road, in Walton. Emergency services attended and the man was taken to hospital where he died, Merseyside Police said in a statement. The 43-year-old who was arrested was known to the alleged victim and has been taken into custody for questioning. INCIDENT | Police are currently on Longmoor Lane, #Walton, after we received a report a man had sadly died after falling from the window of a property. More https://t.co/1rHFrH8zG7 Enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with info please DM @MerPolCC or call 101 with ref 22000315871 pic.twitter.com/WTdOUr3zBx Merseyside Police (@MerseyPolice) May 9, 2022 Officers were undertaking forensic investigations and going house-to-house at the scene following the incident, while nearby security footage was also being reviewed. Motorists were advised to use alternative routes due to road closures on Longmoor Lane between Greenwich Road and Hall Road. Detective Inspector Gary Stratton said: We are in the extremely early stages of an investigation, and I would appeal to anyone who has any information at all to come forward. Investigations are ongoing to establish exactly what happened and our officers are at the scene while we conduct house-to-house enquiries and gather information. If you saw or heard any suspicious behaviour in the area this evening then please let us know. Similarly if you were driving down Longmoor Lane and have dashcam footage then please review it and contact us if you see anything. All information you hold could be vital to our investigation. Anyone who witnessed this incident, or with any information, was asked to contact the force on Twitter, Facebook or by calling 101 with reference 22000315871. Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers. People have been enjoying free drinks in pubs all over the British Isles courtesy of musician Paul Heaton, who is celebrating his 60th birthday. The former Housemartins and The Beautiful South artist announced on Saturday that he would be putting money behind the bar at 60 pubs in the UK and Ireland in lieu of his intended tour. To celebrate my 60th birthday (on Monday 9th May) Id originally intended to do another bicycle tour, visiting & performing at 60 pubs across the UK & Ireland, Heaton tweeted. To celebrate my 60th birthday (on Monday 9th May) Id originally intended to do another bicycle tour, visiting & performing at 60 pubs across the UK & Ireland. However, due to recording delays caused by the pandemic, Ive had to shelve these plans for the time being pic.twitter.com/lB3cJjf06m Paul Heaton (@PaulHeatonSolo) May 7, 2022 However, due to recording delays caused by the pandemic, Ive had to shelve these plans for the time being. Instead, Ive decided that the next best way to celebrate this coming of age is to handpick 60 pubs across the UK and Ireland and put a given amount of money behind the bar of each one. The hope is to bring people together on the day, whilst recognising that many folk who bought my records or showed me support over the years could do with a wee party as we come out of Covid and hit potential financial struggles. On Monday, Heaton retweeted pictures from a number of establishments where people were raising a glass to him. That's lovely, enjoy your pint https://t.co/xFiOKUxW0D Paul Heaton (@PaulHeatonSolo) May 9, 2022 Happy 60th Birthday to you @PaulHeatonSolo thanks for the drink, tweeted The Fall drummer Simon Wolstencroft. Thats lovely, enjoy your pint, replied Heaton. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) Arooza was furious and afraid, keeping her eyes open for Taliban on patrol as she and a friend shopped Sunday in Kabul's Macroyan neighborhood. The math teacher was fearful her large shawl, wrapped tight around her head, and sweeping pale brown coat would not satisfy the latest decree by the country's religiously driven Taliban government. After all, more than just her eyes were showing. Her face was visible. Arooza, who asked to be identified by just one name to avoid attracting attention, wasn't wearing the all-encompassing burqa preferred by the Taliban, who on Saturday issued a new dress code for women appearing in public. The edict said only a woman's eyes should be visible. The decree by the Taliban's hardline leader Hibaitullah Akhunzada even suggested women shouldn't leave their homes unless necessary and outlines a series of punishments for male relatives of women violating the code. It was a major blow to the rights of women in Afghanistan, who for two decades had been living with relative freedom before the Taliban takeover last August when U.S. and other foreign forces withdrew in the chaotic end to a 20-year war. A reclusive leader, Akhunzada rarely travels outside southern Kandahar, the traditional Taliban heartland. He favors the harsh elements of the group's previous time in power, in the 1990s, when girls and women were largely barred from school, work and public life. Like Taliban founder Mullah Mohammad Omar, Akhunzada imposes a strict brand of Islam that marries religion with ancient tribal traditions, often blurring the two. Akhunzada has taken tribal village traditions where girls often marry at puberty, and rarely leave their homes, and called it a religious demand, analysts say. The Taliban have been divided between pragmatists and hardliners, as they struggle to transition from an insurgency to a governing body. Meanwhile, their government has been dealing with a worsening economic crisis. And Taliban efforts to win recognition and aid from Western nations have floundered, largely because they have not formed a more representative government, and restricted the rights of girls and women. Until now, hardliners and pragmatists in the movement have avoided open confrontation. Yet divisions were deepened in March, on the eve of the new school year, when Akhunzada issued a last-minute decision that girls should not be allowed to go to school after completing the sixth grade. In the weeks ahead of the start of the school year, senior Taliban officials had told journalists all girls would be allowed back in school. Akhunzada asserted that allowing the older girls back to school violated Islamic principles. A prominent Afghan who meets the leadership and is familiar with their internal squabbles said that a senior Cabinet minister expressed his outrage over Akhunzada's views at a recent leadership meeting. He spoke on condition of anonymity to speak freely. Torek Farhadi, a former government adviser, said he believes Taliban leaders have opted not to spar in public because they fear any perception of divisions could undermine their rule. The leadership does not see eye to eye on a number of matters but they all know that if they dont keep it together, everything might fall apart," Farhadi said. In that case, they might start clashes with each other. For that reason, the elders have decided to put up with each other, including when it comes to non-agreeable decisions which are costing them a lot of uproar inside Afghanistan and internationally, Farhadi added. Some of the more pragmatic leaders appear to be looking for quiet workarounds that will soften the hard-line decrees. Since March, there has been a growing chorus, even among the most powerful Taliban leaders, to return older girls to school while quietly ignoring other repressive edicts. Earlier this month, Anas Haqqani, the younger brother of Sirajuddin, who heads the powerful Haqqani network, told a conference in the eastern city of Khost that girls are entitled to education and that they would soon return to school though he didn't say when. He also said that women had a role in building the nation. You will receive very good news that will make everyone very happy... this problem will be resolved in the following days, Haqqani said at the time. In the Afghan capital of Kabul on Sunday, women wore the customary conservative Muslim dress. Most wore a traditional hijab, consisting of a headscarf and long robe or coat, but few covered their faces, as directed by the Taliban leader a day earlier. Those wearing a burqa, a head-to-toe garment that covers the face and hides the eyes behind netting were in the minority. Women in Afghanistan wear the hijab, and many wear the burqa, but this isn't about hijab, this is about the Taliban wanting to make all women disappear," said Shabana, who wore bright gold bangles beneath her flowing black coat, her hair hidden behind a black head scarf with sequins. This is about the Taliban wanting to make us invisible." Arooza said the Taliban rulers are driving Afghans to leave their country. Why should I stay here if they don't want to give us our human rights? We are human," she said. Several women stopped to talk. They all challenged the latest edict. We don't want to live in a prison, said Parveen, who like the other women wanted only to give one name. These edicts attempt to erase a whole gender and generation of Afghans who grew up dreaming of a better world, said Obaidullah Baheer, a visiting scholar at New Yorks New School and former lecturer at the American University in Afghanistan. It pushes families to leave the country by any means necessary. It also fuels grievances that would eventually spill over into large-scale mobilization against the Taliban," he said. After decades of war, Baheer said it wouldnt have taken much on the Talibans part to make Afghans content with their rule an opportunity that the Taliban are wasting fast. The Prince of Wales is teetering on the edge of becoming a de facto prince regent, with Buckingham Palace keen to show the monarchy is safe in the hands of father and son, a royal expert has said. Former BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt said the opening of Parliament by both Charles and the Duke of Cambridge, with the prince reading the Queens speech, was a significant moment for two future kings. The Queen has delegated certain powers as head of state to both her son and heir Charles and second-in-line William as Counsellors of State to open Parliament on her behalf on Tuesday in an unprecedented move. The Queen, Charles and William (Yui Mok/PA) Charles will also read the speech setting out the Governments agenda for the first time. Mr Hunt told the PA news agency: This is a significant moment for two future kings. Charles will accelerate his on-the-job training. The heir is teetering on the edge of becoming a de facto prince regent. William will observe what awaits him. With the Queen progressively withdrawing from public life, the palace is keen to show the monarchy is safe in the hands of father and son. Constitutional expert Dr Bob Morris, of UCLs Constitution Unit, said it was more likely than not that the arrangements would continue for future state openings, meaning the Queen, who is now 96 and facing episodic mobility problems, may not ever open Parliament again. The Queen will miss the State Opening of Parliament for the first time in nearly 60 years (Richard Pohle/The Times/PA) Dr Morris said: It is unprecedented and its the way in which the constitution flexes to accommodate unusual circumstances. I cant think of any possible earlier version of this. He added: Theyve gone down the Counsellor of State route, thats one way round it. The Prince of Wales is giving the speech and William is there as his stay and support as it were. Its a rather odd confection but it works. In the event that the Queen cannot undertake her official duties as sovereign on a temporary basis due to illness or absence abroad, two or more Counsellors of State are appointed by Letters Patent to act in her place. By law, Counsellors of State include the sovereigns spouse, which would have been the late Duke of Edinburgh, and the next four people in the line of succession who are over the age of 21. These are currently the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York. The Queen is empowered to appoint the Counsellors under the Regency Acts 1937-53. The delegation of powers to Counsellors of State is made by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm, and the Queen will sign the document. The last time Counsellors of State were needed was in 2015 when the Queen was away on an official visit to Malta. Counsellors of State allow for a temporary delegation of duties. But there are certain core constitutional functions, that unless there is a regency, cannot be delegated, such as giving Royal Assent to legislation, appointing a prime minister, the weekly meetings with the PM and appointing and dismissing governor-generals. A regency would be when the Queen transferred her powers as monarch to Charles without having to abdicate. The Regency Act 1937 states that the monarchs duties will be performed by a regent if the monarch is declared to be by reason of infirmity of mind or body incapable of performing royal functions, or if there is evidence that the Sovereign is for some definite cause not available for the performance of those functions. This must be declared in writing by three or more out of the sovereigns wife or husband, the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Chief Justice and the Master of the Rolls. The Queen is currently still carrying out duties from Windsor, and is due to have her weekly audience with the PM on Wednesday and hold a Privy Council this week. Former President Barack Obama honored his wife, Michelle Obama, with a sweet family photo on Mother's Day. (Photo: Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Former President Barack Obama took a moment to celebrate his wife, Michelle Obama, on Mother's Day. In a sweet family photo that features the couple smiling alongside their two daughters, Sasha and Malia, Obama shared a touching message honoring the mother of his children. Dressed casually in a button-down shirt and khakis, Obama had his arms around his daughters as he stood alongside them in the peaceful outdoor setting. "Happy Mother's Day! I hope you all let the moms and mother-figures in your life know how much they mean to you. @MichelleObama, thank you for being a wonderful mother and role model to our daughters and to so many others around the world," he wrote. On her own Instagram page, the former first lady celebrated her own mother, Marian Shields Robinson, who has also served as a guiding light for her grandchildren. "Happy #MothersDay!" Obama captioned the throwback photo, which featured daughters Sasha and Malia alongside their mom and grandmother. "I'm so thankful for the love, guidance and care that my mom has instilled in me. Ive shared so much of her wisdom with my own daughters over the years." Both Obama daughters are well on their way to adulthood, living in Los Angeles to pursue their dreams. Sasha Obama, 20, was recently spotted walking through West Hollywood with her rumored boyfriend, Clifton Powell Jr. According to the Daily Mail, Sasha recently transferred to the University of Southern California from the University of Michigan. Meanwhile, her older sister Malia Obama, 23, is working as a staff writer on a Donald Glover Amazon Prime project. She graduated from Harvard University in 2021. Both young women have pursued activism, participating in Black Lives Matter protests. Last year, Obama explained that his children are "so much wiser, more sophisticated and gifted than I was at their age," he told CNN's Anderson Cooper. While he often worries about his daughters' physical safety ("that's just the nature of fatherhood," he explained) he's very proud of their choices in regards to their social and political action. "In terms of them having a good sense of what's right and wrong and their part and role to play in making the country better, I dont worry about that," he said. CrackerClips / Getty Images/iStockphoto Social Security is an essential safety net for many Americans. Even if you haven't saved enough for retirement, you can still count on Social Security benefits in retirement. Read: 14 Key Signs You Will Run Out of Money in Retirement Learn: Best and Worst States for Pensions However, with an average monthly benefit of just over $1,400, America's most expensive cities are far out of reach without another source of income. If you do have to rely on your Social Security benefits alone -- and still want to make the most of your golden years -- you'll need to live somewhere affordable that won't compromise your quality of life. That's why GOBankingRates compiled a list of the 20 best cities to live off of just Social Security. The study factored in the cost of living, livability and median rent and -- after comparing the 143 largest cities in the U.S. -- combined the scores to determine where you really can get by on just your Social Security benefit. DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images 20. Lubbock, Texas Cost of Living Score: 79.9 Livability Score: 68 Average Rent: $719 Lubbock is one of five Texas cities identified in the study as a good place to live just on Social Security. Its relatively low livability score and rent of more than $700 per month prevented it from moving up on the list. Ron_Thomas / iStock.com 19. Toledo, Ohio Cost of Living Score: 72.7 Livability Score: 62 Average Rent: $651 Toledo's cost of living indicates that you can expect to spend more than 25% less on your basic expenses than you would in the rest of the country, on average. What's more, Toledo is one of the cities where your money stretches the furthest, according to a separate GOBankingRates study. Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto 18. Cleveland, Ohio Cost of Living Score: 72.6 Livability Score: 60 Average Rent: $612 If you're younger and looking to avoid living off your Social Security check alone when you reach retirement, one of the best ways is to start saving early. However, even if it's too late to build the sort of nest egg you would like, a city like Cleveland -- which combines modest rent with a low cost of living -- should help you make the most of your Social Security benefits. RoschetzkyIstockPhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto 17. Magnolia, Texas Cost of Living Score: 104 Livability Score: 80 Average Rent: $773 Magnolia is about 45 miles northwest of Houston in fast-growing Montgomery County. Its popularity probably has led to the high rental rate in the city - eighth-highest on the list. It also has the second-highest cost of living in the study. Art Wager / Getty Images/iStockphoto 16. Richmond, Texas Cost of Living Score: 108.2 Livability Score: 82 Average Rent: $780 Also located in the Houston metropolitan area is Richmond, and it has the highest cost-of-living index in the study. It's livability score is among the biggest, too. WilliamSherman / Getty Images/iStockphoto 15. Roanoke, Virginia Cost of Living Score: 84.1 Livability Score: 75 Average Rent: $792 The average rent cost in Roanoke is the fourth-highest on the list, but its lower cost of living and high livability rates make it desirable for retirees. If you wanted supplement your Social Security earnings, Roanoke is a good place to do it. Another GOBankingRates study showed it's one of the top 20 cities for remote workers. Shutterstock.com 14. Lincoln, Nebraska Cost of Living Score: 89.8 Livability Score: 78 Average Rent: $806 The average rent in Lincoln of $806 is second-highest on the list, but overall, living in this college town still is 10% cheaper to live in than the rest of the United States. DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images 13. Grand Forks, North Dakota Cost of Living Score: 88.2 Livability Score: 74 Average Rent: $733 Grand Forks is the northernmost city on the list, and one of two in North Dakota. At $733, rent in Grand Forks is at the midpoint, but it's still 11% less expensive to live here than elsewhere. DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 12. Odessa, Texas Cost of Living Score: 88 Livability Score: 63 Average Rent: $504 The primary appeal of Odessa to retirees is the low cost of rent. At $504 per month, it's the cheapest in the study - and by a wide margin. But the livability score of 63 also is among the lowest, knocking Odessa to No. 12 on the list. DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images 11. Fargo, North Dakota Cost of Living Score: 91.9 Livability Score: 77 Average Rent: $740 Fargo is one of the best cities to live in on a fixed income, another GOBankingRates study revealed. That should appeal to those relying on Social Security. Shutterstock.com 10. Davenport, Iowa Cost of Living Score: 81.7 Livability Score: 69 Average Rent: $644 It costs about 19% less to live in Davenport than the average American city, fueled by its average rent of $644 per month. Dragging it down is its livability score of just 69. DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 9. Abilene, Texas Cost of Living Score: 78.1 Livability Score: 75 Average Rent: $780 The last of the five Texas cities on the list, Abilene has a cost of living that is about 22% below the national average - one of the lowest in the study. That makes the comparatively high apartment cost of $780 easier to bear. Gau Meo / Shutterstock.com 8. Norman, Oklahoma Cost of Living Score: 89.4 Livability Score: 76 Average Rent: $715 Norman is the home of the University of Oklahoma, and living surrounded by all of those college students will keep a retiree young. The average rent of $715 is the seventh-lowest among cities on the list. Shutterstock.com 7. Lake Charles, Louisiana Cost of Living Score: 83.4 Livability Score: 70 Average Rent: $622 For retirees interested in living near the water, with all of the recreational opportunities that brings - think fishing! - there's good news: Lake Charles has the third-lowest rent cost of the cities considered in this study. benkrut / Getty Images/iStockphoto 6. Des Moines, Iowa Cost of Living Score: 81.2 Livability Score: 75 Average Rent: $729 Des Moines scored high in two categories, livability and cost of living, which led to its No. 6 ranking on this list. IMG_191 / Shutterstock.com 5. Rochester, Minnesota Cost of Living Score: 94.1 Livability Score: 84 Average Rent: $800 About 3 million people visit Rochester annually, many of them to visit with doctors at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, which opened in the city in 1889. While rents are the third-highest in the study, its livability score is high, too, making it desirable for retirees. ChrisBoswell / Getty Images/iStockphoto 4. Fort Wayne, Indiana Cost of Living Score: 78.9 Livability Score: 75 Average Rent: $718 Fort Wayne is a little pricier than many of the other cities on this list, but it still is among one of the best cities in the nation to retire on $1,500 a month, found a separate GOBankingRates study. Wikimedia Commons 3. St. Charles, Missouri Cost of Living Score: 92.2 Livability Score: 86 Average Rent: $831 St. Charles has the highest rental cost in the study at $831 but it also has the highest livability score at 86. There's a lot for retirees to do there, from exploring historic Main Street to touring the local wine country. Shutterstock.com 2. Lynchburg, Virginia Cost of Living Score: 82.9 Livability Score: 81 Average Rent: $786 Lynchburg's relatively high livability score is the primary factor in pushing the city to No. 2 on this list, but its retiree-friendly cost of living is another major factor. The cost of living is about 17% below the U.S. average. Shutterstock.com 1. Rock Springs, Wyoming Cost of Living Score: 96.2 Livability Score: 83 Average Rent: $692 Outlaw Butch Cassidy once called Rock Springs, an outpost of the Old West, home. Today, it's a city welcoming to retirees, with a low average rent of $692 and a high livability score. An old mining town located in the high desert, Rock Springs is near the Killpecker Sand Dunes, which are the largest sand dunes in North America. More From GOBankingRates Joel Anderson contributed to the reporting for this article. Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the best places to live on only a Social Security check based on the (1) average monthly benefit for retired workers, $1,518.97, sourced from Social Security Administration; (2) the overall cost of living in each city, sourced from Sperling's Best Places; (3) average 2021 rent for a one-bedroom apartment as sourced from ApartmentList,; and (4) Livability scores sourced from areavibes. Factors (2) through (4) were scored and combined with the lowest score being best. Factor (4) was weighted double in final calculations. All data was collected and is up to date as of Dec. 14, 2021. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 20 Best Places To Live on Only a Social Security Check heyengel / Getty Images Retirement can be a big change. Not only is it a big change in terms of lifestyle, but it can also be a big change in income. For instance, the average Social Security payment for retired workers was $1,665 in March 2022. Find: 20 Best Places To Live on Only a Social Security Check Advice: 25 Things To Sell When You're Ready To Retire Some Americans rely on Social Security as their sole source of income. In other words, someone who receives to average payment could be living on less than $20,000 in annual income. For those retired workers, absorbing high costs of living is likely not an option, especially if they have little to no retirement savings. Hence, cities with a high cost of living (CoL) should be avoided. Here, we'll take a look at the worst cities for living on just a Social Security check, highlighting data such as rent for a one-bedroom apartment and the overall CoL. Gary Fink / Getty Images/iStockphoto 22. Plano, Texas Cost of Living Index : 109.3 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,483 Livability Score: 88 Plano has a dense suburban feel and plenty of restaurants, coffee shops and parks. It also has an excellent livability score of 88. Despite its perks, though, its CoL is rated at 109.3 against the U.S. average of 100, according to Best Places. Rent for a one-bedroom is $1,483 in Plano -- that alone consumes most of the typical Social Security check. POLL: Do You Think States Should Suspend Their Gas Taxes? anouchka / Getty Images/iStockphoto 21. Tampa, Florida Cost of Living Index : 100.1 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,472 Livability Score: 74 With its laid-back feel and beach lifestyle, Tampa could be attractive to those looking for a comfortable place to retire. However, the city isn't quite as livable, with a score of 74. Plus, rent for a one-bedroom is about the same as the cost in Plano. The one benefit of Tampa, at least given its place on this list, is that the overall cost of living there is almost precisely in line with the national average. franckreporter / Getty Images/iStockphoto 20. Austin, Texas Cost of Living Index : 119.3 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,519 Livability Score: 72 People have been flocking to cities like Austin in recent years in search of high-paying jobs. Austin, in particular, offers high-paying tech jobs in a city that is more affordable than San Francisco. However, all of those high earners moving to Austin have driven up the cost; one-bedroom rent is $1,519, and its overall cost of living is rated 119.3. Plus, the city isn't particularly livable, rated at 72. bobbyuzda / iStock.com 19. Orlando, Florida Cost of Living Index : 104.1 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,492 Livability Score: 69 Home to "The Happiest Place on Earth" -- also known as Disney World -- Orlando is a big draw for a lot of people. Of course, the city has hundreds of resort hotels overall, and people love going there for its warm weather and sunny days. However, its livability leaves something to be desired with a score of 69. Plus, rent is nearly $1,500, and its CoL is above average at 104.1. Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto 18. Miami, Florida Cost of Living Index : 123.1 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,639 Livability Score: 65 With beaches, parks and tropical weather, there are a lot of reasons Miami might seem like a great place to move. And while the pros are definitely there, one can't deny the downsides to the famous beach town, especially if you are living on Social Security. For starters, one-bedroom rent is $1,639, which is almost the same amount as the typical Social Security check. The overall cost of living is above average at 123, and the city isn't very livable, rated 65. benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto 17. Denver, Colorado Cost of Living Index : 128.7 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,483 Livability Score: 63 Denver is a vibrant city with rich arts and culture and an excellent night life. Plus, the city can be seen as a cheaper alternative to the expensive West Coast. But the cost of living index for Denver is 128.7, so it isn't as affordable as one might like. Plus, the livability score is a paltry 63. Rent is lower than most of the cities before it, though. Art Wager / Getty Images 16. San Diego, California Cost of Living Index : 160.1 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,901 Livability Score: 71 San Diego is a beautiful city. Not only is the weather gorgeous, but it features stunning Spanish and Victorian architecture. However, the city's perks come at a cost. Rent is just over $1,900, and the cost of living is rated at 160.1, putting it out of reach for most Social Security recipients. Its livability score isn't the best, either; it's rated 71 in that category. Shutterstock.com 15. Chula Vista, California Cost of Living Index : 147.1 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,693 Livability Score: 67 Chula Vista is a part of the San Diego metropolitan area, located just to the south and sitting right on the San Diego Bay. The city boasts more than 52 square miles of coastal landscape, canyons, rolling hills, mountains, quality parks and miles of trails While Chula Vista is more affordable than San Diego, costs are still high; one-bedroom rent is $1,693. It also isn't very livable, receiving a 67 livability score. On the Flipside: 12 Best Big Cities To Live on Just a Social Security Check Ultima_Gaina / Getty Images/iStockphoto 14. Jersey City, New Jersey Cost of Living Index : 146.8 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,932 Livability Score: 69 Located just across the Hudson River from Manhattan, Jersey City is one possible alternative for those who can't afford Manhattan rent. However, rent in Jersey City is still high at over $1,900, and the overall CoL isn't much better. Plus, the livability score is just 69. Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto 13. Seattle, Washington Cost of Living Index : 172.3 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,681 Livability Score: 65 Home to companies like Starbucks and Amazon, Seattle is a big draw for those in search of high-paying jobs. However, if you're living on Social Security, Seattle is one city you may want to avoid. While rent isn't the highest on this list, it still consumes all of the average Social Security check. The city is expensive overall, and the livability score is only 65. Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 12. Irvine, California Cost of Living Index : 187.1 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $2,846 Livability Score: 80 Irvine is located in Orange County, about an hour southeast of downtown Los Angeles. Despite being reasonably far from the big city, Irvine is quite livable with plenty of bars, restaurants, coffee shops and parks. However, the cost of living is very high at 187.1. The one-bedroom rent is over $2,800, which is easily the highest rent on this list. MattGush / Getty Images/iStockphoto 11. Anaheim, California Cost of Living Index : 152.2 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,794 Livability Score: 62 Another town located southeast of Los Angeles, Anaheim is part of the Greater Los Angeles metro area. The city is best known for being home to Disneyland, but there are plenty of bars and restaurants in town, too. Unfortunately, its livability score is not the best, and both rent and the overall cost of living are high. MattGush / Getty Images/iStockphoto 10. Riverside, California Cost of Living Index : 133.1 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,720 Livability Score: 59 Riverside, too, isn't far from Los Angeles, although it's much closer to San Bernardino. It offers most of the typical suburban fare, such as coffee shops and parks. Rent isn't terrible with an average of $1,720; the same can be said for the cost of living at 133.1. However, we are getting into territory with very low livability scores here -- it has just a 59 in that category. DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 9. Long Beach, California Cost of Living Index : 160.4 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,593 Livability Score: 59 Long Beach is also near Los Angeles. In fact, you can be in L.A. in under 40 minutes by taking I-710 (traffic permitting). As its name suggests, the city is located right on the water with, well, a long beach. While rent is much more affordable than it is in L.A., it is nevertheless nearly $1,600 for a one-bedroom. The overall CoL is high at 160.4, and the city is not very livable with a score of 59. OlegAlbinsky / Getty Images/iStockphoto 8. New York City, New York Cost of Living Index : 187.2 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $2,068 Livability Score: 67 Known as "The City that Never Sleeps," there is always something to do in New York. Perhaps more importantly, there is something for everyone, as the city is extremely diverse and vibrant. However, the one-bedroom rent is over $2,000, making it unaffordable for those on Social Security. The overall cost of living is 187.2, and the livability score is just 67. NicolasMcComber / Getty Images/iStockphoto 7. San Jose, California Cost of Living Index : 214.5 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $2,004 Livability Score: 67 Located in the Bay Area, San Jose is another place that might offer a slight reprieve from the expensive real estate in San Francisco. While the city is undoubtedly nice, rent is still over $2,000 in San Jose. The overall cost of living is nearly 215 as well. Livability matches that of New York, rated 67. Tanarch / Getty Images/iStockphoto 6. Washington, D.C. Cost of Living Index : 152.1 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,786 Livability Score: 56 With its status as the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. is a popular place for visitors and residents alike. Whether it's touring the White House or hanging out on the National Mall, D.C. has plenty to offer. However, once the novelty wears off, you have a livability score of just 56. Rent isn't very affordable at over $1,750, and the CoL is rated 152.1. f11photo / Shutterstock.com 5. Boston, Massachusetts Cost of Living Index : 162.4 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $2,016 Livability Score: 59 Boston has some of the richest history of any city in America -- not to mention having prestigious universities such as Harvard and Boston University. The city is not rated particularly livable, though, scoring just 59. Plus, one-bedroom rent is over $2,000 per month, and the overall cost of living is rated 162.4. MattGush / Getty Images/iStockphoto 4. Santa Ana, California Cost of Living Index : 146.3 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,795 Livability Score: 54 Also located in Orange County, Santa Ana is just south of Anaheim. The city does offer easy access to pristine beaches, and costs are lower than they are in the surrounding area. Still, rent is nearly $1,800 per month for a one-bedroom, and the overall cost of living is 146.3. Worst of all, the livability score is 54, which leaves a lot to be desired. DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 3. Oakland, California Cost of Living Index : 174.4 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,653 Livability Score: 53 Located just across the bay from San Francisco, Oakland offers another cheaper alternative to the high rents in S.F. There are plenty of shops and restaurants, and Oakland is served by the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system. Still, its livability score is 53, which is dead last, at least among cities on this list. The overall cost of living is still high, too, at 174.4. Chones / Shutterstock.com 2. Los Angeles, California Cost of Living Index : 173.3 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $1,756 Livability Score: 54 We've taken a look at many of the cities in the L.A. area, and now we have the big city itself at #2. Needless to say, the city has endless things to do; it's highly unlikely you would ever be bored. However, public transportation is lacking, and traffic is atrocious. That could explain its paltry livability score of 54. While rent is high for someone on Social Security, it's not as high as others on this list. Still, the overall CoL is high at 173.3. Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto 1. San Francisco, California Cost of Living Index : 269.3 2022 Average 1 Bdr Rent : $2,360 Livability Score: 67 We have also looked at areas in the San Francisco area, and now we have San Fran itself, rated the worst city for those receiving only a Social Security check. San Francisco is undoubtedly beautiful, but it's also one of the most expensive places to live in the country. It has by far the highest rating on the cost of living index on this list, rated 269.3. Keep in mind that San Jose, which is in the Bay Area, is #2 for CoL. Rent is nearly $2,400 for a one-bedroom, and the livability score isn't great, coming in at 67. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 22 Worst Big Cities To Live on Just a Social Security Check Long-time Elon Musk confidante and LinkedIn Founder Reid Hoffman says his friend has a lot of good ideas on tap to fundamentally change Twitter for the better should the billionaire's deal go through. "So there's some things I've talked about [with him], which I can't say here," the noted venture capitalist and "The Startup of You" author said on a new episode of Yahoo Finance Presents (video above). "One of the things he already has tweeted about and Twitter being a good means for doing this is bringing more validation of human identity onto the platform. And I think that is actually a good thing. And I think that vision as part of what he's thinking about on Twitter is clearly a very good idea." Hoffman and Musk are part of the infamous "PayPal Mafia" or as Hoffman prefers: the PayPal Network a group of game-changing co-founders of the payments platform that also includes Peter Thiel and Affirm (AFRM) Founder Max Levchin. SAN FRANCISCO, CA - SEPTEMBER 06: Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman speaks onstage during Day 2 of TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2018 at Moscone Center on September 6, 2018 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch) While Musk has been mum on specifics on a turnaround plan for Twitter (TWTR), some details have begun to come to light. The New York Times got hold of Elons pitch-deck for Twitter, and its solid fodder. Musk has a vision to quintuple Twitters sales to $26.4 billion by 2028 on a user base of 931 million (compared to 217 million to end last year). The vision of Musk for Twitter could soon be on full display. Musk acquired a 9.2% stake in Twitter in early April before striking a deal to buy the social media platform for $54.20 a share, or about $44 billion, a few weeks later. Musk has said that the platform should be less reliant on advertising sales and better police content. Other big-name investors reportedly backing the bid include Oracle Founder Larry Ellison as well as the crypto platform Binance. Hoffman declined to say if he would be investing in Twitter to help Elon. "I think I would help him along with anything he asked me for help with," Hoffman said. Hoffman added that betting against Musk fixing Twitter would be foolish given his achievements. "Elon could arguably be the entrepreneur of our generation. I mean, amazing," the billionaire said. "And amazing across multiple fronts space-flight, neurological things, electric cars, everything just wow. Just simply wow. And all happening at the same time." Brian Sozzi is an editor-at-large and anchor at Yahoo Finance. Follow Sozzi on Twitter @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and YouTube Microsoft (MSFT) has been increasingly moving into the cybersecurity business, with CEO Satya Nadella saying the company is investing $20 billion through 2026. But the tech giant says a lack of cybersecurity professionals is making it difficult for everything from local governments to large businesses to protect themselves. To that end, Microsoft is expanding its cybersecurity options to include five new services that will let its customers use Microsofts own cybersecurity experts as their own. What we realized is that technology is absolutely critical, and it's not enough, explained Vasu Jakkal, corporate vice president of Microsofts Security, Compliance, Identity & Management business. You have to have humans right there. This has been a very big gap with our customers where they don't have the teams required to scale. They are starving for that help and that's why the service element matters so much, Jakkal added. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella delivers the keynote address at Build, the company's annual conference for software developers Monday, May 7, 2018, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Microsoft says the offerings will help its customers better contend with the ever-growing number of cyberattacks crippling entities of every size from small municipalities and local hospitals to massive tech firms. According to Jakkal, Microsoft is tracking more than 35 ransomware families and 250 unique threat actors. Thats good for Microsoft customers who can use automated services or who have cybersecurity experts on hand to contend with those threats, but a problem for those firms that simply dont have the necessary staff. You take all this and you look at what's happening from a talent perspective in our world, especially in cybersecurity and it's pretty challenging, Jakkal explained. In the U.S., one out of every three jobs in cybersecurity is unfilled. We have 2.5 million jobs which are vacant right now. That, she said, is where Microsofts new services come in. Defender Experts for Hunting, for instance, is designed to help businesses better search for malware and cybersecurity holes in their systems. Once one of Microsofts security experts finds a potential security problem, theyll tell the customer and provide information on how to fix it. Microsofts Defender Experts for XDR (extended detection response) is meant to be a step beyond Experts for Hunting, and will help companies search for threats and respond to break-ins. The tech giants Defender Experts for Enterprise is the top offering and brings in Microsoft employees to tackle everything offered by both Experts for Hunters and Experts for XDR. It basically lets customers use Microsoft cybersecurity experts as their own cybersecurity pros. Microsofts Incident Response offering, meanwhile, is meant to help customers recover from cyberattacks, while Security Services for Modernization helps firms, well, modernize their cybersecurity systems so they can protect themselves against attacks. Microsoft has been making a name for itself in the cybersecurity space, acting as one of the main responders to the 2020 SolarWinds hack, which saw a Russian-backed group attack the network infrastructure company and gain access to government organizations including the Department of Defense. At the time, Microsoft President Brad Smith called the attack one of the largest in history. Ultimately the hack and associated malware pin-balled across multiple U.S. organizations including the Treasury, Commerce, and Justice Departments, along with 100 private sector companies. Today, U.S.-based companies and government agencies are on especially high alert due to the threat of cyberattacks linked to Russias war in Ukraine. Its not just Russia, either. China, Iran, and North Korea regularly launch cyberattacks and influence campaigns against the U.S. And then there are the myriad cybercriminals working with those nations to steal data from U.S. corporations and citizens. While Microsofts solution is a welcome addition to help companies shield themselves from those threats, theres no perfect form of cybersecurity. Microsoft isnt the only company offering cybersecurity support via real people. CrowdStrike (CRWD), for instance, sells security services that use the companys own experts to help evaluate potential threats to businesses and eliminate them. Still, the more firms try to protect themselves, the harder it becomes for nation states and criminals. And thats at least worth the effort. More from Dan Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit Got a tip? Email Daniel Howley at dhowley@yahoofinance.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanielHowley. jetcityimage / Getty Images Formerly known as food stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the most important anti-hunger initiative in America. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), SNAP provided food security to about 41.5 million people in 2021, with an average benefit of $218.14 per person. Recipients use Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to receive funds and make purchases, and they can use those cards to buy a whole lot more than just standard groceries. Here's a look at some of the more unusual things that SNAP will pay for. Find: SNAP Benefits Available in Your State in 2022 SNAP Schedule 2022: April Payments Twin Design / Shutterstock.com Energy Drinks -- Some, at Least You can use SNAP funds to buy energy drinks, but only if they meet the USDA's strict standards. If the energy drink has a "nutritional facts" label, it makes the cut, according to New York SNAP EBT. If it has a "supplemental facts" label, it's considered a supplement and cannot be purchased with EBT. That means Red Bull, Rockstar and Starbucks Double Shot make the grade, but 5 Hour Energy, Bang Shot and Tweaker do not. POLL: How Much Do You Expect Your Tax Refund To Be This Year? Feyyaz Alacam / Shutterstock.com Coffee and Tea -- the Kind You Make Yourself You can use SNAP to buy packaged coffee -- not to mention creamer -- and that includes Keurig-style K-cups. You cannot, however, buy coffee that's ready to drink. If you're thinking that you'll make your own coffee at home and just switch to tea when you're out, that won't work either. Tea, too, is limited to packaged and unbrewed because the USDA doesn't allow SNAP funds to be used to buy any hot beverages. CSNafzger / Shutterstock.com Hunting and Fishing Gear -- But You Have to Live Way, Way Out There Even if you live in a rural area and kill what you eat, you can't just swipe your EBT card to pick up a new fiberglass rod at Bass Pro Shops -- but hunting and fishing gear is SNAP-eligible for a very specific and very tiny population. According to the USDA, some residents in the most remote parts of Alaska rely almost exclusively on hunting and fishing to feed their households because of the extreme difficulty involved with buying food at stores. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services gives qualifying households special identification cards. They can't buy guns and ammo, but they can buy things such as nets, rods, harpoons, lines and knives. hapabapa / iStock.com Restaurant Meals -- for Certain People in Certain Places You can't use SNAP to pay for dine-in restaurant meals -- unless you qualify for the SNAP Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) and live in a state that participates in it. RMP serves vulnerable populations like the elderly, people experiencing homelessness and the disabled. Participating restaurants must offer meals at "concessional prices" to qualifying diners. While it's not as limited as Alaska's subsistence hunting program, very few states participate in RMP. It's available all over California, Arizona, Michigan, Maryland and Virginia, as well as in select counties in Rhode Island. Good Question: Does KFC Accept SNAP EBT Cards? Kyselova Inna / Shutterstock.com Seeds and Plants The USDA allows SNAP recipients to buy edible plants like basil or food-producing plants like tomato plants with their EBT cards, as well as seeds for growing their own food. The USDA says you can grow $25 worth of produce for every dollar spent on seeds and fertilizer, yet Modern Farmer says this important inclusion is one of the least known parts of the whole SNAP program. You can use your EBT card to get seeds and plants at any SNAP-approved retailer, including farmer's markets. Walmart.com Gift Baskets -- Depending on What's Inside The USDA allows you to spend SNAP funds on gift baskets and similar purchases as long as at least half of what's inside is edible. Even if they contain eligible edibles, nonfood items such as toys, stockings and tins don't count if "the value of the non-food part of the item clearly accounts for more than 50% of the purchase price," according to the USDA. The agency gives the example of a stuffed holiday bear that comes with a small package of chocolate: That won't count. A gift basket containing mostly meat and cheese, however, would be acceptable. Stephanie Botkin / Shutterstock.com Live Lobsters Like tobacco, alcohol, vitamins and medicine, live animals are on the USDA's list of items that you can't buy with SNAP benefits. There are, however, a few rare exceptions, including shellfish, "fish removed from the water" and "animals slaughtered prior to pick-up from the store." That means that, while you can't use your EBT card to buy a puppy from a pet store, you can use SNAP to buy a lobster to bring home to meet its unfortunate fate on your kitchen stovetop. dontree_m / Getty Images/iStockphoto Snacks of All Kinds Most people probably know that SNAP recipients can use their EBT cards to buy household grocery staples such as meat, milk, eggs, vegetables and bread, but what's not as well known is the long list of snacks that are on the USDA's approved list. It includes everything from marshmallows and marzipan to pudding and popsicles. Cakes, pies, doughnuts, muffins, pastries and all sorts of other things cakey and flaky make the list, as do chips, crisps, popcorn and finger food of all stripes. Ice cream, candy, chocolate, custard, scones, churros and much, much more all get a pass from the USDA -- in fact, if a kid can dream of it, chances are good SNAP will pay for it. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Surprising Things You Can Buy With Food Stamps On Sunday, the G-7 announced a commitment among its member nations to end their "dependency on Russian energy, including by phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil. On Monday, in a new Yahoo Finance Live interview, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said the U.S. will do its part to help the nations achieve this goal. One of the things we're committed to doing is helping to provide energy to Europe, to make the transition as quickly as possible, he said. The G-7's move would be perhaps the most dramatic step yet to isolate Vladimir Putin and his economy from the West. But it would require countries with a deep dependence on Russian energy notably Germany to retool their economies and take a step they so far have been unable to do. The G-7 promised to get it done in a timely and orderly fashion but exactly how remains unclear. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo, pictured a news conference in Brussels in March, spoke about oil recently. (Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) For now, Adeyemo said, the Biden administration is calling on [U.S. oil] companies to produce more energy, because we want to keep costs low before transitioning to clean energy in the decades ahead. Also on Sunday, the White House unveiled new sanctions against Russia including actions against Gazprom executives and other businesses to further punish Moscow for its war against Ukraine. Today, I spoke with G7 Leaders and President Zelenskyy about our ironclad unity and commitment to keep strengthening Ukraine and ratcheting up the pain on Putin. pic.twitter.com/15FYYnfueS President Biden (@POTUS) May 8, 2022 That's exactly what we expect Europe to do Adeyemo, who serves as second in command at Treasury below Secretary Janet Yellen, said the energy aid could look similar to previous efforts around coal and liquid natural gas. The U.S. has already banned the import of Russian oil, gas, and coal, but weaning Germany off Russian energy will be more difficult. Among all the G-7 nations Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the U.S. Germany is the most tied to Russia, with Putins nation supplying more than a third of Europe's gas and 34% of Germany's crude oil in 2021. Adeyemo recently traveled to Berlin to discuss, among other topics, ways to increase costs on Russia while mitigating spillover effects, he said. The recent example of liquid natural gas provides another cautionary note about the limits of how much energy America can provide. In March, the European Union and U.S. unveiled a deal to increase LNG exports to Europe by at least 15 billion cubic meters in 2022. The shipments will help Europe buy less from Russia, but the total is far from enough to make up for the 155 billion cubic meters of natural gas imported in 2021 from the country. Nonetheless, Adeyemo promised that Russia would feel the bite in oil exports in the coming months. Throughout Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the United States, Europe and our allies around the world have taken steps to reduce the resources to Russia in order to make sure they have less resources to fight their war on Ukraine, he said. That's exactly what we expect Europe to do as part of our alliance." Ben Werschkul is a writer and producer for Yahoo Finance in Washington, DC. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit. First graders at an Alabama school moved quickly to get help when they saw their teacher was having a medical emergency. First graders at an Alabama elementary school are being hailed as heroes for taking quick action to help their teacher during a medical emergency. "It was scary for me because I knew that they were going to have to see something probably that they didn't need to," said Tracy Hodges, a first-grade teacher at Cedar Hill Elementary in Ardmore, Alabama. "But I didn't know any other way because I couldn't find my way out the door." The fateful school day in January began like any other. There were fewer students in the class than normal, 12 instead of the usual 18, because several of them were at home due to Covid. The children who were at school were sitting at their desks after singing and dancing around the classroom. Hodges says she felt fine that morning but soon noticed her vision was becoming blurry. "I couldn't even find the door and I couldn't make out the three children who were sitting in front of me," said Hodges. Her students noticed she was behaving differently but weren't sure what was happening at first because they had just finished a playful exercise. "Mrs. Hodges was shaking and we thought she was just joking," said six-year-old Dalton Widener, who was in the classroom at the time. "Then she fell out of the chair and hit her head." Seven-year-old Emily Johnson said that's when the class knew something was wrong. "She fell out of the chair and her glasses fell off and she dropped," said Johnson. Before losing consciousness, Hodges says she remembers asking the kids to go for help but wasn't sure if they would understand. The kids received the message loud and clear. While two remained with Hodges in the classroom to make sure she was alright, the rest split up to cover more ground in the hallways. Students were named 'Hodges' Heroes' and received certificates and medals from community leaders. "Some people went and got the other teacher and then we went and got the nurse," said Widener. The school librarian saw the children and the nurse running down the hall and guided the students away from their classroom, unsure how serious the situation was. "I just grabbed them and didn't have a clue what was going on, but grabbed them and kind of comforted them and just tried to keep them calm until we could figure out what was going on," said librarian Heather Snyder. When Hodges eventually awakened, she says she was surrounded by teachers and medical personnel. One of the first graders had also returned to inform paramedics what had happened before they arrived. "Just having to relive that right then that day showed such bravery so we were so proud of them," said the librarian. Once at the hospital, Hodges says doctors told her she had tested positive for Covid and had experienced a seizure in the classroom as a result of the illness. The teacher had no idea she was even sick and says she'd never had a seizure before. She recovered after a few days and the school spoke with parents and students about the incident to make sure everyone knew the teacher was doing fine. "I had messages from the parents," said Hodges. "The children were scared to come back to school. So I had to reassure them that I was okay." Hodges laments that her students had to witness the emergency at such a young age, but also believes having them there helped save her life. "I can't imagine how they felt at seven years old, having to face that," said Hodges. "But if I was at home, I probably would have been by myself because my family was at work and at school. So I was at the right place at the right time because they took care of me." The children say they were relieved and excited to see their teacher return to the classroom. The class's heroic efforts were recognized by their community, including the town's sheriff, district attorney, police chief, and fire rescue team. All four visited the school for a special ceremony in which the first graders received certificates and medals for their actions. They're now referred to as "Hodges' Heroes." But they're reluctant to embrace the limelight. "Any students would have done it if they were here," said Widener. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Elementary students recognized as heroes for helping teacher in crisis Paris Hilton explained why she opened up about her experience at Utah's Provo Canyon School, where she faced emotional and physical abuse as a teen, despite "never planning on telling that story." The 41-year-old made an appearance on the Australian news program The Project where she talked about working with the Irwin family on a project involving the Australia Zoo. Aside from contributing her fame to a commercial about wildlife, however, Hilton shared her experience of becoming an advocate for children suffering abuse. "I couldn't sleep at night knowing that this was still happening and I knew that I needed to use my voice," Hilton said of sharing her story in the This is Paris documentary. "I thought to myself, maybe God made me go through this and gave me this gift so one day I could be the one to save these children." In the YouTube documentary, which was released in 2020, Hilton spoke of the abuse that she suffered in an effort to shine a light on what numerous teens endure at congregate care facilities. Although she admitted it was "so painful to talk about," she expressed validation in the incredible work that her story has led to. "It's made such change and I've changed laws and now taking this to a federal level. So I just feel proud of the woman I am and what I've been through and how strong I am," she said of testifying in front of lawmakers to create reform within these facilities. "I feel that this is now my legacy and something that is my mission in life and something that really has deep meaning and that Im going to continue fighting until change is made." While Hilton said that her latest work has changed the trajectory of her life, she acknowledged that she's long been misunderstood as a result of her public persona. "I've just played that character from The Simple Life for so long in the public eye," she said. "I always love being underestimated because I love proving people wrong and Im not a dumb blonde, I'm just very good at pretending to be one." And even though the original influencer and reality TV star remains to be a bright light on the internet, she said she will forever carry the harsh reality of what she's been through. "They're so abusive, verbally, mentally, physically where it's affected me in so many ways in my life or it's hard for me to trust people or open up," she said of the treatment she encountered at congregate care facilities. "I've had severe PTSD and nightmares. It's something that I've thought about every day and will probably the rest of my life. And even though I'm healing and talking about it and helping others, it's something that I think will stick with you forever cause it's impossible to forget." Want lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. The bombshell leak of a draft Supreme Court decision that could overturn Roe v. Wade was disheartening but not surprising to many abortion providers, who have been preparing for the possible end of legal abortion for years. Whole Woman's Health operates abortion clinics in Virginia, Maryland, Minnesota, Indiana and Texas. For Marva Sadler, the senior director of clinical services for the abortion provider, recent restrictions on abortion access in Texas offer a hint of what's to come if Roe is overturned this year. After Texas' near-total ban on abortions, SB8, went into effect last year, the number of patients seeking abortions at Whole Woman's Health's Texas clinics declined by upward of 50%, Sadler said. Meanwhile, Texas patients have traveled as far as Virginia to obtain an abortion due to waits at closer clinics. Whole Woman's Health's Minnesota clinic has seen a 30% increase in the number of patients from Texas since SB8 went into effect, Sadler said. "Unfortunately, Texas has given us great insight in exactly what we'll see happening on a much bigger, larger scale," Sadler told ABC News. PHOTO: A room at Whole Woman's Health sits empty in McAllen, Texas, April 29, 2022. (Callaghan O'Hare/The New York Times via Redux) Preparing for an influx The leak of the Supreme Court draft opinion is not a final decision in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which involves a ban on abortions in Mississippi after 15 weeks of pregnancy before the fetal viability line established by Roe. The Mississippi law remains under review by the Supreme Court, but 26 states are certain or likely to prohibit abortions if Roe is overturned, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health policy research organization. That includes every state that borders Illinois. Planned Parenthood of Illinois expects between 20,000 to 30,000 more patients would travel to the state each year for abortion care if Roe falls. "We really do anticipate that that's going to happen," Jennifer Welch, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Illinois, told ABC News. "And what we have been doing is preparing for a number of years for this eventuality." MORE: Abortion patients share struggles finding care: It's our bodies' Preparations include expanding the sizes of its health centers, opening two new clinics on the Indiana and Wisconsin borders, launching telehealth services for medical abortions and working with partners like abortion funds and other affiliates "to make sure that there's a navigation program in place so patients can get the care they need here in Illinois," Welch said. Whole Woman's Health has been assessing the needs at its clinics for years, as abortion access has changed in the states it covers and their neighbors. The organization has already started the process of readjusting its staffing needs should Roe be overturned "to make sure that we are well aware of how far we can expand ... and what we need to obtain to move forward," Sadler said. Responding to evolving needs In the wake of SB8, which bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, Whole Woman's Health has helped women get abortion care out of state if they are unable to in Texas. It launched its Abortion Wayfinder Program, which refers patients to a Whole Woman's Health clinic in a haven state like Maryland, Minnesota or Virginia, as well as connects them to other ally organizations and funding support. So far, the program has helped over 85 women access or obtain abortion care outside of Texas, Sadler said. "That program has grown so fast that we've not been able to keep up," she said. PHOTO: Demonstrators gather near the federal courthouse to protest the news that the U.S. Supreme Court could be poised to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide, in Austin, Texas, May 3, 2022. (Eric Gay/AP) If Roe is overturned, Sadler anticipates its clinics will reassess the needs of the communities they serve in order to continue to provide reproductive health care, such as by continuing to help patients access abortion care outside of Texas. "Texas will absolutely be one of the states where abortion will become illegal very shortly after and if Roe falls, and so we do have to be prepared and are prepared for what does that post-Roe atmosphere look like for our Texas clinics," Sadler said. "We're going to do whatever we possibly could do to see as many patients as we possibly can where we can, while we can. And in the event that we cannot, then we'll reassess what those patients in those communities need and how we can be of assistance to them." Expanding in safe havens Some abortion clinics are anticipating opening new facilities in states that are less likely to enact sweeping bans should Roe be overturned. Shannon Brewer, the director of Mississippis only abortion clinic, Jackson Womens Health, told ABC News podcast Start Here last week that she's seeking to open a new location in New Mexico. "This is not something that is going to just affect Mississippi within the year. This is going to affect upwards of 25 to 26 states, which is half of the United States," said Brewer. MORE: Mississippi abortion clinic director responds to SCOTUS draft: 'It didn't come as a shock to a lot of us here' Sadler said that opening more clinics is "absolutely part of the conversation" at Whole Woman's Health. "If women are going to have to make a mass exodus outside of the state to go to where they need to go, we definitely need to pay attention and are paying attention to where those safe havens are, what the current situation can hold and who can hold the influx and where the need may arise in the near future," Sadler said. PHOTO: People gather at Federal Plaza to protest for abortion rights in Chicago, May 3, 2022. (Tannen Maury/EPA-EFE/Shutterstoc) Welch said Planned Parenthood of Illinois is considering opening a new location in southern Illinois. "We need to know that we have a location that is safe and appropriate for our patients and our staff," she said. "That would be a while down the road, so we're so focused on the other ways that we can welcome 20[,000] to 30,000 additional patients into Illinois per year when the Supreme Court overrules Roe." 'We're not leaving these communities' Trust Women operates abortion clinics in Oklahoma City and Wichita, Kansas. Both have seen an influx of patients since SB8 went into effect; patient volume at the Oklahoma City clinic has doubled since September, with a majority of patients now coming from Texas, according to communications director Zack Gingrich-Gaylord. The Texas ban has increased waits for care at both clinics. With the Oklahoma governor signing a six-week abortion ban similar to the one in Texas last week, the abortion provider expects delays at its Kansas clinic to get even worse. Trust Women has been working to increase capacity at its Kansas facility by bringing on additional doctors and increasing the number of clinic days. It also is looking to bring over its Oklahoma staff in the wake of the state's new restrictions. PHOTO: Demonstrators gather at the State Capitol to protest as the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to overturn longstanding abortion protections and Oklahoma governor signs Texas-style abortion ban in Oklahoma City. (Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman via USA Today Network) If Roe falls, Oklahoma's trigger law would ban abortion in the state, placing further demand on independent abortion clinics in Kansas, Gingrich-Gaylord told ABC News. "As more states fall off and access becomes even more limited, then people will not be able to see doctors in clinics," he said. "There are much better medicines and ways to self-manage abortion now and it's very safe to do so. But even that still will be out of reach for some people." MORE: Abortion in US with no Roe v. Wade would get very complicated, attorney Kathryn Kolbert says As abortion clinics await the Supreme Court's decision, Trust Women is working to protect abortion rights in Kansas ahead of an upcoming ballot measure in the August primary that could overturn the constitutional protection for abortion access in the state. "If Roe falls, Kansas will be the closest legal abortion provider for 7.7 million people across the region," Gingrich-Gaylord said. "So Kansas' constitutional protection for abortion matters." Though there are challenges to abortion access in Oklahoma and Kansas, Gingrich-Gaylord said Trust Women doesn't have any plans to leave the states and open clinics elsewhere. "Our plans are to remain in our communities," he said. "We may adjust how we do some things, but we're not leaving these communities and our clinics will stay open and provide some service going forward. We're not going anywhere." How abortion clinics are preparing for possible fall of Roe v. Wade originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Canelo Alvarez throws a punch during his loss to Dmitry Bivol in Las Vegas on Saturday. Bivol is open to a rematch against Alvarez, but there's no guarantee it will happen. (John Locher / Associated Press) All eyes were finally on Dmitry Bivol late Saturday night. The Russian boxer basked in the spotlight in the ring at T-Mobile Arena after defending his light-heavyweight title in the biggest fight of his life against Canelo Alvarez. He was drenched in sweat. His left arm was bright red from Alvarezs failed attempts to crack his defense. There were no other signs of a 12-round fight against the consensus top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Bivol confidently answered questions in English. He joked. He wished the fans, nearly all there to support Alvarez, a happy Cinco de Mayo. The disappointed crowd booed. Bivol continued undeterred. If you don't believe in yourself, Bivol said, you achieve nothing. Bivol, who is 20-0 with 11 knockouts, was quietly confident all week. He knew he was Alvarezs stiffest challenge since the Mexican suffered his only other professional loss to Floyd Mayweather Jr. nine years earlier. Alvarez was stepping out of his comfort zone to 175 pounds for just the second time. He knocked out Sergey Kovalev in his first try, but Kovalev was battered and overmatched. Bivol, 31, is in his prime. Yet Bivol was a 5-to-1 underdog who was treated more like a speed bump on Alvarezs path than an undefeated champion. Born in Kyrgyzstan but raised in Russia, Bivol was dismissed and his background was avoided all week. On Saturday, he was introduced as fighting out of Indio. The Russian flag was absent. The Russian anthem wasnt played. The lead-up to the fight focused on everything but the fight. On the return of the Mexican superstar to the Strip on Cinco de Mayo weekend. On where the 31-year-old Alvarez stood among the all-time greats. On what was next for him. Gennadiy Golovkin originally was scheduled to attend the fight. He was supposed to sit in the crowd to watch Alvarez topple Bivol before Golovkin and Alvarez partnered to hype the completion of their trilogy. The date of their third fight was tentatively set for Sept. 17, the day after Mexican Independence Day. Eddie Hearn, Alvarezs promotor, openly spoke about the fight all week. All Alvarez needed to do was beat Bivol. In the end, Golovkin decided not to travel to Vegas. That avoided some awkwardness. Now the question becomes whether that third bout will be delayed for a rematch against Bivol. Following his loss, Alvarez said he wants a rematch, a natural response for a competitor after taking a beating. It doesnt end this way, Alvarez said. That doesnt mean it wont. Itll be on Alvarez to exercise the rematch clause in his contract with Bivol. In his post-fight news conference, Alvarez reiterated multiple times that his best weight is 168. He said he didnt feel completely comfortable fighting at 175. He speculated thats why he was fatigued at the end of the fight. Dmitry Bivol, right, throws a punch against Canelo Alvarez during their fight on Saturday. (John Locher / Associated Press) Thats where we feel best, said Alvarez (57-2-2, 39 KOs). Were going to see if were going to take on this rematch. If he doesnt invoke the rematch clause, hed return to 168 pounds and continue with his plans to fight Golovkin. It would be a huge pay day against a 40-year-old fighter far from his peak. Less risk and more reward. Bivol said hes open to a rematch but hinted that he would want to renegotiate the terms in the contract for a second fight. I just want to make sure I can be treated like a champion now, Bivol said. Bivols other option is to try to unify the titles at 175 pounds. Artur Beterbiev owns two of the other belts in the division. Joe Smith Jr. has the fourth. Theyre slated to fight in June. Bivol could fight the winner for the divisions unification. Bivol said his dream is to be the unified light-heavyweight champion. Theres a chance hell assume that title by the end of the year. But nothing in his career will top what happened Saturday, when he finally was given the attention he deserved. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. HAVANA (AP) Search crews with dogs on Sunday hunted through the ruins of a luxury hotel in Cubas capital for survivors of a devastating explosion while officials raised the number of known dead to 30. The Hotel Saratoga, a five-star 96-room hotel in Old Havana, was preparing to reopen after being closed for two years when an apparent gas leak ignited, blowing the outer walls into the busy, midmorning streets just a block from the countrys Capitol building on Friday. Cuban officials on Sunday raised the known death toll to 30 from 27 even as crews continued to search for victims buried beneath piles of shattered concrete. Several nearby structures also were damaged, including the historic Marti Theater and the Calvary Baptist Church, headquarters for the denomination in western Cuba. The church said on its Facebook page that the building suffered significant structural damage, with several collapsed or cracked walls and columns (and) the ceiling partially collapsed, though no church workers were hurt. The Health Ministry said 84 people had been injured in Friday's explosion. The dead included four minors, a pregnant woman and a Spanish tourist, whose companion was seriously injured. The ministry on Sunday also released the names of those who died. Some 24 people remained hospitalized. On Saturday, a representative of Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA, which owns the hotel, said 13 of its workers remained missing. Gov. Reinaldo Garcia Zapata said Saturday evening that 19 families had reported loved ones missing and that rescue efforts would continue. Authorities said the cause of the explosion was still under investigation, but believed it to have been caused by a gas leak. A large crane hoisted a charred gas tanker out of the rubble Saturday. Burials for victims have begun, according to municipal authorities. But some were still waiting for news of missing friends and relatives. We are hoping that something will be known about my cousins mother, Angela Acosta told The Associated Press near the site of the explosion. Her relative, Maria de la Concepcion Alard, lived in an apartment adjacent to the hotel with a black Labrador, which was rescued along with another dog Sunday. Crews have worked to clean up streets around the hotel and by late Saturday, substantial pedestrian traffic had resumed. There are mothers who are without their children today, Matha Verde, a manicurist who was walking near the Saratoga, said Sunday, when Mothers Day was celebrated in Cuba. She said she tells women who lost their sons or daughters in the explosion that they have to keep going. The explosion added to the woes of a crucial tourism industry that had been stifled by the coronavirus pandemic as well as tightened sanctions imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump and kept in place the Biden administration. Those limited visits by U.S. tourists to the islands and restricted remittances from Cubans in the U.S. to their families in Cuba. Tourism had started to revive somewhat early this year, but the war in Ukraine deflated a boom of Russian visitors, who accounted for almost a third of the tourists arriving in Cuba last year. The Saratoga, which had been closed through the pandemic, was one of the elite lodgings in Havana, often hosting visiting VIPs and celebrities. Some attention in Cuba began to shift to an official visit by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who arrived Saturday night at the end of a five-country tour that began in Central America. Lopez Obrador met Sunday with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who awarded him the Order of Jose Marti for his great achievements for humanity. It is the most important award the country gives to a foreigner. Diaz-Canel's office stated in a tweet that Lopez Obrador said he would insist to U.S. President Joe Biden that Cuba not be excluded from the Summit of the Americas it will host in Los Angeles in June. Lopez Obrador said the objectives of the trip included signing agreements on trade, health, education and cooperation with the island, while he ratified his foreign policy stance. We are not in favor of hegemonies, he said. Let no one exclude anyone because we are independent countries, we are sovereign countries, and no one can place themselves above the rights of peoples and nations. Diaz-Canel visited Mexico during its independence day celebrations last year. Lopez Obrador has recently spoken out against the apparent U.S. government intention of to exclude Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the upcoming summit. FILE - This undated booking file photo provided by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department shows former Jared Foundation executive director Russell Taylor. A federal judge, Monday, May 9, 2022, sentenced Taylor, who led former Subway spokesman Jared Fogle's charitable foundation, to 27 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting girls. Taylor, had pleaded guilty to 30 child pornography and sexual exploitation crimes involving nine children. (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department via AP, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) INDIANAPOLIS (AP) A divorced Indiana couple who prosecutors say shared sexually explicit photos and videos of children with former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle were sentenced Monday to decades in prison. A federal judge sentenced Angela Baldwin, 40, of Connersville, to 33 years and four months in prison, the Justice Department said. A jury convicted her in October of two counts of producing child sexual abuse material, one count of conspiracy to produce such material, and one count of possessing it. Her ex-husband Russell Taylor, who ran a nonprofit Fogle founded, pleaded guilty last year to 30 child pornography and sexual exploitation counts for his acts against nine children. Taylor, 50, was sentenced earlier Monday to 27 years behind bars, the Justice Department said. The victims were ages 9 to 16 when the crimes occurred. The couple shared with Fogle videos and photos of the girls that were captured by hidden cameras Taylor installed in the then-couple's Indianapolis home, prosecutors said. Fogle, who became a Subway pitchman after shedding more than 200 pounds (90.7 kilograms) as a college student, in part by eating the chains sandwiches, was sentenced in 2015 to 15 years in prison for possession or distribution of child pornography and traveling across state lines to have sex with a minor. Taylor was executive director of the Jared Foundation, a nonprofit that Fogle started to raise awareness and money to fight childhood obesity. He provided evidence that led to the criminal case against Fogle, his one-time boss and close friend. Taylor was originally sentenced in 2015, but U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt in 2020 found that he had received ineffective legal assistance because his lawyer had failed to challenge three criminal charges against him for which there was no factual basis. Taylors attorneys asked Pratt to sentence him to 19 years, while prosecutors sought a prison sentence of 35 years. Pratt gave him a lesser sentence because he provided important information to federal law enforcement that helped them bring charges against Baldwin and Fogle. During Taylor's sentencing hearing, Pratt described the four-year grooming, exploitation and molestation of the children from 2011-2015 as a mutual perversion between Taylor, Baldwin and Fogle. Taylor told the court Monday that he was a vile, selfish, self-loathing, sorry excuse for a human, but that time in prison had changed him. He said he had taken advantage of a sex offender rehabilitation class while incarcerated. Federal prosecutor Kathryn Olivier read statements during Taylors sentencing from some of the victims some of whom are Taylor and Baldwins relatives who said they expect to need mental health help and medication for the rest of their lives. One victim said she checks for cameras anytime shes in the bathroom at a house that isnt hers. A military transport plane flies over relatives and neighbors of the Ahmadi family as they gather around an incinerated husk of a vehicle destroyed by a U.S. drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan. In August, life came to a standstill as the Taliban offensive reached the gates of the Afghan capital, sending it into a panic. President Ashraf Ghani escaped; American-backed Afghan forces pulled back. The Taliban swiftly took over a nation that had changed much since it first ruled two decades ago. Jarring, violent scenes followed, marking a tragic coda to a messy and controversial 20-year occupation. The U.S. was ending its longest war. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles Times foreign correspondent and photojournalist Marcus Yam was awarded the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography on Monday for his compelling coverage of the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban. It is remarkable that he won journalism's highest honor in his first year as a foreign correspondent. This Pulitzer is the culmination of all the great work Yam has produced over the last seven years at the Los Angeles Times. When the U.S. announced that it would pull American troops out of Afghanistan, Yam believed this would not end well and he needed to be on the ground covering it from beginning to end. We, of course, agreed because we trusted him and we knew he would produce stellar work. Marcus Yam flying on an Afghan Air Force UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter on a resupply mission in Gardez, Afghanistan, on May 9, 2021. (Nabih Bulos / Los Angeles Times) He arrived Aug. 14, 2021; the following day, Afghanistan fell to the Taliban within hours, much to the surprise of the world. But not for Yam, who not only suspected this might have happened but was already thinking of what would come next the stories of the Afghan people affected by this takeover. For the next two months, Yam courageously and relentlessly pursued a number of human interest stories even as other Western news organizations exited the country due to security issues. This was perhaps the hardest and most stressful time for me as a director of photography. I worried about his safety daily, as Im sure many of us in the newsroom did as well. When he was roughed up by the Taliban while covering a national flag rally, several editors insisted that I get him out immediately for his own safety. Each time I spoke to Yam about leaving, hed always remind me this was an important story that needed to be told. He would assure me that he had two exit plans every day and that he was safe. Ultimately, after some back and forth, he would convince me to let him stay and keep reporting. I have a deep respect and admiration for him, his work ethic, courage and stoicism amid the dangers and restrictions he faced at the time. Not only is it a testament to the great photojournalist he is but how lucky we are to have him here at the L.A. Times. Even though this award is for his photography, what was equally as impressive was his ability to navigate the unknown. Yam becomes the sixth Los Angeles Times journalist to win a Pulitzer for the photography categories. He is also the first Malaysian-born journalist to ever win a Pulitzer for photography. A child cries as a man carries a bloodied child on a road leading to Kabul's airport. Others help a wounded woman on the ground in a scene of chaos as the Taliban secured its grip on the capital while tens of thousands of Afghans raced to the airport, hoping to be evacuated on U.S. military transport planes. Taliban fighters used gunfire, whips, sticks and sharp objects to violently rebuff thousands of Afghans on Aug. 17, 2021. At least a half dozen were wounded, including the woman and child. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Taliban fighters pray next to young Afghans outside a mosque for evening prayers in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 26, 2021. In its nearly two-decade fight with the U.S., the Taliban worked at every turn to undermine the Afghan government, deriding its leaders as corrupt stooges whose forces could never protect citizens from the group's ferocious attacks. But the Taliban is now in charge, and with power comes a daunting challenge: convincing Afghans, many of them with bitter memories of the last time the fundamentalist group ran the country, that it can govern and police as well as it can fight. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Women and children crouch in the sweltering heat at a Taliban-controlled checkpoint near Abbey Gate, an entrance to the Kabul airport, on Aug. 25, 2021. They wait to make their way toward the British military-controlled entrance of the airport. Outside the gates, the bit of U.S.-held territory remaining in the country, bedlam became a daily event. Even those with permission to leave faced crushing crowds and uneasy Taliban fighters using truncheons, sticks, whips, rifle butts and bullets to disperse people around the airport's environs. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Anti-Taliban protesters mark Afghanistan's independence day by attempting to hoist the red, green and black national banner. They were often beaten by militant fighters, who newly controlled the streets of Kabul. About 200 people rallied toward the city center on Aug. 19, 2021, chanting "Death to Pakistan, God bless Afghanistan, long live the national flag of Afghanistan." (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) A wounded patient lies in the recovery unit at Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 26, 2021. A suicide bomber from the terrorist group ISIS-K struck Kabul airport's Abbey Gate entrance. The blast ripped through crowds of Afghans and foreign nationals. At least 170 civilians were killed in addition to 13 U.S. service personnel, and at least 200 people were wounded. The explosion complicated an already nightmarish airlift just before the U.S. deadline to remove its troops from the country. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Former Kabul Mayor Mohammad Daoud Sultanzoy, left, meets with new interim Mayor Hamdullah Namony at the Kabul Municipality office in Afghanistan on Aug. 28, 2021. "The leadership of the Taliban, most are of the age that, without mentioning to them, they feel the change in Kabul every day, because they were here when it was inhabited by less than 500,000 people," said Daoud Sultanzoy, Kabul's 66-year-old mayor and one of the few top officials from the bygone state to remain in his post to ease the transition to interim Mayor Namony. He referred to the Taliban's first foray as rulers in 1996, when they entered a capital so destroyed by civil war that "dogs eating corpses were roaming the streets. Now they came to a Kabul that was intact. With all of its flaws, it was a city that had life, that was functioning, it had services, markets, an economy, so they inherited a better Kabul than they had 25 years ago." (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Minibus passengers look on as Taliban soldiers patrol a busy street in downtown Kabul on Aug. 26, 2021. Taliban fighters are the enforcers of Afghanistan's new law and order, young men eager to escape the mundane business of governing and policing, who are used to the intensity of battle but also the simplicity of life in the rural provinces. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Family members and neighbors of the Ahmadi family gather to examine the wreckage caused by a missile launched from a U.S. drone that targeted a vehicle parked inside a residential compound in the Khwaja Burgha neighborhood in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 30, 2021. The U.S. military says that the air strike was meant to target ISIS-K militants and retaliate for an airport bombing carried out by the terror group. Instead, it took the lives of 10 civilians: members of Emal Ahmadi's family, including seven children. The U.S. would eventually call the strike a "tragic mistake." (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) A military transport plane departs overhead as Afghans hoping to leave the country wait outside the Kabul airport on Aug. 23, 2021. Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan earlier in August, more than 120,000 people were airlifted out of Afghanistan in one of the largest mass evacuations in U.S. history. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Mourners at a mass funeral look up and weep as the roar of jet engines drowns out their wails in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 30, 2021. Fighter jets circled the hilltop cemetery where members of the Ahmadi family were burying 10 of their own, seven of them children, all victims of a U.S. drone strike. A full day before the U.S. military withdrawal approached its conclusion, death continued to haunt the war-torn country. The airstrike came in the wake of an airport bombing on Aug. 26 carried out by ISIS-K militants. The U.S. military claimed initially that it was targeting an alleged Islamic extremist who posed the threat of carrying out a similar attack. A month later, it reversed its position, but the Pentagon decided no American troops would be punished. Left to grieve and wonder, Emal Ahmadi could not understand how it could be that a family could die and no one be held accountable. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Visiting for the first time since the Taliban took over the country, Laila Haidari weeps as she surveys the dismantling of what had been a "sacred place" for her: Taj Begum, a shabby-chic Puli Surkh neighborhood in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sept. 20, 2021. But fearing the Taliban's wrath, Haidari shut down her cafe in August. The cafe, a fulcrum of Kabul's cultural life, is a casualty of the new order ushered in by the Taliban. "It was where women, with all their wounds, could come and speak with us, and speak with each other. It gave people their lives back; it touched so many people," said Haidari, her voice holding back sobs. "Taj Begum wasn't just a restaurant or a business to me. It was like a cinema, a theater, a place where men and women could sing together." (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Afghans clamor to greet Khalil Rahman Haqqani, a senior member of the Haqqani network, after he delivered a sermon for the first Friday prayers under Taliban rule at the Pul-i-Khishti Mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Aug. 20, 2021. The Haqqani network is a Taliban splinter group considered a terrorist organization by the United States and is one of the fiercest foes American forces spent two decades trying to vanquish in Afghanistan. Flanked by armed guards, Haqqani cradled a rifle: an American-made M-4 carbine. From the pulpit, he delivered a message that was by turns reassuring and menacing: Life under the Taliban would be different from that under the deposed national rulers he derided as weak and corrupt. "We have freed Afghanistan from Western imperialism and the infidels. Afghanistan will now be a peaceful and prosperous country, where there will be security, no corruption, and no theft," he said. All of the country's various ethnicities and factions, he added, were "brothers." (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) After the stroke of midnight, Taliban fighters from the Fateh Zwak unit storm into Hamid Karzai International Airport while wearing American-made uniforms and brandishing American M4 and M16 rifles and riding U.S. pickup trucks on Aug. 31, 2021. For two weeks, Kabul's airport was the last tether to America's control in Afghanistan, its runways the site of a frantic airlift that spirited more than 120,000 people out of the country. But there was no more of that frenzied activity on the deadline of the U.S. withdrawal, hours after the last U.S. military transport plane rumbled into the night sky, closing the chapter on a 20-year U.S. intervention that ended the way it began: with the Taliban in control of Afghanistan. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Journalists from the Etilaat Roz newspaper, Nemat Naqdi, 28, left, and Taqi Daryabi, 22, undress to show their wounds caused by beatings from Taliban fighters in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Sept. 8, 2021. The two were tortured while in custody after being arrested for filming a rally for women's rights. The demonstrations came just one day after the Taliban revealed an all-male interim government made up of stalwarts with zero representation for women or ethnic minority groups, their promise of a more tolerant rule clearly broken. "They didn't let me resist," Daryabi said of the brutality he and his colleague suffered. He said he was shoved to the ground, tortured and beaten unconscious. He was taken to a yard and water was poured on him. He was still there when they brought Naqdi. "We were shouting that we are journalists. But they didn't care," Naqdi said. "I thought they were going to kill meThey kept on ridiculing us, asking if we were filming them." (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukrainians were urged to heed air raid sirens and stay in bomb shelters on Monday by officials concerned that Russian attacks would intensify as Moscow marked the anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. President Vladimir Putin presided over a display of Russia's vast firepower in Moscow, more than 10 weeks into an invasion of its neighbour it terms a "special military operation". He told troops they were fighting for Russia's security now. Russia's intervention in Ukraine was needed because the West was "preparing for the invasion of our land, including Crimea", Putin said, referring to the Black Sea peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014 and giving no evidence for his assertion. The governor of Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, Serhiy Gaidai, said: "Today we do not know what to expect from the enemy, what terrible thing they might do, so please go out onto the street as little as possible, stay in the shelters." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier confirmed the deaths of dozens of people in the Russian bombing of a school in Bilohorivka, eastern Ukraine on Saturday. "As a result of a Russian strike on Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, about 60 people were killed, civilians, who simply hid at the school, sheltering from shelling," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. About 90 people had taken refuge at the school, Gaidai had said. There was no response from Moscow. In the southern port of Mariupol, which has endured the most destruction of the 10-week war, the deputy commander of the Azov regiment holed up in the Azovstal steel plant pleaded with the international community to help evacuate wounded soldiers. "We will continue to fight as long as we are alive to repel the Russian occupiers," Captain Sviatoslav Palamar told an online news conference. Zelenskiy said his country would win against Russia and would not cede any territory. "There is no invader who can rule over our free people. Sooner or later we will win," he said in a written address to mark the World War Two victory anniversary. A Ukrainian soldier walks in front of a school that was bombed amid Russia's invasion in Ukraine, in Kostyantynivka, in the Donetsk region. Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) industrial nations vowed on Sunday to deepen Russia's economic isolation and "elevate" a campaign against Kremlin-linked elites. The G7 said it was committed to phasing out or banning Russian oil and denounced Putin's invasion of Ukraine. "His actions bring shame on Russia and the historic sacrifices of its people," the group said, referring to Soviet Russia's role in defeating Nazi Germany 77 years ago. Putin has repeatedly likened the war in Ukraine - which he casts as a battle against dangerous "Nazi"-inspired nationalists in Ukraine - to the challenge the Soviet Union faced when Adolf Hitler invaded in 1941. Ukraine and its allies reject the accusation of Nazism and the assertion that Russia is fighting for survival against an aggressive West, saying Putin unleashed an unprovoked war in an attempt to rebuild the Soviet Union. Ahead of the military parade, Russia's deputy prime minister Yuri Borisov said the country was developing new-generation hypersonic missiles and had enough high-precision missiles and ammunition to fulfil all the tasks assigned to its armed forces. Moscow has come under increasingly punishing sanctions since its invasion on Feb. 24, with trade heavily impacted and assets seized. The European Union's foreign policy chief said the bloc should consider using frozen Russian foreign exchange reserves to help pay for the cost of rebuilding Ukraine after the war. Josep Borrell was speaking to the Financial Times. In the Ukrainian-controlled city of Zaporizhzhia, about 230 km (140 miles) northwest of Mariupol, dozens of people who had fled the city and nearby occupied areas waited to register in a car park set up for evacuees. 'The air feels different here, free' "There's lots of people still in Mariupol who want to leave but can't," said history teacher Viktoria Andreyeva, 46, who said she had only just reached the city after leaving her bombed home in Mariupol with her family in mid-April. "The air feels different here, free," she said in a tent where volunteers offered food, basic supplies and toys to the evacuees, many travelling with small children. Separatists said a total of 408 people were evacuated from Mariupol over the past 24 hours, including 65 children. Mariupol is key to Moscow's efforts to link the Crimean Peninsula, seized by Russia in 2014, and parts of the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk that have been controlled by Russia-backed separatists since then. In Luhansk and Donetsk regions, half a dozen Russian attacks were repulsed, with tanks and armoured combat vehicles destroyed, governor Gaidai said on Monday. Viktor Andrusiv, an adviser to the interior minister, said Ukraine was awaiting the delivery of more sophisticated weapons and expecting further attacks from Russia on Monday. "We are preparing for rocket attacks today - please, take air alerts very responsibly today." A number of Western officials, including U.S. First Lady Jill Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a German parliament head and the Norwegian foreign minister arrived in Ukraine on Sunday in a show of support. Irish rock group U2's frontman Bono and his bandmate The Edge performed a 40-minute concert in a metro station in Kyiv on Sunday and praised Ukrainians fighting for their freedom. "They can take your lives, but they can never take your pride," Bono said. President Joe Biden's nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has received the endorsement of two more major law enforcement groups, according to two letters obtained by ABC News. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the world's largest group for police leaders, and the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Foundation (WIFLE), offered their support of Biden's nominee, former U.S. attorney Steve Dettelbach, in letters to the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. "[Dettelbach's] years of experience as a United States Attorney have provided him the opportunity to work closely with law enforcement agencies and gain a unique understanding of the challenges and complexities agencies face in combating firearms violence, gang-related crime, and other threats to our communities," IACP President Chief Dwight Henninger said in the association's letter. "We believe that Mr. Dettelbachs experience, expertise, and record of success are evidence of his outstanding qualifications to serve as the next Director of the ATF." PHOTO: President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a visit at United Performance Metals in Hamilton, Ohio, May 6, 2022. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) MORE: Biden's ATF pick endorsed by ex-Justice Department officials WIFLE's President Catherine Sanz similarly praised Dettelbach's previous experience as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, where he served for seven years under the Obama Administration. "He has used innovative anti-violence approaches and partnerships focusing on crime prevention as well as data driven approaches to target criminal organizations and violent offenders," Sanz said. "He also engages with the communities to create a more coordinated and inclusive approach to law enforcement." MORE: Biden to nominate new ATF director, release ghost gun rule In recent weeks, an increasing number of national law enforcement groups have thrown their support behind Dettelbach, who the White House hopes will become ATF's first Senate-confirmed director in more than six years. David Chipman, who served 25 years as an ATF agent before later becoming a vocal gun control advocate and senior policy advisor for the Giffords Foundation, was forced to withdraw his nomination last September following a major campaign opposing his nomination from gun groups like the National Rifle Association. In addition to unanimous opposition from Republicans in the Senate, several moderate Democrats, in addition to independent Sen. Angus King, withheld announcing their support for Chipman's nomination. While WIFLE endorsed both Dettelbach's nomination as well as Chipman's, IACP was among several law enforcement groups that had notably withheld announcing their support for Chipman. Two more major law enforcement groups endorse Biden pick for ATF originally appeared on abcnews.go.com FILE PHOTO: The United States Department of the Treasury is seen in Washington, D.C. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Monday imposed sanctions on what it said was a network of five Islamic State financial facilitators working across Indonesia, Syria and Turkey in support of members of the extremist jihadist group in Syria. The U.S. Treasury Department in a statement accused those designated of playing a key role in facilitating the travel of extremists to Syria and other areas where Islamic State operates, and of conducting financial transfers to support the group's efforts in Syria-based displaced persons camps. The Treasury said the network collects funds in Indonesia and Turkey, "some of which were used to pay for smuggling children out of the camps and delivering them to ISIS foreign fighters as potential recruits." "The United States, as part of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, is committed to denying ISIS the ability to raise and move funds across multiple jurisdictions," Brian Nelson, the Treasury's under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in the statement. Monday's move, which targeted Dwi Dahlia Susanti, Rudi Heryadi, Ari Kardian, Muhammad Dandi Adhiguna and Dini Ramadhani, freeze any of their U.S. assets and generally bar Americans from dealing with them. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis) A P&O Ferries vessel is being examined for a fourth time, after failing three inspections since the operator sacked nearly 800 seafarers. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said a team of surveyors are reinspecting the detained ferry Pride of Kent at the request of P&O Ferries. P&O Ferries suspended most of its operations after it replaced 786 crew members with cheaper agency workers on March 17. Pride of Kent failed three previous inspections (Gareth Fuller/PA) The inability of Pride of Kent to pass a safety inspection has contributed to a shortage of capacity between Dover and Calais. P&O Ferries finally resumed tourist sailings on the key route last week but is only able to use one of its ships, Spirit of Britain, which was cleared to sail after an initial probe found 23 failings including that the agency staff did not know how to use the onboard life-saving equipment. Two other vessels which normally operate between Dover and Calais Pride of Canterbury and Spirit of France remain out of action as they have not been inspected. Thirty-one safety failures were found by the MCA on another ferry, European Causeway, resulting in it being detained on March 25. It was cleared to sail on April 8, but suffered a power failure which left it adrift in the Irish Sea for more than an hour. Politicians and trade unions have raised concerns about the safety of P&O Ferries following the mass sackings. These have been strongly disputed by the company. Last week chief executive Peter Hebblethwaite hit out at misinformation about the firm. LONDON (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin evoked the memory of Soviet heroism in World War 2 on Monday to urge his army towards victory in Ukraine but acknowledged the cost in Russian lives as he pledged to help the families of fallen soldiers. Addressing massed ranks of service personnel on Red Square on the 77th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, Putin condemned what he called external threats to weaken and split Russia, and repeated familiar arguments that he had used to justify Russia's invasion - that NATO was creating threats right next to its borders. He directly addressed soldiers fighting in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, which Russia has pledged to "liberate" from Kyiv's control. "You are fighting for the Motherland, for its future, so that no one forgets the lessons of World War Two. So that there is no place in the world for executioners, punishers and Nazis," he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Victory Day Parade in Moscow. His speech included a minute of silence. "The death of each one of our soldiers and officers is our shared grief and an irreparable loss for their friends and relatives," said Putin, promising that the state would look after their children and families. But his 11-minute speech, on day 75 of the invasion, was largely notable for what he did not say. He did not mention Ukraine by name, gave no assessment of progress in the war and offered no indication of how long it might continue. There was no mention of the bloody battle for Mariupol, where Ukrainian defenders holed up in the ruins of the Azovstal steel works are still defying Russia's assault. Putin has repeatedly likened the war - which he casts as a battle against dangerous "Nazi"-inspired nationalists in Ukraine - to the challenge the Soviet Union faced when Adolf Hitler invaded in 1941. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said it is Russia that is staging a "bloody re-enactment of Nazism" in Ukraine. ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his countrys biggest patriotic holiday Monday without a major new battlefield success in Ukraine to boast of, as the war ground on through its 11th week with the Kremlins forces making little or no progress in their offensive. The Russian leader oversaw a Victory Day Parade on Moscows Red Square, watching as troops marched in formation and military hardware rolled past in a celebration of the Soviet Unions role in the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. While Western analysts in recent weeks had widely expected Putin to use the holiday to trumpet some kind of victory in Ukraine or perhaps announce a mass mobilization, he did neither. Instead, he sought to justify the war again as a necessary response to what he falsely portrayed as a hostile Ukraine. Ukrainian servicemen carry an injured comrade on A stretcher to the hospital after an attack by Russian forces in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Monday, May 9, 2022. Ukrainian servicemen carry an injured comrade on A stretcher to the hospital after an attack by Russian forces in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Monday, May 9, 2022. (Evgeniy Maloletka/) The danger was rising by the day, Putin said. Russia has given a preemptive response to aggression. It was forced, timely and the only correct decision. He steered clear of battlefield specifics, failing to mention the potentially pivotal battle for the vital southern port of Mariupol and not even uttering the word Ukraine. On the ground, meanwhile, intense fighting raged in Ukraines east, the vital Black Sea port of Odesa in the south came under repeated missile attack, and Russian forces sought to finish off the Ukrainian defenders making their last stand at a steel plant in Mariupol. Russian servicemen march during the Victory Day military parade in Ulan-Ude, the regional capital of Buryatia, a region near the Russia-Mongolia border, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2022, marking the 77th anniversary of the end of World War II. Russian servicemen march during the Victory Day military parade in Ulan-Ude, the regional capital of Buryatia, a region near the Russia-Mongolia border, Russia, Monday, May 9, 2022, marking the 77th anniversary of the end of World War II. Putin has long bristled at NATOs creep eastward into former Soviet republics, and argued Monday that Russia had to invade Ukraine before an inevitable clash. Ukrainian leaders and their Western backers have denied that Kyiv or NATO posed any threat. As he has done all along, Putin falsely portrayed the fighting as a battle against Nazism, thereby linking the war to what many Russians regard as their finest hour: the triumph over Nazi Germany. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what Russia refers to as the Great Patriotic War. After unexpectedly fierce resistance forced the Kremlin to abandon its effort to storm Kyiv over a month ago, Moscows forces have concentrated on capturing the Donbas, Ukraines eastern industrial region. Russian Ambassador to Poland, Ambassador Sergey Andreev is covered with red paint in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May 9, 2022. Protesters have thrown red paint on the Russian ambassador as he arrived at a cemetery in Warsaw to pay respects to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. Ambassador Sergey Andreev arrived at the Soviet soldiers cemetery on Monday to lay flowers where a group of activists opposed to Russias war in Ukraine were waiting for him. Russian Ambassador to Poland, Ambassador Sergey Andreev is covered with red paint in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, May 9, 2022. Protesters have thrown red paint on the Russian ambassador as he arrived at a cemetery in Warsaw to pay respects to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. Ambassador Sergey Andreev arrived at the Soviet soldiers cemetery on Monday to lay flowers where a group of activists opposed to Russias war in Ukraine were waiting for him. (Maciek Luczniewski/) But the fighting there has been a back-and-forth, village-by-village slog, and many analysts had suggested Putin might use his holiday speech to present the Russian people with some kind of victory amid discontent over the countrys heavy casualties and the punishing effects of Western sanctions. Others suggested he might declare the fighting a war, not just a special military operation, and order a nationwide mobilization, with a callup of reserves, to replenish the depleted ranks for an extended conflict. In the end, he gave no signal as to where the war is headed or how he might intend to salvage it. Specifically, he left unanswered the question of whether or how Russia will marshal more forces for a continuing war. A soldier pays his last tribute to volunteer soldier Oleksandr Makhov, 36, a well-known Ukrainian journalist, killed by Russian troops, during his funeral at St Michael cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, May 9, 2022. A soldier pays his last tribute to volunteer soldier Oleksandr Makhov, 36, a well-known Ukrainian journalist, killed by Russian troops, during his funeral at St Michael cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, May 9, 2022. (Efrem Lukatsky/) Without concrete steps to build a new force, Russia cant fight a long war, and the clock starts ticking on the failure of their army in Ukraine, tweeted Phillips P. OBrien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Nigel Gould Davies, former British ambassador to Belarus, said: Russia has not won this war. Its starting to lose it. He said unless the Russia has a major breakthrough, the balance of advantages will shift steadily in favor of Ukraine, especially as Ukraine gets access to growing volumes of increasingly sophisticated Western military equipment. Despite Russias efforts to crack down on dissent, anti-war sentiment has seeped through. A few scattered protesters were detained around the country on Victory Day, and editors at one pro-Kremlin media outlet revolted by briefly publishing a few dozen stories criticizing Putin and the invasion. A woman lays flowers at the Unknown Soldier Tomb, protected by sandbags, on the occasion of the Victory Day in World War II, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, May 9, 2022. A woman lays flowers at the Unknown Soldier Tomb, protected by sandbags, on the occasion of the Victory Day in World War II, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, May 9, 2022. (Efrem Lukatsky/) In Warsaw, anti-war protesters splattered Russias ambassador to Poland with what appeared to be red paint as he arrived at a cemetery to pay respects to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. As Putin laid a wreath in Moscow, air raid sirens echoed again in the Ukrainian capital. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared in his own Victory Day address that his country would eventually defeat the Russians. Very soon there will be two Victory Days in Ukraine, he said in a video. He added, We are fighting for freedom, for our children, and therefore we will win. Russia has about 97 battalion tactical groups in Ukraine, largely in the east and the south, a slight increase over last week, according to a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the Pentagons assessment. Each unit has roughly 1,000 troops, according to the Pentagon. A Ukrainian serviceman and emergency workers carry the body of a Russian soldier into a refrigerated train in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Thursday, May 5, 2022. The bodies of more than 40 Russian soldiers who were found after battles around Kharkiv are being stored in the refrigerated car. A Ukrainian serviceman and emergency workers carry the body of a Russian soldier into a refrigerated train in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Thursday, May 5, 2022. The bodies of more than 40 Russian soldiers who were found after battles around Kharkiv are being stored in the refrigerated car. (Felipe Dana/) The official said that overall, the Russian effort in the Donbas hasnt achieved any significant progress in recent days and continues to face stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian military warned of a high probability of missile strikes around the holiday, and some cities imposed curfews or warned people not to gather in public places. More than 60 people were feared dead over the weekend after Russian bombardment flattened a Ukrainian school being used as a shelter in the eastern village of Bilohorivka, Ukrainian officials said. Russia is perhaps closest to a victory in Mariupol. The U.S. official said roughly 2,000 Russian forces were around Mariupol, and the city was being pounded by air strikes. As many as 2,000 Ukrainian defenders were believed to be holding out at a steel plant, the citys last stronghold of resistance. Soldiers carry a coffin with remains of a volunteer soldier Oleksandr Makhov, a well-known Ukrainian journalist, killed by the Russian troops, at St Michael cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, May 9, 2022. The coffin is followed by Makhov's widow. Soldiers carry a coffin with remains of a volunteer soldier Oleksandr Makhov, a well-known Ukrainian journalist, killed by the Russian troops, at St Michael cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, May 9, 2022. The coffin is followed by Makhov's widow. (Efrem Lukatsky/) The fall of Mariupol would deprive Ukraine of a vital port, allow Russia to complete a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, and free up troops to fight elsewhere in the Donbas. It would also give the Kremlin a badly needed success. Odesa, too, has increasingly come under bombardment in recent days. Ukrainian officials said it came under repeated fire from missiles Monday. There were no immediate reports of any casualties, and authorities did not say what was struck. The war in the country long known as the breadbasket of Europe has disrupted global food supplies. I saw silos full of grain, wheat and corn ready for export, Charles Michel, president of the European Council, lamented in a tweet after a visit to Odesa. This badly needed food is stranded because of the Russian war and blockade of Black Sea ports. Causing dramatic consequences for vulnerable countries. Putins Russia mirroring the fascism and tyranny of the Nazis, Wallace claims Vladimir Putins regime is mirroring the actions of the Nazis, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace will say as the Russian leader stages a military parade to celebrate victory over Hitlers fascists. Mr Wallace will use a major speech to say that Mr Putin and his inner circle should share the same fate as the Nazis, who ended up defeated and facing the Nuremberg trials for their atrocities. In Moscow, Mr Putin will watch the Victory Day parade of military hardware, marking the defeat of the Nazis in 1945. Watch: Wallace - Britain would help Finland if Russia attacked regardless of Nato status But according to extracts briefed to the Telegraph and Times, Mr Wallace will say: Through their invasion of Ukraine, Putin, his inner circle and generals are now mirroring the fascism and tyranny of 70 years ago, repeating the errors of last centurys totalitarian regimes. He will add: Their fate must also, surely, eventually be the same. Russias sacrifices in the past should not be forgotten, but nor must the lessons about what lies in store for the perpetrators of such unprovoked brutality. In a message to Mr Putin, he will say: In going to such extremes to justify this war of choice he and his generals are now ripping up both Russias past and its future. Their unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine, attacks against innocent citizens and their homes, and the widespread atrocities including deliberately against women and children corrupts the memory of past sacrifices and Russias once-proud global reputation. The Defence Secretarys speech, at the National Army Museum in London, will also directly criticise the behaviour of Russian commanders for war crimes and their incompetence in a campaign which has failed to secure the gains expected by Mr Putin. The generals in their manicured parade uniforms are utterly complicit in Putins hijacking of their forebears proud history of resisting fascism. All professional soldiers should be appalled at the behaviour of the Russian army, Mr Wallace will say. Not only are they engaged in an illegal invasion and war crimes, but their top brass have failed their own rank and file to the extent they should be court-martialled. He will say that rank and file soldiers in the Russian army will not get a voice and their mothers and sisters will be shamed into silence. Mr Wallaces speech comes after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss accused Russia of war crimes over the bombing of a school in eastern Ukraine where civilians were sheltering. Up to 60 are feared dead after the school in Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine was bombed and caught fire on Saturday. The Foreign Secretary said she was horrified and added that Mr Putins regime would be held to account. Vladimir Putin (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo/AP) Around 90 people were thought to have been sheltering at the school, but just 30 have been rescued. Ms Truss tweeted: Horrified by Russias latest attack on a school in Luhansk, resulting in the deaths of innocent people sheltering from Russian bombardment. She said the deliberate targeting of civilians and infrastructure amounts to war crimes and we will ensure Putins regime is held accountable. On Sunday, G7 leaders including Boris Johnson and Joe Biden held talks with Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky. Mr Johnson told his counterparts the world must go further and faster to support Ukraine against the Kremlins invading forces. Horrified by Russia's latest attack on a school in Luhansk, resulting in the deaths of innocent people sheltering from Russian bombardment. Deliberate targeting of civilians & civilian infrastructure amounts to war crimes. We will ensure Putins regime is held accountable. Liz Truss (@trussliz) May 8, 2022 A Downing Street spokeswoman said: The Prime Minister said there was a savage irony that the leaders had gathered to discuss Putins barbaric invasion on a day when they should be remembering the sacrifice of Russian soldiers defeating fascism in the Second World War. He agreed with G7 leaders that the world must intensify economic pressure on Putin in any way possible, and said the West must not allow the war to turn into a stalemate that only magnified suffering. Ukraine needed to receive military equipment that allowed them to not just hold ground in Ukraine, but recapture it, the Prime Minister told the leaders. The G7 agreed more needed to be done to support Ukraines agricultural exports, with the war impacting food supplies around the world. Mr Johnson also urged G7 countries to intensify diplomatic lobbying of countries which were failing to apply pressure on Moscow, especially as it was clear grossly unjustifiable human rights abuses and war crimes were being committed, the spokeswoman added. US officials claimed two major Russian tank factories had ground to a halt because of the impact of economic sanctions. The UK has pledged an extra 1.3 billion in military support to Ukraine, in a dramatic escalation of assistance for Mr Zelenskys forces as they fight the Russian invasion. It is the highest rate of UK military spending on a conflict since the height of the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Queens episodic mobility problems stretch back to last autumn and have led to her cancelling a run of major engagements over the last seven months. In October 2021, she used a walking stick at a Westminster Abbey service the first time she had done so at a major event. A week later, after a busy autumn programme, she was ordered to rest by doctors and advised to cancel a trip to Northern Ireland. The Queen was secretly admitted to hospital for preliminary investigations and had her first overnight stay in hospital for eight years on October 20 2021. The next day she was back at her desk at Windsor, carrying out light duties. But concern for her health mounted when she pulled out of more high-profile engagements, including the Cop26 climate change summit and the Festival of Remembrance, with Buckingham Palace saying she had been advised to continue to rest and to not carry out any official visits. She was intent on attending the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, but missed this due to a sprained back. For more than three months she carried out only light duties, including virtual and face-to-face audiences in the confines of Windsor Castle. In February 2022 she celebrated her Platinum Jubilee, meeting charity workers at Sandringham House and cutting a Jubilee cake in what was her largest in-person public engagement since October. Many of her duties are now carried out by video calls, and the countrys longest-reigning sovereign remarked during a in-person audience in February: Well, as you can see, I cant move. There were fears for her health when she finally caught Covid, testing positive on February 20 2022. The triple-vaccinated Queen suffered from mild cold-like symptoms, but said the virus left her very tired and exhausted. She carried on with light duties while self isolating at Windsor but cancelled some virtual audiences. She pulled out the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in March, a significant date in the royal calendar given the importance to her of the family of nations, and did not attend the Maundy Thursday service. But she rallied to honour the Duke of Edinburgh at a memorial service at the end of March, walking slowly and carefully with the aid of a stick, and holding on to the Duke of Yorks elbow for support. With her absence now from the State Opening of Parliament, questions remain over whether the Jubilee Queen will be able to appear during her milestone celebratory weekend a busy four-day extravaganza with a pop concert, church service, pageant and Trooping the Colour. Vladimir Putin is spouting fairytale claims when falsely alleging that Nato is preparing for an invasion of Russian land, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has said. The Russian president used a military parade in Moscow on Monday as an attempt to cast his invasion of Ukraine as a necessary response to Western policies. But Mr Wallace accused Mr Putin and his utterly complicit generals of hijacking the memory of Russian troops repelling the Nazis in the Second World War. Instead he said they are inflicting needless suffering in the service of lowly gangsterism. In Moscow, Mr Putin claimed that his attack on Russias neighbour was necessary to ward off an absolutely unacceptable threat just next to our borders. He reportedly added at the Victory Day celebrations that the West has been preparing for the invasion of our land, including Crimea. But, asked by journalists after a speech at Londons National Army Museum in Chelsea, south-west London, Mr Wallace bluntly denied that Nato and western allies have ever planned to attack Russia. Vladimir Putin used the Victory Day military parade in Moscow to cast his invasion of Ukraine as a necessary response to Western policies (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo/AP) President Putin has made a number of fairytale claims for months and years now, the Cabinet minister said. If it wasnt so tragic it would be amusing, but it isnt. One of his claims is that he is surrounded. Nato accounts for 6% of his land border. Thats not being surrounded if only 6% of your land border is Nato countries. I think he is believing what he wants to believe a slight shine of desperation. But let me put on the record categorically: Nato, Britain, eastern Europe is not planning to invade Russia and never has done. Mr Wallace accused the Russian regime of mirroring (the) fascism and tyranny of Nazi Germany as the Moscow parade to celebrate the 1945 victory over Hitlers forces was under way. Downing Street backed the allegation, with the Prime Ministers official spokesman arguing it was valid given the rhetoric being wrongly used by Putin today. Boris Johnson accused the Russian leader of waging an unwinnable war solely for his own vanity. The Prime Minister told the Standard newspaper: Russians are right to commemorate their heroic role in the defeat of Nazism. But Putins brutal attack on Ukraine shames Russia. His unwinnable war is being fought solely for his own vanity. He is now expending senselessly the lives of young Russians as well as innocent Ukrainians to avoid humiliation. I have always said Putin must fail and Putin will fail because this is an ego-driven mistake. The Defence Secretary also said Russian suffering was used under the Soviets as it is now, to cover up the inadequacy of those ruling in safety and comfort from behind the Kremlin walls. Fear and sycophancy dictated behaviours then, and todays Russian armed forces still carry that Soviet imprint the imprint of amorality and corruption, he said. They are the ones who truly insult the memory of the Immortal Regiment. So lets call out the absurdity of Russian generals resplendent in their manicured parade uniforms, weighed down by the gold braid and glistening metals. Ben Wallace (Aaron Chown/PA) They are utterly complicit in Putins hijacking of their forebears proud history of defending against the ruthless invasion, of repelling fascism and sacrificing themselves for higher purpose. And now they are the ones inflicting needless suffering in the service of lowly gangsterism and for them, and for Putin, there can be no victory day, only dishonour and surely defeat in Ukraine. Mr Wallaces speech came after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss accused Russia of war crimes over the bombing of a school in eastern Ukraine where civilians were sheltering. Up to 60 are feared dead after the school in Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine was bombed and caught fire on Saturday. Boris Johnson with Emmanuel Macron and Joe Biden at the G7 (Henry Nicholls/PA) On Sunday, G7 leaders including Mr Johnson and US President Joe Biden held talks with Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky. The Prime Minister told his counterparts the world must go further and faster to support Ukraine against the Kremlins invading forces. The UK has pledged an extra 1.3 billion in military support to Ukraine, in a dramatic escalation of assistance for Mr Zelenskys forces. It is the highest rate of UK military spending on a conflict since the height of the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. YEREVAN, MAY 9, ARMENPRESS. The silent "Immortal Regiment" march dedicated to the heroes who took part in the Great Patriotic War was held in Yerevan's Victory Park, ARMENPRESS reports the participants of the march took with them the photos of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Vahram Karapetyan, Director General of the Dom Moscow Cultural and Business Center, congratulated all the veterans who did their best to win the bloody war that killed 27 million people. "Glory to the veterans who died, who survived. We remember the participants of the Great Patriotic War, we honor their memory. Today we want our veterans to live longer so that they can tell the true story. We will do our best to pass on the memory of the war from generation to generation so that it is not forgotten. This is our history that we must respect," Karapetyan said. According to the director general of the Moscow House Cultural and Business Center, since the first days of the Patriotic War, the heroes have written with their blood, "We will die, but we will not surrender." "How can we forget those words? That is why today is a glorious day, Victory Day. The Victory was shaped by the peoples of all the countries of the Soviet Union. The Armenian people, of course, played a significant role in this victory. We can say with pride that the role of the Armenian people in the victory in the Patriotic War is great, because more than 600 thousand Armenians took part in that war, of which 300 thousand died, more than 100 Armenians were awarded the title of Hero of the USSR. It is a great achievement for the Armenian people. We are proud of our heroes, we respect their memory," Karapetyan concluded. Pande also said in the last couple of years the Army has decided to rebalance and reorient to deal with the situation in eastern Ladakh New Delhi: Indias new Chief of Army Staff Gen. Manoj Pande on Monday said there seems to an attempt by China to prolong the border issue and not to find any immediate resolution. The basic issue remains the resolution of the border. What we see is that Chinas intent has been to keep the boundary issue alive, said Gen. Pande while interacting with a select group of journalists. He said the Indian Armys aim was to restore the status quo prior to May 2020 when the current military standoff with China started. He said Indian troops continue to hold important positions along the LAC and our guidance to them is to be firm, resolute and prevent any attempt to alter the status quo, the Army Chief said. What we need as a country is a Whole of Nation approach and in the military domain, this is to prevent and counter any attempt to alter the status quo at the LAC, said the Army Chief. Gen. Pande also said in the last couple of years the Army has decided to rebalance and reorient to deal with the situation in eastern Ladakh. Our preparation assures we have a robust posture along the LAC and adequate forces are available to deal with all types of contingencies, said the Army Chief. He said that the Armys focus at the LAC was to upgrade its Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and build infrastructure to support operation and logistics. He also said that the induction of new technologies is part of ongoing process of capability development at the entire northern border. To resolve the border dispute with China, Gen. Pande said India was engaging in diplomatic and military talks with China, which so far has resulted in disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, Gogra and Galwan Valley. He said that if we continued to engage, we will find a resolution through dialogue. He said that the intention was to re-establish trust and tranquility with China but it cant be a one-way affair and efforts should be made from both sides. On theaterisation, which was the mandate of the Chief of Defence Staff, he said the Department of Military Affairs had asked the three services to carry out studies on some of the proposed models which are underway. Some issues still need to be addressed and taken up for resolution at the appropriate levels, he said. Gen. Pande said that due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, there could be some impact on the supply chains of certain spares and ammunition to some extent. But he said India has adequate storage and was looking for alternate sources from friendly countries. He said that it was also an opportunity for Indian start-ups to manufacture these spare parts and armaments. Gen. Pande said the conflict demonstrated the relevance of prolonged and conventional war, self-reliance and the significance of information warfare. The war holds important lessons. The foremost is that the relevance of conventional war still remains, said Gen Pande. He pointed out that various conventional weapon platforms like artillery guns, tanks, air defence systems and others were deployed in one form or another. The other lesson is that war is not necessarily short or swift and can prolong like this, he added. The Army Chief further noted that another lesson the Indian military got was to be self-reliant in terms of armaments, equipment and weapons. We are dependent on certain weapons systems like the air defence systems, tanks and others in Russia and Ukraine, he said. He said the military needs to increase self-reliance and reduce dependency on other countries. We have already started work in keeping with Make in India, he said. The Army Chief said that the war also showed the importance of information warfare and the building of narratives. On recent incidents of the killing of non-locals, political workers and minorities in Kashmir, the Army Chief said it was an attempt to create a sensation, get media visibility and to show that the insurgency in the Valley was indigenous. Through counter-terror operations, we have managed to neutralise such attempts and we have been successful, Gen. Pande added. The court rejected a clutch of bail pleas and said that the issue seems to have been simply brushed aside by senior officers The liability on the part of the concerned officials needs to be fixed so that in future no such incident takes place and the police is not complacent in preventing the illegal activities, court said. (PTI file image) New Delhi: A Delhi court has observed that there was utter failure on the part of Delhi Police in stopping the unauthorised Hanuman Jayanti procession in Jahangirpuri last month that triggered communal clashes in the locality. The court made the observation while rejecting a clutch of bail pleas, and said that the issue seems to have been simply brushed aside by senior officers, and complicity, if any, of police personnel needs to be investigated. "The issue seems to have been simply brushed aside by the senior officers. The liability on the part of the concerned officials needs to be fixed so that in future no such incident takes place and the police is not complacent in preventing the illegal activities . Their complicity , if any, also needs to be investigated," Additional Sessions Judge Gagandeep Singh said. The court directed that a copy of the order, passed on May 7, be sent to the Commissioner of Police for information and remedial compliance. It is fairly admitted on behalf of the State that the last procession which was passing through, during which the unfortunate riots took place, was illegal having no prior permission from police, the judge said. The court said that the sequence of events that took place on Hanuman Jayanti on April 16 and role of the local administration in preventing the incident and maintaining law and order needed to be seen. The contents of the FIR itself show that the local staff of the police station in Jahangirpuri, as well as other officials were accompanying the said illegal procession on its route instead of stopping it. It appears that local police, instead of performing their duty in stopping the said illegal procession in the beginning itself and dispersing the crowd, was accompanying them to the entire route which later on led to unfortunate riots between the two communities, the judge said. The court was hearing the bail applications, that claimed that the accused had been falsely implicated and were not present at the spot on the day of the incident. While dismissing the bail pleas, the court also noted that material investigation in the case is still underway and several offenders who were allegedly involved in riots are yet to be apprehended. Police booked banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and called him the 'main accused' in the case ADGP-CID, IG/DIG Ranges and District SPs have been directed to seal all interstate borders/barriers and keep strict vigil at the places of probable hideouts i.e. hotels and sarais etc. (ANI) Shimla: After 'Khalistan' flags were found tied on the Himachal Pradesh Assembly main gate and walls, the state police on Sunday issued orders to seal the interstate borders. Police registered an FIR under sections 153-A and 153-B of IPC, section 3 of HP Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act, 1985, and section 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) at Dharamshala Police station after the 'Khalistan' flags incident. Police booked banned outfit 'Sikhs for Justice' (SFJ) general counsel Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and called him the 'main accused' in the case. "ADGP-CID, IG/DIG Ranges and District SPs have been directed to seal all interstate borders/barriers and keep strict vigil at the places of probable hideouts i.e. hotels and sarais etc. They have been directed to keep the Special Security Units (SsUs), Bomb Disposal Squads and Quick Reactions Teams (QRTs) in position and on high alert and strengthen the security of dams, railway stations, bus stands, towns, government building and vital installations," the statement added. The field formations have been directed to sensitize all the security staff and chowkidars of government buildings, banks, and public sector undertakings with regard to the threat and they may be advised to report any matter of concern to the local police station immediately. Earlier in the day, 'Khalistan' flags were found tied on the main gate and boundary wall of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in Dharamshala on Sunday morning. Soon after the incident came to light, a police official informed that the flags were removed from the gates and walls. Superintendent of Police, Kangra, Khushal Sharma said, "It might have happened late night or early morning today. We have removed the Khalistan flags from the Vidhan Sabha gate. It could be an act of some tourists from Punjab." Shah concluded his chapter, Democracy, Delivery and the Politics of Hope in the book with a warning to rivals that Modi was far from done New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the template for what it means and what it takes to be a national leader, Union home minister Amit Shah has said. While national leaders were identified in the immediate aftermath of the independence movement by their name recall, the expression came to be abused, notably at the height of the coalition era, Amit Shah said. He alleged that the Delhi media had generously distributed the status to its friends and favourites. Writing in the book Modi@20 Dreams Meet Delivery, brought out by Rupa Publications and to be launched on May 11, Shah said such facile and insincere manufacturing of national leaders was shown up for what it was after Modi led the BJP to its biggest Lok Sabha win till then in 2014, before repeating the feat with a bigger margin in 2019. The home minister concluded his chapter, Democracy, Delivery and the Politics of Hope in the book with a warning to his rivals that Modi was far from done. The decade has just begun. Watch for where it takes Narendra Modi, where Modi takes the BJP, and where the BJP and Modi take India. A confidant of the Prime Minister for over three decades, Shah wrote that the best teacher for a leader was travelling to ordinary places, meeting ordinary families, sharing ordinary experiences and doing all this by ordinary means. Modi has done so with greater frequency and perseverance than any politician in the past 75 years, Shah wrote. He said that before the 2014 and the 2019 polls, there had been no mandate for hope; and no mandate that was simply a reward for tested performance. He said that no party had won a majority in the Lok Sabha between 1984 and 2014; between 1952 and 1984 parties had won on the basis of the goodwill of the freedom movement, family legacy, anger against the incumbent (1977), a mix of fear and sympathy (1984) with appeasement, sectional prejudice, vote bank mobilisation and empty sloganeering like Garibi Hatao' of 1971. Everybody now recognises that the 2014 polls marked the most decisive shift in the history of Indian politics, Shah wrote. Shah explained that the Prime Minister embraced state campaigns, issues and idioms. He is not just an add-on, or a mascot flown in for a few events and rallies. He complements the deep understanding of local politics and concerns that state BJP units and leaders bring to the table. This is very different from the supposed national leaders of other parties. They are fly-in, fly-out visitors with no sense of the ground reality, Shah said. He said Modi had the precious gift of personal connection with every state and region, noting that one must go back to his years before 2001 and his Bharat Yatra of that period to understand this. That tapasya was his real-life university. Modi's measures as Prime Minister for distributing cooking gas cylinders among households and building toilets as part of the Swachh Bharat Mission stemmed from this understanding, he added. His absolute involvement in the party and commitment to its growth had not diminished a bit, Shah said, adding that Modi had not sacrificed party interests for tactical gains in the government he sees them as symbiotic. Shah said it was Modi who advised him when he was BJP president to use technology and begin the membership drive on the basis of a missed call. Modi's view was if the party did the membership drive in the old-fashioned way, it would only enrol more members from areas where it was strong, Shah said. The missed call idea was part of a strategy to reach out to silent BJP supporters who were attracted to the party but did not know how to physically interact with its members and sign up, Shah said. A judge has agreed to delay the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Casey Goodson Jr. against the Ohio sheriffs deputy who fatally shot him in 2020 Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. EV Recently, the cool folks over at HotCars began an imagined series of automotive reinventions. So far, they have enlisted the help of Czech Republic-based CGI content creator Rostislav Prokop, better known as rostislav_prokop on social media, who dreamed of a CGI-reborn Pontiac GTO with an orange muscular look to make The Judge proud But a little earlier Timothy Adry Emmanuel, the pixel master better known as adry53customs on social media, also digitally cooked up a 2024 Dodge Challenger eMuscle packing big CGI horsepower and theability for a burnout-ready stance. So, he had more than enough time to follow this rad project with a second idea, a reborn Buick Skylark concept that might redefine luxury muscle car conventions of lore with Caddy CT5-V levels of Blackwing oomph.And the latter Skylark might have been enough of a trigger factor to next get back to his personal ruined classic series where he always expects a lot of old dudes with ruined such beautiful classic comments. Well, he is not going to hear any of that from us, at least not as far as this 1953 Buick Roadmaster Skylark Convertible is concerned.Yes, it really is an exceedingly rare car, so there is probably little to no chance of anyone daring such a crazy attempt in the real world. So, please, at least let us have our CGI moment with this aired, widebody lead sled instead. Complete with all the implied summer vibes and a roaring, chromed side exhaust setup! Now, there is just one mystery left unsolved. What would be the best (current) engine option for powering this not-so-subtle drop-top beast? kilowatt kWh The compact vehicle is made in the European Union, is assembled in America, and is highly customizable and configurable. According to the Silicon Valley startup, the new Able NXT platform is user-friendly, efficient, comfortable, and ensures full connectivity.With a payload capacity of up to 1,500 lb (680 kg), Able NXT features an electric drivetrain that is touted as highly efficient, delivering over 5 miles (8 km) perof energy. The low-speed vehicle (LSV) can reach a top speed of 55 mph (88.5 kph).There are several lithium battery packs to choose from, with the highest capacity being the 33one that claims to offer a range of up to 190 miles (305 km) per charge. The electric truck takes two to four hours to fully charge.Thanks to its modular design, the Able NXT can be configured and used for a variety of applications, from last-mile deliveries to facility/campus maintenance, warehouse/park/municipality activities, and more. Just like Tropos Motors other flexible Able platforms, this one also includes the Easy Swap feature that lets you change cargo options in just one minute using just a forklift.As for notable interior features, the Able NXT comes with full heating and air conditioning, an automatic rear-view camera, and an infotainment system with GPS navigation and smartphone connectivity.Tropos Motors CEO John Bautista boasts of the Able NXT being the highest quality and performance commercial LSV on the market, representing the companys next product evolution as it continues to convert to clean , efficient electric transportation while allowing businesses to become more sustainable.Those who want to take a closer look at the new Able NXT can do so at the ACT Expo event in Long Beach, California, between May 9 and May 11. The light commercial vehicle will be showcased in booth 149. As for production plans, Tropos Motors says it already has around 1,100 pre-orders for the truck. Deliveries are expected to start in the third quarter of 2022. The truck will have a base price of around $30,000. Israeli startup AIR introduced the full-scale prototype of its Air One electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle at the Kentucky Derby. Guests were able to get up close and personal with the aircraft and even experienced a virtual flight with the help of AIR's simulation tech. 6 photos That possibility came after Riversimple disclosed its membership to the CMC (California Mobility Center). The non-profit public-private business acceleration hub was created in March 2021 to provide transportation companies with a faster path to commercializing their products, services, and technologies in the California(n) market and, thus, across the globe.For Riversimple, it may be the perfect opportunity to demonstrate its business model to one of the most important car makers in the world. More than the U.S., California is a trendsetter and also an environmentally-friendly technologies champion. It is not a coincidence that it is one of the few American states with hydrogen refueling stations, something that can be incredibly handy for the Welsh company.If you are not familiar with Riversimple, it is probably the first car company that does not sell vehicles. It does not think that selling is an intelligent business model, especially considering how that induces a higher consumption of raw materials. This is the reason for Earth Overshoot Day to happen sooner each year. This date tries to warn how fast mankind depletes the resources the planet can produce every year. In 1970, it happened on December 30. In 2021, on July 19.What Riversimple proposes is that you pay to use its cars. The monthly fee will include everything: from fuel (hydrogen) to insurance, from servicing to taxes. If their cars are not efficient, it is Riversimple who pays for that. If they are not reliable, the Welsh companys pockets are the ones that are going to hurt.By embracing these worries instead of leaving them for regular customers (as current cars do), Riversimple makes these aspects key advantages for the companys business model. On top of that, it offers what it calls a network electric car. Thanks to ultracapacitors, it can harvest all the energy from regenerative braking. These components also provide the FCEV with enough power in accelerations not to increase hydrogen consumption.If Californians are ok to drive a tiny two-seater around, the company may consider offering the Rasa in that American state. Hugo Spowers Riversimples managing director mentioned the CMC partnership will accelerate our development of hydrogen vehicles specifically for the U.S. market, which probably means we will see something other than the Rasa around there.Even if only a few people would consider the Rasa , Riversimples factories are not big. Employing around 220 people to make 5,000 cars per year, the Welsh company would need a lot of them to reach a massive scale. The idea now seems to be presenting the concept and scaling up when the demand increases.California currently has 13,000 vehicles powered by hydrogen and 52 filling stations, with 120 in development. In other words, it may be the perfect place for Riversimple to demonstrate the feasibility of its business model without the need to create the necessary infrastructure. It will be entertaining to hear the critics in the process. A decade ago, he claimed the title of Russias richest man. Today, thats no longer the case, but his fortune still amounts to a whopping $19 billion. Like many oligarchs, his wealth is mostly due to the privatization process in the natural gas and petrochemical industries.But thats also what brought UK sanctions upon him. This is Leonid Mikhelson, the founder and CEO of Russias biggest natural gas producer Novatek. Last month, the British government announced fresh sanctions against key Russian strategic industries and state-owned enterprises, including targeting a further eight oligarchs active in these industries. Mikhelson was one of them, and this is how all eyes were suddenly on the gorgeous megayacht that had been so discrete until now.More than a decade old, the Pacific draws attention with its aggressive silhouette and metallic finish that apparently shifts color in the sunlight. Measuring 280 feet (85 meters), this majestic ship has an entirely noble DNA, as some of the biggest names in the industry were involved in its construction. The reputable Lurssen brand brought it to life in Germany based on a design by the legendary German Frers, while the mysterious interior, which has never been revealed to the public, was created by Bannenberg & Rowell.Like all billionaires luxury toys, Pacific includes a swimming pool, a jacuzzi, a gym, and a movie theater. But its distinctive features are the color-shifting silhouette and two large helipads. Also, as its name suggests, it was meant to be able to easily travel the world while also reaching a speed of up to 20 knots (23 mph/37 kph) when needed.These capabilities seem to come in handy now when all the oligarchs yachts that havent been seized yet are either on the run or reaching safe-havens. Panama is infamous for being one, at least when it comes to taxes, and the mighty Pacific just got there. Well have to see whether or not this was a smart move. As such, various celebrations have been (and are in the process of being) held across the continent, with the biggest display of military might currently taking place in Moscow.But the end of the fighting over in Europe did not mean the war didnt drag on for several more months in the Pacific. America battled Japan until September that same year, so its kind of difficult to celebrate the end of the war in a unified way.Somewhat overlapping with the end-of-the-war celebrations in Europe, America marked last month the 80th anniversary of the Doolittle Raid. That was a mission at the onset of the countrys involvement in the conflagration, the first raid directed at the Japanese archipelago in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack.To properly mark the moment, a number of historic World War II aircraft flew in mid-April over the Okaloosa Island, in Florida, including in something called a Missing Man formation. Thats how military aviators call the aerial salute that usually occurs during a funeral or memorial event, with the planes flying with a space left between them, to signify the absent pilot from the ranks.Although this particular lineup, the final formation in the larger flyover that took place at the time, was meant to honor the Doolittle Raiders, given all the things presently going on in Europe we find it fitting to feature it today in our Photo of the Day section.Thats because now, just like it happened eight decades ago, people are dying in wars the magnitude of which we never thought possible in the present day. Anderson Mobile Estates, who built the monster RV that Will Smith used as his movie trailer for a few years back in the early aughts, calls it glamping but, at $9,000 per night, it is so much more than that. The Heat, unofficially the biggest, tallest and most expensive celebrity trailer in the world, can now be had by non-celebrities as long as theyre snobbish and rich enough.Weve covered The Heat before and even wondered as to its location. That Will Smith no longer owned it was known, since Anderson Mobile Estates founder Ronald Anderson said this much in an interview last year. Giving a tour of the place, he said the actor has given it back to the company once he was done (bored?) with it, and that it was being offered for rent.Anderson Mobile Estates made a name for itself on the market of premium, custom landyachts through its celebrity trailers, many of which were priced upwards of $1.5 million. In reality, even though these trailers were customized for and with a particular celebrity in mind, they never passed into their ownership. The same happened with Smiths The Heat, which is also the most famous and perhaps more shower of the bunch.Real estate influencer Enes Yilmazer got to tour The Heat just recently and, as you can see in the video below, he also reveals its location. Its now found in Austin, Texas, in what would be best described as the most expensive and outrageous RV park. 7744 Ranch is an RV resort started by the Anderson company, which also includes trailers that once were used by Jennifer Lopez, Simon Cowell , and Vin Diesel.The tour reveals nothing new, since nothing seems to have changed in The Heat since 2000 (*except for the paintjob ). Enumerating its many luxury features sure is impressive: all-granite countertops and hardwood floors, 14 TVs, doors that make a Star Wars sound when they open, hydraulically activated pop-up that is actually a second floor that doubles as a cinema and holds the master bedroom, four slide-outs, a makeup and wardrobe room, full kitchen, living room and separate dining room. The mind-boggling $2.5 million price tag.At the same time, enumerating the many luxury features can hardly hide the fact that this is a dated interior. Opulent and high-quality, but visibly dated. Or that the 1,200 square feet (11.5 square meters) of interior space could be optimized by removing massive furniture with little functionality. But then again, if you have $9,000 to spend to sleep a night here and call it glamping, you probably care too little about these things.The Heat, like all the other two-story trailers from the company , made a splash two decades ago because they were revolutionary. The four massive slide-outs and the hidden second level were design and engineering feats that had never been seen before. The luxury finishes compounded to make the trailers irresistible to the celebrity clientele.That said, the world has changed a lot since then. Not even diva celebrities will now be caught in an RV like this one, if only for the heat theyd get from environmentalists . Even if you favor Russian oligarch-style interior design with granite-walled showers and lion heads carved into pillars, you have to admit: this isnt glamping, because its not glamorous. This is paying a lot of money to sleep inside a museum. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. WASHINGTON (AP) Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's silver tea set is going to a family with a 5-year-old daughter who once was Ginsburg for Halloween. A medal Ginsburg was awarded when inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame is going to a family that demonstrated recently for reproductive rights. And a drawing of her that hung in her office was a Utah-based scientist's Mother's Day gift to his wife. All told, an online auction of 150 of items owned by the late justice raised $803,650 for Washington National Opera, one of the late justices passions. The auction ended in late April, and buyers are now picking up items or arranging to have them shipped to their homes in 38 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Germany. Winning bids ranged from $850 to $55,000. Elizabeth Haynie Wainstein, the owner of The Potomack Company auction house in Virginia, said they were just really blown away by the interest. A pre-sale estimate was that the auction could raise $50,000 to $80,000. Ginsburg died of cancer at age 87 in September 2020. In her later years, the courts second female justice and liberal icon also become a pop culture figure known as the Notorious RBG. In January, an online auction of her books brought in $2.3 million, almost 30 times the pre-sale estimate, according to Bonhams, the company that conducted the auction. Washington National Opera artistic director Francesca Zambello, a friend of Ginsburg's, said the auction's proceeds will be a huge help this year as we try to cultivate the return of our audience amid the lingering coronavirus pandemic. The auction's biggest ticket item was the drawing of Ginsburg, which sold for $55,000. The image had accompanied a 2015 article about her in The New York Times. Ginsburg liked it so much she got a copy for her Supreme Court office signed by the artist, Eleanor Davis. The buyer asked that his name not be made public. Other high-dollar sales included modern art that Ginsburg had collected. A terracotta Pablo Picasso jug she displayed in her living room sold for $25,000 while an earthenware Picasso plate that hung in her dining room sold for $22,500. A print of Josef Albers' Red Orange Wall," which hung in Ginsburgs bedroom, sold for $27,500. Albers was among Ginsburgs favorite artists, and an original work of his on loan from the Smithsonian was prominently displayed in her office at the court. Even much less valuable Ginsburg pieces went for large sums. A drawing that one of Ginsburgs grandchildren, Paul Spera, made as a child showing his grandmother as the Statue of Liberty sold for $12,000. At the top, Spera had written Bubbie of Liberty, using the Yiddish word for grandma. Other sales included $5,000 for a glass souvenir vase given to attendees of a luncheon at the Capitol following President Barack Obamas first inauguration, $16,000 for a black mink coat with Ginsburgs name sewn in a pocket, and $30,000 for her 2002 National Women's Hall of Fame medal. Buyers paid another 27% in auction fees on top of their winning bid. Before her death, Ginsburg displayed a number of the items that were auctioned in her apartment at the Watergate complex in Washington. The auction's online catalog included images of how Ginsburg had displayed those items. Jennifer DiBrienza, a California-based educator, was the medal's winning bidder, spending nearly twice what she had planned to. When bidding near the end of the auction pushed up the price, she thought to herself: "Ive been winning this for days. I cant give it up now, she said. DiBrienza, who along with her three children demonstrated last week following the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn a nationwide right to abortion the court recognized in 1973, said she hopes having Ginsburg's medal will be a reason to talk about her." Krishan Paramesvaran was the winning bidder on two items: a wood sculpture for $3,500 and a silver tea set for $5,000. The tech executive and father of three said his family plans to put the sculpture in their living room and the tea set alongside china in their dining room. The tea set will be mostly for display, he said, though he imagines it will get used once or twice. Paramesvaran said his 5-year-old daughter, the one who dressed as Ginsburg for Halloween, knows it's coming and they had in the past talked with her about powerful women" and "the impact that RBG has had. Right now, he said, the family is super, super excited as they wait for the items to be shipped to them in Washington state. Said Paramesvaran: We have not been able to stop thinking about the fact that we're about to have something that she owned in our house." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) Elvis Costello, Patti Smith and Mavis Staples will be among the dignitaries expected in Tulsa, Oklahoma, this weekend for the opening of the Bob Dylan Center, the museum and archive celebrating the Nobel laureate's work. Dylan himself won't be among them, unless he surprises everyone. The center's subject and namesake has an open invitation to come anytime, although his absence seems perfectly in character, said Steven Jenkins, the center's director. Oddly, Dylan was just in Tulsa three weeks ago for a date on his concert tour, sandwiched in between Oklahoma City and Little Rock, Arkansas. He didn't ask for a look around. I dont want to put words in his mouth, Jenkins said. I can only guess at his reasoning. Maybe he would find it embarrassing. It's certainly unusual for a living figure Dylan is due to turn 81 on May 24 to have a museum devoted to him, but such is the shadow he has cast over popular music since his emergence in the early 1960s. He's still working, performing onstage in a show devoted primarily to his most recent material. And he's still pushing the envelope. Murder Most Foul, Dylan's nearly 17-minute rumination on the Kennedy assassination and celebrity, is as quietly stunning as Like a Rolling Stone was nearly a half-century ago, even if he's no longer at the center of popular culture. The center offers an immersive film experience, performance space, a studio where visitors can play producer and mix different elements of instrumentation in Dylan's songs and a curated tour where people can take a musical journey through the stages of his career. The archive has more than 100,000 items, many accessed only by scholars through appointment. Museum creators said they wanted to build an experience both for casual visitors who might not know much of Dylan's work and for the truly fanatical the skimmers, the swimmers and the divers, said designer Alan Maskin of the firm Olson Kundig. The museum hopes to celebrate the creative process in general, and at opening will have an exhibit of the work of photographer Jerry Schatzberg, whose 1965 image of Dylan is emblazoned on the building's three-story facade. Since Dylan's still creating, we're going to continue to play catch-up with him, Jenkins said. So for a figure who was born and raised in Minnesota, came of musical age in New York and now lives in California, how does a museum devoted to his life's work end up in Oklahoma? He's never seemed the nostalgic type, but Dylan recognized early that his work could have historical interest and value, Jenkins said. Together with his team, he put aside boxes full of artifacts, including photos, rare recordings and handwritten lyrics that show how his songs went through revisions and rewrites. With use of those lyrics, two of the early displays will focus on how the songs Jokerman and Tangled Up in Blue took shape the latter with lyrics so elastic that Dylan was still changing verses after the song had been released. Dylan sold his archive in 2016 to the Tulsa-based George Kaiser Family Foundation, which also operates the Woody Guthrie Center a museum that celebrates one of Dylan's musical heroes and is only steps away from the new Dylan center. Dylan likes the Guthrie museum, and also appreciates Tulsa's rich holdings of Native American art, Jenkins said. Much of that is on display at another new facility, the Gilcrease Museum, which is also the world's largest holding of art of the American West. I think it's going to be a true tourist draw to Tulsa for all the right reasons, said Tulsa Mayor G. T. Bynum. This is one of the great musicians in the history of humankind and everyone who wants to study his career and see the evolution of his talent will be drawn to it. Bynum hopes that it also encourages others who may someday want to put their archives on display, and make Tulsa a center for the study of modern American music. Dylan designed and built a 16-foot-high metal sculpture that will be displayed at the entrance to the museum. Otherwise, he had nothing to do with the museum's design and declined, through a spokesman, to offer a comment about the opening. If Bob were telling us what we could or couldn't do, it would have felt like a vanity project, in a way, Maskin said. It was a tremendous relief not to have to satisfy Bob Dylan. Still, it's safe to assume the lines of communication are open if necessary: Jenkins, the center's director, is the brother of Larry Jenkins, Dylan's long-time media representative. In addition to a dinner to celebrate the opening this weekend, Costello, Smith and Staples will all perform separate concerts at Cain's Ballroom. Costello was asked to program a jukebox that will be on display at the museum and, within a day, submitted his suggestions for 160 Dylan songs and covers, Steven Jenkins said. The Bob Dylan Center is open to the public on May 10. Maskin has no expectation that Dylan will ever see the designer's work. Still, he indulges himself in a fantasy of a slow summer day, a security guard dozing in the corner, and someone slipping in wearing black jeans, sunglasses and a familiar mop of hair to wander among the displays. To be honest, I don't think that's going to happen," he said. I think he's interested in the work he's doing, and not the work he's done. ___ Online: https://bobdylancenter.com/ This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate VIDOR James Fulton, 90, believes that one day, hell be able to one day take down his now-famous billboards in Vidor and Rose City. He and Vidor Police Chief Rod Carroll hope a $50,000 reward for information that leads to the indictment of suspects in the murder of Kathy Page the largest reward ever offered by Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas will make that happen. Theyll stay up until I die or we find out what happened, Fulton said. I always figured one day, someone would come along and solve the case. In a Thursday news conference at the Vidor Police Station held to discuss the reward money, which was raised by Pages family, Chief Rod Carroll said he is still confident that there are people, some of which are still in Vidor, that can help explain what happened three decades ago. There are a lot of people in our community that may have heard something, or even were there, that can put the pieces of this case together, Carroll said. I, myself, would not want to go to my grave with information There already are signs that the renewed attention in the case might already be paying off. Related: Vidor billboards inspire Oscar nominated film Carroll said that shortly after the family updated what has now become an iconic billboard on the stretch of Interstate 10 between Beaumont and Vidor with information about the search, a tipster called his office. The caller was someone who may have passed by the night Pages body was dumped. They previously hadnt felt comfortable coming forward, but now, their information will be added to the tapestry of clues needed to crack the case. Page, a waitress at a local restaurant, on May 14, 1991 was found dead in her car in a ditch. Investigators discovered she had been strangled, and her car likely had been positioned in the ditch to make it appear like she had been involved in an accident. Grand juries since the murder have declined to indict the main suspect, who was identified by authorities as her ex-husband, Steve Page. But in 2000, a civil jury found Steve Page liable in a wrongful death suit and awarded her family $150,000. The verdict was upheld on appeal. Steve Page also was convicted, fined and sentenced to probation after he was seen on a videotape desecrating Kathy Page's grave. Top hits: Get Beaumont Enterprise stories sent directly to your inbox Since then, the case has risen in notoriety, in part as a result of her familys efforts to bring the people responsible to justice. Her father James Fulton posted sign and later billboards in Vidor and Rose City that detailed his suspicions about his daughters murder. The signs went on to inspire the Academy Award-nominated movie, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and drew the attention from other productions including Unsolved Mysterious and Cold Justice. Authorities in the past have tried to generate leads in the case by doubling the reward from $3,000 to $6,000 in 2018, but Carroll said leads have been hard to come by since he took over the office in 2017. Anyone with information about the case can contact the Vidor Police Department, or submit their information anonymously through Crime Stoppers by calling 409-833-8477, visiting 833Tips.com or downloading the P3Tips App. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism NEW ORLEANS (AP) Law enforcement crews have found the body of a 14-year-old girl who fell into the Mississippi River late last month, but her 8-year-old sister is still missing. Alton Brown told WWL-TV that a body found Thursday is that of his daughter Brandy Wilson. He asked volunteers and law enforcement crews to keep searching for Ally Berry-Wilson: "Please come with good spirit and good intention, and help me bring my last baby home. Family members have told news outlets they believe Brandy Wilson slipped into the river on April 23 and that 15-year-old Kevin Poole Jr. and her sister tried to save her. They had taken the girls' 5-year-old brother to play at Algiers Point on New Orleans' west bank, across the river from most of the city. He ran home to alert people after the three older children fell in, according to news reports. Pooles body was found Monday at a park a bit downriver on the east bank, news agencies reported. Brandy Wilson's body was about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) farther downriver on the east bank, near the Domino Sugar refinery in Chalmette, according to news agencies. The Coast Guard searched for two days by air and water; local law enforcement agencies and volunteers have continued the search. A search on Saturday for the little girl is expected to bring in hundreds of people from multiple states, WWL-TV reported. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Almost six months after a Santa Fe police officer's 2-year-old son was accidentally shot and killed in his home, state prosecutors are conducting an investigation into possible charges. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported Sunday the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office confirmed they're in the process of an independent review. Jerri Mares, a spokeswoman for the attorney general, said they are following the process when asked if the involvement of a police officer was impacting the pace. The Dec. 8 shooting in officer Jonathan Harmon's Rio Rancho home occurred while Harmon was still in bed and his wife was tending to their newborn in another bedroom. Harmon's 4-year-old son climbed onto a kitchen counter to get to a cabinet, according to an incident report. He found Harmon's off-duty gun and accidently discharged it, striking 2-year-old Lincoln. Harmon has not faced any charges and remains on administrative duty with Santa Fe police. Deputy Chief Ben Valdez says the department will conduct its own investigation after Rio Rancho police finish theirs. Sandoval County District Attorney Barbara Romo requested the Attorney Generals Office's assistance in March. She cited a conflict of interest because of Harmon's previous job with Bernalillo police. He often worked with her office. The Attorney General's Office released records tied to the case that the city of Rio Rancho previously withheld. The New Mexican and the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government had sued in March to obtain police reports, 911 audio and other materials under public records law. Srikanth (age 65) and his wife Anuradha (age 60) lived in the Dwarka Colony area of Mylapore, Chennai. Srikanth had been running a private IT company in Gujarat. He had also been an auditor. Their son and daughter are working as doctors in the United States. Both husband and wife had been living with their daughter in the US state of California for the past 6 months as their daughter is one month pregnant. In this situation, Padamlal Krishna (45) from Nepal, who was working as a car driver, took the couple home after returning to Chennai by plane early yesterday morning. He and his friend Ravi (age 39) then attacked and killed the couple, stole jewelery and money from the house and tried to flee to Nepal. Following this, a team led by Mylapore Police Inspector Ravi was formed to investigate the complaint. The police then detected Padamlal Krishna and Ravi fleeing to Andhra Pradesh through their mobile signal and caught them, informing the customs posts on their way to Andhra Pradesh and the police stations in Andhra Pradesh. The accused also gave details of the photo and car number of Padamlal Krishna and Ravi to the Andhra Pradesh police. Following this, the Andhra Pradesh police recovered their car near Ongole. Tamil Nadu police immediately rushed to Andhra Pradesh, arrested them and brought them to Chennai. They also confiscated gold, diamond jewelery and cash from them. During the ensuing interrogation, driver Krishna had earlier said that Srikanth and Anuradha had Rs 40 crore in cash for selling a plot of land they owned. Padamlal Krishna had plotted several months ago to rob him of that money. In this situation, driver Padamlal Krishna brought Srikanth and Anuradha home from the airport early yesterday morning by car. Ravi and Padamlal Krishna, who were already at home, hit Srikanth on the head with a truncheon from the back while he was on his way to the first floor. Following this, Anuradha was also attacked. Both were injured and died tragically. Following this, the police collected more than Rs 8 crore worth of gold jewelery, silverware, diamond earrings and platinum bracelets from the house. The driver poured Dettol and washed the place where the incident took place. The two victims were later found asleep in the back seat of a car, brought to Srikanth's farm house in Nemilicherry and buried. The police investigation also revealed that Padamlal Krishna, who knew about the arrival of the two from the United States, had dug a pit at the farm house a week ago to bury the two and covered it with mud. The incident in which a car driver killed a homeowner for the sake of jewelry and money has come as a shock. The 8th Behindwoods Gold Medals Awards will be held this year on May 15 and 22 at the Island Grounds in Chennai from 6pm to 11.30pm. Ticket booking for this is currently underway. Event ticket pre-booking link: http://www.behindwoods.com/bgm8/ Foreign firms refute investor flight hype; temporary disruptions do not represent long-term outlook (Global Times) 08:55, May 09, 2022 People line up to take nucleic acid tests in Haidian District, Beijing, capital of China, May 3, 2022.Photo:Xinhua Stringent anti-epidemic measures adopted in some key Chinese cities including Shanghai and Beijing, in hopes of curbing the rapid spread Omicron variant and bringing back sound bounce after a temporary economic shock, may inevitably hurt some foreign firms' performance, yet some Western media outlets are exaggerating the situation, hyping the "investor flight" theory, warning that such measures will result in a large-scale retreat of foreign firms and undermine China's attractiveness in the long run, which Chinese experts and industry players have dismissed. The "ditch China" claim has been refuted by many foreign firms and industry players, who reasserted their confidence in the world's second-largest economy and its key role in the global industrial chain, and also appreciated the government's efforts of striking a balance between epidemic control and work resumption. Observers and experts are also calling for foreign investors to ride out the temporary difficulties together with the Chinese and the Chinese market, believing in its ability in the fight against virus, and once this round of outbreaks ebbs away, those sticking to their vision will have a lot to gain. From a global perspective, China is still one of the world's fastest-growing major economies and home to the world's largest population, which are conditions attractive to many multinationals, ranging from auto companies and financial institutions, analysts said. Still represents future "It's very difficult to shift in the sense of to move out of China and to take your operations out of China,"Jorg Wuttke, president of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China, told the Global Times. "Standard Chartered is firmly optimistic about China's long-term development prospects, and we are full of confidence in the opportunities brought about by China's development," the firm told the Global Times on Sunday. The company said it will invest $300 million into China-related business in the next three years to help its clients seize opportunities arising from China's continuous reform and opening-up. Texas Instruments Semiconductor Technologies also denied reports saying it is about lay off staff in China in a Sunday-released announcement, stressing that China is still its "most important global market." Tesla is confident about China's development, and the epidemic was just a temporary test and challenge, Vice President Tao Lin was quoted as saying by domestic media on Sunday. "We've also seen the ability of all walks of life to cope with challenges from the process of resumption of work, and believe that [production] will soon return to normal." Tesla, the US electric carmaker, although suffering disruptions in the latest outbreak in Shanghai, generated $4.65 billion in China in the first quarter of 2022, a year-on-year increase of 52.8 percent. China is now Tesla's second-largest market, accounting for 24.8 percent of the company's revenue. Also refuting the "investor flight" claim is official data, showing that foreign direct investment flowing into China rose by 25.6 percent to 379.87 billion yuan ($59.09 billion) year-on-year in the first quarter of this year. A survey conducted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade on foreign companies' degree of satisfaction of China's policies shows that 86 percent of the surveyed enterprises were satisfied with China's foreign investment stabilization policy. "There are also indeed political motives behind the spread of the ditching China theory, especially during the current Russia-Ukraine conflict," He Weiwen, former economic and commercial counselor at Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco and New York, and senior fellow of China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Sunday. The US wants to take this opportunity to block China from the global supply chain, restructure the current global economy distribution and establish "small cliques" in the economic sector to curb China's rise, He said. Support from the govt The ferocious Omicron flare-up has indeed caused great challenges to foreign businesses in China since March, as Starbucks, Apple and other major US-listed companies have warned in quarterly earnings reports of the negative impact of current outbreaks to their businesses. For instance, Starbucks said same-store sales in China fell by 23 percent in the quarter ending April 3 from the same quarter last year. That is far worse than the 0.2 percent increase analysts expected, according to FactSet. But the coffeehouse chain said it still expected its China business to be bigger than the US in the long term. Apple said the epidemic restrictions would likely hit sales in the current quarter by $4 billion to $8 billion - "substantially" more than in the last quarter. The other factor is ongoing chip shortages, CNBC reported, citing management as saying on an April 28 earnings call. Chinese authorities, while fully aware of the situation, have been working on the situation over the past weeks. Foreign firms are also on the very first batch of lists with government support to encourage work resumption. China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on April 21 that it will go all-out in further coordinating and solving difficulties, including transportation snags and production and operation resumption issues, that foreign-funded firms have encountered in China while ensuring effective epidemic control. Specific efforts, including smoothing transportation channels, optimizing epidemic prevention and control measures, organizing and ensuring emergency and key supplies, have been carried out. In a recent meeting between Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and foreign business representatives in China, issues on the supply chain disruption posed by the epidemic were also being addressed as part of the Chinese government's active response to foreign business concerns. China's key role in supply chains, and its interconnected relations and labor distributions with other major economies in the world will be a source of attractiveness for foreign firms for a relatively longer time, He Weiwen said, noting that the attractiveness will not be fundamentally undermined by short-term disruptions. Companies are also eyeing new opportunities such as the digital economy, which also represent a path to their future growth. Yu Feng, President of Honeywell China, told the Global Times on Sunday that the low-carbon and digital economy have brought it "broad prospects" for development. But China's advantage still lies in manufacturing medium and low-end products, He Weiwen said, noting that China has to strengthen its role in high-end manufacturing as soon as possible, though there would be "extreme challenges before China can make it." (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Southeast Asian foreign ministers will meet unofficially in Washington on Wednesday to discuss the Myanmar junta reneging on a consensus with ASEAN to move the country back towards democracy, Malaysias foreign ministry said. At the meeting to be held on the eve of a two-day U.S.-ASEAN summit in the American capital, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah will call for unofficial engagement by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with Myanmars parallel civilian National Unity Government (NUG), the ministry said Monday. The meeting will be held on the 11th in Washington, Saifuddin's press secretary told BenarNews. It will be held face to face as most leaders will be there. The official also confirmed that Saifuddin had told a local newspaper, The Star, that the May 11 meeting was being held unofficially and to discuss the post-coup crisis in Myanmar. We will put forward several views on how we can ensure the 5PC is implemented properly, the minister said in an interview Saturday with The Star. Saifuddin was referring to a five-point consensus agreed upon among ASEAN members, including the Burmese junta, which overthrew the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi on Feb. 1, 2021, three months after her party won re-election by a landslide. Most analysts agree that implementation of the consensus, which was reached on April 24 last year, has been a colossal failure. ASEAN envoys appointed by successive chairs of the regional bloc have not been able to meet with all parties concerned, and the juntas forces have unleashed even more violence after agreeing to the consensus. More than 1,800 people, mostly civilians, have been killed by Myanmars security forces since the coup, and nearly 11,000 people have been arrested, charged or sentenced by the military regime. The consensus had called for the immediate cessation of violence; a constructive dialogue among all parties; the mediation of such talks by a special envoy of the ASEAN chair; provisions of humanitarian assistance coordinated by ASEAN; and a visit to Myanmar by an ASEAN delegation, headed by the special envoy, to meet with all parties. Engage the NUG Meanwhile, Saifuddin, who had earlier said he would propose that ASEAN start an informal dialogue with the NUG and the National Unity Consultative Council, reiterated that he would make this proposal at this weeks meeting. The NUCC includes representatives of the NUG, civil society groups, ethnic armed organizations, and civil disobedience groups. Its okay for us to show impartiality but we should engage [the NUG] because according to the 5PC, we need to engage all stakeholders, he said. This did not imply ASEAN was taking sides, he noted. Besides, Saifuddin had said in late April that he already contacted the NUG. We have no business in choosing sides. We have to take into consideration that the NUG is a government that was formed through an election and the NUCC is the grouping of all kinds of organizations, parliamentarians, civil society organizations, ethnic groups and regional groups, Saifuddin told The Star. The Malaysian foreign ministers comments came about a week after the Myanmar juntas foreign ministry reacted furiously to his earlier suggestion that ASEAN engage unofficially with the NUG. On May 3, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper quoted the juntas foreign ministry as saying it protests and rejects the Malaysian foreign ministers remarks, because they could abet terrorism and violence in the country, hampering the Myanmar Governments anti-terrorism efforts and infringe international agreements related to combatting terrorism. Separately, a group of Southeast Asian parliamentarians on Monday urged ASEAN and the U.S. to take the opportunity of their meeting next week to initiate tougher action against the Myanmar military. We urge the U.S. and ASEAN to adopt much stronger measures than those taken so far, including the suspension of Myanmars membership in the group, travel bans in the region for Min Aung Hlaing and his generals, and targeted sanctions against the leaders of the coup, ASEAN parliamentarians for Human Rights said in a statement. Filipinos try to enter a polling precinct during the national elections in Tondo, Metro Manila, May 9, 2022. Edward Samonte left home early Monday to cast his vote, only to join other voters from his community in lining up for a kilometer outside the polling center. When he was finally able to get inside the President Sergio Elementary School in Tondo, a suburb of Manila, Samonte had to get help finding his name and precinct number on a list posted by the election commission. I am voting for Ferdinand Marcos Jr., but whoever wins still has my support, Samonte, in his 50s, told BenarNews. I want our next leader to focus on resolving corruption problems and creating more livelihood. Millions of Filipino voters headed to the polls to cast ballots on Monday, in hotly contested general elections that have been described as the most consequential in decades. When polls closed at 7 p.m., after 13 hours of operation, there were still long lines in many places. Turnout was expected to be high at more than 70,000 polling stations. There were 7 million new voters this year; many of whom posted photos on social media after voting for the first time. As a first time voter, I feel happy because I was able to vote for the candidates that Im supporting. Frustrated because the voting machine was not working. Hope the poll watchers do their job, said @breaking_bas on Twitter. In months leading up to the vote, the son and namesake of Ferdinand E. Marcos, the Philippine dictator forced from office in a 1986 popular uprising, held a double-digit lead in opinion polls. His main rival is opposition candidate Leni Robredo, a former human rights lawyer, who defeated him six years ago in the race for vice president. Rivelino Conte, 85, votes at a polling precinct in Dagupan City, north of Manila, as the national election gets underway, May 9, 2022. [Jojo Rinoza/BenarNews] Nearly 2,000 voting machines, out of more than 106,000, did not work, causing long waiting lines at polling stations. Mary Estrella, a 57-year-old with a disability, said she had cast her vote at the San Jose Elementary School in Manilas financial district, but the machine malfunctioned. I am holding my ballot now and will wait until the machine replacement arrives. My concern is that my vote might not be counted if I will just hand this over to the teachers (polling workers), she said. Election violence and irregularities In the Philippines, election-related violence and irregularities are a regular occurrence. Philippine Army spokesman Ramon Zagala told reporters that there had been 15 election-related violent incidents across the country from Sunday night to Monday afternoon. Security forces were able to respond immediately, so we were able to stabilize the situation in those areas that are critical by shifting forces, and the elections continued, he said, adding, our presence has provided confidence to our people to vote. Three village officials were killed on Monday when gunmen aboard two white vans strafed a polling place in Buluan, in Maguindanao province, a report from the 16th Military Intelligence Company said. In Datu Unsay, another town in the volatile province, explosions left at least nine people injured on Sunday night. Armed men wanted to disrupt the holding of the election. There were people inside the town hall in Datu Unsay the grenade launchers were fired inside, said Col. Jibin Bongcayao, a local police official. Maguindanao was the scene of the bloodiest election-related violence in Philippine history, in 2009, when members of the Ampatuan clan massacred 58 members of their rival clan, the Mangudadatu, their supporters and local journalists. In nearby Lanao del Sur province, three people were killed within hours of polls opening on Monday in the town of Malabang, officials said, adding that the deceased were supporters of rival mayoral candidates. In another town in the same province, Binidayan, a supporter of a mayoral candidate was shot dead during an argument. Also, in the town of Kabacan in North Cotabato province, a homemade bomb exploded in a vacant lot close to a polling center around 9 a.m., but there were no reported casualties. Voters look for their names on lists at a polling precinct in Dagupan City, north of Manila, early Monday as the national elections get underway, May 9, 2022. [Jojo Rinoza/BenarNews] Meanwhile, Philippine officials asked the public to report on alleged vote-buying and vote-selling during the casting of the ballots. If you see something suspicious, report it immediately. Do not hesitate, said Eduardo Ano, secretary of the interior and local government. The police will have no second thoughts about arresting violators. That is why we are warning you those buying votes will be directly arrested, he said. The Commission on Elections assured voters that its staff was in full control of the voting process and any irregularities were minor. Mondays vote is the most consequential election in Philippine history in recent decades, Richard Javad Heydarian, an assistant professor of political science at De La Salle University in Manila, said during a webinar hosted by the Stimson Center in Washington on May 5. Among many issues facing the country, including the COVID-19 pandemic and fallout from the Ukraine war, the election will determine whether Dutertes successor will continue with the brutal crackdown on illegal drugs that has left thousands dead, or if the next president will help the International Criminal Court probe Duterte over his war on drugs. The relationship with Beijing is also a top concern for many foreign policy analysts. Duterte has famously tried to cozy up to China. Rommel Banlaoi, a counter-terrorism analyst at the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said the next Philippine president should recalibrate our foreign policy by pursuing a more cautious approach towards China. Its good to be friendly, but not too friendly to be subservient to China, he said. Froilan Gallardo and Mark Navales in Cagayan de Oro and Lanao del Sur, Philippines, contributed to this report. The body of Abdullah Esomuso, a suspected insurgent who fell into a coma while in military custody and died two months later, is transported to a cemetery in Pattani, a province in southern Thailand, Aug. 25, 2019. There was no evidence to show that a suspected insurgent who fell into a coma and died after the Thai military arrested him was tortured during interrogation or there was foul play in his 2019 death, a court in southern Thailand ruled Monday. The ruling by the court in Songkhla province ended its two-year inquest into the case of the in-custody death of Abdullah Esomuso, 34, and dashed his familys hopes that military personnel might be charged in connection with it. The court ruled that evidence and witnesses could not establish that Abdullah died of physical attack. Therefore, it ruled that he died of oxygen deprivation to the brain and the heart ceased to function during the detention in Fort Inkayuthaboriharn, Pornpen Khongkachonkiet, director of the Cross-Cultural Foundation, an NGO assisting the family, told BenarNews. The court ruling, however, did not contain any information or finding about what caused the oxygen deprivation to Abdullahs brain or his heart to stop beating. The relatives and the public want to know whether anyone cause such oxygen deprivation to Abdullah and for him to have a swollen brain, but the hearing failed to answer the questions oxygen deprivation and the suffocation must have been caused by humans, Pornpen said. Abdullahs widow, Sumaiyah Minga, who listened to the ruling during a teleconference, said she had expected to lose. I have to accept the ruling. But I was prepared myself to face that I would never win the case, Sumaiyah told BenarNews. Ive just fought the best I could. The inquest featured testimony from as many as 21 people, including 13 military officers. Those who testified included autopsy doctors, medical officers, police investigators and Abdullahs survivors. Zakiman Benjadecha, a lawyer with the Muslim Attorney Council Foundation who represents Abdullahs survivors, had previously told BenarNews that the inquest was meant to check the official autopsy following his death. Had the Songkhla court ruled there was torture, the survivors could have pushed for criminal prosecution of the officers on duty. Col. Kiatisak Neewong, spokesman for ISOC-4, the militarys regional command, said Abdullahs survivors had the right to call for the inquest. Thailands Deep South region encompasses Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala provinces and four districts of Songkhla province. Since the separatist insurgency reignited in January 2004, more than 7,300 people have been killed in violence across the mainly Muslim and Malay-speaking border region, according to Deep South Watch, a local think-tank. Initial autopsy Abdullah was found unconscious at 3 a.m. July 21, 2019, in an interrogation center at an army camp in Nong Chik, a district of Pattani province, where he had been held for 10 hours. That prompted his family to question if military interrogators had beaten or tortured him. He died in a hospital on Aug. 25, 2019, while still in military custody. That same month, Abdul-asib Tadae-ing, who sits on the Committee to Protect Human Rights in the Deep South, said doctors stated they had found no signs of torture on Abdullahs body. According to the doctors, the cause of death was severe pneumonia and septic shock, which happened after he had suffered from hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy [oxygen deprivation to the brain], Abdul-asib said in a statement at the time. The oxygen deprivation could mean torture such as suffocation with a bag, water boarding as some people claimed, or simply [that] he fainted without receiving CPR. The doctors said torture would show traces such as hemorrhaging in the eyes, swollen gums and a darkened face, which were not found in the case of Abdullah, he said. 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. U_N_ Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said during an official visit to non-NATO member Moldova that the consequences of Russias war against Ukraine escalating are too frightening to contemplate. The FBI is still keeping the nature of this ongoing investigation in Sheffield under wraps. Other sources familiar with the probe say it is not related to the disappearance of a New York state schoolteacher from the Berkshires in March. Ive always been against canceling student debt, writes New York Times columnist David Brooks. Yet I confess Ive been having some second thoughts." When we think of witches, the Bible is not the first place we consider looking. But in describing certain events which involve female necromancers, some Bible commentators have employed a feminine term (witch) to describe the witch of En-Dor who met with Saul. She was a necromancer, someone forbidden by the Lord to be in the presence of His people (Deuteronomy 18:10). Who Was the Witch of Endor? The witch of En-Dor and her encounter with King Saul is located in 1 Samuel 28:3-25. The narrative serves as a sad and interesting account of Sauls desperate attempt to have Gods help and His will revealed to him. The witch is not named, but she was a practicing sorceress. She is called a witch to designate her as a female who practiced the black arts of necromancy and witchcraft. According to Stephen Dempster, The expression (mistress of necromancy) suggests originally owner of a pit from which a spirit would be conjured up. She had a certain place, connected to a ritual pit or grave (Sheol) where she employed her trade at night. By semantic extension the pit from which the spirit was conjured becomes associated with the spirit itself, and even the medium. Why Does Saul Visit Her? Sauls visit was because he was fraught with anxiety about what to do regarding an upcoming battle. We learn in earlier passages (1 Samuel 13:8-14, 1 Samuel 14:37, 16:14, 18:12) that Saul is selfish, rebellious, and impatient, often usurping Gods commands and enacting his own. It was Sauls disobedience during the defeat of Amalek (1 Samuel 15:1- 35) which brought Gods judgment on Saul. God removed His Spirit from Saul (1 Samuel 16:13-14) and David was anointed as the next king of Gods people. Samuel the prophet died, and Saul was bereft of his counsel (even though he often disregarded it). When Saul was faced with the Philistine army, he feared them (1 Samuel 28:5). He had previously removed the mediums and necromancers out of the land, yet he openly rebelled against the Lord when he told his servants to find for him a medium (sorceress/necromancer). He said, Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a medium at En-dor. (She had obviously survived the purge.) Does She Actually Bring Back Samuel's Ghost? We read this part of the narrative in 1 Samuel 28:7-14. During the night and at first disguised, Saul swore by the Lord the witch would suffer no harm for indulging in her illegal practice. Its ironic and wicked in that, even though God had issued the death penalty for witchcraft, Saul swore in His name. Saul requested the witch contact Samuel, and she elicited the demonic powers of necromancy (Deuteronomy 18:10-11) and summoned an apparition of Samuel. This action frightened her into the realization that it was God who brought him up, not her. She also realized her nighttime visitor was King Saul. The implication is the witch expected a satanic imitation, not the real Samuel. The witchs description was enough to convince Saul it was Samuel who had been summoned. The witch of En-Dor did nothing but show up and call upon demonic powers, which always lie (John 8:44). She had no power, and God turned deception to truth. God allowed this seance for His purpose, and in vv. 15-19, Samuel rebuked Saul for his sinfulness and told him, Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up? And Saul answered, I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do. Then Samuel said: So why do you ask me, seeing the Lord has departed from you and has become your enemy? And the Lord has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. 1 Chronicles 10:13 gives us an epitaph of sorts, So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD, and also because he consulted a medium for guidance. What Does This Passage Tell Us about Witchcraft and the Occult? Witchcraft and the occult are very dangerous, for in their practice dwells the very nature and deception of the devil. Neither the demons of Satan nor this witch can conjure up real persons. That is of the domain and will of Almighty God alone. The vision the real vision was unexpected by the witch and it frightened her. This proves mediums and necromancers have no real power over the dead especially the upright instead, they can only produce fabrications. Why Is This Important for Us to Know Today? Occult practices such as witchcraft and sorcery continue to threaten and entice the modern church. These days we see a proliferation of games, people, and books which claim the ability/instructions to conjure up the dead for various purposes. People have an innate desire to know more about the dead, such as what happens after we die, and other often selfish questions such as, Where did Uncle Bob bury the gold? It seems funny when in fact, its not. God strictly forbids the practice of and association with anyone who practices such abominations. Modern day witchcraft and occultism is not limited to pagans. Its not uncommon for girls and young women to get sucked into a culture of witchcraft because it the electrifies the senses and opens up mysteries they think will make them have power. They think, through the use of accessories such as Ouija boards, they can communicate with the dead. Its just another of the devils tools to draw people away from the truth (light) and into lies (darkness). Theyre not talking to a beloved departed family member or friend; they are consorting with the demons of hell. As far as boys and young men, spiritism and satanism is a method used by the devil to infiltrate their minds with notions of power and control. Some of these groups have as symbols an inverted cross or a goats head in an upturned pentagram The devil uses a little bit of truth (as revealed through demons) for his own manipulation and malice, and its foolish to think demons have our best interest in mind. This infiltration can even be used by popular so-called Christian authors. Deuteronomy 18:10-13 says, There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD. And because of these abominations the LORD your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. Approving of, advancing, associating with, or practicing any unholy practices is forbidden by God. As 1 Peter 5:8 says, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Engaging in such practices is like being eaten alive by the devil. Related articles Why Does the Bible Warn against Witchcraft? What Does the Bible Say about Magic, and Is It Really That Serious? 4 Lessons from the Rise and Fall of King Saul Photo credit: Getty Images/Shaiith Lisa Loraine Baker is the award-winning author of Someplace to Be Somebody (End Game Press, February 2022). Lisa writes fiction and nonfiction and is currently co-writing a Christian living book with her husband, and a suspense novel. Lisa is a member of Word Weavers, Intl (as a critique partner and mentor), AWSA, ACFW, Serious Writer Group, and BRRC. Lisa and her husband, Stephen, inhabit their home as the Newlyweds of Minerva with crazy cat, Lewis. *UPDATE (5/8/22)* According to an update provided by the Idaho State Police, the 24-year-old Oregon woman who was injured in a crash on US12 Wednesday afternoon has succumbed to her injuries. Next of kin have been notified. Original Story KOOSKIA - The Idaho State Police are investigating a vehicle collision that occurred on Wednesday at approximately 7:55 p.m. on US12 near milepost 151.3 in Idaho County, near Jerry Johnson Campground. A 24-year old woman from The Dalles, Oregon was driving a Chevrolet sedan traveling eastbound on US12. A 43-year-old man from Greencreek was driving a Peterbilt truck westbound and hauling a trailer with a piece of farm machinery. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but police say the two vehicles collided with one another. It is unknown if the driver of the Chevrolet sedan was wearing a seatbelt. She was transported by air ambulance to a regional hospital. The driver of the Peterbilt was wearing a seatbelt and was not transported. Traffic on US12 was blocked in both directions for approximately two-hours to allow emergency responders to assist those involved and clear the scene. To strengthen international cooperation on important health security issues Dr Dame Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dr Eunkyeong Jeong, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). The areas of mutual interest for cooperation under this MoU include public health emergency preparedness and response; surveillance and control of epidemic-prone diseases, including viral haemorrhagic fevers; laboratory capacity-building and enhancement to detect and respond to emerging disease threats of global health importance; antimicrobial resistance and healthcare associated infection control; vaccine-preventable diseases and immunisations policy; pathogen information and resource; and public health training and experts exchange. The 2 organisations will exchange best practice, pursue joint scientific programmes and research projects, and subsequently publish findings as appropriate. As part of this MoU, UKHSA and KDCA will engage in an annual or bi-annual policy dialogue, host regular consultations to explore potential areas of bilateral cooperation, and establish mutually beneficial scientific training opportunities, such as a personnel exchange programme between the parties. The South African National Editors' Forum (Sanef) mourns the passing of stalwart journalist and writer, Phindile Mary Xaba who died after a lengthy battle with cancer on Saturday, 7 May 2022. Sowetan Live Source: Sowetan Live Stalwart journalist and writer, Phindile Mary Xaba, has died after a lengthy battle with cancer on Saturday, 7 May 2022 Concerned about the state of journalism Long and illustrious career Promoting a cluture of reading Wisdom in judging According to her family, Xaba died at her family home in Diepkloof, Soweto aged 53.Mathatha Tsedu, former colleague, veteran media personality and political activist, described Xaba as the journalist's journalist that was always concerned about the state of journalism.She walked the communications route extensively, living up to her belief that information is power and that communication, particularly journalism, was critical in the developing state of democracy here at home, he says.She was no-pushover and I remember defending her in a disciplinary hearing where race-based but baseless accusations of inefficiency were levelled against her. Needless to say, she stood her ground and the case crumbled. Journalism and communication fraternity are the poorer with her passing, Tsedu says.Xabas long and illustrious career included being the editor of, under Media24 stable, which created the platform for healing of women. She was also the founding editor of the Sowetan womens club. She also worked for the The South African medical schemes market is of considerable interest from an economist's perspective for the two reasons suggested by Sir Lionel Robbins (1932) in his famous essay on the nature and significance of economic science. Source: Supplied. Robert Vivian is professor of Finance abd Insurance at the School of Business Sciences at Wits University, and a member of the Free Market Foundations Rule of Law Board of Advisors. Why intervene? Application to Medical Schemes Act He argued that economic science produces generalisations, which firstly could act as a guide to the interpretation of economic reality and secondly provide a basis for political practice. Political practice, it is suggested, is the formulation of policy-based decisions, and thus the basis of legislation. Economic reality is what can be observed, and thus economic science should be able to provide an economic explanation of that reality.The South African medical schemes market reflects, more than any other market, one of the realities of our age: government intervention into private markets. There is probably no market which is subject to more government intervention than the healthcare market, including the medical schemes market.Two similar questions about this reality spring to mind. Firstly, why should governments intervene in private markets? And then secondly, why do governments intervene? Although on the face of it the two questions are very similar, the answers to the questions are vastly different. Taking a cue from Sir Lionel, economic science should be able to provide answers to these questions, the first question is now answered; why should government intervene?The point of departure to this explanation is free, competitive markets. Free markets do not imply no government intervention. Indeed, the truth is the very opposite. John Locke argued that governments are formed to protect life, liberty and property. To this, the Americans added ...and the pursuit of happiness.So, there has always been government intervention prohibiting actions of individuals where those actions pose harm to other individuals. The law prohibits fraudulent actions, assault, murder and so on. Governments have prohibited fraud since the beginning of recorded history. Government intervention is justified to protect individuals from the harmful actions of other individuals.Insofar as free competitive markets are concerned, after a very long struggle by the mid-1800s, it was understood that free competitive markets produce optimum outcomes. So as far back as 1859, John Stuart Mill could proclaim: But it is now recognised, though not until after a long struggle, that both the cheapness and the good quality of commodities are most effectually provided for by leaving the producers and sellers perfectly free, under the sole check of equal freedom to the buyers for supplying themselves elsewhere.This became the generally accepted position which existed long before 1947, when Paul Samuelson, the future Nobel Laureate, articulated that there has never been absent from the main body of economic literature the feeling that in some sense perfect competition represented an optimal position.The question to be answered now can be more clearly stated in context: if free, competitive markets produce optimum outcomes why should the government intervene? There should be no need for intervention and in all probability, the intervention will leave society worse off.An answer springs to mind from the question itself; government intervention is justified where the specific market is clearly not producing the optimum outcomes obtainable from the free, competitive market. Should a market produce sub-optimal outcomes that market can be said to be subject to market failure, a notion made popular by Francis Bator (1958).For example, in cases where monopolies exist it could be argued that the government should intervene to eliminate monopolies. Alfred Marshall, Englands most famous academic economist had argued free competitive markets provide goods at the lowest price giving to consumers what he termed a consumers surplus. Free competitive markets eliminate monopoly profits. Thus, if monopolies exist then the optimum market does not.Against the background of this view, America introduced the first modern government intervention with the passing of the Sherman-Anti-Trust Act of 1890, ostensibly to combat monopolies. In addition, back in England, Marshalls protege and successor Pigou argued the economic system should produce to society the maximum total economic welfare. This was a vague concept.Pareto, an Italian engineer put some flesh on those bones by pointing out that the actions of some may impose involuntary costs on others; or as is usually said by economists, impose externalities on others.For example, producers may impose pollution on society. Government intervention in the form or regulations requiring polluters to clean-up the pollution they create would be justified intervention; the Pareto optimal standard became accepted. If a market imposes externalities, government intervention could be justified to deal with the externality.With this background the questions of government intervention into the medical schemes market can be examined. Take the intervention imposed in terms of section 29 (n) of the Medical Schemes Act 131 of 1998 which requires the contribution to medical schemes to be based solely on income and the number of dependents, and not any other grounds .In the free, competitive market insurers determine the premium using easily, inexpensively determined, risk factors, as for example, age. These factors have a direct bearing on the cost of claims. Thus, for example, taking age as a risk factor, typically the average healthcare spending on persons over 65 is about six times that of the spending on children and three times of that on a person of working age. Age would be a costlessly determined risk factor, to be taken into consideration when setting the premium.In medical schemes, because of the intervention, high and low-risk members are pooled. This market is not Pareto-optimal since high-risk members impose externalities on low-risk members. The medical schemes market is thus subject to extensive market failure. In this case, the government intervention has created this market failure. More importantly, government intervention was not introduced to eliminate market failure. Economically speaking this intervention is not justified.Economists can offer a general explanation for government intervention. Governments are justified in intervening in markets to eliminate market failure. Having made that statement, it can then be said that this is not the explanation for the intervention into the South African medical schemes market.In fact, economists could go further and state that government intervention into the South African medical market creates market failure. The medical schemes market, economically speaking, is a sub-optimum market. This then leads to the second question, why does government intervene? This question is answered knowing the government intervention has caused market failure.This second question is more difficult to answer but we can be guided to an answer relying on the view of John Stuart Mill (1863) when he wrote that all actions are undertaken to achieve some end and the rules which govern those actions must take their whole character and colour from the end to which they are subservient. The answer to the second question comes from answering two other questions. Firstly, what was the end, or purpose of the intervention, and secondly has that end in fact been achieved? A Place Called Home - The first solo exhibition of contemporary visual artist, Trevor Stuurman - will be offered at the Botho Project Space. Image supplied: Trevor Stuurman will be hosting his first solo exhibition in Johannesburg A Place Called Home is where Stuurmans story and journey come alive. He places himself within the exhibition by personifying various themes and installations, all created to live throughout the home that is created by Botho Project Space, with furniture and homeware from Weylandts. Home is the foundation of Stuurmans life, constantly choosing to create his understanding of the world he sees through his own familiarity.The exhibition is a celebration that aims to continue a fractured yet existing conversation: to make the table longer and wider, make space for more people to come together and ultimately build a culture of community, reminding us that home is a place of belonging.Narrated through the lens of Stuurman, the exhibition is an expression of home, a concept very close to his heart. Evoking the nostalgic feeling of a loved one waking you up at the first light of dawn, dipping into a warm bath, scrubbing the weekend away and stepping out in your Sunday best.Set in a home in Parktown West, the idea behind the exhibition is to re-create a space where people relive their own Sundays at home, the special memories and moments that make these days sacred in any South African home.Stuurman has collaborated with furniture and homeware retailer Weylandts to infuse the exhibition with authentic design, using many of the same pieces the artist has in his own home.Weylandts founder Chris Weylandt said, As a lifestyle brand, we recognise the importance of storytelling. We understand that humans are shaped by their environments, so we encourage people to celebrate their personal style and tell their story when creating their home sanctuaries. The rich narratives that come from this deserve to be shared. Our collaboration with Trevor Stuurman allows us to celebrate his unique style while demonstrating how design can influence the way we live.Home is the place where we surrender to our vulnerability. A space meant for people to be moulded and ultimately thrive in. Its where humans discover their own version of comfort, solace and meaning. Home is a place where one is known. Home is also the centre point that allows us to navigate the world, Stuurman said.With a true reflection of home and all it has to offer, bespoke experiences themed Sunday Best will be produced to run alongside the month-long exhibition. Combining art, music and food, the experience will include a series of curated dining experiences by a selection of top South African chefs, paired with local musicians who will serenade guests. Attendees get to dress in their Sunday best, gather around the table with their loved ones and enjoy amazing conversation, food and music.A Place Called Home will start on 20 May and end on 19 June from 11am - 5pm on weekdays and 10am - 5pm on Saturdays. The exhibition will be held at 26 Rhodes Avenue, Parktown, Johannesburg and tickets are available for R50 here The state capture commission chairperson, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, wants former National Department of Human Settlements director-general Thabani Zulu to face corruption charges for his receipt of R600,000 in the form of a deposit for a vehicle from businessman Edwin Sodi in 2015. This is recommended in the commission's latest report looking into the Free State asbestos eradication project that is currently the subject of a criminal trial. He has referred to the project as a "debacle" that should never be repeated. Motivation and approval Inconsistencies TZ Lounge is a sports bar operating out of a township in Pietermaritzburg but Sodi claims he could take expensive brands of liquor on credit as he travelled to Zimbali. The two men offered inconsistent versions of how the liquor would be transported Sodi said he would take it in his car, while Zulu stated in his affidavit the R600,000 was for goods and services delivered to Sodi. Zulu claimed he had a credit card facility with FNB, but could not provide proof of this to the commission. Furthermore, he speculated that he may have recorded debt incurred by Sodi in diaries that he has never produced to the commission. Although Zulu provided proof to the commission of his declaration of assets as is required in his public service capacity, he made no mention in the document that part of the payment towards a Range Rover in his name came from an entity doing business with government. Zondo poked holes in the versions of both Zulu and Sodi with regard to the payment towards a R1.3m Range Rover at a Ballito dealership in December 2015. The figure was uncovered by the commissions investigators during efforts to follow the money from Sodis company, Blackhead Consulting, which formed one half of the joint venture that secured a R255m contract from the Free State human settlements department to identify and remove all asbestos roofing on houses in the provinces townships.The department had no budget for the project, and motivated instead for National Treasury Regulation 16A to be invoked to get funding from the national purse. The regulation provides for a government entity to use a service provider previously contracted to another entity on the basis of that service provider being the only one qualified in the field, or if the project requiring funding is an urgent need. For this to be approved, Zulu would have had to be convinced of its legitimacy. The commission, however, has found the project to have been a sham that was merely meant to help enrich a number of individuals, with no benefit to the province.It is recommended that the National Prosecuting Authority gives serious consideration to instituting a criminal charge or criminal charges relating to corruption or any other applicable crime of offence against Mr Thabani Zulu for his arrangement with Mr Edwin Sodi and/or Blackhead Consulting to be paid an amount of R600,000 by Mr Edwin Sodi and/or Blackhead Consulting, writes Zondo in the report.The broad version that both men who are currently on trial in the criminal matter brought forward was that Sodis payment to the dealership was to offset a debt he had incurred from Zulus TZ Lounge, an entertainment establishment in Pietermaritzburg, over time. He claimed to have taken alcohol to the value of R604,000 over a period of six months, on occasions that he would be travelling from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal, either to his holiday home in Zimbali or to visit his son at a boarding school in the area. Zulus version corroborates that of Sodi, adding that he did not keep record of amounts owed by the businessman for the alcohol as he ran his business in an informal manner.But Zondo was not convinced, and placed in his report several inconsistencies with the details shared by the two, and the legitimacy of their version.That Mr Sodi had made payment of the sum of R600,000 out of his own banking account to SMD Trading CC to enable Mr Zulu to purchase the Range Rover was not initially revealed by either Mr Sodi or Mr Zulu in their affidavits or statements to the commission investigators and only emerged once both were questioned about what had been discovered from Mr Sodis bank statements and SMD, he writes in the report.Initially, Mr Sodi gave no explanation to investigators of this payment of R600,000, telling the commission that the question was not posed to me.In his second affidavit, Mr Sodi confirmed that this payment was made by himself to SMD dealership in Ballitofrom time to time he would visit the social venue known as TZ Lounge it was also convenient for him to replenish the stock at my Zimbali home with liquor and soft drinks at the end of 2015 Mr Zulu informed Mr Sodi that I had accumulated a bill of around R600,000 and enquired with Mr Sodi when he intended to settle the bill as he, Mr Zulu, was about to purchase a vehicle.The potential conflict of interest on Zulus part should have also been a matter of concern, added Zondo, considering their claim that they met in 2001 and developed a friendship over time. Later, at the time that the head of the Free State department of human settlements, Nthimotse Mokhesi, sought Zulus approval for funding for the project for which the province had no budget Zulu would potentially be unlocking the opportunity for his friends company.It is notable that on his version, Mr Zulu saw no impropriety in agreeing to Mr Mokhesis proposals concerning Blackhead notwithstanding that he was both a supplier of alcohol to Mr Sodi and considered that they were friends.According to the commission, Blackhead was to make close to R90m from the total contract value, following a two-way split with joint venture partner Diamond Hill, and after several payments emanating from Mokhesis departments payment to several individuals and entities.The explanation offered by Mr Sodi and Mr Zulu is simply false and dishonest, writes Zondo, for the following reasons, among others:The only conclusion which the commission can reach is that the story of the indebtedness of Mr Sodi to Mr Zulu in the amount of R604,000 by reason of purchases of alcohol at the TZ Lounge is pure fabrication. That fabrication is tendered on a haphazard and facile basis to attempt to explain the payment by Mr Sodi of R600,000 to the motor dealers on behalf of Mr Zulu. DNA Brand Architects is a one-of-a-kind company that takes your brand where it has never been before, creating unexpected alignments that will shake up your market and blow your mind. BlueDot, an intelligence analysis company, prepared movement reports for PHAC using anonymized data acquired from mobile devices. The reports helped the public health agency understand movement patterns during the pandemic, reports Reclaim the Net. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) was able to obtain detailed insights into peoples movements and recorded their visits to liquor stores, pharmacies, visits to friends and trips to other provinces, also collecting information on time spent in each location. Questions remain about the specifics of the data provided if Canadians rights were violated, and what advice the Liberal government was given,said Conservative MP Damien Kurek. The ethics committee asserted that the PHAC should have told Canadians their movements were potentially being monitored and given them the option to opt out. The PHAC claimed the program was not about following individuals trips to a specific location, but rather in understanding whether the number of visits to specific locations have increased or decreased over time. As we highlighted last week, the CDC purchased tracking data for millions of Americans mobile phones with an intention of monitoring their movements to see if they were complying with lockdowns, curfews and travel restrictions during the COVID pandemic. During the first winter lockdown in January 2021, a poll found that a plurality of people in Britain supported giving the government powers to spy on peoples movements via cellphone tracking to enforce lockdown. In the same month, Conservative MP Jeremy Hunt called for the government to use GPS tracking technology to ensure Brits were complying with COVID quarantine measures. Hunt demanded, Daily contact with those asked to self-isolate using GPS tracking to monitor compliance if necessary as happens in Taiwan and Poland. People need to know how much this matters and if we cannot persuade them to comply at the outset we should keep trying. Follow on Twitter: Follow @PrisonPlanet Brand new merch now available! Get it at https://www.pjwshop.com/ Antiwar libertarian hero Scott Horton has a viral tweet going around which reads simply, Bidens refusal to attempt to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine is the greatest scandal in American political history. Kind of smacks you in the face, doesnt it? Ive never seen anyone put it quite like that before, but if you think about it, how could it not be true? Its just a simple fact that the Biden administration is actually hindering diplomatic efforts to negotiate an end to this war, and that it has refused to provide Ukraine with any kind of diplomatic negotiating power regarding the possible rollback of sanctions and other US measures to help secure peace. Washingtons top diplomats have consistently been conspicuously absent from any kind of dialogue with their counterparts in Moscow. Statements from the administration in fact indicate that they expect this war to drag on for a long time, making it abundantly clear that a swift end to minimize the death and destruction is not just uninteresting but undesirable for the US empire. Ukrainian media report that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told Zelensky on behalf of NATO powers that even if Ukraine is ready to sign some agreements on guarantees with Putin, they are not. And this isnt just another war. This is a proxy war being waged by one of the worlds two top nuclear forces against the worlds other top nuclear force. This is more serious than Iraq. It is more serious than Vietnam. It is more serious than any US war that has happened in the lifetime of anyone likely to be reading these words, because Russia has increasingly valid reasons to believe its very existence as a nation is being threatened. This is therefore a war that could very easily result in the death of everyone on earth. The US Secretary of Defense has openly said that Americas goal is to weaken Russia in this war. Biden himself has made statements which can only be interpreted as calls for regime change in Moscow. US officials have been leaking to the press claims that US intelligence has directly facilitated the killing of Russian generals and the sinking of a Russian war ship. The imperial political/media class are not even denying that this is a US proxy war anymore. In an alarmingly rapid pivot from the mass medias earlier position that calling this a proxy war is merely an accusation promoted solely by Russia, were now seeing the use of that term becoming more and more common in authorized news outlets. The New Yorker came right out and declared that the US is in a full proxy war with Russia the other day, and US congressman Seth Moulton recently told Fox News that the US is at war with Russia through a proxy. At the end of the day, weve got to realize were at war, and were not just at war to support the Ukrainians, Moulton said. Were fundamentally at war, although its somewhat through proxy, with Russia. And its important that we win. How fast did that happen? How fast were we paced from Its Russian propaganda to call this a proxy war to Obviously this is a proxy war and we need to make sure we win? Fast enough to make your head spin, thats for sure. And its not just a proxy war, its a proxy war the US knowingly provoked. We know now that the US intelligence cartel had clear vision into Russias plans to launch this invasion, which means they also knew how to prevent it. A few low-cost maneuvers like promising not to add Ukraine to NATO as well as promising Zelensky that the US would protect him and his government from the violent fascist factions who were threatening to kill him if he honored the Minsk agreements and made peace with Russia as Ukrainians elected him to do. Thats all it would have taken. Many, many western experts warned for many years that the actions of the US and NATO would lead to the confrontation were now being menaced with. There was every opportunity to turn away from this war, and instead the US-centralized empire hit the accelerator and drove right into it. Knowingly. The whole thing was premeditated. All with the goal of weakening Russia and effecting regime change in Moscow in order to secure US unipolar hegemony. The Biden administration was the last in a long line of decision makers to choose this world-threatening confrontation over peace. There was an opportunity to avert this horror, and that opportunity wasnt taken. Allowing the world to come this close to nuclear war already makes Biden the worst US president since Bush. At least. History may well show his to be the single most depraved presidency of all time. Preventing nuclear war is a US presidents single most important job. Its so important you shouldnt even really have to talk about it, because its so self-evidently the number one priority. And this administration is just rolling the dice on nuclear conflict with increasing frequency every day. Even if humanity survives this standoff (and the one with China thats next in line), Biden will still have been an unforgivably depraved president for allowing it to get this close. Theres no excuse whatsoever for just casually rolling the dice on all terrestrial life like this. Just seriously meditating on what nuclear war is and what it means should be enough to show anyone that any flirtation with the remotest possibility of inflicting it on our world is unforgivable. Its the worst crime anyone could possibly commit short of actual nuclear war. Now all we can do is hope some small spark of sanity ignites deep within our species before we snuff ourselves out for good. _________________________ My work is entirely reader-supported, so if you enjoyed this piece please consider sharing it around, following me on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud or YouTube, or throwing some money into my tip jar on Ko-fi, Patreon or Paypal. If you want to read more you can buy my books. The best way to make sure you see the stuff I publish is to subscribe to the mailing list for at my website or on Substack, which will get you an email notification for everything I publish. Everyone, racist platforms excluded, has my permission to republish, use or translate any part of this work (or anything else Ive written) in any way they like free of charge. For more info on who I am, where I stand, and what Im trying to do with this platform, click here. All works co-authored with my American husband Tim Foley. Bitcoin donations:1Ac7PCQXoQoLA9Sh8fhAgiU3PHA2EX5Zm2 Feature image via Wikimedia commons. Two years ago last Saturday (May 7, 2020) Adam Schiff (D, California), Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, was forced to perform what Nixon co-conspirator John Ehrlichman famously called a "modified limited hangout." On that day, Schiff released sworn testimony that there was zero technical evidence that Russia or anyone else hacked those DNC emails so prejudicial to Hillary Clinton (later published by WikiLeaks). Now, please, before you put me in Putins or Trumps pocket, read on: The testifier was Shawn Henry, the head of the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. For reasons former FBI Director James Comey would never really explain, he deferred to CrowdStrike to do the forensic work on the DNC computers that were supposedly "hacked." Comey told Congress that CrowdStrike "would share with us what they saw." In June 2019, it was revealed that CrowdStrike never produced an un-redacted or final forensic report for the government because the FBI never required it to, according to the Justice Department. Are you starting to smell a rat? What about the "modified limited hangout"? Well, if some or all of this is news to you, it is because the NY Times and other major media have deep-sixed it for exactly two years now, and counting. It gets worse much worse. What Did Schiff Know and When Did He Know It? Fasten your seatbelts: It was on December 5, 2017 that Shawn Henry gave sworn testimony to the House Intelligence Committee see the official transcript. Henry testified that there was no technical evidence that Russia, or any other entity, hacked the DNC emails that were published by WikiLeaks just before the Democratic Convention in July 2016. (The emails showed how the deck had been stacked against Bernie Sanders in the primaries, for example.) Shawn Henry is a longtime protege of former FBI Director Robert Mueller and headed Muellers FBI cyber investigation unit. After retiring from the FBI in 2012, he took a senior position at CrowdStrike. At his testimony on Dec. 5, 2017, he had Graham M. Wilson, a partner at Perkins Coie, as well as David C. Lashway of Baker & McKenzie in support. Falling Silently in the Forest Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity, relying on (1) the extensive expertise and professional experience of two members who happened to have been Technical Directors at NSA, (2) the revelations of Edward Snowden, and (3) the immutable principles of physics, had already concluded that the accusation of that Russian hack on the DNC was phony. (That Brennans CIA "believed" it to be credible helped not a whit.) Below is how we began "Allegations of Hacking are Baseless," our Memorandum of December 12, 2016 (a year before Shawn Henry was forced to choose between telling the truth or perjuring himself). We wrote: A New York Times report on Monday alluding to "overwhelming circumstantial evidence" leading the CIA to believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin "deployed computer hackers with the goal of tipping the election to Donald J. Trump" is, sadly, evidence-free. This is no surprise, because harder evidence of a technical nature points to an inside leak, not hacking by Russians or anyone else. (See: "US Intel Vets Dispute Russia Hacking Claims.") We even included a brief tutorial on the difference between a "hack" and a leak, but we were already, in Dec. 2016 going up against deeply encrusted popular "belief" based on intelligence-corporate media connivance. Modified Limited Hangout Schiff was able to hide Shawn Henrys testimony for two and a half years. Under considerable pressure from a new Director of National Intelligence, who threatened to release the testimony himself, Schiff finally relented and released it (as mentioned above) on May 7, 2020. As for Establishment media, the transcript of Henrys testimony fell like the proverbial tree in the forest with no one around to hear it. Did the NY Times, et al. get "The Memo" ordering all to avoid Henrys testimony like the plague? Actually, in this particular case, corporate media had quite enough incentive of their own to hide from media consumers the fact that "Russian hacking," the cornerstone of Russia-gate, was a crock, and that viewers and listeners had been had. When I wrote about the released well, sort of released Shawn Henry transcript the following day, there was a wealth of background information to provide context to this sordid affair. I included a four-minute discussion I had had with Schiff just five days after Trump took office, a reminder that the Dems were well into "Russian hacking" as the centerpiece of Russia-gate from the very start. (That clip, and lots else, is embedded here) So Schiff knew on Dec. 5, 2017 that "Russian hacking" of those DNC emails was bogus. I was recently asked, why do you suppose he did not tell Robert Mueller, the "Inspector Javert" in hot pursuit of "Russian election interference," whose $32-million investigation of Russia-gate lasted from May 2017 till March 2019? Good question. Did Shawn Henry misplace the telephone number of Mueller, his old boss and mentor? Or did Mueller know, and despite knowing, continued his Javert-like chase until after the mid-terms in November 2018. (That worked for the Democrats; and, not incidentally, Schiff took back the reins of the Intelligence Committee.) Most of Americans have no idea how theyve been had on Russia-gate. And the NYTimes, et al. have every reason to keep them in the dark about "Russian hacking." Most people have little idea as to how the steady drumming on Russian perfidy has conditioned them not only to distrust "the Russians," but to hate them. (What, after all, could be more hateful than for being responsible for giving us four years of Trump?) Sadly and admittedly it cannot be considered unreasonable to be convinced that everything out of Trumps mouth is a lie and that he would never ever tell the truth about Russia given what Obama and others call his "bromance" with Putin. There are, of course, dangerous implications in all this for what Americans may be asked in terms of confronting Russia on Ukraine. On wider Russia-gate issues over the past five years and my tree-falling-in-forest attempts to expose the malfeasance of our corporate-captive media, readers may wish to review this. Ray McGovern works with Tell the Word, a publishing arm of the ecumenical Church of the Saviour in inner-city Washington. His 27-year career as a CIA analyst includes serving as Chief of the Soviet Foreign Policy Branch and preparer/briefer of the Presidents Daily Brief. He is co-founder of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (VIPS). It is Victory Day. As Ernest Hemingway said: Anyone who loves freedom owes such a debt to the Red Army that it can never be repaid. The most important part of Vladimir Putins speech to the Victory Parade on the Red Square is the narrative that explains how the current war in Ukraine began. Putin is correct in seeing this as a NATO proxy war against Russia: [D]espite all controversies in international relations, Russia has always advocated the establishment of an equal and indivisible security system which is critically needed for the entire international community. Last December we proposed signing a treaty on security guarantees. Russia urged the West to hold an honest dialogue in search for meaningful and compromising solutions, and to take account of each others interests. All in vain. NATO countries did not want to heed us, which means they had totally different plans. And we saw it. Another punitive operation in Donbass, an invasion of our historic lands, including Crimea, was openly in the making. Kiev declared that it could attain nuclear weapons. The NATO bloc launched an active military build-up on the territories adjacent to us. Thus, an absolutely unacceptable threat to us was steadily being created right on our borders. There was every indication that a clash with neo-Nazis and Banderites backed by the United States and their minions was unavoidable. Let me repeat, we saw the military infrastructure being built up, hundreds of foreign advisors starting work, and regular supplies of cutting-edge weaponry being delivered from NATO countries. The threat grew every day. Russia launched a pre-emptive strike at the aggression. It was a forced, timely and the only correct decision. A decision by a sovereign, strong and independent country. The use of 'pre-emptive strike is somewhat misleading. In fact the Ukraine started the war on Wednesday, February 16 2022, when its forces near the Donbas republics began preparatory artillery strikes for an all out ground attack on the Donbas republics. The February 15 report of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine recorded some 41 explosions in the ceasefire areas. This increased to 76 explosions on Feb 16, 316 on Feb 17, 654 on Feb 18, 1413 on Feb 19, a total of 2026 of Feb 20 and 21 and 1484 on Feb 22. The OSCE mission reports showed that the great majority of impact explosions of the artillery were on the separatist side of the ceasefire line. bigger On February 19 the Ukrainian President Zelensky announced at the Munich Security Conference that the Ukraine would ditch the Budapest memorandum and all related agreements. The Budapest memorandum is about Ukraine committing to be a non-nuclear state. Those two issues, an imminent ground attack on Donbas and the Ukraine threatening to strive for nuclear weapons, drove the Russian decision on February 21 to recognize the Donbas republics as independent states. (The legal precedence for doing such is the 'western' recognition of Kosovo as an independent state.) Common defense agreements between the independent states and the Russian Federation were signed. Three days later, during which the Ukrainian attacks on the Donbas republics continued, Russian troops entered the Ukraine under Article 51 of the U.S. charter. --- Over the last days there were some interesting developments of the ground. 1. North of Karkov Russian troops are pulling back to shorten their frontline. The city will have to wait until the Donbas has been regained. The Ukraine again declares it is wining as it retakes the towns the Russians have earlier left. bigger 2. After heavy fighting Russian forces broke through the eastern Donbas front and conquered the heavily defended city of Popasna. bigger The city is on a hill about 260 meters above sea level. This is about 100+ meters higher than the areas north, south and west of it. Artillery stationed on the hill will have a very good view and can reach deep into Ukrainian held grounds. It will be able to interdict resupplies on nearby roads to the Ukrainian front troops. 3. The Ukrainian military had launched a commando attack on Snake Island (in the semi circle 30 miles south of Odessa). Navneet Rana, the Lok Sabha member from Amravati in Maharashtra, and her husband Ravi Rana, the legislator from Badnera in Amravati, were arrested by the Mumbai police on April 23 (ANI) Mumbai: The Mumbai police on Monday filed an application in a special court here seeking cancellation of the bail granted to independent MP Navneet Rana and her MLA-husband Ravi Rana, accused in a sedition case following a row over the recitation of Hanuman Chalisa. The police sought that the couple's bail be cancelled on the ground that they had allegedly violated one of the conditions imposed by the special court while granting them bail last week. Navneet Rana, the Lok Sabha member from Amravati in Maharashtra, and her husband Ravi Rana, the legislator from Badnera in Amravati, were arrested by the Mumbai police on April 23 after they announced that they would recite the Hanuman Chalisa outside Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's private residence 'Matoshree' in Bandra area here. They were booked on charges of sedition and prompting enmity between different groups. The special court had on May 4 granted bail to the couple and imposed some conditions on them, including not to indulge in a similar offence and not to speak to the media. On Monday, the suburban Khar police filed an application through special public prosecutor Pradip Gharat, seeking that the court cancel the couple's bail as they had allegedly violated the condition of not speaking to the media. The accused persons (Navneet Rana and Ravi Rana) have given interviews to media since their release and hence, flouted the condition imposed by the special court while granting them bail. We are seeking for the bail to be cancelled and a warrant to be issued to the accused and they be taken in custody forthwith, Gharat said. Dozens of people at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 3 on Sunday had a chance to hear why Jean Charest is the best candidate to unite the Conservative Party of Canada and defeat the Liberal government in the next federal election. Advertisement Advertise With Us Dozens of people at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 3 on Sunday had a chance to hear why Jean Charest is the best candidate to unite the Conservative Party of Canada and defeat the Liberal government in the next federal election. Embarking on a tour across the country, Charest, the former leader of the Progressive Conservative party and three-term premier of Quebec, made a stop in Brandon to share why he is best suited to represent the party ahead of the leadership election that will take place on Sept. 10. The Brandon Legion event marked a significant announcement for Charests campaign as Larry Maguire, the Conservative member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris, arrived to endorse the potential leader whom he has known for a long time. "Mr. Charest is a proven winner, a proven statesman, and a proven leader," Maguire said. JOSEPH BERNACKI/THE BRANDON SUN Jean Charest, the former three-term premier of Quebec and leader of the federal Progressive Conservatives, shared a message of unifying the current Conservative Party while hoping to secure the partys leadership. "People are making their choices based on their personal views as well as what they see in these leaders. They see a person in Mr. Charest that can easily beat the Liberals in the next election." Maguire commended Charests appearance in southwestern Manitoba and said he has been one of the best premiers to serve Quebec during his long tenure of representing Canada at the provincial and federal level. Maguire said it was an easy decision to endorse Charest based on their shared views on pipeline developments, balanced budgets, fiscal accountability and knowledge of Canadas agriculture industry. For Charest, its a relationship that goes back over 30 years, prior to Maguires first time in the Manitoba legislature. "We stayed in touch throughout the years and when he first got elected to the provincial legislature I was delighted and then when he was elected to the House of Commons even more," Charest said. JOSEPH BERNACKI/THE BRANDON SUN Jean Charest and Michele Dionne made their way around each corner of the legion hall visiting with Brandonites of all ages in attendance on Sunday. "This is a story of two people who have known each other for a long time, and I have a lot of respect for Larry. I think hes the salt of the earth." Pat Bowslaugh, a Brandon resident, has been a lifelong supporter of the party. One of many residents in attendance on Sunday, she told The Sun that Charest has decorum and is an excellent public speaker. "He has a presence that is commendable to most people without being erratic at one end or the other," Bowslaugh said. "I think because of his experience, he brings a skill base that would be a great value to Canada, not only Quebec." Sitting across from Bowslaugh, Diane Squair said she believes Charest is the most experienced candidate running for the Conservative leadership and doesnt stray too far right or too far left on the political spectrum. Charest, the former three-term premier of Quebec and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada, shared a message of unifying the current Conservative Party in hopes of securing the partys leadership role later this year. "He exemplifies my beliefs in what social policies should be. I would support him again and be pleased to do so," Squair said. Much like Bowslaugh, Squair said she could potentially lose respect for the party if Charest doesnt receive the nomination this fall. "If some of the other ones [candidates] get in, Id have to seriously think about leaving, and thats a big decision when youve been a lifetime conservative," she said. Derryk Jackson recalled a time many years ago when he wrote to Jean Charest regarding an issue with Health Canada. A resident in Brandon since 1974, Jackson was elated to shake hands with the man who personally wrote back to him with a signature, after other politicians had ignored him. Jean Charest (centre), his wife Michele Dionne and Brandon-Souris Conservative MP Larry Maguire (left) greet dozens of people at the Brandon Royal Canadian Legion Branch 3 on Sunday afternoon. (Photos by Joseph Bernacki/The Brandon Sun) "I believe he would be a unifying force for the Conservative Party of Canada," Jackson said. "I think to govern in Canada, whether its Liberal or Conservative, you must be pretty close to the centre. We got to meet all peoples needs. I believe Jean Charest knows how to straddle that as Stephen Harper did." Jackson, who retired from working as a life insurance agent, works part-time as a school bus driver for the city. He said Charests battle-hardened and wise personality resonated with Maguire, and could sense the local MP would endorse his colleague at the federal level. "I believe Larry Maguire is in it for the common man and common good of southwestern Manitoba," Jackson said. "His endorsement is important. I think Larry has a much wider kaleidoscope approach to how this is going to feed out. This isnt just about how we can be exciting at question period. This is about how we can defeat Justin Trudeau." Jean Charest and Michele Dionne made their way around each corner of the legion hall visiting with Brandonites of all ages in attendance on Sunday afternoon. (Joseph Bernacki/The Brandon Sun) Maguires endorsement comes following the news from Dan Maziers team to support Pierre Poilievre as the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada. Jackson said he has no problem with the views of Mazier, the member of Parliament for Swan River-Neepawa, and instead suggested that the party needs to be reunited to work properly in the best interest of their votership. "I think sometimes people that are newer into the political arena will have different perspectives on whats going to happen going into the future," Jackson said. "The party has to be together. We cant be off on tangents. [Its about] who can win this seat in the next election. It would be a shame to have it get away, and the time is right." For more details on Charests leadership potential and policy views, head on over to the latest edition of Sunny Side Up, where The Brandon Sun had a sit-down conversation on the podcast with him on these topics. jbernacki@brandonsun.com Twitter: @JosephBernacki Over 7,000 field assistants working for MNREGA await posting even two months after CM KCR promised their reinstatement in jobs. (Representational Photo:DC) Hyderabad: Over 7,000 field assistants working for MNREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme) await posting even two months after Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao promised their reinstatement in jobs. The CM had made the promise in the state assembly. However, officials refuse to reinstate the field assistants by saying no order has been issued by the state government so far. These employees were sacked in February, 2020 after they went on strike. The field assistants held protests in all the districts for two years with a plea to the government to revoke the suspension orders. Opposition parties had extended their support to the demand. It was in this context that the CM made a promise to reinstate them into the service while he was speaking in the Budget session of the assembly on March 15. He had said he would do so on humanitarian grounds and warned them not to resort to strikes in the future. Field assistants had performed ksheerabhishekams' (pouring milk on the portraits of CM) to thank him for the decision in the hope that they would join duties from April 1. However, no order was issued so far. Field assistants say they would launch agitation programmes again if the government failed to issue orders immediately to take them back to their jobs from June 1. They held a meeting here on Monday. Dozens of volunteers gathered at the Ukrainian National Hall Saturday to create about 200 dozen perogies and 50 pounds of cabbage rolls. Advertisement Advertise With Us Dozens of volunteers gathered at the Ukrainian National Hall Saturday to create about 200 dozen perogies and 50 pounds of cabbage rolls. The food-making session was organized by the Brandon-based Canadian Ukrainian Association group Tryzub. The Ukrainian delicacies are part of a fundraiser to raise money for those affected by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. "We are all together. If we can be useful, we do anything just to help Ukraine," said Tryzub member and volunteer Tetyana Morley. "All our efforts are only to just help Ukraine. Hopefully, the war will be over very soon." Tryzub formed about a decade ago in Brandon as a way for the Ukrainian community to stay connected and foster national pride. Morley said the group has been transformed by the war and is working around the clock to find ways to support Ukraine. The perogies and cabbage rolls were prepared by community volunteers who worked with approximately 600 pounds of potatoes secured through Brandon Food Rescue. Tryzub only had to purchase cheese, oil and flour to make the Ukrainian treats. CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Vira Rudnytska and Myra Prytsyuk make cabbage rolls and perogies during Saturdays Tryzub fundraiser. Tryzub organized the fundraiser to help raise funds to purchase items ranging from bread and water, to medical supplies, to drones for those on the ground in Ukraine. On Friday, Tryzub sent funds to a members son fighting in Ukraine, she said, getting money and items directly into the hands of those who need it. It was emotional talking with the young man, she added, as there are concerns Internet availability will soon be lost as Russian troops advance and work to isolate Ukrainian communities under siege. "There are still many people in shelter and with the Ukrainian army and they try to get some medicine, food, even simple water because kids are staying underground for two months already," Morley said. "We are very thankful to people who are still donating to Tryzub." CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Volunteers make cabbage rolls and perogies at a Tryzub fundraiser for Ukraine humanitarian aid at the Ukrainian National Hall on Saturday. Ted Dzogan secured ingredients for the Tryzub food-making session. Dzogan is chair of the John Howard Society of Brandon board, a registered charity for Brandon Food Rescue. Dzogan was in Winnipeg on Thursday and returned to Brandon with about 600 pounds of potatoes, 200 pounds of onions and 120 pounds of cabbage provided by Peak of the Market Inc. "The potatoes are perfectly fine, but theyre either misshapen, too big, too small, theres just some reason that commercially they dont meet the specs of their customers," Dzogan said. CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Dmytro Lupanchuk flattens perogy dough in a pizza machine during a Tryzub fundraiser at the Ukrainian National Hall on Saturday. Tryzub members "eyes were popping out of their heads" seeing the volume of ingredients provided, he said. The partnership with Tryzub will be an ongoing project. One of Dzogans key goals moving forward is to find someone who can donate cheese to future food-making sessions. It has been an exciting initiative to participate in, he said, because it is helping prevent food waste in Canada while helping get people fed in Ukraine. CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Kate Sternichuk makes cabbage rolls and perogies on Saturday. "We live in such a wealthy place that our leftovers, our waste products have so much value that they can change lives throughout the world," Dzogan said. "This is not a big ask its easy and it has big results." The donation was especially meaningful as April marked the 100th anniversary of Dzogans great-grandfather first setting foot on Canadian soil. His fathers side of the family is Ukrainian and they immigrated to Canada fleeing Ukraine after a previous war. As the great-grandchild of brave immigrants who were welcomed and helped by Canadians, he said, there is a responsibility to pay those actions forward to help the current generation being affected by the Russian invasion. CHELSEA KEMP/THE BRANDON SUN Nataliya Dyakiv makes cabbage rolls and perogies at the Ukrainian National Hall on Saturday. "Its easy for me to empathize with the Ukrainian community and the war here and the refugees because it speaks to my fathers side," Dzogan said. "The reality is, is that this is not new. This is what war does. This is what immigrants go through." There have been more than 100 dozen food orders placed since the fundraiser launched on the Tryzub Facebook page, said member Olga Boiko. On Saturday, volunteers made 200 dozen perogies along with 110 pounds of cabbage rolls to freeze in preparation for future orders, Boiko said. Dmytro Lupanchuk flattens perogy dough in a pizza machine during a Tryzub fundraiser at the Ukrainian National Hall on Saturday. (Photos by Chelsea Kemp/The Brandon Sun) It remains critical to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine, she said, as the war remains ongoing. "We were talking in our group chat, Tryzub group chat and it looks like people start to get used to it. I mean that year we yes, we have war, yes there is war in Ukraine, we still need to remember that its going on," Boiko said. "Nothing is finished and there is no end yet." Tryzub will be participating in different markets in May selling perogies and cabbage rolls. The next market is in Brandon at the Victoria Inn on May 15. Volunteers will also be in Neepawa on May 20 and Rapid City on May 21. Kate Sternichuk makes cabbage rolls and perogies on Saturday. Tryzub is also hosting a donation drive to support Ukrainian nationals fleeing to the Brandon area. The group is looking for new or gently used household items to collect for those starting a new life in Westman. Visit the Tryzub Facebook page for more information on upcoming fundraisers or to place a food order. Tryzub will be providing updates on how donations are helping those on the ground in Ukraine, Boiko said, along with information on how to help raise funds. "We really need to keep going to collect those thousands and send them still. They still need them," Boiko said. ckemp@brandonsun.com Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp Troubled investment manager Magellan has sold its stake in Mexican restaurant chain Guzman y Gomez to a group of high net worth individuals as part of a plan to refocus on its core asset management business. Magellan on Monday announced it had reached an agreement to sell its 11.6 per cent stake in Guzman y Gomez for about $140 million to a trust fund, which represents a 36.3 per cent premium on its entry price in January 2021. Magellan has sold its stake in Guzman Y Gomez. Magellan chair Hamish McLennan said the deal was an excellent outcome for Magellan shareholders. The market did not agree, with an investor sell-off pushing Magellans stock value down by more than 8 per cent to close at $15.80 per share. [Guzman y Gomez] is an outstanding company, however, the sale of our shareholding is consistent with our strategy to focus on our core funds management business, McLennan said. Parental guidance was definitely advised for any little ones tuning into Sunday nights Great Debate hosted by Nine, the owner of this newspaper. Kicking off at the appropriately late hour of 8.45pm, hopefully most dads and mums the latter fresh from a day of much-needed pampering would have succeeded in settling their youngest ones to bed prior. Anthony Albanese and Scott Morrisons debate had plenty of shouty moments. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen I can only imagine the questions fielded by parents who opted to let our littlest citizens stay up to witness this key component of our democracy. Mummy, why is that man talking over that other man? You always tell me that is rude! might have been one reasonable inquiry. The destruction of Ukraines black earth farm belt is even worse than feared. Half of this years output will be lost to the world. A global shortage of fertilisers largely caused by Putins war will depress yields across the globe. This might be manageable were it not for everything else going wrong for global food supply. Atmospheric scientists fear that La Nina global weather, already in an extended double dip, will morph into a rare triple dip event. This would extend the drought in Latin Americas grain regions, as well as wreaking havoc in the Prairies, and as far away as East Africa and central Asia. Utter destruction: A Ukrainian army officer inspects a grain warehouse shelled by Russian forces. Russias war on Ukraine combined with another bout of La Nina could set off a global food emergency. Credit:Getty Images There is a better than 50 per cent chance of a third La Nina, and that has only happened twice in the last 40 years, said Eric Snodgrass, weather wizard at the agro-industrial giant Nutrien. La Nina events are caused by unusually cold water in the tropical Pacific, which distorts the Jet Stream at mid-latitudes. It tends to cause drought in the big global agricultural baskets like the US farm belt. If La Nina maintains its grip, itll shave yields by a few bushels per acre and that can have a global impact when markets are tight as they are today, he said. Just two weeks out from the federal election its been easy to overlook the other, considerably more enjoyable contests taking place around the world. And so it was heartening to see that Australias wealthiest man Anthony Pratt was able to clear time in the schedule to grace the United States premier race day over the weekend, the Kentucky Derby. Piers Morgan, Penny Fowler, Anthony Pratt attended the Kentucky Derby in the US. Credit:Illustration: John Shakespeare And in fine company, no less. The Visy packaging boss attended the $US1.86 million ($2.6 million) headline race along with Visys impeccably connected advisory board member Penny Fowler, who is best known professionally for her role chairing News Corps Herald and Weekly Times and a slew of charitable positions including National Portrait Gallery chair. In the personal stakes, she is known as Rupert Murdochs niece. Also in the entourage? Murdoch empire royalty and Sky News Australias latest very big-name recruit Piers Morgan, who even posted a snap to social media from the race but regrettably took the photo down shortly afterwards. Two days later, the crew regrouped in Britain at Londons Ritz Hotel for dinner. A real whistle-stop tour. Would Morrison use force against China? Is he ready to go to war with the worlds biggest navy? Would he use force against Solomon Islands? Is he prepared to bully a tiny neighbour, after insisting that he respected its sovereign right to make its own decisions? Morrison has defended his use of the term red line by saying that the US has used the same language. No, it hasnt. The Biden administrations statement on the Solomons last month said: If steps are taken to establish a de facto permanent military presence, power-projection capabilities, or a military installation, the delegation noted that the US would then have significant concerns and respond accordingly. A response could be anything, ranging from a cranky press release to financial sanctions to a bombing raid. Bidens people did not put the US into a corner with reckless rhetoric. Morrison did. This gave Albanese the opportunity to tell us how hed do better. Instead, he ran his one-liner that the governments Pacific step-up is actually a Pacific stuff-up. Then they taunted each other over who was soft on China. Morrison asked Albanese why Labor cut defence spending (which it did under Julia Gillard). Albanese retorted that Labor had put US Marines in Darwin (which it did under Gillard) while the Coalition had sold the Port of Darwin to a Chinese firm. Scott Morrison was treasurer when the Port of Darwin was leased to the Chinese-owned Landbridge Group. The Northern Territory government sold a 99-year lease on the port to Chinas Landbridge while Morrison was treasurer. You ticked it off, said Albanese. With your tick. You allowed it to happen. Morrison: We didnt. The federal government had no authority over that sale whatsoever. Albanese was right that Morrison, as treasurer, allowed it to happen, and Morrison is right that the government had no specific authority because of a loophole in the Foreign Investment Act. But if Morrison had wanted to block it, he could have. Why does the parliament exist? To make or amend laws. Morrison could have amended the act in a trice. Albanese pointed out that, as shadow treasurer, hed opposed the deal at the time. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Beijing in 2019. Credit:AP The Port of Darwin lease is dangerous territory for Morrison, so he moved on quick smart to make a counter-accusation. He interrupted the Labor leader to ask how hed stand up to China when some of the loudest voices on being pro-Beijing come from your party? Albanese dismissed this as an outrageous slur. And, of course, the whole thing is just silly. Until 2016-17, both major parties were fawning all over Beijing in pursuit of trade, investment, VIP visits to China, political support and post-politics patronage. It was the Sam Dastyari scandal that shocked the nation out of its narcosis under the influence of Chinese Communist Party money. From romancing China to reviling it, now the two leaders badger each other over every point of China contact like silly schoolboys accusing each other of harbouring girl germs. To be fair, the format allowed them only one minute each on the topic. Loading But its very clear that the Morrison government is failing to cope with Chinas relentless pressures. All the PM had to offer was bluster and deflection. And Albanese missed the opportunity to explain how hed do better. No, not a hint of brightness there. And biding their time? Deng, whose reforms made China wealthy, demanded that China avoid drawing attention to its growing power until it was fully ready to assert it. Xi decided that its wait was over. In Australias case, the government is biding its time in responding. Two years ago, in its Defence Strategic Update, the government conceded that it had been wrong to assume that Australia had a 10-year window of warning before a conflict could break out with a hostile power. Australia has no long-range strike capability, no missiles, nothing, only plans and orders and bungled programs. China will seduce or subvert one South-East Asian country after another, one Pacific prime minister after another, while it builds its undersea and space-based combat systems and turns out another two to three new submarines a year. As French President Emmanuel Macron said when Australia tore up its contract for French submarines last year, Australia had no supply contract with anyone: Now you have 18 months before a report. Good luck. Former prime minister Tony Abbott with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Parliament House in Canberra in 2014. Credit:Andrew Meares A US official once explained the difference between Russia and China in the way they conduct cyberwar. Russia, he said, struck like a hurricane, hard and fast and direct. China, however, was like climate change, gradually assuming control of entire systems. This applies equally to Chinas overall approach to dominate the Indo-Pacific. Whether Morrison or Albanese wins this election, Australia needs to find some brightness. And there is no time left to bide. Once dethroned, it is rare for a warrior icon to be reinstated on her pedestal. Until now. Almost. In March, we reported that the once-proud statue of Britannia which stood atop the GPO building in Martin Place until an extra storey was added in 1899 had unceremoniously become broken up and dispersed across suburban gardens north of Sydney. Bruce Piper with Britannias hand. The remnants of a large sculpture of Britannia which once graced the top of the Sydney GPO. Credit:Nick Moir There was a head here, a torso there. Now the mythical warrior faces her final battle, to be reunited. Some body parts are to be donated back whence they came to go on display at the GPO, now the Fullerton Hotel. But a question mark hangs over the future of her torso, currently languishing in a front garden in Hornsby Shire. In another development, the warriors left hand has turned up, the one that held the trident. That too is to be returned by the owner to the GPO. A man in his 30s has been assessed with critical injuries after they crashed into a pole in south-west Brisbane. Paramedics were called to Johnson Road and Stapylton Road at Heathwood about 3.30pm on Monday. A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said the patient was assessed, but not transported to hospital. Queensland police has warned of long delays and urged drivers to avoid the area. Maryam Hamkas family are desperate to know her whereabouts, 13 months on from her disappearance, as a court was told on Monday she had concerns about her on-off boyfriend in the weeks before she went missing. On the day Hamkas siblings sat in Melbourne Magistrates Court for the start of a hearing that will determine whether two men charged over her suspected death will face trial, a lawyer for the family said they were distraught at being unable to lay her to rest without any remains. Hamka, 36, was last seen in a Brunswick supermarket on April 10 last year. Her on-off boyfriend, Toby Loughnane, 42, has been charged with murder, and prosecutors allege he murdered her in his Brighton home the day after she was last seen. Police also allege Loughnane assaulted Hamka in the months before she disappeared. The Chinese and Russian militaries have been banned from attending a major military trade show in Sydney, as concerns heighten about the recently signed security agreement between China and Solomon Islands. The chief of the Royal Australian Navy, Vice Admiral Mike Noonan, decided not to invite Chinese officials to the Indo-Pacific 2022 International Maritime Exposition because of the countrys trade strikes against Australia and the deterioration of relations between the two nations. Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Michael Noonan says it is difficult to maintain communication with China on the trade front. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Russian officials are also not attending the conference, which runs between Tuesday and Thursday this week, after an invitation to Moscow was rescinded shortly after its invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Navy chiefs from 40 countries are gathering at Darling Harbour for the conference, the first since the global pandemic, where emerging technologies in undersea warfare will be top of the agenda. Cloudy weather conditions prevailed all over the state on Monday under the influence of cyclone Asani that formed over the sea on Sunday. (Photo: DC/ Murali Krishna) VISAKHAPATNAM: Cloudy weather conditions prevailed all over the state on Monday under the influence of cyclone Asani that formed over the sea on Sunday. Many parts of the state received light to moderate rains. The sea condition was rough, according to the disaster management authorities. IMD Andhra Pradesh unit president Stella said the system moved in the northwest direction with a speed of 16kmph on Monday and was located 400km southeast of Visakhapatnam and 500km of Puri on Monday. The system is very likely to move further northwestwards till May 10 and reach west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal off north coastal AP. It is likely to weaken gradually over the sea and may fizzle out over the sea itself without hitting the coast anywhere along the Eastern India, she said. Private weather website Skymet said the closest position is likely to be abeam bordering areas of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh and South Odisha, nearly 100-150 km away from the shore. The severe cyclonic storm is expected to weaken after 36 hr to an average cyclonic storm and erode further its intensity before commencing recurve track anytime after May 11. Squally winds and heavy rains are likely covering Kakinada, Tuni, Vizag, Kalingapatnam, the website said. Meanwhile, the severe cyclone Asani now closing in north Andhra coast and South Odisha has affected the flight movements on the eastern board. Director of the Visakhapatnam International Airport K Srinivasa Rao said the impending severe cyclone Asani led to the cancellation of 19 domestic flights scheduled to various destinations on Monday. However, 16 flights could operate when the wind speed was low at the time of landing and departure, he said. ``If the wind speed reaches 30 knots, the flight will be grounded, the director said. One IndiGo flight arrived in Vizag on Monday and flew back to Hyderabad but the services to Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Mumbai and Chennai have been cancelled as the wind speed was around 24 to 30 knots, said the director added. Air Indias Mumbai-Raipur-Visakhapatnam skipped Visakhapatnam and flew back to Mumbai. Similarly, Air Indias Delhi-Visakhapatnam flight could not land in Visakhapatnam and was diverted to Hyderabad. Air Asias Delhi-Vizag-Hyderabad flight also skipped Visakhapatnam and flew to Hyderabad. Travel agents said flight services were affected in Odisha and West Bengal too due to the grim weather conditions. The services will remain uncertain till the cyclone weakens and moves to north Bengal. Meanwhile, the Visakhapatnam district administration opened a cyclone control room with phone numbers. According to collector Mallikarjuna, heavy rain is likely at one or two places in Visakhapatnam district. Instructions were issued to all revenue officials and line departments in the district to stay at their respective headquarters to monitor the situation. A control room with phone numbers 0891-2590100 and 2590102 was opened and this would function round the clock. The special duties to the staff would continue till 8 pm on May 13. A Labor-aligned union has taken aim at Clive Palmers management of Queensland Nickel as the billionaire businessman maintains his partys high profile in the campaign. Palmers United Australia Party continues to run newspaper, online and broadcast advertisements and billboards in characteristic yellow. Some recent print ads have been switched to blue in an attempt to sow seeds of Liberal Party disunity. A defaced United Australia Party billboard, publicised by the online collective AdJackers. For months, the billboards have been under attack through the support of a collective known as AdJackers, pushing back at what it has labelled a #YellowStain. AdJackers did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Palmer told Brisbane Times police in NSW were investigating the attacks, however he did not provide enough information for NSW police to confirm. For months, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Monique Ryan, his independent opponent in the seat of Kooyong, have been hearing each others pitches through the media. From now until election day, they will be doing so within earshot of each other. The pair spent Monday handing out how-to-vote cards side-by-side in a prime location at the entrance to voting booths in a suburban street in Hawthorn. Monique Ryan said the councils rules were confusing and at odds with those set by other councils. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Asked how it felt to stand alongside Frydenberg, who was insulted last week when Ryan labelled him the Treasurer for NSW and who she accused of misquoting her mother-in-law, Ryan said: Weve been very cordial. Boroondara Council told candidates on the weekend that signs and banners would not be permitted at the early voting centre and each candidate would be allowed just two volunteers. An extra $4.4 billion a year is needed for Indigenous people to receive the same level of healthcare as the general population, a new report says, including an additional $2.6 billion from the federal government. The Equity Economics report, commissioned by the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), said the rest of the funding gap largely reflected lower private health expenditure. NACCHO chief executive Pat Turner says the shortfall shows the government had wasted three years of opportunities to address the issue. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "Given the barriers many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face in accessing private healthcare, it is important to recognise this as part of the overall gap and for Commonwealth, state and territory governments to fill this shortfall and work with the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector and other partners to address it," the report said. The report estimated total recurrent expenditure on Indigenous health in 2019-20 to be $8.6 billion. This translated to $9925 a year spent on health for each Indigenous person compared to $7365 for non-Indigenous Australians. Liberal candidates in key seats will benefit from Clive Palmers preferences, with his United Australia Party recommending voters put the Liberal Party second or third place on their ballot papers in several close contests. The development, which was evident on several how-to-vote cards collected by the Herald and The Age as pre-polling opened on Monday, came despite Palmer saying just weeks ago that his party would urge voters to put the major parties last. A selection of how-to-vote cards issued at a pre-polling booth in Chatswood on Monday. Credit:SMH A federal Liberal Party campaign spokesman said: There have been no deals with Clive Palmers United Australia Party. UAP leader Craig Kelly said he had no discussion whatsoever with the Liberals. He said the party was recommending voters avoid preferencing Labor, Liberal or the Greens in the Senate, but in the lower house its how-to-votes varied on a seat-by-seat basis. Australian businesses starved of skilled workers could recruit from a pool of more than half a million job-ready women, but only if the next government invests in better childcare, improves access to paid parental leave and drives higher wages in critical industries. As Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese clash over how to drive up pay packets in the face of sharply rising inflation, new research shows a solution to the nations skilled worker crisis could already be here. Sam Mostyn, president of Chief Executive Women, says getting more women participating in the workforce could fix the skills shortage. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The study conducted for Chief Executive Women by independent firm Impact Economics has found halving the wage gap between men and women could fix the current skills shortage and create the equivalent of 500,000 additional full-time jobs. The report found that going further and entirely closing the wage gap would add an extra 1 million full-time equivalent workers with post-school qualifications, giving Australian businesses smashed by border closures and the lack of international students the chance to find staff. Upbeat Greens members and supporters outside Brisbane City Hall believe they could win three inner-city Brisbane seats amid dissatisfaction with the major parties. If voters agree, that would deliver two Liberal National Party losses - the seat of Brisbane, held by Trevor Evans, and the seat of Ryan, held by Julian Simmons - and bring the downfall of Labors Terri Butler in Griffith. Greens senator Larissa Waters with Brisbane candidate Stephen Bates. Credit:Tony Moore Greens senator Larissa Waters, the partys co-deputy leader, said the party had a very good shot in those electorates because there was a real mood for change. We are actually hopeful of being in the balance of power in the Senate but also in a minority government after the election, Waters told Brisbane Times, foreshadowing the Coalition would lose power. London: The scandal over lockdown-breaking parties that has ensnared Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain took a new turn when his rival, opposition leader Keir Starmer, promised to resign if police decide that he also broke coronavirus laws. The statement followed days of speculation about whether Starmer was in breach of the countrys strict COVID-19 regulations when he was pictured drinking a beer as he ate takeout Indian food during a campaign meeting in the northern city of Durham last year. Labour leader Keir Starmer makes a statement at Labour Party headquarters in London. Credit:PA And while Starmers promise represents a striking gamble, it also raises the pressure on Johnson, who has already been fined for attending a birthday celebration at Downing Street but has refused to quit. I am absolutely clear that no laws were broken, they were followed at all times, said Starmer, who is a former chief prosecutor. Most of the worst cases were seniors who had been living in nursing homes. Some didnt speak English. Many were disoriented from not getting enough oxygen as they struggled to breathe. I was taking off my mask all the time just so they could see my face, Strickland said. That would help us get [an oxygen] mask on them and help us treat them. Strickland was tested weekly for coronavirus. She never tested positive. When her volunteer stint ended, she also took an antibody test that showed no evidence of a prior infection. As many as three-quarters of all Americans have tested positive to COVID. Credit:AP Neither of Stricklands parents have had the virus, nor has her twin sister who works as a primary care doctor. When both she and one of her twin sons managed to evade illness even after her other son endured a COVID infection inside their 110-square-metre house, Strickland began to suspect she may have a natural immunity to the virus. So she sought out the scientific study looking at the genetic make-up of people like her who had never contracted the coronavirus despite repeated exposures. I really do feel hopeful that theyre going to see some kind of similarity, some kind of gene in our DNA, Strickland said. Studying the genes and other biological traits of people who never catch the coronavirus could shed light on how the virus develops, or how it infects the human body and makes people sick, said Jennifer Nuzzo, a professor of epidemiology at the Brown University School of Public Health. The findings could lead to better drugs and more targeted public health advice. Scientists dont know why some people might be impervious to the coronavirus, but Nuzzo said one hypothesis could be that some individuals have fewer receptors in their noses, throats and lungs for the virus to bind to. Other possible explanations could be prior exposure to a related virus or simply being born with an immune system better suited to fighting SARS-CoV-2. But finding individuals who have truly never had a coronavirus infection not just those who had an asymptomatic infection or less severe case of COVID-19 and did not know they had contracted the virus is tricky. Those people should be exceedingly rare in the United States at this point, said Christopher Murray, director of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington and who helps develop models that estimate how far the virus has spread. The institutes models suggest that the number of people who have had the coronavirus in the United States may be even higher than recent CDC estimates based on blood tests, Murray said. The CDC said nearly six in 10 Americans have had the virus at least once; IHME estimates that total is closer to 76 per cent of US residents. Antibody tests can rule out people who have an immune response to the virus, but some of those tests cannot distinguish between people who have antibodies because of vaccines and those who have had the coronavirus, Murray said. The accuracy of many antibody tests wanes over time, so they may not identify someone who had been infected months ago, he added. Its an elusive target, Murray said. Once researchers find people who avoided coronavirus infection, the next challenge is determining how they did so. Because masks, vaccines and social distancing can significantly reduce transmission, those factors may eclipse any biological differences between people who have not been infected and those who have tested positive. James McClellan is among the fortunate to have evaded the coronavirus so far. On a recent afternoon, the 52-year-old was one of the few people wearing a mask in the District of Columbias bustling Union Market, where he works at Banana Blossom Bistro. Taking precautions such as masking and getting vaccinated are part of the reason McClellan thinks he has managed to avoid testing positive. But he also thinks it may be his naturally strong immune system. Ive always been resistant to things like that, McClellan said. I havent had the flu since 1992. Viruses dont stick to me. During the early days of the pandemic McClellan worked delivering food to approximately 6000 senior citizens in the District, many of whom eventually contracted the coronavirus and some of whom died. McClellan thinks that, if he was going to get the coronavirus, it would have happened then because of his close contact with the seniors. He tested often because he didnt want to spread the virus to the highly vulnerable population. His tests were always negative. Loading Many people who havent yet contracted the virus dont fully understand how they have evaded infection and some believe they will eventually get sick with COVID. Its got to be a combination of caution, circumstance and luck, said Bob Wachter, professor and chairman of the department of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, who has not had the coronavirus. People who always wear masks in indoor public spaces, stay up to date on vaccines and boosters, test frequently, and avoid high-risk gatherings or travel may have had fewer chances to catch the virus, Wachter said. Low levels of community spread in certain regions or the ability to work from home may also have protected some individuals better than others, he said. Lanae Erickson, an executive at a Washington DC think tank, has taken a lot of steps over the pandemic to reduce her exposure risks. She used to ride Amtrak three times a week to Richmond, where her partner lives with her two children. When the pandemic hit, Erickson bought a car to avoid travelling with people who might have COVID. She worked virtually and only recently has returned to the office for occasional meetings. When she goes into work, she masks up. Shes fully vaccinated. Erickson and her partner have tested often over the past two years, but the results have all been negative. Waiting for the results of home tests is terrifying, Erickson said. Youre just staring at it thinking, Is that a line coming up? Occasionally shell sniff laundry pods to see if she still has her sense of smell. Its turned us all insane, Erickson said, laughing. This past Christmas, when the Omicron variant was raging, her partners 12- and 14-year-old children both tested positive. But Erickson and her partner remained coronavirus-free and never felt sick. They spent Christmas socially distanced - presents wiped down with disinfectant and left on doorsteps. Loading Its a total crapshoot, said Erickson, 40. I dont think theres anything special Ive done to not get it, compared to my friends who have gotten it. Theyve been doing very similar things. Friends and colleagues have warned her that everyone is eventually going to get COVID. Im, like, OK, but I still dont want that, Erickson said. And I dont want to give that to anyone. Experts say another way to home in on people who have truly never had the coronavirus is to study individuals, such as healthcare providers and professional athletes, who were consistently required to test throughout the pandemic. If youre a physician who has been practising, theres no way you werent exposed quite considerably, said Murray, the global health researcher at the University of Washington. During the worst of the COVID surges, James Park was seeing 12 to 18 COVID patients a day at the University of Pennsylvania hospital in Philadelphia where he works as a doctor and associate professor of clinical medicine. The anxiety was full-throttle, particularly in the early days when so little about the coronavirus was known. There was an eight-step protocol for leaving a patients room and changing out of protective gear. You came out, and you felt radioactive, Park said. Like you had this infected cloud around you. After his shift, Park would shower at work, change into clean scrubs to go home and then shower again at home before greeting his wife and three children. One day Park felt sick and got tested. He had to stay away from work for a week while he waited for the result. It came back negative. Park tested another half-dozen times or so during the pandemics first 18 months and never had a positive test, despite some of his colleagues falling ill with the virus. At-home tests have also all been negative. Park said he trusted the precautions his employer had in place to keep frontline workers safe. Loading At home, he and his family took safety seriously, as well. They always masked in public indoor places and ate in restaurants only two or three times. They occasionally had friends over for outdoor gatherings. Like many Americans, they bought a fire pit for backyard get-togethers. The schools Parks children attend have ended mask mandates, but his kids continue to wear masks indoors. Everyone in the family is vaccinated. As of the end of April, no one in the family had tested positive. But Park didnt think that would last. Ive told my wife were all going to get it at some point, he said then. Thats the mindset I have. Its inevitable. Park was right. On Tuesday, one of his children tested positive. The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely changed a lot of things in the market. And while pandemic-related disruption has counterintuitively made doing business easier, it has also brought with it some challenges. Read more: Shifting the balance Mortgage Choice interim CEO Anthony Waldron, Mortgage Choice Haberfield franchise owner Jane Vaughan, and Mortgage Choice Penshurst franchise owner George Boustani spoke about what they believe will be the greatest challenge to their business and the industry over the next two to three years. For Waldron, one trend to watch was recruitment. With a rising number of Australians using mortgage brokers to secure finance, this had left the industry with the challenge of finding enough staff to handle the work admittedly not a bad problem to have. Recruitment is hard, and franchisees want to attract the right people and keep them in their businesses, Waldron said. Boustani agreed that the biggest challenge was staffing and servicing the increasing number of leads moving forward. For Vaughan, who is on the hunt for new staff, the role of a franchise development manager (FDM) has never been more important. Her Mortgage Choice FDM is there to help identify which roles should be recruited and what should be in the contract. They also provide the intimate support around detailed business decisions and industry issues such as lender turnaround times. You dont need to use this support all the time, but my FDM knows if I reach out, I really do need that support, and theyve got the contacts to help us, Vaughan said. There is absolute value in having really good FDMs who have good experience and good background knowledge of what we actually do. Centre is learnt to have granted conditional approval to the state government to raise funds through the auction of bonds this month. (Representational Image/ PTI File) Hyderabad: The Centre is learnt to have granted conditional approval to the state government to raise funds through the auction of bonds this month, after hearing concerns of the state finance department officials. The bar on bond auctions had resulted in delayed payment of staff salaries this month. However, the Telangana government strongly opposed another measure that it saw as an attempt by the Centre to limit borrowing by states. The Centre had halted the governments auction of bonds in 2022-23 starting April. Sources in the finance department revealed that the Centre had not given clarity on the schedule to auction bonds and the amount of funds permitted to be raised in May and June. On Monday, Union finance ministry officials held a video conference with finance secretaries of all states on the auction of bonds. Telangana Special Chief Secretary, finance, K. Ramakrishna Rao took part in the meeting. Rao registered a strong protest at the meeting, stating that halting the bond auction amounted to discriminating against Telangana. Union finance secretary T.V. Somanathan said that a few states were borrowing over and above the limit imposed by the FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) Act by raising funds through corporations by giving bank guarantees. He said the Centre would treat such bank guarantees as part of the FRMB limit. Ramakrishna Rao strongly opposed this, saying that fresh norms should be implemented from the new financial year. Considering bank guarantees given in the previous financial years as part of the FRBM limit was inappropriate. Rao pointed out that the Centre had given states Rs 12,000 crore in 2020-21, Rs 15,000 crore in 2021-22 and Rs 1 lakh crore in 2022-23 towards capital expenditure (creation of assets) while clearly stating that these funds will not come under the FRBM Act. "In the same manner, the Telangana government raised loans through various corporations by giving bank guarantees for capital expenditure, the money being spent on the Kaleshwaram project, Mission Bhagiratha etc. Such funds should not be treated as debt, Ramakrishna Rao said. Once these projects are complete, they will be able to repay the loans," he added. The official also pointed out that the Centre was giving loans to states through HUDCO, NCDC etc but it was not treating them as debt although the state governments were repaying them. He said that considering a few loans to be under the FRBM Act and not others amounted to discrimination. Although the 15th Finance Commission did not make any recommendations on treating off-budget borrowing as debt, the Centre is doing so, Ramakrishna Rao said. He demanded that the Centre allow the government to auction bonds without discrimination and as per Constitutional norms. If not it would obstruct development, he said adding that Telangana topped the country in capital expenditure. The state government is facing a severe fund crunch due to the bar on bond auctions. This resulted in delayed payment of salaries and pensions for staff this month. The government had proposed to the Centre to raise Rs 15,000 crore through bonds in the first quarter Rs 3,000 crore in April, Rs 8,000 crore in May and Rs 4,000 crore in June. The Centre halted the bond auction, raising queries over the bank guarantees given by the state government on behalf of many corporations to mobilise funds for various projects, in addition to the auction of bonds. In the Budget, the government had proposed to raise Rs 53,970 crore through the auction of bonds for 2022-23. China's claims of sovereignty have been rejected by Taiwan's government. (Photo: Image by Andrew West from Pixabay ) The People's Liberation Army (PLA) stated on Monday that China's armed forces conducted another round of drills near Taiwan last week to boost collaborative combat operations after the Chinese-controlled island reported an increase in activity. Taiwan has been complaining about Chinese military intervention nearby it for the previous two years, mainly in the southern and southwestern parts of the island's air defense identification zone, or ADIZ. On Friday, Taiwan's air force dispatched jets to alert 18 Chinese aircraft that had breached its air defense zone, and further violations were recorded on Saturday and Sunday, though with fewer aircraft. The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA announced in a statement that air and naval forces conducted maneuvers in the east and southwest of Taiwan from Friday to Sunday to "further evaluate and develop the joint fighting capacity of various operations and arms." It didn't go into detail. China dispatched bombers, warplanes, and anti-submarine aircraft, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry. There were no guns fired, and the Chinese aircraft were flying in Taiwan's ADIZ, a larger area that Taiwan oversees and monitors to give it more opportunity to respond to any threats. The Chinese PLA Navy's Liaoning aircraft carrier group, which began a routine, realistic combat training mission in the West Pacific about a week ago, has reportedly been conducting diligently in the Philippine Sea to the east of the island of Taiwan and south of Japan over the past few days. The said region, according to experts, is critical to preventing prospective foreign intervention in the event of a reunification-by-force operation in the Taiwan Strait. Eight Chinese military vessels, including an aircraft carrier, traveled between islands in Japan's southern Okinawa chain, northeast of Taiwan, last week, according to Japan. With the carrier group to Taiwan's east, the PLA reportedly deployed a growing diverse set of fighter planes and additional warships from the Chinese mainland west of the island of Taiwan, eciently surrounding and enclosing the island under the watchful eye of U.S. and Japanese aircraft carriers, analysts said. Last week, Taiwan conducted pre-announced missile and other exercises off its southern and southeastern coasts. The Taiwan Strait still is at a high-risk military tension because China has never discarded the use of force to annex democratically-ruled Taiwan. China's sovereignty claims are rejected by Taiwan's government, which says that only the island's 23 million people can decide its fate. will be able to operate the with the Supreme Court upholding the decision refusing to annul the bidding process of the . MIHAN, a joint venture of Maharashtra Development Company and Airport Authority of India had moved the Supreme Court after the Bombay High Court had set aside its decision to cancel the bidding process. In view of the discussion made hereinabove, we are of the considered opinion that the findings recorded by the High Court allowing the Writ Petition are in accordance to law. Those findings do not suffer from any illegality, warranting interference by this Court in exercise of the power under Article 136 of the Constitution of India. All these appeals are hereby dismissed, the Supreme Court said in its order on Monday. The operates Delhi and Hyderabad airports and is also constructing greenfield airports in Goa and Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh. In October 2018 the group emerged as the highest bidder for operation and management of airport for period of thirty years offering 5.7 per cent of its gross revenue to MIHAN Subsequently, it agreed to share over 14 per cent of gross revenue in post bid negotiations and will hold 74 per cent stake in the project. Following that, Mihan issued a letter of award to GMR in March 2019. However, in March 2020, the Maharashtra government decided to cancel the tender process and issued a letter annulling the process. moved the Bombay High Court last year after Mihan cancelled the award. In response to the petition, Mihan argued that it never issued an award letter and March 2020 order only referred to acceptance of bids. Further it said that issue of award would be subject to central government approval which was pending. The Honble Supreme Court of India vide its judgement today dismissed the SLPs filed by MIHAN India Limited, AAI, Government of Maharashtra and Government of India and upheld the judgement of Honble Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court that had previously quashed and set aside the decision of MIHAN India Limited annulling the bidding process for the Nagpur Airport. Accordingly MIHAN India Limited would be required to execute the Concession Agreement for the Nagpur Airport in favour of GMR, said advocate Milanka Chaudhury of law firm Link Legal who represented GMR in the case. As part of its modernisation plan of Nagpur's Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, GMR said that it will increase the ultimate capacity of the airport to around 30 million passengers annually, representing a capacity increase of over 1,000 per cent in a phased manner. Currently, the airport handled a total of about 3 million passengers. rights came under the spotlight again as the country's largest airline refused to let a teenager with special needs board its aircraft. While the twitterati as well as fellow passengers have called for strict action, has stood by its action saying the airport manager took the decision to ensure safety of other passengers. "Throughout the check-in and boarding process, our intent of course was to carry the family. However, at the boarding area, the teenager was visibly in panic. While providing courteous and compassionate service to our customers is of paramount importance to us, the airport staff, in line with the safety guidelines, were forced to make a difficult decision as to whether this commotion would carry forward aboard the aircraft," CEO Ronojoy Dutta said. The incident sparked widespread outrage on social media, forcing civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia to set up a team under the sectoral regulator DGCA to investigate the incident. We have received a report from the airline. We have decided to conduct a fact finding enquiry, which shall be done by a three-member team from DGCA. They will visit Ranchi and Hyderabad where the family stays and collect appropriate evidence within one week from today. Based on the outcome of the said enquiry, further action shall entail," Arun Kumar, head of DGCA, said. Sources said that the DGCA has collected CCTV footage from the airport to determine what transpired at the boarding gate. While rights activists have argued that IndiGo has violated violation of DGCA Guidelines for Carriage by Air Persons with and/or Persons with Reduced Mobility, CEO Dutta in a television interview said the airline's action conforms to the same DGCA guidelines which say that if a passenger poses a threat to the safety of the flight, passengers or staff, he should be refused boarding. "We have gone through this minute by minute what happened here, what happened there, and I turned to our head of airport operations and asked what would you do in this situation? They said we would do exactly the same thing, and if you ask me, what would I do? I would do exactly the same thing," Dutta said. Neha Arora, founder of Planet Abled, a travel firm which provides accessible travel solutions for people with disabilities, said that such problems occur because the government and are not yet sensitive to intellectual or cognitive challenges. DGCAs regulation on how to treat disabled passengers is age-old and doesnt recognise the developmental challenges, she said. While more mature markets like USA also allows to de-board a passenger if he or she poses a significant risk to the health or safety of others, it is mandatory for the airline to provide a written statement describing the reason within 10 days of the flight date. For example, in 2013, a passenger with Tourette Syndrome (a nervous disorder) was not allowed to board a flight by US carrier JetBlue at Reagan National Airport because he mentioned the word bomb close to 100 times. But the countrys Air Carrier Access Act, which prohibits discrimination in air travel due to disability, makes it mandatory for all to have a Complaints Resolution Official (CRO). A CRO is the airlines expert on disability accommodation issues. are required to make one available to the passenger, at no cost, in person at the airport or by telephone if a passenger feels his or her rights are being violated. Arora pointed out that mandatory training on how to approach physically or mentally disabled customers should be made compulsory for all customer facing staff in airlines and hotels. The first reaction that most people in our country have after seeing the slightest of emotional disorder is of shock. That should change with mandatory training. Travel and hospitality technology platform on Monday said it has concluded the acquisition of Europe-based company 'Direct Booker' with the transaction valuing the latter at around USD 5.5 million (over Rs 40 crore). Direct Booker has over 3,200 homes and serviced 20 lakh customers so far, said in a statement. This acquisition will strengthen OYO's presence in broadly and Croatia specifically where it already has nearly 1,800 vacation homes on its Belvilla platform and over 7,000 homes on its Traum Ferienwohnungen platform, it added. The inventory of Direct Booker will be available on Belvilla.com (Belvilla by OYO) and over time on its other platforms, the company said. Commenting on the acquisition, Global Chief Business Officer, Ankit Tandon said, homes continue to be an important strategic segment for OYO and its cutting edge technology, distribution systems and data sciences will add more value to Direct Booker's current 3,200 homes and enhance collective growth in . "We continue to focus on going deep in and delivering the best Vacation Home experiences to our customers," added Tandon, who led the acquisition. OYO had in the recent past declared its intent of actively scouting for 'tuck-in' acquisitions, especially in the European market as a strategic growth lever. It already has a strong footprint in the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Germany and Austria. Direct Booker CEO & Co-Founder Nino Dubretic said, "We strongly believe that by merging our technologies and expertise, this partnership will positively impact the Croatian tourism economy, further driving demand through OYO's existing platforms spread across Europe." Being a part of OYO's network will also increase visibility for the homes listed on Direct Booker platform, especially across Scandinavian, Benelux and surrounding countries, Dubretic 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.) Travel and hospitality platform said it has concluded the acquisition of Europe based company Direct Booker with the transaction valuing the acquired entity at $5.5 million. Direct Booker has over 3,200 homes and serviced 2 million customers so far. This acquisition will strengthen OYOs presence in Europe broadly and Croatia specifically where it already has nearly 1,800 vacation homes on its Belvilla platform and over 7000 homes on its Traum Ferienwohnungen platform. Direct Bookers inventory will be available on Belvilla.com (Belvilla by OYO) and over time on its other platforms. has in the recent past declared its intent of actively scouting for tuck-in acquisitions, especially in the European market as a strategic growth lever. already has a strong footprint in The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Austria etc. Ankit Tandon, Global Chief Business Officer, OYO, said, Homes continue to be an important strategic segment for OYO. We have been able to add value to our over 140,000 Home Storefronts 1 globally and I am excited to welcome Nino, Nikola and the team at Direct Booker under the OYO umbrella. I am sure OYOs cutting edge technology, distribution systems and data sciences will add more value to their current 3,200 homes and enhance our collective growth in Europe. We continue to focus on going deep in Europe and delivering the best Vacation Home experiences to our customers. Direct Booker was started in 2010 by Nikola Grubelic and Nino Dubretic, CEO & Founders, of Direct Booker, a market-leading player in the Vacation Home management segment in Dubrovnik, a key tourist destination in Croatia. Nino Dubretic, CEO & Co-Founder of Direct Booker, commented, We are happy to join forces with a global travel tech company like OYO. We strongly believe that by merging our technologies and expertise, this partnership will positively impact the Croatian tourism economy, further driving demand through OYOs existing platforms spread across Europe. Being a part of OYOs network will also increase visibility for the homes listed on our platform, especially across Scandinavian, Benelux and surrounding countries. The next couple of months will be truly exciting as we work towards building our business together. In 2020, OYO acquired TUI Holiday Homes business from e-domizil GmbH. This acquisition gave OYO access to 17,000 homes. Oyo started its European expansion in 2019 with the acquisition of @Leisure Group for about $415 million. @Leisure Group operates through various sub-brands like Belvilla, VillaXL, DanCenter among others. OYO has a presence in over 35 countries and is the third most downloaded travel app in the world, said the company in a statement. With the acquisition of Direct Booker, the Dubrovnik-headquartered company will now become a part of the OYO platform with a presence across Europe. Limited, a subsidiary of Ventures Ltd, has signed an agreement to sell Italian luxury lifestyle brand Tods products in India. Tod's has been operational in India since 2008 with brand stores in DLF Emporio, New Delhi and Palladium, Mumbai and multi brand ecommerce platform Ajio Luxe. The multi-year agreement allows to sell Tods luxury collection of footwear, handbags and accessories. The management of existing channels will be taken over by Limited and the focus will be on enhancing the brands potential in the market and strengthening their digital presence. Reconciling excellent craftsmanship with a hunger to innovate for the new consumers, Tods has crafted a unique space for itself at the global luxury front. A name that conjures images of luxe leathers and soigne materials, we are thrilled to partner with the brand to uphold its core values of exceptional quality, craftsmanship and effortless elegance in the Indian market, said Darshan Mehta, MD, Reliance Brands Limited. "We are very pleased to partner with the country's leading luxury retailer as we believe that our common passion for quality and a modern and sophisticated lifestyle will allow us fully to express the potential of this important partnership," said Carlo Alberto Beretta, Tod's General Brand Manager. A refining golden age, tightening global gas markets and improving telecom subscriber quality would help (RIL) clock earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) of over $20 billion by the end of calendar year 2022, brokerage firm said on Monday. The uptick in could help the company improve its market capitalisation by $50 billion in the period, the brokerage said, adding that refinery margins for could nearly double and sustain for the next half decade. The forecast by the brokerage came even as the stock declined nearly four per cent on Monday, closing trade at Rs 2,517.15 a share on the BSE. In the last one week, the stock has fallen by nearly 10 per cent in a volatile market, though year-to-date, the stock has grown 6.3 per cent, data compiled by BS Research bureau shows. had recently touched $250 billion in market capitalisation, becoming the first Indian company to do so. On Friday, the company touched $100 billion in gross sales in the financial year ended March 31, 2022 (FY22), though net revenue excluding GST and excise duty stood at$91 billion, its results showed. RIL's FY22 came in $16.6 billion, a year-on-year growth of nearly 29 per cent, while net profit surged 26 per cent YoY to $8.8 billion, led by oil to chemicals (O2C), telecom and retail. RIL is producing 18 million metric standard cubic meters per day (mmscmd) of gas from its Krishna Godavari (KG) basin, which we expect to rise to 30 mmscmd peak production over the next two years, with increases starting in January 2023. Rising production, along with a tailwind from elevated global gas prices, could increase RILs upstream profitability multi-fold over the coming years, the brokerage said. Gas price for RILs KG gas fields rose to $9.9 per metric million British thermal units (mmBTU) in April from $6.13 mmBTU in the March quarter, said, with the firm expecting further increases in the next six months. This should help nearly double by end-2022, the brokerage said. Also, rising traction for digital commerce with 193 million subscribers and a consistent 20 per cent revenue contribution could expand margins, it said. RILs FY22 capital expenditure of $13 billion increased 25 per cent year-on-year, which the brokerage said would sustain over the next few years. About 30 per cent of the capex was in telecom, 20 per cent in oil to chemicals, 30 per cent in retail, and 11 per cent in new energy. The apex child rights body in the country, NCPCR, asked the police on Monday to lodge an FIR against IndiGo for barring a specially-abled child from boarding a flight at the Ranchi airport. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairperson Priyank Kanoongo also asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to initiate an inquiry in the matter and take necessary action against the airline and its manager. IndiGo barred the specially-abled child from boarding the flight on Saturday as he was in "a state of panic". Aviation regulator DGCA has started a probe in the matter and asked the airline to submit a report. In separate letters to the DGCA and the SSP, the NCPCR said it has received a complaint in the matter and sought action from them. In a letter to SSP Surendra Kumar Jha, the commission requested the initiation of an inquiry and the lodging of an FIR in the matter as there was prima facie violation of section 7 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, which is cognisable in nature. "It is also further requested that an action-taken report be submitted to the commission within seven days of receipt of this letter," Kanoongo said. In the letter to the DGCA, the commission asked for the initiation of an inquiry and further action against IndiGo in the matter. "It is also suggested that necessary action be taken against the manager of IndiGo airline 6E for denying boarding to the disabled child," the commission 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 US Fed rate hike has sent Ambuja Cements bidders back on the drawing board as their cost of funds is set to rise significantly, said bankers. The cost of funds has risen as high as 13 per cent yearly overseas for the acquisition, they said. Soon after the surprise rate hike by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the US Fed increased its rate by 0.5 per cent last week, thus making costs of funds high for the potential acquirers. Most of the Indian bidders of Ambuja Cements are planning to raise funds from the Middle East-based funds and private equities (PEs)/hedge funds as debt. Some ... Chief Minister on Sunday said that poses biggest challenge to the nation. While speaking at the golden jubilee ceremony of the Nagpur edition of the newspaper Lokmat, he said, " is the biggest challenge in front of the country and . The AAP, after coming to power, started an anti- helpline to curb the menace in government offices. It is turning into a success." The Chief Minister said that his government has already introduced path-breaking initiatives like an anti-corruption helpline, one MLA one pension, financial assistance to farmers adopting direct sowing of paddy and others which will help in the resurgence of the state. He added that his government will take every step to restore the 'pristine glory' of the state in every field. "We will give impetus to employment, sports, and industrial growth besides eradicating corruption, unemployment, drugs and pollution from to make it a frontrunner state in the country," Mann had said. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and others were also present at the programme. The Chief Minister said that his predecessors have looted the state mercilessly due to which the state once known for the vigour of its sons in the Army, sportsmanship of players like the late Dara Singh, and the sweetness of its water has lagged behind. The Chief Minister, while underscoring the need for new employment opportunities, said that there is a need to replace 'drug syringes' with 'tiffin boxes' to wipe out the drug menace in the state. He said that any person who is gainfully employed carrying a tiffin box to his office won't have any time for drug syringes. Mann said that within 50 days his government has put the wheels in motion to provide government jobs to youth through a transparent, neutral and merit-based mechanism. Slamming the political parties for divisive politics, the Chief Minister said, "The nation should unite against such tactics to divide the country. He said that the welfare and development based agenda as propounded by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is the only weapon to stop the chariot of divisive politics". Mann said that it is high time that countrymen must unite to wipe out the parties sowing seed of divisiveness in society. The Chief Minister said that the political parties that had ruled Punjab had looted it mercilessly even compared to 200 years of the British regime. However, he said that Punjabis have given a whopping mandate to his government and they are committed to putting the state back on a high growth trajectory. (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.) Chinese FM meets Cambodian counterpart, calling on world to listen more to Asian voices Xinhua) 10:38, May 09, 2022 Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn via video link, May 8, 2022. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) BEIJING, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi Sunday called on the world to listen more to Asian voices with global governance entering "Asian moment." Wang made the remarks when meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn via video link. Noting that the world is facing new global challenges, Wang said the Chinese side has put forward the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative to build a more just and equitable global governance system with a view to building a community with a shared future for mankind. China stands ready to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to implement the two initiatives in this region and uphold regional peace, stability, prosperity and development, Wang said. From next month, China, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand will successively host the BRICS Leaders' Meeting, the East Asian Leaders' meetings on cooperation, the G20 Leaders' Summit, and the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, said Wang, adding that this is the "Asian moment" for global governance and the international community expects Asia to play a leading role in this regard. China is willing to work with the three countries to send a strong message of Asia's commitment to promote peace and development as well as uphold multilateralism, and make Asia's contribution to addressing global challenges, Wang stressed, adding that the Chinese side also believes that the world should listen more to Asia's voice, respect its position, and draw on its wisdom. At the same time, Wang said Asian countries should jointly guard against the Cold War mentality that will undermine peace and development in the region. While China welcomes countries outside the region to play a positive and constructive role in promoting peace and development in the region, it does not accept any action undermining regional peace and stability or solidarity and cooperation, Wang said. Sokhonn said Cambodia supports the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, believing that these two initiatives are of particular significance under the current circumstances, and would like to conduct close cooperation with China in this regard. Noting that today's world is very complex and requires the right approach to various challenges, Sokhonn said ASEAN will properly respond to various challenges, maintain friendly and cooperative relations with dialogue partners, uphold ASEAN unity and centrality, and safeguard regional peace, stability and development. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Union home minister Amit Shah, in providing an answer, has provoked a very powerful question about who is truly a national leader, and how to define or identify one. The answer by Mr Shah was obvious; there is only Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the current political firmament, and none else. But, if one asks a question beyond the political context of the answer, or the person answering it undoubtedly the closest of allies of Mr Modi for the longest time in his career it has deep value. In the last century, in Indian political context, the one leader who would find near unimpeachable approval as a national leader was Mahatma Gandhi. His values were sustainable spiritually, intellectually, politically, socially, economically and globally. Gandhism is a real living force. He viscerally understood every human beings angst, brilliantly read the faultlines of society and conflict, and with his sustained actions was a living embodiment of his preaching. Above all, he succeeded in his lifes greatest aspiration, which was to achieve freedom for India. Babasaheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar was the only other leader who could match a mahatma in stature, his teachings and vision, his actions and the sustained impact on Indian society. He suffered the pain of the most oppressed and gave us a Constitution which, no matter what its critics and naysayers might hold evident, has the power to show India a way to achieving social justice and a sense of equity. Between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Ambedkar, India had its greatest national leaders who also served as icons to inspire the next generation of leaders. Since Independence, the shift in both the aspirations and expectations and the reality changed quickly because Indians now had power. They were leaders of political parties and could afford to strive for a part rather than the whole; appeal to a niche constituency and emerge regional leaders without having to burden themselves with the aspiration of being a national leader; or even within a chosen area, a leader of all people but some. Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi as prime ministers did appeal to people nationally, led their parties to victory in elections and scripted huge changes to lay stake to the claim to the title. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Lal Bahadur Shastri had very little time to go on to achieve everything they could have. In the darker days of Indira Gandhi, Jai Prakash Narayan (JP) emerged as the ray of hope and galvanised the country but faltered at the final step when the Opposition alliance government collapsed due to internal contradictions. Years later, V.P. Singh, first as a crusader and later as a reformer, promised a lot but stoked more fires than he doused. P.V. Narasimha Rao was an achiever as a reformer and administrator but hardly inspired confidence or won polls. Atal Behari Vajpayee rose to deserve the tag, as a statesman, as a leader with a big heart who could appeal to the finer feelings of people across the political divide, while Lal Krishna Advani, coming a close second to everything Vajpayee, failed to match most of his peers achievements. India was equally lucky to have had great leaders of the same DNA, grit, struggle and achievement, even if not at a pan Indian level, making a difference to states and regions. Modi most certainly wins elections and gives confidence to a section of people but can he, or anyone else around currently, match the ability to heal, reconcile, unite and lead as a Gandhi, or Ambedkar, or even a Vajpayee only time can decide. The central government's willingness to have a re-look at the law of in the country is a welcome step, experts said on Monday. Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra said the legislature should have re-examined the relevance of a long time ago and the Centre's stand before the Supreme Court is an important step in rights jurisprudence. "The fact that the central government is willing to re-look is a very positive step. The Centre's willingness to re-look at the law of and see whether the provision has any relevance in a democracy is a very important step in rights jurisprudence and it is something that the legislature should have done a long time ago, he said. If the central government takes a real re-look from the point of view of rights, it will be helpful in curbing its misuse, the senior lawyer asserted. The Centre Monday told the apex court that it has decided to go for reconsideration of the provisions by a competent forum and is cognizant of various views and concerns about civil liberties while being committed to protecting the sovereignty and integrity of this great nation. The Centre, therefore, asked the Supreme Court to not to invest time in examining the validity of . Senior advocate Mohit Mathur said that while it falls within the court's domain to test the constitutionality of a legal provision whenever a challenge is raised before it, the Centre may be given an opportunity to examine the issue at its end. The senior lawyer, however, emphasised that such a reconsideration here has to be real re-consideration and not a dilatory thing. "The law is dynamic and it has to go with the times. So the court has to examine and it should not be told not to examine. Right or wrong, it has to be decided until and unless the government is saying that it is taking some kind of a decision which could even go in the direction of repealing that provision, he said. Advocate Sherbir Panag, a financial crimes lawyer, called the Centre's stand a step worth being applauded as he claimed that it is better if the law of sedition is dealt through the legislative process in a time-bound manner. We can do a lot of whataboutery but the point is that no government in India, since independence, has come out in glory so far as sedition is concerned. Every government has used it to different degrees and that the government is willing to re-look at it is a step worth being applauded. And it is better if it goes through the legislative process -- whether it is to strike it down or modify or build in statutory safeguards. That all is yet to come. But the government saying allow us to re-look at it and hopefully they will do it in a time-bound manner is something that should be applauded, he said. The Supreme Court has been hearing a clutch of pleas challenging the validity of the law on sedition which has been under intense public scrutiny for its alleged misuse to settle political scores by various governments. The Ministry of Home Affairs, in an affidavit, referred to the views of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on shedding colonial baggage and said he has been in favour of the protection of civil liberties and respect of human rights, and in that spirit, over 1,500 outdated laws and over 25,000 compliance burdens have been scrapped. It said the prime minister has said that India, as a nation, has to work even harder to shed colonial baggage that has passed its utility which includes outdated laws and practices. In another written submission, filed earlier, the Centre defended the penal law and the 1962 verdict of a constitution bench upholding its validity, saying they have withstood "the test of time" about six decades and the instances of its abuse would never be a justification of reconsideration. The top court, in 1962, upheld the validity of the while attempting to restrict its scope for misuse. "Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in [India], shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine," reads section 124A (sedition) of the IPC. (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.) Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande on Monday said China's intention has been to keep "alive" the boundary question with India though it remains the "basic" issue between the two countries even as he asserted that the Army's aim was to restore the status quo ante prior to April 2020 in eastern Ladakh. Gen Pande also said that Indian troops are adequately deployed along the Line of Actual Control to deal with any situation and that guidance has been given to them to "remain firm and resolute" in their tasks. While referring to the eastern Ladakh border standoff, the Army chief said the Indian Army's aim is to re-establish the "trust and tranquillity" between the two sides but asserted that "it cannot be a one-way affair." "The basic issue remains the resolution of the border. What we see is that China's intent has been to keep the boundary issue alive," he said about the overall boundary question between the two countries. "What we need as a country is a 'whole of nation' approach and in the military domain, this is to prevent and counter any attempt to alter the status quo at the LAC," he told a select group of journalists. The comments by Gen Pande, who took charge as the Army chief on April 30, came as the lingering border standoff in eastern Ladakh completed two years on May 4. "We have a robust posture and adequate forces available to deal with any situation," he said while listing the Army's decision to "rebalance" and "reorient" along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the last two years. "Our troops continue to hold important positions along the LAC...As far as the situation is concerned, guidance given to the troops is to remain firm and resolute in the task they are undertaking and prevent attempts to change the status quo," Gen Pande said. He also referred to military and diplomatic talks between India and to resolve the eastern Ladakh standoff. Gen Pande said the diplomatic and military talks between the two sides resulted in the disengagement of troops in the north and south banks of Pangong Tso, Gogra and Patrolling Point 14 (Galwan), adding, "we hope to find resolution through dialogue in remaining areas." "Our aim is to restore status quo ante prior to April 2020," he said. The eastern Ladakh faceoff began on May 4-5 in 2020. India has been insisting on the restoration of the status quo ante prior to the standoff. "We are engaging the adversary through military and diplomatic dialogue. Talks have led to disengagement in some areas. We will continue to engage in talks for resolving the remaining areas," the Army chief said. The Army chief said his focus has been to increase the use of technology for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in border areas besides ensuring adequate infrastructure and logistics. India and have held 15 rounds of military talks so far to resolve the eastern Ladakh row. As a result of the talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process last year on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake and in the Gogra area. India has been consistently maintaining that peace and tranquillity along the LAC were key for the overall development of the bilateral ties. The eastern Ladakh border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas. Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the sensitive sector. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In view of Asani', Chief Minister has postponed her three-day programme in Jhargram and Paschim Medinipur districts by a week, a senior official said on Monday. The tour of the chief minister to the two districts, which was earlier scheduled from May 10 to 12, has been deferred by a week and has been rescheduled to May 17-19, he said. The districts need to prepare to combat the cyclone, hence the deferment," a statement issued by the Bengal government said. The chief minister will be holding an administrative meeting at Medinipore College ground on May 17 and a party meeting at the same venue on the following day before leaving for Jhargram, the official said. "In Jhargram, she will hold an administrative meeting at around 5 pm. She will also be holding a party meeting there on May 19 before returning to Kolkata," he said. At the meetings, Banerjee will look into the status of different state-run social schemes operational in both the districts, 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.) Trinamool Congress General Sectary Kunal Ghosh on Sunday said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's three-day program in West Midnapore and Jhargram has been rescheduled due to the prediction of 'Asani'. "The new dates for CM Banerjee's visit are May 17, 18, and 19 instead of May 10, 11, and 12. Everyone has been instructed to be alert, due to the storm. So that's why the program of honorable CM is rescheduled", said Kunal Ghosh. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has put on alert its employees and disaster management teams in view of Asani, which is likely to intensify further into a severe cyclone, Mayor Firhad Hakim said today. He said the leaves of some employees are being canceled to deal with any emergency. Farmers in West Bengal's East Midnapore district are bracing up for 'Asani' as has predicted heavy rainfall in West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. The farmers in the last two cyclones suffered a loss of life and property. According to the IMD, Kolkata and south Bengal is likely to receive heavy rain between May 10 and 13. Before that farmers are trying to save their harvested crops from the field. In May 2020, Amphan hit the region, which was catastrophic and caused widespread damage in West Bengal and Odisha. One year later, another Cyclone Yaas appeared on May 26. Cyclone Amphan had uprooted hundreds of trees in the city, blocking thoroughfares and snapping power supply for days in some areas. Meanwhile, Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea and along and off West Bengal and Odisha coasts from May 10 till further notice. The sea conditions near the Odisha coast will become rough on Monday and rougher on May 10. The wind speed in the sea will increase to 80-90 kmph on May 10. The administrations of Purba Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, and North 24 Parganas three districts are keeping cyclone shelters, schools, and other pucca structures, dry food, and necessary medicines ready. Cyclone Asani is a name given by Sri Lanka that means 'wrath' in Sinhalese. India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday morning said that the cyclonic storm named 'Asani' is expected to further intensify in the next 24 hours. (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.) Lieutenant Governor on Sunday said that the government is committed to protecting and developing ancient sites of cultural and religious significance. His remarks came as he participated in 'Navgrah Ashtamangalam Pooja' at the Martand Sun in Anantnag. "Today participated in the auspicious Navgrah Ashtamangalam Pooja at Martand Sun temple, Mattan, Anantnag. Truly a divine experience in a godly ambience," the Office of Lt Governor tweeted. Lieutenant Governor further said that the government is committed to protecting and developing ancient sites of cultural and religious significance. "Government is committed to protecting and developing ancient sites of cultural and religious significance, transforming them into vibrant centers that will guide us on the path of righteousness and blesses this beautiful land with peace, happiness, and prosperity," it added. A special Navgrah Ashtamangalam Pooja was held at the famous Martand Sun at Mattan in the Anantnag district of South Kashmir in which Hindu priests of different states of the country participated. Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Surinder Ambardar said, "Mahatmas and religious saints who used to come here earlier to do meditation, their traditions are being carried forward. This pooja is for world peace, for India's peace, and for Jammu and Kashmir's peace. In Kashmir, many temples were broken and the Gods are angry with us so this is an attempt to make them happy so that peace is prevailed in and in India." The Kerala priest said the special Navgrah Ashtamangalam Pooja was for the peace and prosperity of the whole world and particularly for the county and Kashmir valley. Manoj Vaishno, a priest from Rajasthan said, "Today a special pooja was performed here. We acquired the knowledge of Ved because of Lord Sun. There was a disruption in the worship of God because of the we destroyed." The Martand Sun temple is a Hindu temple located near the city of Anantnag in South Kashmir. It dates back to the eighth century AD and was dedicated to Surya, the chief solar deity in Hinduism. Surya is also known by the Sanskrit -language synonym Martand. It is worth mentioning that after a very long time this type of Special pooja was held at this temple. (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 ongoing Puri Heritage Corridor construction work might have caused damage to the 800-year-old there and the state government project was being carried out without valid permission from the competent authorities, The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Monday informed the . Hearing a PIL claiming that construction work for the project has affected the health of the temple, the court had asked the ASI, the custodian of the 12th-century shrine, to undertake a joint inspection of the site with the state government and file a report to the court. Asking the state government to file its reply on the ASI's affidavit, a division bench headed by Chief Justice S Muralidhar posted the matter to be heard again on May 22. There is every possibility that the construction agency OBCC (Odisha Bridge Construction Company) during the excavation and removal of the earth might have destroyed the archaeological remains of the heritage site, the ASI affidavit said. The ongoing construction work of the project being carried out by the Odisha government inside the prohibited" area of ??the ancient monument has no valid permission or no objection certificate (NOC) from the competent authorities, it said. The state had informed the court that correspondences were exchanged between the Odisha government and the National Monuments Authority (NMA), which functions under the Union Ministry of Culture and is responsible for grant of permission for construction-related activity in the prohibited and regulated areas. However, in its 70-page affidavit to the high court, the ASI said that the drawings and structural designs included in the revised detailed project report (DPR) are different from the ones presented to the NMA. The ASI has observed that the construction work of the project is in progress within the prohibited and regulated areas of the monument. As directed by the high court, the ASI along with officials of OBCC, Shree Administration and the Puri district collector made a joint inspection of the site last week. The affidavit claimed that during the joint inspection, the OBCC managing director said that till date no permission or approval from the NMA or any competent authorities was available for structural activities and the design of the project. The MD has further informed (the ASI) that there are deviations in plan and elevation as well as in the project design. In the revised proposal, the height of various structural units had been increased and more units have been added. No heritage impact assessment studies have been conducted before commencement of the project. At several locations stratified deposits of about 15 to 20 ft have taken place, which has caused irreparable damage to the heritage site, the ASI said in its affidavit. The petitioner has prayed that the court give an order to stop the construction activities undertaken by the state administration for a developmental project near the temple allegedly violating the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958. According to the provisions of the Act, the area within 100 meters from a monument is a prohibited' zone while that within 200 meters falls under the regulated' category, the petition said. The state government has not taken permission from the ASI for the construction work, the petitioner submitted. Cracks have appeared in the Nata Mandap of the 12th-century shrine due to these construction activities and continued construction work will pose a threat to the structure of the temple, it said. Chief Minister along with Puri's titular king Gajapati Dibya Singha Deb had last year laid the foundation stone for the project which seeks to provide better amenities to pilgrims, including toilets and cloakrooms. (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.) Senior leader and MLA H.K. Patil called on Legislative Assembly Speaker Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri on Sunday and sought a probe into the issue of 19 lakh "missing" Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). A delegation led by Patil submitted a memorandum to the Speaker, demanding that the probe has to be conducted by the Special Committee headed by a Judge of the . Patil stated that he had submitted 2,750 pages of documents in this regard. The document comprised the RTI replies by the (ECI) and issues that have been taken up by the courts. Addressing press conference after submission of documents, Patil expressed his anger over inordinate delay in taking up petitions by the courts regarding election petitions and . "There has been debate in the country and the issue is surrounded by too much of confusion. The ECI should organise ethical hackathon in Vidhana Soudha (Legislative Assembly)," Patil said. "I have raised issues related to financial transactions that are taking place within the Election Commission. I have also discussed about voters being paid through digital platforms," he asserted. "In backdrop to this, we have urged to form a special committee headed by a Judge of the to look into the matter of 19 lakh missing voting machines. I have provided inputs of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) submitted by RTI activist Manoranjan Roy," the leader told the mediapersons. " which are older than 15 years should not be used. There had been a committee report in 2007 on how to dispose old . From 2007 to 2018, for 12 years, the Election Commission turned a blind eye to this recommendation," Patil said, adding that the Speaker should issue summons to the Election Commission and resolve this matter. --IANS mka/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.) Live news updates: Sri Lanka's prime minister resigned on Monday to make way for a unity government to try to find a way out of the country's worst economic crisis in history, but protesters said they also wanted his brother to stand down as president. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's resignation came hours after clashes broke out in Colombo, where supporters of the ruling party stormed an anti-government protest camp and were beaten back by police using tear gas and water cannon. Ruling party parliamentarian Amarakeerthi Athukorala died after a standoff with anti-government protesters in the town of Nittambuwa near Colombo, a police source told Reuters without giving details. At least three others were wounded and the area remained tense with dozens of protesters still at the location, the source said. A Lok Adalat has urged authorities to take an expeditious decision on authorising officers to settle cases so as to reduce litigations, noting that undue delay in settlement of compensation defeats the core purpose of this legislation. Justice Anuja Prabhudessai of the Bombay High Court on May 7 presided as head of the Lok Adalat. A total of 112 appeals pertaining to the Railway Claims Tribunal were placed before the Lok Adalat for settlement on that day. However, advocate T J Pandian, appearing for the Railways, stated that railway officers present in court that day did not have the authority to enter into a settlement or give consent to settle the matter. Justice Prabhudessai noted that even in March 2022, nearly 150 matters could not be settled or disposed of by the Lok Adalat for the same reason. The advocates, representing the victims in such cases, informed Justice Prabhudessai that over 1,000 appeals were pending and the same could be settled before the Lok Adalat if railway authorities gave their consent. The Lok Adalat provides expeditious, economic and viable justice to the common man and the most needy section of society, particularly those who have lost their limb or loved one or a bread-earner in an untoward incident, Justice Prabhudessai said in the order. "It is, therefore, necessary for the authorities concerned to take expeditious decisions regarding authorisation of their officers to enter into a settlement or compromise," the judge said in the order. This would not only help in reducing the pendency of matters before courts, but will also be in the interest of victims, keeping in mind the fundamental principle that undue delay in settlement of compensation in such matters defeats the very core purpose of the beneficial legislation, the order said. Justice Prabhudessai directed the railway authorities to view the matter seriously and take expeditious decisions in this regard. Lok Adalat is an alternative dispute redressal mechanism forum where disputes/cases pending in courts can be settled amicably. (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 Home Minister on Monday asserted with of the process in the country, a 100 percent perfect' enumeration can be expected in the next counting exercise, which has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Earlier in the day Shah who is on a two-day visit to Assam said the central government is making efforts to ensure development of border areas to ensure people did not migrate away from remote areas. While speaking at a function at Amingaon, the home minister said with the next to be conducted in e-mode, it will be a 100 percent perfect' enumeration and on its basis, the country's developmental planning for the next 25 years will be undertaken. While e- will have its challenges, there would also be advantages - about 50 per cent of the population will be able to feed their data themselves once the mobile application is downloaded on their phones, he pointed out. The Union Minister said that he and his family will use the mobile application for filing up the census data. We will have to make people aware of it and our ministry will spare no efforts to do so, he added. Census is important from various aspects and for a 'population- sensitive state like Assam', it is even more vital, he said. He, however, did not elaborate on his statement. The population growth rate of Muslims has been a highlight of political discourse in Assam in recent years, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claiming in the state Legislative Assembly in March that they have become the largest community' in the state. He had also earlier pitched for population control' among Muslims, maintaining that it is directly linked to the growth of the state. Shah also pointed out that census data can reflect demographic changes, economic mapping, areas left behind in the development parameters, cultural, linguistic and societal changes. The minister maintained that such an all-encompassing crucial exercise was not given its due importance in the past. Shah claimed that the Narendra Modi-led government has given due importance to Census and his ministry has decided to use technology for scientific and accurate enumeration and proper analysis of the census findings. Even though COVID-19 has slowed it down, I am sure modernisation of the Registrar General of India will be completed by 2024, he added. Shah also inaugurated the newly revamped website of ORGI-www.censusindia.gov.in. The new website comes with advanced features like population finder', data visualisations. Earlier in the day, the home minister said there was lack of development in the border areas, leading to migration of people, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is constantly striving to bring development to these areas. The BSF personnel posted along the border areas will be provided with the latest technology to boost security, he tweeted. At Mankachar near the Indo-Bangladesh border, Shah reviewed the border situation after arriving from the Kamakhya where he offered prayers at the famous Shakti temple. Shah is scheduled to attend a host of programmes in the northeastern state during his visit, including the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government's first anniversary celebrations. (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 Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resigned on Monday, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters outside embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office, leaving at least 78 people injured and prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy army troops in the capital. At least two Cabinet ministers have also announced their resignations. Prime Minister Mahinda, 76, sent his resignation letter to the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after violent scenes were witnessed in Colombo. The violence occurred as pressure mounted on the embattled government led by his younger brother and President Gotabaya to form an interim administration to overcome the worst economic crisis facing the country. 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. Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets across Sri Lanka since April 9 seeking resignation of President Gotabaya and Prime Minister Mahinda, 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. Prime Minister will on May 13 virtually launch the government's Startup Policy and Implementation Plan-2022, aimed at encouraging budding entrepreneurs in the state, an official said on Monday. The event will be held at the Brilliant Convention Centre in Indore in the presence of MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the official from the public relations department said. Various programmes have been launched across the state to bring awareness about the state's start-up policy, specially developed to strengthen and bring to reality the entrepreneurial ideas of youth, the official said. Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Department secretary P Narhari said, The new policy, which is quite different from the old one, will be implemented in tandem with the MP Startup Centre. The startup centre will have a dedicated office, a head/mentor for every startup and experts from the relevant field, who will help the entrepreneurs, Narhari 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.) Several places in Mumbai faced power outages after a transmission line tripped on Monday, said news reports on Monday. Outages were reported from in Bandra, Khar and Dharavi areas, prompting residents to complain on social media. Twitter users tagged Adani Electricity and Tata Power, the utilities that serve the city, in their posts complaining about the outage. Affected areas of power outage in mumbai:- bandra / khar / Santacruz ) kurla / chuna bhatti. Abhishek Sharma (@abhishek_sh78) May 9, 2022 Indias weather office has warned of in six states next week, as extreme weather conditions threaten lives and livelihoods across the subcontinent. are likely in parts of Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra for four days starting Sunday and in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Punjab for three days from Monday, the India Meterological Department said in a statement Saturday. It also said a cyclone will cross near the countrys eastern coast by May 10. Scorching temperatures have led to a surge in power demand and the country scrambling for coal, the dominant fuel used in electricity generation. Union Finance Minister on Monday asked the people of to vote for BJP so that MLAs thus elected will understand their problems and provide immediate solutions. She was speaking after launching a scheme 'Amutham' initiated by Coimbatore South BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan to distribute free cow milk to feeding mothers and infant below two years in the city. Lauding the services being rendered by Srinivasan for the benefit of women and children, Sitharaman said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also encouraging the party workers, leaders and legislators to work for the welfare of the people. should be elected in the state to know and solve the problems of the people, the minister said and asked citizens to vote for more candidates from the saffron party to form a government in future. In her address, Srinivasan said the party is supplying free sanitary napkin to 4,000 young women every month and also taking steps to solve the complaints sent by public through social media. BJP unit president K Annamalai was also present at the function. (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.) Over Rs 30,000 cr funds blocked in could hit other offerings The initial public offering (IPO) of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) Indias largest-ever for the domestic markets will close on Monday. So far, the issue has attracted bids worth over Rs 30,000 crore and expectations are that the figure could top Rs 1 trillion. The IPOs popularity, particularly among retail investors, could weigh on the subscription figures of three other issues that also close this week. As a lot of funds will be blocked in LICs IPO, the capital available to invest in other issues could be constrained, said industry players. Read more... Govt seeks to replicate success with InvITs at railways and ports After the success of infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs) achieved by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and PowerGrid, the Centre is laying the groundwork for similar InvITs for railways, shipping, gas pipelines, and other sectors, as part of the Rs 6-trillion National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP). The finance ministry has been nudging various infrastructure line departments and there have been close examinations of InvITs in the Ministries of Railways and Shipping, and GAIL (India), among others, Business Standard has learnt. Read more... scanner on more front-running ops by domestic fund managers Markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is examining allegations of front-running and other irregularities against a host of domestic across the asset management industry, said people in the know. Developments at Axis Mutual Fund have prompted the regulator to speed up probe to ensure that there is no drop in confidence in the Rs 39-trillion mutual fund (MF) industry. We have received complaints against a few and are looking into possible violations, including those related to code of conduct, said a regulatory source, refusing to divulge names of fund houses as things are at a preliminary stage. Read more... Telecom operators, manufacturers spar over importing PON equipment A bitter battle is brewing between and equipment makers over the contentious issue of importing passive optical network (PON) equipment, which is installed in premises as well as in the exchange and is crucial for enabling high speed fixed broadband in homes. The Telecom Equipment and Services Export Council (TEPC) set up to promote telecom exports has sided with equipment makers in rubbishing claims by that the former are unable to supply them with the 80 lakh PON equipment which they require in the next year. Read more... Coronavirus: Decoding India's 'excess mortality' according to WHO estimates The excess mortality figures released by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which put India at the top of the pecking order globally, reveal that neighbouring countries had a lower mortality rate. Experts slug it out amongst themselves on the methodology adopted by the global agency. Countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, which have similar demographics and economic background as India have been estimated to have lower mortality rates than us, or countries with older people cohorts reporting lesser mortality. A Business Standard analysis found that most of the countries with an older cohort of population and higher in the development index had a lower excess mortality rate than India. Read more... The small made-in-India aircraft Dornier hopes to become UDAN's wings A small aircraft harbours big ambitions of making the governments UDAN dream soar. The twin-engine, 17-seater, made-in-India Dornier 228, which has for years been a trusted ride of soldiers, bringing them home from remote locations where airstrips are small or semi-prepared, has been on commercial jaunts in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam for Alliance Air since April. Its a first for a made-in-India aircraft to fly commercial. So far, the Dornier 228 (Do-228) was being manufactured under licence from Swiss aerospace engineering and defence company RUAG, with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) supplying the fuselage, wings and tail unit from its facility in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The aircraft would then be assembled at RUAGs facility in Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany. Read more... India will have to monitor very closely the geopolitical flux including the realignment of forces following the Russia- conflict and needs to ensure that the ongoing situation does not divert attention from the developments in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande said on Monday. Talking about the immediate impact of the conflict on the Army, Gen Pande said that the supply chain of certain ammunition and spares has been affected to some extent but added that the available stocks are adequate to last for a reasonable period of time in the immediate future. At an interaction with a select group of journalists, he said the Army is looking at certain other "mitigation measures" by identifying alternative sources amongst certain friendly foreign countries. and have been major suppliers of military hardware to India. Gen Pande, who took over as the Army chief on April 30, said India will have to especially watch out for the stance of its two adversaries in the emerging geopolitical scenario, in an oblique reference to China and Pakistan. "In terms of the emerging geopolitical situation or the world order, that is something we have to monitor very closely in terms of realignment, in terms of new alliances," Gen Pande said. "That is something which will emerge clearly once the conflict ends. We will also have to watch out for the stance and position of our adversaries, the two adversaries, as to what position they take," he said in a reference to China and Pakistan. The Chief of the Army Staff also said that India must ensure that the crisis does not take away attention from the situation in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific. He said another important aspect is that the "attention from our two areas of interests, or immediate interests -- Afghanistan and Indo-Pacific -- does not get diverted to what is happening in the Russia-Ukraine war." "These are the situation and issues we have to constantly monitor and evolve our responses at the national level to address the situation of geopolitical flux," he added. The Army chief said India has to draw many lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict and added the Army is dependent on the two countries for certain equipment relating to air defence systems, rockets, missiles and certain tanks. "Insofar as the immediate impact (of the conflict) is concerned, yes the supply chain of our spares, certain ammunition has got impacted to some extent but I would say we have adequate stocks to last for a reasonable period of time in the immediate future," Gen Pande said. "We are also looking at certain other mitigation measures by identifying alternative sources amongst our friendly foreign countries and I think, in the long term, this is also an opportunity for our private industry to step up and involve themselves in the manufacture and production of some of the spares, armaments and equipment," he said. The Army chief also said the Indian armed forces have important lessons to take from the ongoing war, the foremost among them is how conventional war is still relevant. He said the conflict also shows that wars necessarily need not be "short and swift" and that they could be prolonged in the manner the current conflict is unfolding. Gen Pande also said that the conflict has shown the impact of non-contact or non-kinetic warfare, referring to the importance of the cyber and information domains. "We have seen the battle of narratives as to how information operations have been used in this conflict to gain advantage over the adversary," he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), Britains largest business organisation, and its Indian counterpart, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), have agreed to set up a new joint commission to increase cross-industry collaboration and to push the over the line. According to a memorandum of understanding (MoU), the UK-India Business Commission will provide a critical forum for discussion to ensure that the (FTA) benefits businesses in both countries, an official statement said Monday. The group will provide continual oversight and meet ahead of key milestones to take views on trade-offs, breakdown barriers to market access, and help feed in on-the-ground business intelligence at a ministerial level in India and UK. In a recent visit to India, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the was likely to be completed in October. The first and the second round of negotiations for the took place in January and March, respectively. The third round of negotiations concluded at New Delhi last week. The deal is expected to resolve market access issues, boost exports, and strengthen trade partnership between the two nations. However, both sides now seem to have decided to directly negotiate an without going for an interim deal. The UKs world-leading renewable sector in particular could play an integral role in Indias transition to clean energy. India has committed to get 50 of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Reducing tariffs on green exports such as solar, onshore, and offshore wind could open new opportunities for firms in India, the statement said. The deal with India could almost double UKs exports to India, boost Britains total trade by as much as 28 billion a year by 2035, and increase wages across the UK regions by 3 billion. A with the worlds fastest-growing economy is now within touching distance, and to clinch that deal a focus on lowering barriers to trade is now essential More broadly, a deal anchored in slashing tariffs, improving the ability to move talent across borders as well as data, will unlock plenty of prizes across a host of sectors from services and life sciences to tech and innovation, CBI President Lord Karan Bilimoria said. This partnership is an opportunity to address shared concerns, identify common interests and foster greater understanding and to develop capacity to address the issues of economic and global concerns, said Chandrajit Banerjee, director general of Confederation of Indian Industry. Private equity firm Inc told Reuters on Monday it has agreed to acquire U.S. specialty insurance provider NSM Insurance Group from White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd for $1.78 billion in cash. Carlyle said the deal is expected to close in the second half of this year. The transaction is expected to add $280 per share to White Mountains' adjusted book value. Pennsylvania-based NSM Insurance is one of the largest independent insurance brokerages that underwrites policies for pets, non-profit organizations, workers' compensation, trucks and behavioral healthcare. It generates more than $1 billion in premiums from more than one million clients, according to its website. "We will look to invest back into the platform a bit more heavily and ramp up M&A activity," James Burr, a Carlyle managing director, said in an interview. "There's a lot of white space in business-to-customer and improving technology." have been driving consolidation in the insurance brokerage sector. Mergers and acquisitions in the insurance sector more than doubled in volume to a total of $58 billion in 2021 from $22 billion a year earlier, according to consulting firm Deloitte. In 2021, Carlyle sold its majority stake in London-based insurance brokerage PIB Group to private equity firm Apax Group for an undisclosed amount. Carlyle has invested more than $10 billion in the financial services space, including payroll services provider BenefitMall, U.S. insurance claims firm Sedgwick Claims Management Services and China's Ant Group. In the NSM Insurance deal, Carlyle and Bermuda-based White Mountains were advised by Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, and Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP. (Reporting by Chibuike Oguh in New York; Editing by Greg Roumeliotis and Will Dunham) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Sri Lankan parliamentarian of the ruling party of the Rajapakasas and two others were found dead on Monday in violent clashes between anti- and pro-government protesters in the country. Amarakeerthi Athukorala, 57, a Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP from the Polonnaruwa district, was surrounded by anti-government groups at the north western town of Nittambuwa, the police said. The people said that gunfire came from his SUV, and when the angry mobs toppled the car, he fled and took refuge in a building and committed suicide by pulling his own revolver. By the time he killed himself, thousands of people had surrounded the building. Later, the lawmaker and his personal security officer were found dead, the police said. Moreover, a 27-year-old man also died in the shooting, according to the News First website. Meanwhile, the law-and-order situation went out of hand as properties owned by many other SLPP politicians were attacked following the violent attacks on peaceful protestors in Colombo's GotaGoGama' and MynaGoGama' protests sites. The offices of former minister Johnston Fernando in Kurunegala and Colombo were attacked by angry crowds. His taverns were also set on fire. The residence of former minister Nimal Lanza was attacked while Mayor Saman Lal Fernando's residence was set on fire. Ruling party Trade Leader Mahinda Kahandagamage's residence in Colombo was also attacked. He was seen leading the charge on the two protest sites earlier in the day, the report said. The whole country erupted in violence after mobs supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa, who resigned as the Prime Minister, attacked peaceful protesters. The public turned their wrath on the pro-Rajapaksa supporters as they were leaving the capital back home. Their vehicles were stopped and attacked in most towns. Mahinda Rajapaksa, 76, resigned hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters outside President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office, leaving at least 174 people injured and prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy army troops in the capital. 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. Thousands of demonstrators have hit the streets across since April 9 seeking resignation of President Gotabaya and Prime Minister Mahinda, 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. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) has reported the first case of the Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1, which has been fuelling a fresh wave of infections across the globe, health officials said on Monday. The first case of Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1 was detected in . This new sub-variant is causing increasing number of cases in different countries, the National Institute of Health tweeted. The National Institute of Health has been tasked with all decisions pertaining to the pandemic in after the erstwhile National Command and Operation Centre was shut down. The best preventive measure (besides mask-wearing at crowded places) is COVID-19 vaccination. We strongly recommended getting vaccinated and all those due for boosters must get the shots immediately, the institute said in another tweet. Health officials said that the new Omicron sub-variant is a descendant of the earlier super-contagious stealth Omicron and has quickly gained ground in the United States, where it was responsible for 29 per cent of new infections by the third week of April. The variant has been detected in at least 13 other countries, but the US has reported the highest levels so far, with scientists warning that it spreads faster than stealth Omicron. The development comes at a time when Pakistan has been witnessing a sharp decline in the number of cases. Since April 27 this year, Pakistan has been reporting less than 100 cases on a daily basis. Only 64 cases were reported on Monday. The total number of confirmed cases reported so far stood at 1,527,954, while 30,369 people have succumbed to the virus, according to official estimates. Pakistan has administered a total of 246,442,655 doses of vaccines so far, with the number of fully vaccinated climbing to well over 120 million. (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.) Nicosia [Cyprus] May 9 (ANI): Last Tuesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in a reversal of his previous policy, declared that his government was working on a project for "the voluntary and honourable return of 1 million Syrian refugees" back to their homeland. Erdogan claimed that some 500,000 Syrians have already returned to the safe regions in . However, the UN put the figure at 130,000. is currently hosting the largest number of in the world: about 3.7 million from granted temporary protection status, and over 400,000 and migrants from Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries. With increased intensity and frequency in the past few years, Turkish opposition parties have been complaining that the influx of poses a threat to the structure and culture of Turkish society and demand that they are sent back to their country. For his part, Erdogan had been accusing his opponents of showing "inhumanity" and insensitivity to the drama of refugees. In one of his frequent reversals of policy and possibly because a series of opinion polls showed that up to 85 per cent of Turkish people have strong objections to Turkey's hosting millions of refugees, Erdogan ordered the building of 57,000 briquette houses in the Idlib area, in Syria, where 50,000 families of Syrian refugees have been moved. In a video message shown at the inauguration ceremony for the new houses in Idlib on May 3, Erdogan said, "We didn't just open our doors to save the lives and the honour of the oppressed, but we made and, are making, every effort for them to return to their homes. We are now working on a new project for the voluntary return of 1 million Syrians." He added that the project was realized in coordination with local and NGOs and local governments in 13 different regions in . Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey's main opposition party CHP, commenting on Erdogan's project said, "Erdogan let go of these stories. Fugitives are still flooding in from the border... We have had enough of your lies." Kilicdaroglu has repeatedly stated that when his party comes to power, it will send Syrian refugees back home. It should be noted that several human rights groups strongly dispute Erdogan's claim of voluntary return of refugees and say that some of them are being returned against their will because they do not go back to their former homes, but to new homes in other districts, under a government, they deeply mistrust and in an impoverished country that offers them no prospects of normal life or security. In the first years when Syrian refugees stayed in camps, ordinary Turks were showing solidarity with them, but as the refugees settled in Istanbul, the southern provinces and many cities across the country, and as the Turkish economy continued to worsen, the public feeling changed and turned against them, and the opposition parties started calling on the government to send the refugees back to Syria. It is estimated that about 1 million Syrian refugees have found low-paid jobs in the black economy - and because of this they are accused of depriving employment to Turkish workers who usually demand higher wages- and have set up small businesses and separate Arabic -speaking communities. Social media started to publish fake news about the refugees, showing them living an easy life, while ordinary Turks face huge difficulties to make ends meet, and stirring hatred against the refugees. One glaring example of this, occurred last week when a nine-minute video called "The Silent Occupation" appeared on YouTube, showing a crime-ridden Istanbul in May 2043 when the city has been taken over by refugees speaking Arabic, while the Turkish language is banned. The highly paid jobs have been taken by Syrians while Turks were employed in menial jobs. The film shows a Turkish youth working as a cleaner in a hospital asking his parents, "How could you let that happen even though you had been warned over and over again that Syrians were carrying out a silent invasion?" Hande Karasu, who made the documentary, falsely claims that is home to 8 million Syrians and, given that the majority of them do not want to return home and that the fertility rate of Syrian women is 5.3, by 2043 there will be 15 million Turks of Syrian origin, and therefore a Syrian party in is probable. In just a day the video, which was financed by Umit Ozdag, leader of the xenophobic far-right Victory Party, was viewed by more than 2.6 million viewers. The main political platform of the Victory party is to target refugees for the economic difficulties Turkey is facing. Various polls show that 73 per cent of Turks are unhappy with Erdogan's refugee policies and the main opposition party CHP is trying to capitalize on this discontent and win votes. Devlet Bahceli, the ultra-nationalist party leader of MHP and Erdogan's government ally, has described uncontrolled migration as an "occupation of the country" which should be prevented. He even said that the thousands of refugees who went to Syria to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday should not be allowed to return to Turkey. Following Bahceli's lead, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu announced that Syrians who went home for the holidays would not be able to come back. Anthropologist Ayse Cavdar was quoted by Al-Monitor as saying that "public resentment toward refugees is growing increasingly explosive and xenophobia in Turkey has been normalized if not downright legitimized. With its usual arrogance, the government is playing at first escalating the refugee crisis and then solving it, hoping it would send enough refugees back to gain points with the voters. But it is unlikely that the ruling party would come up with a solution to the refugee crisis, which has so many interwoven components, both domestically and internationally. (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.) German officials are quietly preparing for any sudden halt in Russian gas supplies with an emergency package that could include taking control of critical firms, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters. The preparations being led by the Ministry for Economic Affairs show the heightened state of alert about supplies of the gas that powers Europe's biggest economy and is critical for the production of steel, plastics and cars. Russian gas accounted for 55% of Germany's imports last year and Berlin has come under pressure to unwind a business relationship that critics says is helping to fund Russia's war in Ukraine. has said it wants to wean itself off Russian supplies but expects to be largely reliant on Moscow for gas until the middle of 2024. It remains unclear whether an abrupt halt would happen and the officials said wanted to avert an escalation, such as by backing a European gas embargo, having already supported sanctions against Moscow on coal and oil. But they now fear could cut off gas flows unilaterally and want to be able to cope if it does. While a broad framework is in place and the government is determined to help, the details of how it will put the plan into action are now being thrashed out, the officials said. The government would back granting further loans and guarantees to prop up energy firms, helping them cope with soaring prices, and could take critical companies, such as refineries, under its wing, the three officials said. Asked for comment on the measures, Germany's economy ministry pointed to statements by its head, Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, that the country had made "intense efforts" in recent weeks to reduce its use of Russian energy. Last month, Berlin approved a legal change to allow it take control of energy companies as a last resort. It is now discussing how it could use the measure in practice, such as by taking control of the PCK refinery operated by Russia's Rosneft in Schwedt near Poland, two of the people said. It accounts for most of Germany's remaining Russian oil imports and could be hit by a European Union oil embargo. Rosneft declined to comment on any possible German action. Energy Nationalisation? One of the people said the nationalisation of energy companies was an option being considered but it would have to be weighed carefully and justified on the grounds of securing energy supplies rather than to punish . could also take stakes in other companies, said two people familiar with the matter. In 2018, it made a similar move when state development bank KfW bought 20% of energy network operator 50Hertz to fend off an offer from China's State Grid. The final government emergency package has not yet been finalised. One of the people cautioned that taking minority stakes in companies and intervention at the Schwedt refinery remained under discussion but had not been decided. Officials are also examining how KfW can alleviate pressure on critical companies by supporting them with further loans, or emergency credit lines they could use if energy prices soar and trigger costly margin calls on their market positions. Earlier this year, KfW helped German energy firm Uniper , EnBW's gas division VNG and coal-fired power plant operator Leag cope with volatility in energy markets. KfW declined to comment on which companies it had helped. Germany is also examining how it would ration gas in an emergency. Its regulator is considering whether to give industry priority over households, which would be a reversal of the current policy where businesses would be cut off first. The discussions are unfolding against the backdrop of war in Ukraine and an increasingly charged stand-off between Moscow and Brussels, which has backed tough sanctions to isolate . Russian President Vladimir Putin told his armed forces at a parade on Monday they were fighting for their country but offered no clues as to how long their assault on Ukraine, which the Kremlin calls a special military operation, would last. Economic Spiral Russia's Gazprom halted gas exports to Poland and Bulgaria last month after they refused to pay in roubles but the Kremlin has rejected accusations by the European Commission that Moscow was using natural gas supplies as blackmail. The Kremlin and Gazprom have repeatedly said that Russia was a reliable energy supplier. The Kremlin and Gazprom did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the reliability of supply. After hesitantly backing sanctions on coal and oil, Berlin also now wants to draw a line, four officials said. They are concerned that curbing gas as well could send prices rocketing, allowing Moscow to cash in on sales outside the EU and thus still failing to drain its war chest. The officials said Germany was reaching the limit of sanctions it could impose without triggering an economic spiral, with even those in the governing coalition wholeheartedly behind penalising Moscow wary of imposing sanctions on gas. Berlin has also been swayed by captains of German industry, including chief executives of its biggest listed companies and representatives of firms with ties to Russia, who have regularly met and lobbied officials not to ban gas, one person with knowledge of the matter said. Company executives have told Berlin they are preparing to pare back Russian energy ties in any event, but appealed to the government not to force them to do so immediately, said a second person familiar with those discussions. (Additional reporting by Christoph Steitz in Frankfurt; Editing by David Clarke (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The of a powerful explosion at a luxury in Cuba's capital increased to 31 Sunday evening as search crews with dogs hunted through the rubble of the iconic, 19th century building looking for people still missing. The Saratoga, a five-star 96-room in Old Havana, was preparing to reopen after being closed for two years when an apparent gas leak ignited, blowing the outer walls into the busy, midmorning streets just a block from the country's Capitol building on Friday. Several nearby structures also were damaged, including the historic Marti Theater and the Calvary Baptist Church, headquarters for the denomination in western . The church said on its Facebook page that the building suffered significant structural damage, with several collapsed or cracked walls and columns (and) the ceiling partially collapsed, though no church workers were hurt. In releasing the names of those who were killed, the Health Ministry said the dead included four minors, a pregnant woman and a Spanish tourist, whose companion was seriously injured. The ministry also said 54 people were injured, with 24 hospitalised. It previously reported 85 injured, but that tally turned out to include those killed by the explosion. Nineteen families had reported people missing as of Saturday evening, but authorities did not say Sunday whether the number had changed. Authorities said the cause of the explosion at the hotel owned by Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA was still under investigation, but believed it to have been caused by a gas leak. A large crane hoisted a charred gas tanker out of the rubble Saturday. Burials for victims had begun, municipal authorities said, while some people still waited for news of missing friends and relatives. We are hoping that something will be known about my cousin's mother, Angela Acosta told The Associated Press near the site of the explosion. Her relative, Mara de la Concepcion Alard, lived in an apartment adjacent to the hotel with a black Labrador, which was rescued along with another dog Sunday. Crews have worked to clean up streets around the hotel and by late Saturday, substantial pedestrian traffic had resumed. There are mothers who are without their children today, Matha Verde, a manicurist who was walking near the Saratoga, said Sunday, when Mother's Day was celebrated in . She said she tells women who lost their sons or daughters in the explosion that they have to keep going. The explosion added to the woes of a crucial tourism industry that had been stifled by the coronavirus pandemic as well as tightened sanctions imposed by former US President Donald Trump and kept in place the Biden administration. Those limited visits by US tourists to the islands and restricted remittances from Cubans in the US to their families in . Tourism had started to revive somewhat early this year, but the war in Ukraine deflated a boom of Russian visitors, who accounted for almost a third of the tourists arriving in Cuba last year. The Saratoga, which had been closed through the pandemic, was one of the elite lodgings in Havana, often hosting visiting VIPs and celebrities. Its owner is one of the Cuban military's businesses. Some attention in Cuba began to shift to an official visit by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who arrived Saturday night at the end of a five-country tour that began in Central America. Lopez Obrador met Sunday with Cuban President Miguel Daz-Canel, who awarded him the Order of Jose Marti for his great achievements for humanity. It is the most important award the country gives to a foreigner. Diaz-Canel's office stated in a tweet that Lopez Obrador said he would insist to US President Joe Biden that Cuba not be excluded from the Summit of the Americas it will host in Los Angeles in June. Lopez Obrador said the objectives of the trip included signing agreements on trade, health, education and cooperation with the island, while he ratified his foreign policy stance. We are not in favour of hegemonies, he said. Let no one exclude anyone because we are independent countries, we are sovereign countries, and no one can place themselves above the rights of peoples and nations. Daz-Canel visited Mexico during its independence day celebrations last year. Lopez Obrador has recently spoken out against the apparent US government intention of to exclude Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua from the upcoming summit. (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.) He warned the federal government led by Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) that over 2 million people will reach Islamabad to get real independence and to protest against the "imported government," reported ARY News. Khan told the Shehbaz Sharif-led government that two million people will come to the federal capital irrespective of how many containers are put up to create hindrances. "Our opponents say if the temperature is high, then people will not come out. Put as many containers as you want, but 2 million people will come to Islamabad," said Imran Khan, reported Geo News. The former Prime Minister told his supporters that the incumbent government "fears" their passion and added that 11 parties had gathered to remove him from power. The PTI chairman claimed that when he and his supporters will come to Islamabad, the federal capital will fill up with the chants of "imported hukomat na manzoor" (imported government unacceptable) and "we want real freedom," reported Geo News. He criticized that the US wanted an obedient prime minister in which got in the shape of . He called PM Sharif 'beggar, coward and dacoit', adding that the nation will not accept the slavery of the US at any cost, reported ARY News. said that his only motive is working for the welfare of the Pakistani nation and he will not sacrifice the national interests for the interests of the US. He said that the Pakistani nation does not believe in any superpower except the complete supremacy of Allah Almighty. The PTI has finalized a strategy for bringing millions to Islamabad for a long march and avoiding arrests and has conveyed this to the third-tier leadership of the party. The upcoming public gatherings were scheduled in Abbottabad on May 8, Jhelum on May 10, Attock on May 12, Mardan on May 13, Sialkot on May 14, Faisalabad on May 15, Swabi on May 16, Kohat on May 17, Chakwal on May 19 and Multan on May 20, reported ARY News. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli Prime Minister has announced that the country was establishing a civilian national guard to "fight terrorism". His announcement was made in public remarks shortly after two Palestinians suspected of killing three Israelis in a knife attack were arrested earlier on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported. Bennett noted that was entering "a new stage in the war on terrorism", and the need for a national guard is "more urgent than ever". The new guard will be deployed throughout the country to enable them respond quickly to emergency even before the arrival of police forces, he said. Comprised of border police units along with reservists and volunteers trained for the tasks, the guard "will be activated in emergencies and disturbances, and in routine times as well, as necessary," he noted. Bennett said he had instructed the National Security Council and the Ministry of Public Security to present the government with a budgeted plan to establish the new guard by the end of May. Earlier on Sunday, Israeli security forces said after a three-day manhunt, the two suspects were captured in a forest near Elad, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish city where they killed three men and injured four on Israel's Independence Day on Thursday. The incident came amid heightened tensions over a string of clashes between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli police in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in recent weeks. --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.) Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says will slowly phase out Russian in unity with the Group of Seven's effort against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Leaders from the G-7 countries met online Sunday and announced their commitment to ban or phase out Russian in their latest effort to pressure Moscow into ending its aggression on Ukraine. It's an extremely difficult decision for a country that mostly relies on energy imports, including oil, Kishida told reporters Monday. But G-7 unity is most important right now. Kishida said it will be a gradual and slow process of phasing out Russian and that details and timeline will be decided later as the process requires securing alternative energy sources. About 4% of Japanese oil imports come from Russia. has also announced phasing out Russian coal imports. will not ban imports from its own stakes in oil and natural gas projects in Russia, including those in Sakhalin, Kishida 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.) Mahinda Rajapaksa, who has dominated Sri Lankan politics for nearly 20 years and whose government crushed the Tamil Tigers to bring an end to a long civil war, resigned as prime minister on Monday after intensifying anti-government protests. In a statement, his office said he was quitting in order to help form an interim, unity government, following weeks of sometimes violent protests across the country over shortages of fuel and other vital imports and spiraling prices. A charismatic and gregarious leader who often ruled in partnership with his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 76-year-old Mahinda is a member of and popular with the country's Sinhalese Buddhist majority. But his government, as were the Tigers, was accused of war crimes during the 26-year conflict. His critics also accuse him of nepotism and failing to prevent the abduction, torture and murder of government critics. He strenuously denied all charges. Born into an affluent family active in local politics in the southern district of Hambantota, Mahinda trained as a lawyer before becoming Sri Lanka's youngest legislator when he entered parliament in 1970. He first became prime minister in 2004 and then narrowly won his first term as president a year later when Sri Lanka was in the middle of a fragile ceasefire with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, one of the world's most violent guerrilla groups which was fighting for an independent state in the north. Peace talks yielded nothing and in 2006, Mahinda turned to Gotabaya, a retired infantry officer whom he had made defence secretary, to draw up a plan to defeat the Tigers once and for all. The Tigers eventually conceded defeat in 2009 following a ferocious government offensive in which the United Nations has estimated as many as 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the final few months of the war alone. The government said the rebels kept thousands of civilians as human shields, exacerbating the death toll. The United Nations believes up to 100,000 people were killed over the duration of the conflict and in 2021, its Human Rights Council adopted a resolution that gave the human rights chief's office new staff, powers and a $2.8 million budget to look at Sri Lanka's war with a view to future prosecutions. FLUCTUATING FORTUNES After the war ended, Mahinda's popularity soared and he won a landslide re-election in 2010, promising to heal the country's deep divisions. His second term saw his party win a two-thirds majority in parliament, allowing him to remove some checks on presidential power, including term limits. Mahinda also drew Sri Lanka closer to China, inviting heavy investment to the ire of traditional ally India, which fears that its neighbour could become a Chinese military outpost. Surprisingly, he lost the 2015 presidential election to a former cabinet colleague who turned against him. But in 2019, coordinated suicide bombings by Islamist militants that killed more than 250 people saw Gotabaya Rajapaksa sweep into power on a platform of national security. In August 2020, the government increased its majority to two-thirds in parliament, allowing the Rajapaksas once again to repeal laws limiting presidential power. Gotabaya reappointed his brother as prime minister and, as Mahinda did before him, put other relatives into ministerial roles, once again cementing the family as one of the most dominant in the country's post-independence history. But the pandemic, rising oil prices and government tax cuts put increasing strain on the island nation's economy, leaving the country with as little as $50 million in useable foreign reserves. Shortages of fuel, food and medicine brought thousands on to the streets in more than a month of protests demanding the Rajapaksas resign. Mahinda offered his resignation to his brother on Monday, hours after his supporters broke police lines to attack anti-government protesters using iron rods, setting their protest camp in the commercial capital Colombo alight. (Reporting by Alasdair Pal in Colombo; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Nick Macfie) (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.) Ferdinand Marcos Jr was headed for a stunning victory in the Philippines' presidential election on Monday with double the votes of his nearest rival, putting the son of the notorious late dictator on the cusp of a historic political fightback. An unofficial tally by the election commission showed Marcos, 64, was close to passing the required 27.5 million votes to secure a majority in a presidential election for the first time since the end of his father's 1965-1986 rule. The count makes almost certain a previously unthinkable return to power of the Marcos family, 36 years after its humiliating retreat into exile after being toppled in a "people power" uprising. "I hope you won't get tired of trusting us," Marcos told supporters in remarks streamed on Facebook, a platform at the heart of his campaign strategy. "We have plenty of things to do," he said, adding "an endeavour as large as this does not involve one person." Marcos Jr had 26.3 million votes, more than double the 12.5 million votes for Leni Robredo, the vice president, with 81.8% of the eligible ballots counted, according to the unofficial Commission on (COMELEC) tally. Despite its fall from grace, the Marcos family returned from exile in the 1990s and has since been a powerful force in politics, retaining its influence with vast wealth and far-reaching connections. Marcos Jr has served as a governor, congressman and senator, his sister, Imee, is currently a senator and mother Imelda, the influential power-broker and widow of the late dictator, served four terms in the House of Representatives. STRONGMAN APPROACH Marcos has presented no real policy platform, campaigning on a simple but ambiguous message of unity. His presidency is expected to provide continuity from outgoing leader Rodrigo Duterte, whose ruthless, strongman approach proved popular and helped him to consolidate power rapidly. A major boon has been Marcos securing Duterte's daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, as his running mate, tapping her father's support and helping him to make inroads in new voter territory. The unofficial tally showed Duterte-Carpio winning the vice presidency by a massive margin. Marcos was criticised for skipping presidential debates and made few media appearances during the campaign, enabling him to limit scrutiny and control his message via a network of influencers and bloggers granted broad access to his events. The results demonstrate the huge success of a sophisticated social media operation by Marcos, which critics say has sought to discredit historical accounts of cronyism, plunder and brutality during his father's authoritarian rule, about half of which was under martial law. The Marcos family denies siphoning off billions of dollars of state wealth during its time at the helm of what historians consider one of Asia's most famous kleptocracies. Many of Marcos's supporters, born after the 1986 uprising, are convinced those past narratives were lies peddled by his opponents. UNITY PREVAILED As the votes poured in, supporters gathered outside the Marcos campaign headquarters, jumping, waving flags and chanting "Marcos, Marcos, Marcos" ecstatically. "We are very happy because of his wide lead... unity really prevailed," said Melai Ilagan, 20. "Bongbong Marcos's wish that we all unite is becoming a reality." The early count indicates Marcos will avenge his loss to Robredo in the 2016 vice presidential election, a narrow defeat by just 200,000 votes that he sought unsuccessfully to overturn. The two have a bitter rivalry and embody a political chasm that has existed more than four decades, with Robredo allied with the movement that toppled the elder Marcos. About 65 million Filipinos were eligible to cast ballots to decide on the successor to Duterte after six years in power, plus thousands of other posts, from lawmakers and governors to city mayors and councillors. COMELEC declared the election to have been "relatively peaceful" and documented 15 security incidents, including what police said was the killing of three members of a peacekeeping force near a polling station in the south. A high turnout caused long queues, exacerbated in some areas by malfunctions in 533 of the 106,000 counting machines being used, prompting concerns from candidates that COMELEC sought to assuage. The National Union of People's Lawyers, whose members include people persecuted under Marcos senior's martial law era, said the election outcome was "beyond easy comprehension", and took aim at what it said was Marcos's historical revisionism. "Fact can really be stranger than fiction. Or to be more precise, fiction can be repackaged into fact," it said in a statement. "We shall carry on the fight even more intensely and await our redemption from this resurrected nightmare." (Reporting by Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales; Additional reporting by Eloisa Lopez, Adrian Portugal and Enrico dela Cruz; Writing by Martin Petty; Editing by Nick Macfie) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United Kingdom is introducing a new package of sanctions against Russia and Belarus, targeting a total of USD 2 billion worth of trade, the British government said. "The UK is today announcing a new package of sanctions on Russia and targeting Pound 1.7 billion (USD 2 billion) worth of in a move designed to further weaken (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's war machine," the British government said in a Sunday statement. The release specified that the new restrictions will bring the total value of products subjected to full or partial import and export sanctions since the start of Russia's special military operation in to more than 4 billion pounds. "The new import tariffs will cover Pound 1.4 billion worth of goods - including platinum and palladium," the UK government said, adding that "the planned export bans intend to hit more than Pound 250 million worth of goods in sectors of the Russian economy most dependent on UK goods, targeting key materials such as chemicals, plastics, rubber, and machinery." This is about 10 per cent of the total UK export to Russia as of 2021. The British government specified that Russia is one of the leading platinum and palladium producing countries and that its related imports to the United Kingdom had been significant. The new restrictions are the third wave of sanctions that the United Kingdom has imposed against Russia. Excluding gold and energy, about 96 per cent of imports from Russia to the UK and over 60 per cent of British exports to Russia are now under restrictions, according to the UK government. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President evoked the memory of Soviet heroism in World War Two to inspire his army fighting in Ukraine, but offered no new road map to victory and acknowledged the cost in Russian soldiers' lives. Addressing massed ranks of service personnel on Red Square on the 77th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, Putin condemned what he called external threats to weaken and divide Russia, and repeated familiar arguments that he had used to justify Russia's invasion on Feb. 24 - that NATO was creating threats right next to its borders. He directly addressed soldiers fighting in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, which Russia has pledged to "liberate" from Kyiv's control. "You are fighting for the Motherland, for its future, so that no one forgets the lessons of World War Two. So that there is no place in the world for executioners, castigators and Nazis," he said. His speech included a minute of silence. "The death of each one of our soldiers and officers is our shared grief and an irreparable loss for their friends and relatives," said Putin, promising that the state would look after their children and families. He was addressing Russia on one of its most important annual holidays, when the nation honours the 27 million Soviet citizens who lost their lives in the struggle to defeat Adolf Hitler - a source of national pride and identity. NO NEW VICTORY But Putin had no victory to announce in Ukraine and his 11-minute address, on day 75 of the invasion, was largely notable for what he did not say. He did not mention Ukraine by name, and offered no indication of how long the conflict might continue. There was no reference to the bloody battle for Mariupol, where Ukrainian defenders holed up in the ruins of the Azovstal steel works were still defying Russia's assault. However, in a televised meeting in his Kremlin office after the parade, Putin offered condolences to Artyom Zhoga, the father of a Russian battalion commander killed in the Donbas region, telling him: "All plans are being fulfilled. A result will be achieved - on that account there is no doubt." Putin has repeatedly likened the war - which he casts as a battle against dangerous "Nazi"-inspired nationalists in Ukraine - to the challenge the Soviet Union faced when Hitler invaded in 1941. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said it is Russia that is staging a "bloody re-enactment of Nazism" in Ukraine in an unprovoked war of aggression. Preceded by a stirring fanfare, Putin delivered his address after a group of eight high-stepping guards marched across the cobbles of Red Square carrying the Russian tricolour flag and the red Soviet hammer-and-sickle victory banner, accompanied by stirring martial music. The fighting forces responded with booming cheers as Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu crossed the square in a black limousine, saluting units including missile, national guard and paratroop units and congratulating them on the anniversary. Putin's speech was followed by a parade across the vast square featuring Russia's latest Armata and T-90M Proryv tanks, multiple-launch rocket systems and intercontinental ballistic missiles. A planned fly-past was cancelled because of cloudy conditions. RED CARNATIONS Putin then laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and placed red carnations on memorials commemorating Soviet Hero Cities that resisted Hitler's forces. They included Kyiv and Odesa - a reminder of the huge losses sustained by Ukrainians as well as Russians in the war. The imposing display could not mask the fact that - 75 days into the biggest assault on a European country since World War Two - Russia's army has failed to deliver victory for Putin. Plagued by logistics and equipment problems and poor coordination and tactics, it was repelled in an initial attempt to storm the capital Kyiv and subsequently declared a more limited objective to take the Donbas. But there too, it has struggled to make decisive progress, while the war has killed tens of thousands of people, uprooted millions and devastated large areas of Ukraine. Kyiv and the West say Russia's own death toll from the war exceeds the 15,000 Soviet soldiers killed in the Soviet-Afghan war of 1979-1989. Russia has not updated its casualty figures since March 25, when it said 1,351 troops had been killed. The West has imposed unprecedented sanctions on Russian banks, businesses and members of Putin's circle, and U.S. President Joe Biden has called him a war criminal. Moscow denies that its forces have targeted civilians or committed war crimes. (Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Kevin Liffey and Gareth Jones) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President on Monday ordered the creation of a working group on payments whose tasks will include figuring out terms for transactions with "unfriendly" states. Putin said in March that Russia, the world's largest natural gas producer, would require countries it deems hostile to pay for fuel in roubles by opening accounts at Gazprombank and making payments in euros or dollars, to be converted into Russian currency. Poland and Bulgaria refused to comply, and Russian energy giant Gazprom cut them off last month. The Kremlin has said the same will happen to anyone else who rejects the new payment terms. The working group will come up with "an infrastructure for payments, including in Russian roubles, with trading partners from foreign states and territories that carry out unfriendly actions against Russia," the order said. It will also look into payment terms in roubles and other national currencies with friendly countries - which would include China and India, although they were not named. The group -- which will be led by presidential adviser Maxim Oreshkin and include top officials such as Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina -- is also tasked with finding measures to reduce the risks associated with the freezing of nearly half of Russia's $640 billion of foreign reserves. Western countries have imposed sweeping sanctions against Russia for sending its troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24. Moscow says it is carrying out a "special military operation" aimed at disarming Ukraine and ridding it of what it says are dangerous nationalists. Russia is imposing counter-sanctions and has approved a list of "unfriendly" countries including the United States, Canada, Britain and European Union member states. (Reporting by Reuters) (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Supporters of Sri Lankan Prime Minister on Monday attacked the anti-government demonstrators gathered at a site near his official residence, as reports emerged that he may resign to form an interim administration, according to media reports. There were reports on Monday that Mahinda Rajapksa may offer to stand down as Prime Minister, as pressure mounts on the embattled government led by his younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to form an interim administration to overcome the worst facing the country. Rajapaksa, 76, under intense pressure from within his own Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) ranks to resign, was gathering his supporters to apply counterpressure not to stand down. A tense situation prevailed as a group of supporters of Prime Minister attacked the protesters outside the 'MainaGoGama', a site near Temple Trees, the official residence of the Prime Minister, Daily Mirror, an online news platform, reported. Police used water cannons to disperse the unruly SLPP protestors who are at the Galle Face green site, Hiru News website reported. The tents opposite Temple Trees were dismantled by a mob, Lanka First, a leading news network, reported. The 'MainaGoGama' protest site was set up demanding the resignation of Prime Minister . The Prime Minister told his supporters that he was ready to make "any sacrifice" for the people. Hundreds of supporters of the Prime Minister have been brought in buses while some marched to the Temple Trees to show support to the premier against the call for his resignation, Colombo Page reported. The demonstrators insisted that Rajapaksa remain in office and not resign. The local government representatives and parliamentarians supporting the Premier have also been arriving at the Temple Trees. The Rajapaksa brothers- President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have so far defied calls for their resignation. In a special Cabinet meeting on Friday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared a state of emergency with effect from Friday midnight. This is the second time that an emergency was declared in in just over a month as the island nation was in the grip of the worst . 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. 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. (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 Prime Minister on Monday offered his resignation amid the island nation's worst economic crisis since independence that has led to widespread protests, a government official said. "The prime minister has sent his letter of resignation to the president," the official said, declining to be named, said Reuters. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the prime minister's younger brother. At least two Cabinet ministers have also announced their resignations, PTI reported. The resignation paves the way for the president to put opposition members in key government roles, one solution hes proposed to end the crisis. But its unclear if the prime ministers resignation will placate angry citizens, who have called for Gotabaya Rajapaksa to step down as well. The prime ministers resignation would also dissolve the federal cabinet, raising questions about who would lead Sri Lankas ongoing talks with the International Monetary Fun for emergency funds to buy food and fuel. Soaring prices of everything from gasoline to essential medicines have kept protests on the boil in Sri Lanka, which is close to bankruptcy and has suspended payments on foreign debt, Bloomberg reported. Sri Lankan authorities on Monday imposed a nationwide curfew and Army troops were deployed in the capital after pro-government groups attacked protesters outside embattled Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office, leaving at least 78 people injured. The violence occurred following reports that may offer to stand down as Prime Minister, as pressure mounted on the embattled government led by his younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to form an interim administration to overcome the worst economic crisis facing the country. Curfew was imposed islandwide with immediate effect until further notice, a police spokesperson was quoted as saying by the local media, PTI reporter. Sri Lankan Prime Minister resigned on Monday, hours after his supporters attacked anti-government protesters outside embattled President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's office, leaving at least 150 people injured and prompting authorities to impose a nationwide curfew and deploy army troops. At least two Cabinet ministers have also announced their resignations. Prime Minister Mahinda, 76, sent his resignation letter to the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after violent scenes were witnessed in Colombo. The violence occurred as pressure mounted on the embattled government led by his younger brother and President Gotabaya to form an interim administration to overcome the worst facing the country. A Sri Lankan parliamentarian of the ruling party of the Rajapakasas and his personal security officer were killed on Monday in clashes between anti- and pro-government protesters in the country. Amarakeerthi Athukorala, a Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP from the Polonnaruwa district, was surrounded by anti-government groups at the north western town of Nittambuwa, the police said. The people said that gunfire came from his SUV, and when the angry mobs toppled the car, he fled and took refuge in a building and committed suicide by pulling his own revolver. The death toll in clashes in has risen to five, news agency AFP reported citing the police. Former Minister Johnston Fernandos residence in Mount Lavinia and the house of MP Sanath Nishantha were attacked by the protesters and set on fire. The confrontation began with hundreds of ruling party supporters rallying outside the prime ministers official residence before marching to an anti-government protest site outside the presidential office. Sri Lanka's top body has summoned the country's top brass, including the Secretary to the President and the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, to appear before it on Monday to clarify the reasons for the imposition of the state of . In a special Cabinet meeting on Friday, President Gotabaya declared a state of with effect from Friday midnight. This is the second time that an was declared in in just over a month as the island nation was in the grip of the worst . The announcement came amid weeks of protests demanding the resignation of the President and the government, blaming the powerful clan for the mishandling of the island nation's economy, which is already upended by the pandemic. Rohini Marasinghe, (Rtd) Supreme Court Judge who is Chairperson of the Commission of (HRCSL), said that the summons were issued to the top brass to clarify the reasons for the imposition of the state of emergency. She also said that water and tear gas attacks on protesters near the Parliament would be raised during the inquiry. The Secretary to the President, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, and the Inspector General of Police are scheduled to appear before the HRCSL on Monday. The HRCSL on Saturday requested the government to explain to the public the reasons for declaring a state of emergency as the protests were largely peaceful and within normal police operations. President Gotabaya has faced flak from the Opposition and foreign envoys for his decision, which gives security forces sweeping powers to arbitrarily arrest and detain people. 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. 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. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In order to prohibit Chinese to steal information about Taiwan's 'core' technologies, its legislators are seeking to pass bills for harsher punishments. The amendments would increase prison time and fines for people who work with foreign entities to steal information about 'core' technologies, reported Taipei Times. Legislators aim to pass three readings of draft amendments to the National Security Act and the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Area and the Mainland Area this month, sources said. A proposed bill to amend the National Security Act, which passed a preliminary review on April 7, would prohibit people from helping China, Hong Kong, Macau, foreign countries or overseas hostile forces, or companies, organizations or people controlled by them, to infringe on the business secrets of the nation's "core" technologies. Offenders under the law could face five to 12 years in prison or a fine of New dollar (NTD) 5 million to NTD 100 million (USD 168,577 to USD 3.37 million). The amendment would also prohibit people from using and infringing on business secrets of the nation's core technologies in China, Hong Kong, Macau and foreign countries, adding that offenders could face three to 10 years in prison or a fine of NTD 5 million to NTD 50 million, reported Taipei Times. To expedite prosecution, the amendment requires that the High Court hear the first instance of cases concerning national security, and the Intellectual Property and Commercial Court hear the first instance of economic cases. A draft amendment to the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Area and the Mainland Area, which passed a preliminary review on March 25, would forbid Chinese businesses or Chinese-funded entities based outside from engaging in business activities in Taiwan without government approval, reported Taipei Times. Offenders would face up to three years in prison and fines of up to NTD 15 million, while anyone who allows Chinese-funded businesses to use their name to operate in Taiwan would face fines from NTD 120,000 to NTD 2.5 million, the draft amendment said. Under the bill, legal persons, groups and members of entities commissioned, subsidized or invested to a certain extent by government agencies to engage in businesses involving the nation's core technologies would need government approval to travel to China, reported Taipei Times. The requirement would remain for three years after the commission, subsidy or investment ends, or three years after the person has left their position, and offenders could face fines of NTD 2 million to NTD 10 million, it 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.) In a speech marking the 77th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, Russian President called the assault on Ukraine inevitable, claiming without evidence that Kyiv planned to attack eastern areas of Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists and invade occupied Crimea. Putin made no major announcements in a speech at Moscows annual Red Square military parade, defying speculation he may further escalate his faltering 10-week-old war. He said, however, that was under threat by Western countries and NATO, accusing them of preparing an attack on Crimea, which Moscows forces annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Last year, we suggested to NATO countries that we sign a security treaty, but they did not want to hear us, they had completely different plans, and an attack on Crimea was being prepared, Putin said in Moscow. The alliance began military development of the territories adjacent to us, he added, calling the fighting inevitable. Protesters in Poland doused Russian Ambassador Sergei Andreyev with red paint as he attempted to lay flowers at a Soviet military memorial cemetery in Warsaw for Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. Photo: Twitter. Today, youre defending what our fathers, grandfathers and great grandfathers fought for, he added. Russia's ambassador to Poland was splattered with red paint thrown at him by protesters opposed to the war in Ukraine, preventing him from paying respects on Monday at a Warsaw cemetery to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be travelling to Hungary to discuss the blocs planned sanctions on Russian oil with President Viktor Orban, her spokesman announced. Von der Leyen is seeking to break a deadlock over the EUs plan to gradually phase out Russian oil purchases, which Hungary has been blocking. The EU had offered Hungary and Slovakia until the end of 2024 to comply with the measures. The US expanded its list denying access to American products, imposing a license requirement on all exports, re-exports, transfers. The Department of Commerces Bureau of Industry and Security published a list that now includes wood products and construction machinery, expanding the number of goods affected relative to what it first announced in February. The measures are consistent with existing EU restrictions on similar items. The US has decided to suspend tariffs on Ukrainian steel for one year, the Commerce Department said. Macron on Ukraines EU membership French President Emmanuel Macron said it will probably take several decades for Ukraine to be confirmed as a European Union member. But he added Ukraine is already a member of the European family because of its struggle and courage. In the speech to lawmakers, Macron offered a path for Ukraine to work more closely with the EU, as part of a less formal grouping of like-minded countries. On the trade front, a Maltese-flagged ship carrying Russian coal has docked in the northern Spanish port of Gijon, port authorities said. Another Maltese-flagged ship, loaded with Russian crude, docked in Cartagena, southern Spain, on Friday, authorities confirmed. As many as five companies, including Aadhar Housing Finance, Supply Chain Solutions and Landmark Cars, have received capital regulator Sebi's go ahead to raise funds through initial share sales. Apart from these, Bikaji Foods International and Kids Clinic India too have obtained the regulator's approval to float Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). These five companies, which filed their IPO papers with between January 2021 and February 2022, obtained its "observations" during May 2-5, an update with showed on Monday. In Sebi's parlance, its observation implies its go ahead to launch IPO. Going by the draft papers, Blackstone-backed Aadhar Housing, which filed preliminary papers with in January last year, is looking to raise Rs 7,300 crore through its initial share sale. The IPO comprises fresh issuance of shares worth Rs 1,500 crore and an Offer For Sale (OFS) of up to Rs 5,800 crore by promoter BCP Topco VII Pte Ltd. The IPO of Supply Chain Solutions, which is a part of Mobility Group, consists of fresh issue of equity shares aggregating up to Rs 2,000 crore and an OFS of up to 5.95 crore equity shares by promoter and existing investors. Those offering shares in the OFS are -- TVS Mobility, Omega TC Holdings PTE Ltd, Mahogany Singapore Company PTE Ltd, Tata Capital Financial Services Ltd and DRSR Logistics Service. According to market sources, the size of the IPO will be around Rs 5,000 crore. The Rs 762-crore IPO of automobile dealership chain Landmark Cars consists of a fresh issue of equity shares aggregating to Rs 150 crore and an OFS of up to Rs 612 crore. The OFS comprises sale of shares worth up to Rs 400 crore by TPG Growth II SF PTE Ltd, up to Rs 62 crore by Sanjay Karsandas Thakker HUF, up to Rs 120 crore by Aastha Limited and up to Rs 30 crore by Garima Misra. The public issue of Kids Clinic India, which operates super specialty mother and baby care chain Cloudnine, consists of a fresh issue of equity shares worth up to Rs 300 crore and an OFS of up to 1,32,93,514 equity shares by existing shareholders. Dr R Kishore Kumar, Scrips 'N' Scrolls India Private Limited, True North Fund V LLP, Indium V (Mauritius) Holdings Limited, and Sequoia Capital Investment are among the key shareholders selling shares in the IPO. As per market sources, the company is looking to raise around Rs 1,200 crore through the IPO. Bikaji International, a leading manufacturer of snacks and sweets, is aiming to mop up an estimated Rs 1,000 crore through its initial share sale. Certain shareholders of the Rajasthan-based company, including two promoters, are planning to offload around 2.94 crore shares through the OFS route. Bikaji was the largest manufacturer of Bikaneri bhujia with an annual production of 26,690 tonnes in fiscal 2021. It is a leading maker of packaged rasgulla, soan papdi and gulab jamun. The equity shares of the five companies will be listed on the BSE and NSE. (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.) Insurance behemoth Life Insurance Corporation of Indias (LICs) initial public offering (IPO), the biggest ever in the country, saw 2.95 times more demand than the shares on offer on the final day of bidding on Monday, generating bids worth Rs 43,933 crore. The subscription was primarily driven by domestic investors, mainly retail. The IPO saw 7.33 million applications from retail investors, the highest ever for a domestic issue, topping Reliance Powers 2008 record of 4.8 million. The issue, however, got a lukewarm response from foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) amid global risk-off sentiment due to rising bond yields. The policyholders portion saw the maximum subscription at over six times, generating bids of over Rs 12,000 crore. The employees portion was subscribed 4.4 times, while the retail individual investors part saw two times subscription with bids worth over Rs 12,450 crore. ALSO READ: Banks forgo bumper fees for managing LIC IPO to get league table rankings The qualified institutional buyer (QIB) and high networth individual (HNI) categories were subscribed 2.83 times and 2.91 times, respectively, generating bids worth Rs 18,815 crore. FPIs submitted bids of less than Rs 2,300 crore. The offer received bids for 478,367,010 shares against the offered 162,078,067 shares (excluding those offered to anchor investors), according to data available on the bourses. Market players said LICs strong brand recall, coupled with the additional discount for small shareholders, had enthused many first-time investors about the IPO. The government has set the IPO price band at Rs 902-949 per share, with an additional discount of Rs 45 for retail investors and Rs 60 for the policyholders. The IPO opened for subscription on May 4 and was open during the weekend also. Last week, the insurer raised Rs 5,627 crore from anchor investors, with 71 per cent of the amount coming from domestic mutual funds (MFs). In total, the state-owned insurance giant allotted nearly 59.3 million shares to 123 investors at Rs 949 apiece, with 42.17 million shares allotted to 15 domestic mutual funds through 99 schemes. The government was looking to raise Rs 20,557 crore by diluting a 3.5 per cent stake in the insurer, making it the biggest public offering of the Indian capital market. Initially, the government was looking to dilute 5 per cent in the insurer, but given the volatile market conditions due to geopolitical tensions, it decided to reduce the equity dilution. At the upper end of the price band, LIC will have a market cap of Rs 6 trillion, making it Indias fifth most valuable firm. The insurance giant had an embedded value (EV) of Rs 5.4 trillion as of September 2021. The IPO values the insurer at 1.1 times EV, lower than its private sector peers, which currently trade between 2 and 3.5 times their EV. Shares of (RIL) fell up to 3 per cent to Rs 2,542.1 on the BSE in Mondays intra-day trade after Mukesh Ambani-led oil-to-chemicals (O2C) company on Friday reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 16,203 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 (Q4 FY22), up 22.5 per cent over the year-ago periods Rs 13,227 crore, but slightly short of expectations. The stock was quoting lower for the sixth straight trading day, down 9 per cent during the period. It had hit a record high of Rs 2,855 on April 29, 2022. In comparison, at 09:25 am, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 1.5 per cent at 54,039 points. RILs consolidated revenue from operations surged 38.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 2.07 trillion for the reported quarter, which met street estimates, according to Bloomberg. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (ebitda) grew 34.3 per cent YoY to Rs 31,366 crore, driven by O2C (24.8 per cent up YoY) and digital service (25.3 per cent YoY) mainly on account of higher refining earnings in O2C coupled with tariff hike undertaken in December 2021. Revenues and Ebitda for the quarter were its highest ever. CLICK HERE FOR MORE Q4FY22 results were below our estimates on account of lower than expected O2C profitability. However, overall commentary remains positive given global refining scenario is favourable in near term as petrol & diesel product cracks are trading at multi-quarter highs, ICICI Securities said in a note. Retail segment added 714 new stores with overall stores crossing 15,000 benchmark while revenue surpassed pre-Covid levels. In the telecom business, while sim consolidation led third consecutive quarter of net subscriber decline, positive surprise was on higher ARPU growth and modest beat at EBITDA levels owing to higher topline. The ARPU saw a growth of 10.6 per cent QoQ at Rs 167.6, the brokerage said. We remain positive on the company with investment in new energy verticals being key monitorable going ahead, it added. 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 Comparing the Canadian and the American Right updated to 2022 (Part Three) By Mark Wegierski web posted May 9, 2022 The intellectual, cultural, and academic life of Canada is clearly dominated to a greater extent by political correctness than is the case in the United States. Unlike in the U.S., homeschooling is comparatively rare in Canada, there are fewer private schools at the primary and secondary level, and there are very few private, post-secondary institutions. The hundreds of private, more traditional, usually religious-affiliated colleges in the U.S. may allow for the existence of a community of more traditionally-oriented scholars that can have some effect on U.S. politics. Intelligent persons of conservative or traditionalist outlooks are almost completely isolated in Canada, and have almost no hope of achieving the dream of (for example) a tenured academic appointment or even of finishing a Ph.D. Policies similar to employment equity operate, de jure or de facto, at virtually every Canadian university. These determine admissions (to undergraduate, as well as graduate programs -- and especially to professional programs like law and medicine); the disbursement of scholarships and other aid to students; and the hiring of all academic faculty, librarians, library assistants, and other academic and non-academic support staff. The Canadian media, including the publishing world, is also more hostile to persons of conservative or traditionalist outlooks than is the case in the United States. The so-called alternative media and alternative publishers in Canada usually embrace very left-wing outlooks and are even more hostile to conservatives than the so-called mainstream publishers. So, again, we see the Right being stymied in Canada. Even the sharpest and most reflective persons of conservative or traditionalist outlooks in Canada are highly unlikely to achieve the dream of becoming opinion-columnists in Canadian newspapers, or acclaimed authors with books appearing with credible publishers. Virtually the entire government-subsidized world of CanLit is inimical to conservatism. The atrophy of the broader Right in Canada means that Canadians are cut off from many stimulating intellectual and creative ideas and political options. It also means that any remaining socially conservative instincts of the general populace are untutored, and therefore easily pejoritized as bigotry by the left-liberal elites. Many people go through their entire lives in Canada without ever hearing even one seriously-presented, conservative or traditionalist argument. It could be argued that it is diversity of thought that is the most important, and most Canadians of any cultural or social group will never get beyond the prevalent, politically-correct, dogmas and taboos. Because of the atrophy of traditional religion in Canada, the gay rights and radical feminist agendas have certainly advanced more quickly than is the case in the United States. The birthrate in Canada has also fallen far below replacement level, in marked contrast to the United States, where even the birthrate of non-Hispanic white (to use the official term of the U.S. Census) women is comparatively high. At the same time, Canada has a very high rate of abortion. There is a general climate of social decadence, ill-discipline, and a never-ending war against the so-called authoritarian personality. Many Canadians are to some extent accepting of all these various Canadian syndromes because they are linked to a very generous welfare-state. Apart from the obvious true believers in the left-liberal cadres (most of whom also clearly enjoy very comfortable lives), most ordinary people also tend to fall into line, unwilling to jeopardize their public sector job, or the government subsidy to their business, for the sake of what seem like distant and questionable notions. It should also be pointed out that Canada prides itself on its very generous medical system. The issue of healthcare is growing increasingly salient in Canada, especially with a rapidly-aging population. It seems that many people would be willing to accept virtually anything as far as the social and cultural outlooks they are required to profess, if they could be guaranteed high-quality medical care. At the same time, Canada today fails to meet many of the traditional criteria of a state. It fails to properly control its borders, and its armed forces have (except under Harper) been critically underfunded, to a point of near-atrophy. The federal government under the Chretien Liberals (1993-2003) had been able to achieve a budget surplus owing mainly to the high income tax rates; the 7% Goods and Services Tax (which is levied on virtually all economic activity) (Harper had lowered it to 5%); the reform of Unemployment Insurance (now called Employment Insurance), which significantly cut benefits; the so-called clawback of Old Age Pensions, over a certain, relatively modest income threshold; and the reduction of federal transfer payments for healthcare to the provinces. Considering these facts, the achievement of a federal budget surplus under Prime Minister Chretien and his Finance Minister, Paul Martin Jr. (who was Prime Minister in 2003-2006) is less of a miracle than it might appear. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home On 12 May 2022 The Board of Anjani Portland Cement will meet on 12 May 2022 to consider and evaluate proposals to raise funds by way of issuance of bonds including debentures / non-convertible debt instruments I securities and/or any other instruments / securities including through private placement or through any other permissible mode or any combination thereof or through issuance of equity shares on rights or preferential issue basis and other matters related/ incidental thereto, as may be decided by the Board of Directors of the Company and subject to such statutory / regulatory approvals as may be necessary, including the approval of the shareholders of the Company, wherever required. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shares of HCL Technologies rose 2.08% to Rs 1,072 after the company signed a definitive agreement or the acquisition of Confinale AG, a Switzerland-based digital banking and wealth management consulting specialist. HCL Technologies UK on Monday announced that it has signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Confinale AG, a Switzerland-based digital banking and wealth management consulting specialist and Avaloq Premium Implementation Partner. Through the acquisition, HCL said it will increase its footprint in the global wealth management market with emphasis on Avaloq consulting, implementation and management capabilities. The cost of acquisition is 53 million CHF (swiss francs) including earn-outs and the acquisition is likely to be completed before 1 July 2022. Confinale focuses on IT consulting in key specialist areas in the banking and wealth management sector. The Swiss digital banking and wealth management consulting company also has one of the largest independent pools of Avaloq-certified specialists in Europe. The company's in-house developed products and solutions accelerate the implementation of the Avaloq platform. Confinale reported turnover for the year ended 31 December 2021 stood at 17.5 Million CHF (Swiss Francs). HCL Technologies is primarily engaged in providing a range of IT and business services, engineering and R&D services and products & platforms services. The IT company reported a 4.4% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 3,593 crore on a 1.2% increase in revenue to Rs 22,597 crore in Q4 FY22 over Q3 FY22. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For execution of Masalia Ranishwar Megalift irrigation scheme The Water & Effluent Treatment Business of L&T Construction has secured a repeat EPC order from the Department of Water Resources, Government of Jharkhand, to execute the Masalia Ranishwar Megalift irrigation scheme on a turnkey basis. As per the company's project classification, the order is value between Rs 1000 crore to Rs 2500 crore. The project envisages to provide water to irrigate 22,283 Ha. of Culturable Command Area (CCA) in the Dumka district of Jharkhand by way of pumping water from the Sidheshwari River. The scope includes survey, design, and constructing a 158 m long barrage across the Sidheshwari river. The scope also includes survey, design, procurement, installation, testing and commissioning intake and intermediate pump houses, delivery chambers, MS, Dl & HDPE pipeline of various diameters and pipeline distribution networks with all allied works. The Business is already executing a similar lift irrigation project in the Garhwa distrkt of Jharkhand. With this order from the irrigation sector, the Business has reinforced its credentials of possessing the technical and executional capability to deliver the elementary requirement of water to the farmers and drive the growth of agriculture across the state. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pfizer Ltd is quoting at Rs 4286.35, down 0.71% on the day as on 13:19 IST on the NSE. The stock tumbled 26.33% in last one year as compared to a 9.39% rally in NIFTY and a 9.2% fall in the Nifty Pharma index. Pfizer Ltd fell for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 4286.35, down 0.71% on the day as on 13:19 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 0.4% on the day, quoting at 16345.85. The Sensex is at 54595.7, down 0.44%.Pfizer Ltd has eased around 4.25% in last one month.Meanwhile, Nifty Pharma index of which Pfizer Ltd is a constituent, has eased around 7.27% in last one month and is currently quoting at 12820.9, up 0.08% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 28938 shares today, compared to the daily average of 44788 shares in last one month. The PE of the stock is 33.61 based on TTM earnings ending December 21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Utilties stocks were trading with losses, with the S&P BSE Utilities index decreasing 60.59 points or 1.48% at 4044.68 at 13:48 IST. Among the components of the S&P BSE Utilities index, Tata Power Company Ltd (down 5.81%), Va Tech Wabag Ltd (down 5.03%),Nava Bharat Ventures Ltd (down 4.74%),Adani Green Energy Ltd (down 3.7%),JSW Energy Ltd (down 2.72%), were the top losers. Among the other losers were Rattanindia Power Ltd (down 2.7%), Adani Transmission Ltd (down 2.29%), SJVN Ltd (down 2.29%), Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd (down 2.17%), and GAIL (India) Ltd (down 2.12%). On the other hand, Reliance Power Ltd (up 4.35%), Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (up 2.54%), and Gujarat State Petronet Ltd (up 1.92%) turned up. At 13:48 IST, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 276.42 or 0.5% at 54559.16. The Nifty 50 index was down 86.3 points or 0.53% at 16324.95. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was down 345.9 points or 1.28% at 26746.51. The S&P BSE 150 Midcap Index index was down 105.23 points or 1.28% at 8090.36. On BSE,1041 shares were trading in green, 2354 were trading in red and 140 were unchanged. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The tug of war between the police forces of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi over Tajinder Bagga would suggest that Arvind Kejriwals Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has shot itself in the foot. Far from it. Even if the arrest was a botched-up effort, it sent a strong signal that whoever tried to malign Kejriwal, would have to pay a price. It may be useful to compare the arrest of Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mewani by the Assam police and the aborted detention by the Punjab police of the Bharatiya Janata Partys shrill spokesperson, Tajinder Bagga. Just as Mewani was seen as a threat to ... Delhi BJP on Monday slammed the AAP and the Congress saying its leaders by obstructing anti encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh proved that they were patronising Rohingyas and Bangladeshis living illegally in the area. Addressing a press conference, Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta urged the two parties to not link the encroachment drive with any religion. Gupta also wrote letters to Delhi Police commissioner and South MCD mayor demanding action against those who obstructed the anti encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh. "The bulldozer during anti encroachment drive by South MCD in Shaheen Bagh area was stopped by the AAP and Congress leaders who lied down before it. It is a clear proof of their patronage to Rohingyas and Bangladeshis," Gupta charged. Those who obstructed the anti encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh will be taught a lesson by people in the election, he said. "Giving encroachment removal exercise a communal colour and keeping quiet on rioters shows double standards of AAP," Gupta blamed. It is shameful that AAP and Congress leaders took cover of religion to save the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis who have no right on anything in Delhi, he said. The Delhi BJP president had written an open letter to Delhiites on Saturday urging them to inform the party about settlements of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, saying action will be taken against them by the municipal corporations. In his letter he had also charged that the AAP MLAs were supporting Rohingyas and Bangladeshis by helping them get identity proofs as well as ration, water and power supply. "The AAP MLA Amantullah Khan reaching to stop the anti encroachment drive proves it. He said when the terrorists explode bomb in Delhi, they do not care for religion or community of the victims. So, the AAP and Congress should not link encroachments with any religion, he said. Khan, a local MLA, charged that the South MCD, ruled by the BJP, planned the drive to "spoil" the environment in Shaheen Bagh. Several workers and leaders of Delhi Congress protesting against the drive were detained by the police. Delhi Congress president Anil Kumar charged BJP of using bulldozers and hate for political purposes. (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 cynical manipulation and misleading of Congress by Rep. Ilhan Omar By Amb. Alan Baker web posted May 9, 2022 While ostensibly expressing concern in the wake of reports of war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, with the aim of enhancing U.S. leadership in the fight against human rights abuses, and in support of international criminal justice, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) recently introduced a series of resolutions in Congress calling on the United States to become a full member of the International Criminal Court. She also proposed that Congress repeal previous legislation prohibiting cooperation with the International Criminal Court and proposed establishing within the State Department a new Office of Global Criminal Justice. The aim of such an office would be to advise department officials on issues related to atrocities, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide; to assist in formulating policy; and to coordinate United States Government positions relating to prosecution of persons suspected of atrocities around the world. Let no one be deluded by such legislative actions by Rep. Ilhan Omar and her congressional allies. Her resolution is cosponsored by Representatives Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-MO), Andre Carson (D-IN), Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). Her motivation has little to do with war crimes committed by Russian forces in Ukraine, nor with any deep-felt urge for the United States to lead the fight against human rights abuses and support international criminal justice. The United States has never veered in its support of international criminal justice and has been at the forefront of international activity in this sphere, especially recently in light of the Russia-Ukraine war. But the U.S. position with regard to the International Criminal Court has been consistent, since the very establishment of that Court in the 1998 Statute of Rome, in opposing the danger and likelihood that the Court will be politically manipulated by states seeking to harm those engaged in international military actions. U.S. reticence regarding the ICC and its fear of politicization of the Court became all the more evident when the Palestinian leadership started to politicize the court, to turn it into their own private Israel-bashing tribunal, and to target the Court as a convenient means of leading their campaign to delegitimize the State of Israel. It was in this context that the United States opposed the acceptance of a non-existent Palestinian state as a state-member of the Court and viewed this as incompatible with the requirements of the Courts Statute which limits membership of the Court to states only. Thus, it is clear that the U.S. position regarding its involvement in the International Criminal Court is an issue of foreign and military policy, and has no linkage to the Russia-Ukraine war. As with the huge bulk of Rep. Omars legislative efforts in the field of international affairs, a major factor that generates and fuels her activity and that serves as a main objective is her basic fixation and obsession with Israel, India, and Saudi Arabia all pillars of American interests. Nor does she spare the United States itself, when she asks Where are people supposed to go for justice? Her primary aim is to find a way to enhance U.S. activity against Israel through the creation of mechanisms within the U.S. Administration that she could use as platforms to hound Israel. Her cynical attempt to camouflage this fixation and obsession with Israel by linking it to Ukraine and by couching this in language and terminology that she knows will generate sympathy and wide identification is intended to mislead Congress, the American public and media. Her goal is to advance U.S. involvement in the ICC and establishment of supervisory mechanisms within the Administration, all of which she intends to use not vis-a-vis Russia and Ukraine, but to further her obsession against Israel and to open another front against India and Saudi Arabia and even the United States. Demonization of Israel This fixation against Israel figured in an article dated May 17, 2021, by Emily Schrader in the Jerusalem Post entitled The demonization of Israel in the halls of Congress Myths about Israel, or rather, modern-day blood libels, spread like wildfire across the networks. today extremist voices are regurgitating emotionally charged false information about Israel in the halls of U.S. Congress . Extremism against Israel has been legitimized with representatives Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley and Cori Bush. From labeling Israel apartheid to charging Israel with ethnic cleansing to accusing Israel of murdering children to stating Israeli airstrikes on terrorist weapon sites are terrorism these members of Congress acted completely irresponsibly in their criticisms of Israel. Perhaps most inappropriately, these members of Congress all repeatedly compared the Palestinians situation to the struggle against police brutality in the U.S. for blacks. The black communitys struggle has absolutely nothing to do with Palestinian nationalism or the aspirations for a Palestinian state. This is one of the most pernicious and ugly demonization of Israel being propagated today and it must be exposed and called out for what it is: bigotry. This twisted perspective comes from a misguided view of Jews, which perceives them as white and thus privileged (despite being the leading target of hate crimes even in the United States for over 20 years), and the Palestinians as brown. The irony of this is, of course, that Jews are not white and the majority of Israeli Jews, in fact, are brown. But facts dont seem to be relevant to sentimentalists like Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, Bush, Omar and Pressley. Israel does not have a history of slavery, nor a history of discriminatory laws that disenfranchise the Arab population. In fact quite the opposite. Israels basic laws demand freedom of religion and equality. Of course that does not mean Israel doesnt deal with racism, as every nation does, but to compare this history to that of the United States is to mislead and to lie, much like many of the other accusations lobbed at Israel by this bunch. This is not about human rights; its about the selective outrage against Israel and the unfounded accusations made. The extremism of these representatives should have no place in the U.S. Congress. Clearly, Congressional members, Administration officials, and the American media should not permit themselves to be manipulated by Ilhan Omar, whose obsession with Israel and whose motives are transparent and particularly pernicious. Amb. Alan Baker is Director of the Institute for Contemporary Affairs at the Jerusalem Center and the head of the Global Law Forum. He participated in the negotiation and drafting of the Oslo Accords with the Palestinians, as well as agreements and peace treaties with Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon. He served as legal adviser and deputy director-general of Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs and as Israels ambassador to Canada. Home The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday targeted the alleging that it has failed to check the rise in crime in the national capital as it is busy protecting " goons" and who is accused in a case in Punjab. Addressing a press conference, leader Atishi listed a number of crime cases registered in the national capital recently and accused the of failing to check the crime in the city. She alleged that the city police force was busy protecting " goons" and leader Bagga. The Delhi Police, however, rejected the charge and said the entire nation recognises it as a professional force. " is the best performing state in Crime & Criminal Tracking Network System implementation. Delhi Police was adjudged the best police in National Digital Evidence Contest, 2021," it said in a statement. leader Atishi said the law and ordered situation in the national capital has worsened to the extent that miscreants opened fire at people sitting in a car in the middle of a crowded market in Subhash Nagar and easily fled from the spot. The incident took place on Saturday at Kamala Market. "This is the law and order situation in Delhi. Nobody is scared of Delhi Police because they know they are busy in saving BJP goons," the Kalkaji MLA charged. "Delhi Police took swift action when it had to save Bagga illegally. The entire Delhi Police force came out on streets and reached Kurukshetra in Haryana like James Bond to save the BJP goon," she alleged. On the Kamala market incident, the Delhi Police said it has arrested one of the accused, identified as Raju alias Gogga, within 24 hours through professional and technical investigation. Two other co-accused have also been identified and intensive efforts are being made to nab them, it said. There has been a 19 per cent decline in the use of firearms in the national capital, it said. "If we compare with pre-Covid times, there has been a massive 219 per cent increase in preventive arrests of criminal elements. These arrests of criminal elements have resulted in a sharp reduction in instances of street crimes, thus making the city safer for the citizens," the Delhi Police added. Delhi BJP leader Bagga was arrested by a Punjab Police team from his residence in Janakpuri in the national capital on Friday but the Delhi Police brought him back from Haryana after a daylong high-voltage drama that drew police forces of three states and kicked up a political slugfest between the BJP and the . Atishi alleged that Delhi has the highest number of reported crimes out of the all metropolitan cities in the country. "Delhi ranks number one out of 19 cities, accounting for a staggering 40 per cent of total rape cases and 25 per cent of total murder cases that are reported," she said. The Delhi Police said while there has been a 12 per cent decline in murders reported in the city, over the last two years charge sheets have been filed against 96 per cent of the accused after thorough investigation, thus ensuring prompt trial and maximum convictions. "In rape cases, only 1.5% accused are unknown/strangers. Rest are either family, friends, relatives, neighbours, etc.," it said. The proportion of unknown accused or strangers has "steadily declined" over the years -- from 3.6 per cent in 2016 to 1.5 per cent in 2021, it said. "This is a direct result of preventive and protective policing efforts of Delhi Police, including community policing, action against dark stretches in coordination with municipal bodies, etc.," the Delhi Police 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.) Sending out a clear message to critics within the organisation, Congress president on Monday said self-criticism is needed in party forums but it should not be done to erode self-confidence and morale, as she asserted that it is time "to repay our debt to the party". Ahead of the Congress' Chintan Shivir in from May 13 to 15, she sought the cooperation of all leaders in sending across the message of unity, cohesion and commitment to ensure the party's accelerated revival, while underlining that "there are no magic wands". Addressing top Congress leaders at the party's working committee meeting, she said the Chintan Shivir should not become a ritual and it should herald a restructured organisation to meet the ideological, electoral and managerial challenges ahead. "Self-criticism is of course needed in our party forums. But this should not be done in a manner that erodes self-confidence and morale and an atmosphere of gloom and doom prevails. To the contrary, we are beholden to put our heads together and together, collectively overcome the challenges that face us," Gandhi said. "This requires that the Chintan Shivir (brainstorming session) does not become a ritual, something we must just get through. I am determined that it should herald a restructured organisation to meet the many ideological, electoral and managerial tasks we confront," she said. The Congress chief said that "there are no magic wands". It is only with selfless work, discipline and a sense of consistent collective purpose that "we will demonstrate our tenacity and resilience," she said. "The party has been central to the life of each and every one of us. It has expected our total allegiance and has been good to each and every one of us. Now, when we are at a crucial juncture, it is imperative that we step forward and repay our debt to the party in full measure," Gandhi said at the party's top decision-making body -- Congress Working Committee (CWC) -- meeting here. In a press conference after the CWC meet, Congress leaders and said the aim of the shivir is to prepare a new action plan and road map to get the party battle-ready for the 2024 Lok Sabha and upcoming assembly elections. "It is not a destination it is the beginning of a long journey. It is a milestone. After each of the Chintan Shivirs, the organisation has undergone transformation, this is a transformation of unprecedented magnitude," Ramesh said. He said there are serious challenges before the country, and the Congress and the people expect the party to play a role. "The fact that we are holding the shivir is in itself a message that the Congress president means business." Gandhi also talked about the deliberations to be held at the shivir which will be in six different groups - taking up political, economic, social justice, farmers, youth and organisational issues. The Congress chief said delegates have already been informed about the groups in which they are expected to participate and on May 15, the party will adopt the " Nav Sankalp" after it has been approved by the CWC there. "I request your full cooperation in ensuring that the single over-riding message that goes forth loud and clear from is one of unity, cohesion, determination and commitment to our party's accelerated revival," she said. Gandhi said around 400 Congress members will be attending the shivir and stressed on the message of every leader holding one party post. The party has made every effort to ensure a balanced representation from every angle, she said. Surjewala said the aim is to prepare a new constructive role for the Congress as an opposition party as per people's aspirations, come true to people's expectations by internalising transformations and bring forth a new resolve. "The aim of the Nav Sankalp Shivir is to rise to the expectations of people after bringing about organisational changes, and come out with a new pledge to save the country," he said, adding, that is why six separate groups were formed to take up the challenges on various fronts. The conveners of the six groups gave detailed reports and plans, and CWC members discussed these as well as put forth their views, Surjewala said Detailed discussions on all these issues will be held at the session in Udaipur, he said. Ramesh said the session will help make the Congress a rejuvenated and strengthened party to deal with the political and other challenges before it. Organisational changes will also be an outcome of the shivir, he said. "We are not going to Udaipur to draft an action plan to strengthen the Congress to deal with the political, economic, social and other challenges," Ramesh said. He said this is the fourth Chintan Shivir, after the ones in Pachmarhi in 1998, in Shimla in 2003 and in January 2013 in Jaipur. Fifty per cent of the delegates for the upcoming shivir are below 50 years of age and around 35 per cent are below 40 years. Twenty-one per cent are women, representing different sections of society, Surjewala said. CWC members, including special and permanent invitees, state presidents, CLP leaders, former Union ministers, AICC secretaries and joint secretaries, all MPs, presidents of various AICC cells and departments, all office-bearers of party wings, besides 50 party leaders who are part of the coordination panel or selected by party chief, are among the 422 invitees for the session, he said. At the meet, the CWC approved an amendment in the party constitution to include digital membership and decided that Ladakh will have a separate Congress territorial wing. (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 ancestral home of the Rajapaksas in Hambantota has been set on fire by a group of anti-government protestors, hours after Mahinda Rajapaksa, the patriarch of the powerful clan resigned in response to mounting demand for his ouster as Sri Lanka's prime minister. Video footage showed the entire house of Prime Minister and his younger brother and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Medamulana in Hambantota city was burning away as protestors hooted away, the Daily Mirror reported. Earlier, several properties of ministers and lawmakers of the ruling coalition were destroyed by the protesters. Sri Lankan media also reported that a fire has broke out near the back gate of Temple Trees, the official residence of the Sri Lankan Prime Minister here. Police water cannons have been called but anti-government protesters are attacking the vehicles, the report said. Protesters have also attacked the house of Badulla District parliamentarian Tissa Kuttiarachch and later set it on fire. The house of Puttalam MP Santha Nishantha was completely destroyed due to an arson attack. The arson attacks came as the island was placed under curfew after violent clashes between supporters and anti-government protesters in Colombo. Three people were killed, including a ruling party MP, and more than 150 injured in violence in the capital. There have been protests over soaring prices and power cuts since last month. is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence from Britain in 1948. (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.) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 9 (ANI/NewsVoir): Even Healthcare, a health-tech company and healthcare provider, welcomed the Italian delegation, led by Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs to its office in Bengaluru on Day 2 of his trip to India. During their visit, they discussed Even's ambitions to make preventive healthcare accessible in the country and the company's growth plans. The prestigious moment was marked by Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vincenzo De Luca - Ambassador of Italy to India, where they engaged in a discussion with Co-founders of Even, Matilde Giglio and Alessandro Davide Ialongo. Even is a health-tech company that aims to make hospital care more accessible by partnering with top hospitals to provide completely cashless, paperless and quality healthcare to its members. Available at a nominal fee starting at Rs 525/month, members can get unlimited doctor consultations and diagnostics, and upgrade to unlimited OPD plus a yearly hospitalization cover of Rs. 50 lakh. In July 2021, Even raised US USD 5 million in seed round led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from Founders Fund (led by Peter Thiel), Lachy Groom and other investors and operators, including Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora, Cred CEO Kunal Shah, Zerodha Founder Nithin Kamath and DST Global Partners Tom Safford. Headquartered in Bengaluru, Even is a health-tech company and healthcare provider that partners directly with the top hospitals in the country and offers unlimited diagnostics, consultations and INR 50 lakh worth of hospitalisation, all via one monthly subscription cost. The company was founded in January 2020 by Mayank Banerjee, Matilde Giglio and Alessandro Davide Ialongo. Even believes every Indian should have access to 360-degree high-quality healthcare that is affordable and easy to access. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], May 9 (ANI/GPRC): Underlining the advancements that it is driving in the Indian real estate space, Urban Axis Infratech Limited has recently gained International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification 9001- 2015 for quality management system. The ISO certification, received from the Royal Impact Certification Ltd, is in recognition of Urban Axis's quality management system focused on the design, development, and construction of living spaces such as apartments and villas as per customer requirements with customer satisfaction and quality assurance at its core. Speaking on the impressive win, Shashank Gupta, Executive Chairman and Managing Director, Urban Axis said, "We are delighted to receive the recognition by the Royal Impact Certification Ltd. I congratulate the team on this achievement which is the outcome of sheer diligence and dedication that they displayed in their respective domains, without compromising on quality and deadlines. The certification is central in enabling our company to meet its quality systems and improvement of our service delivery that will provide the foundation for better customer satisfaction, staff motivation and continual improvement." He added: "The ISO 9001 certification for Urban Axis is a major endorsement of the company's systems and processes in line with the international standards in the real estate sector. The certification recognizes and validates Urban Axis's achievements as well as its commitment to provide quality services and excellence across its entire operations. This certification is a testimony to Urban Axis's commitment to develop projects in line with customers' needs and market demands, which contribute to the urban growth of Lucknow." Gupta mentioned: "At Urban Axis, we believe that any business conduct can be ethical only when it rests on the core of customer value, ownership mindset, respect, integrity, one team & excellence. Strong commitments to these values have been the guiding principles for our organization. We believe that our customers are the reason for our existence and the only guarantee to our future. Everything that we do must delight our customer, each time and always." With this development, the company emphasized objectives as a real estate developer and as a commitment by its top leadership. These include continuous advancements in all processes including the improvement and review of policies, further growth, motivation and improved communication among staff and improvement of the company's portrayal locally and globally. Founded in 2015, Urban Axis Infratech Limited, has delivered successful projects and provided its residents with amenities and services best in class and first of its kind in Lucknow. Led by IITians, the company specializes in making contemporary & affordable living spaces. The company has forayed into various project categories with clarity of vision and a zeal to create better living spaces. Urban Axis believes that architecture is an art and science that surpasses the physical and functional aspects of a project. It integrates creativity, culture, and local heritage while also enhancing the project's existing environment and ecology. It creates a bridge between nature and people through dynamic green urban park spaces, by integrating refined design that responds to different users' functions while enhancing the surrounding environment. Guided by their vision of creating "happiness through our homes", Urban Axis believes that a fulfilled life is often the result of a safe, secure, and comfortable home. The projects are designed by a leading team of architects, planners, engineers, and consultants from around the world and are executed by teams led by professionals from IITs and other premier colleges. Urban Axis works on a simple revenue model of developing and building luxury residential spaces and delivering them to our customers. Urban Axis is an ethical,growth-oriented organization, that strives for customer delight, by delivering the 'best-in-class' projects, with uncompromising quality standards, through innovation and speed. The company has forayed into various project categories with a rare clarity of vision and a zeal to create better-living spaces. The company's vision is to contribute to India's e-development, eco- friendly development, and economic development with infrastructure that has a positive impact on the environmental and personal health of individuals as well as the society. The company's mission is to make the world a better place for people by providing modern, affordable and stylish living and working spaces across the country. Urban Axis has also been recognized as Times Power Icons for its contribution to real estate. This story is provided by GPRC. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/GPRC) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Horizon Therapeutics today formally opened a new global corporate headquarters in Dublin. The offices are located in a landmark building at 70 St. Stephen's Green. The Medtech company employs approximately 200 people in Ireland across a variety of key functions including finance, legal, technical operations and research and development. Horizon today announced that it expects to employ up to 100 additional employees between Waterford and Dublin in the coming 18 months. In 2021, the company purchased a 44,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Waterford to support the growth of its on-market rare disease medicines and pipeline biologics. Horizon plans to add more than 50 high-end specialist roles in science and engineering in that facility by year end. During the last two years, Horizon has provided approximately 1,000,000 in community support including over 120,000 in scholarships to help economically disadvantaged students attending Trinity College Dublin and South East Technological University, formerly Waterford Institute of Technology. In addition, Horizon was recently named the Title Partner of the Irish Open in a six-year deal, which will begin with the 2022 Horizon Irish Open at Mount Juliet Estate in County Kilkenny from June 30 to July 3. Horizon executives and employees were joined today by the An Taoiseach, Mr. Micheal Martin and Mr. Martin Shanahan, Chief Executive Officer, IDA Ireland. An Taoiseach, Mr. Micheal Martin said, "I am delighted to join Horizon to mark the opening of their new global corporate headquarters in Dublin. I also welcome the companys commitment to creating an additional 100 new jobs in Dublin and Waterford. The companys decision to add a manufacturing facility in Waterford last year further underlines the leading role Ireland plays in the companys operations. Horizons drive and commitment to innovation and its highly skilled and talented workforce here will continue to bring the company considerable further success in the years ahead." Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Timothy P. Walbert added, "Ireland has been a wonderful location for Horizon for nearly 10 years and we as a company benefit enormously from the rich pool of talented and enthusiastic employees here. Ireland is a key part of our global strategy and we will continue to invest significantly here to enhance our business and to demonstrate our support for the wider community." Source: www.businessworld.ie Is the left agitating for war with Russia so it can cement domestic tyranny? By Selwyn Duke web posted May 9, 2022 It has been odd and alarming watching the powers-that-be relentlessly escalate the proxy war our government is waging against Russia. Its not just that were sending billions of dollars of weapons into Ukraine, are calling Vladimir Putin a war criminal and issuing other fightin words, are training Ukrainian troops and are trying to effect Moscows economic destruction. Its also, senior American officials have now revealed, that via intelligence aid the U.S. has helped to: kill Moscows generals; down a plane carrying Russian soldiers; and sink one of Putins warships. Russian warship Moskva sinks after being hit by two cruise missiles The kicker: By revealing this publicly perhaps as strikingly inappropriate as leaking a Supreme Court draft opinion Biden administration officials appear to be bragging about these exploits and rubbing the Russians noses in them. If you wanted to provoke a hot war, this is exactly how youd do it. But why would our officials seek conflict with the nation boasting the worlds largest stockpile of nukes (6,000) in the name of thwarting aggression that, as I explained here and here , globalist policy invited and is none of our affair? It all has a very Dr. Strangelove-esque quality about it. But there may be method to this madness. And, no, a mere desire to enrich weapons-manufacturer political donors doesnt explain it. There is one motivation that would, however: A serious conflict would provide the Left an opportunity to seize complete domestic control, to cement its power perhaps permanently. For certain is that locking horns with Russia would be used to further curtail civil liberties. We know this because major conflicts always are thus used. Abraham Lincoln arrested opposition journalists and publishers during the War Between the States. WWI saw the passage of the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition Act of 1918, the latter of which absolutely infringed upon freedom of speech. And Franklin Roosevelt is notorious for having interned U.S. citizens of Japanese and also of German descent and for persecuting some Italian-heritage Americans. Civil rights trampling would surely be worse under a major-war scenario today. Not only are we much farther down the rabbit hole of moral nihilism and wanton constitutional trespass, but Americans who even question our Ukraine policy are already labeled stooges of Putin. Moreover, Democrats have already made crystal clear what they want: Complete power by any means necessary. This desire has manifested itself in politicians such as Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) calling for violence against political opponents and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) threatening SCOTUS justices who dare vote contrary to the Lefts agenda. Heeding such calls, the Democrats de facto storm troopers have effected hundreds of violent riots, more than 600 in 2020 alone. One Democrat operative, Scott Foval, was caught on hidden video in 2016 talking about inciting violence at Trump rallies and unabashedly said, Were starting anarchy here. This violence is again now being ratcheted up, just in time for the midterms, with news that the unconstitutional Roe v. Wade opinion could be overturned. This is attended by threats made against the conservative SCOTUS justices and the doxxing of them, with activists encouraging protests at their homes. All the while that this violence is tacitly approved by Democrat leaders and it is conservatives are hung out to dry if they step even one inch out of line, as the January 6 martyrs plight proves. In contrast, 2020s CHAZ, or Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, takeover of part of Seattle was by definition an insurrection but was sloughed off. Why, its warlord leader, Raz Simone, was apparently never even charged with a crime. This, not mention that Nancy Pelosi called the longest ever occupation of an American government building leftists 2011 takeover of the Wisconsin Capitol an impressive show of democracy in action. This statement was, of course, as true as claiming that the stolen (and it was) 2020 presidential contest was the most secure election in U.S. history. Get the picture? Its not pretty, and it adds up to this: A major war under Bidens handlers watch would become a pretext for the greatest Big Brother seizure of control in U.S. history. The question is, however, would the radicals in charge be crazy enough, or desperate enough, to risk nuclear war for powers sake? Note two matters when assessing this. First, being completely un-American and unpalatable, the Democrats have nothing to run on in the midterms aside from the just ginned up Roe v. Wade abortion controversy. Second and as I often warn, these demagogues arent normal. Theyre power mongers. Just as people can lust after food, sex or money motivations everyone can understand so can they exhibit that rarer phenomenon: lust for power. And just as a man may endanger his marriage and career to indulge his prurient desires, megalomaniacs may assume great risk to satisfy their dark cravings. For certain is that cementing total power requires something Marxist revolutionaries would call crisis, the third stage of communist subversion. The first, demoralization, is the undermining of the nations moral foundation; Soviet defector Yuri Bezmenov said this was more than complete in the mid-80s already. The second, destabilization, is what weve seen with the violence, the toppling of statues and the intensified attacks on our institutions the last many years. Now all we need is a crisis and what it facilitates: revolution a final seizure of power. A major war (along with food shortages) could certainly fit the bill. And while this may appear a crazy theory, the people in charge may just be crazy enough for it to be true. Contact Selwyn Duke , follow him on MeWe , Gettr or Parler , or log on to SelwynDuke.com . Home Sinosteel has been seeking the exploitation permit since November 2015, seven years after it gained exploration rights. Photo: Sinosteel Chinas Sinosteel Corp. has struck a deal with the Cameroonian government to begin production of iron ore at a mine, becoming the latest Chinese firm to tap the valuable resource in West Africa. According to a company statement, Sinosteel obtained a permit to exploit the Lobe mine after signing a contract with Gabriel Dodo Ndoke, Cameroons minister of mines, industry and technological development, on Friday. The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria goes on to build a democratic Syria where all components are equal before the law while the Syrian government is still adopts the mentality based on exclusion and denial and the melting down policy of all components rejecting all solutions that delivers Syrian to the shore of peace and security. Khaled Berghel, co-chair of the Judiciary Co9uncil of the Civil Administration in Raqqa told ANHA :'' after the years long crisis in Syria the regime still embraces the exclusionist and denial policies with no vision on the horizon that may reach Syrians to the shore of security and stability. The regime looks as if nothing had happened''. Khaled Berghel added the project developed in North and East Syria embodied in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria is the way of salvation for Syrians. This project has all pillars that provide the people of the region to live peacefully and in dignity on the contrary to the vision adopted by the regime for the components of Syria in NES in specific and for all Syria in general. We wish that the regime changes its mentality regarding the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria for the mentality it adopts has no advantage to Syrians in general''. Commenting on the democratic experiment preserved in North and East Syria Khaled Berghel said: with the practical implementation of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria on the ground this projects approved it is a success and that it is the best available solution for Syria. It became more strong as all people of the North and East of Syria took part in it''. Time and again the Syrian regime refused calls of dialogue made by the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria in bids to end the crisis in the country however nothing was materialized on the ground. Khaled Berghel called on the Syrian regime to listen to the voices of the Syrian people'' the Syrian dialogue is essential to consolidate and strengthen the ties linking ethnicities and all communal classes. The mentality of the regime deepened the crisis in the country''. Khaled Berghel went on to say that the ''harassment by the regime on areas under the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria does not serve Syrians at all. It is against the citizenship and all other ethical norms and values . this policy will fall to the ground''. Khaled Berghel said citizens in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria conveyed their vision and made their voices be heard to the Syrian regime saying they adopt the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria from all arenas and the policy of self-sufficiency and the reconnaissance preserved in the region and the economic openness in NES all prove the success the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria making on the contrary to all other Syrian areas''. L..A ANHA Preparations to send new batch of Pro-Turkish mercenaries to Libya SOHR reported that preparation is underway in the northern Aleppo countryside, which is controlled by Turkish forces and their gangs to send a new batch of mercenaries to Libya. Photo: The Canadian Press Governor General Mary Simon, left, meets Quebec Premier Francois Legault Wednesday, May 4, 2022 in Quebec City. Simon's tour of the Nunavik region of northern Quebec this week marks the first time she's been on an official visit to the area where she grew up since she was appointed to the viceregal office in July 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot The usual excitement over the end of the school year in Nunavik is reaching a new level, as hundreds of students get ready to present special projects to the country's first Indigenous Governor General. Mary Simon's tour of the Nunavik region of northern Quebec this week marks the first time she's been on an official visit to the area where she grew up since she was appointed to the viceregal office in July 2021. The five-day trip is scheduled to include visits to four schools as well as youth groups, highlighting one of the priorities Simon has set while in office of promoting education and physical and mental health for youth. Students and teachers have been preparing arts projects and anticipating the visit for more than a month. "The fact that students will be able to interact with her in their own first language is something very special," said Jade Duchesneau Bernier, the communications coordinator for Kativik Ilisarniliriniq, the school board of Nunavik. While Simon's inability to speak French has been controversial sparking hundreds of complaints and an investigation by the official languages watchdog her fluency in Inuktitut is an asset for this particular tour. "It's very rare that we have government officials who know what the North is about, who the Inuit are, what their culture is, what their language is," Duchesneau Bernier said. Simon's visit to the northernmost part of the province comes just days after she met with Quebec Premier Francois Legault, who told reporters she still has "more work to do" to improve her French language skills. Simon has said she is committed to learning French on the job but was denied the chance to do so while attending a federal day school in her youth. She was born near Kangiqsualujjuaq, an Inuit village in Nunavik, in 1947. Her mother Nany May, whose family surname was Angnatuk-Askew, was Inuk and her father, Bob Mardon May, had moved to the Arctic to work for the Hudson's Bay Co. and stayed. She and her siblings went to federal day school in Kuujjuaq, then called Fort Chimo. She was home-schooled by her father after Grade 6. Simon, 74, has been a leader in the North for the last four decades. She served as president of Makivik Corp., the Nunavik land-claim body, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the national Inuit organization. She was Canadas first ambassador for Circumpolar Affairs and also served as the countrys ambassador to Denmark. On her first day in Kuujjuaq, Simon is set to meet representatives from Makivik, Kativik Regional Government, Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services and the school board before sitting down with the mayor and council. The itinerary also includes organizations that focus on holistic methods of treating trauma and addiction in a region that is grappling with the effects of colonialism, with high rates of alcohol abuse, suicide risk and social inequities. The Isuarsivik Recovery Centre, for example, focuses on blending traditional Inuit values and modern practices. It offers six-week in-patient programs for groups of nine men or women, helping them heal from trauma and overcome addictions, at no cost. Simon will visit a new centre, set to open next year, that will include an in-patient family program. That approach was recognized in March with an Arctic Inspiration Prize worth $1 million. Simon plans to speak with Inuit leaders and local officials, meet with elders and take part in cultural celebrations throughout the week. Her husband, author and journalist Whit Fraser, 79, is also part of the official trip in his role as the viceregal consort of Canada. Simon is well known for her role in negotiating and implementing the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement between the Cree and Inuit of northern Quebec, the provincial government and Hydro-Quebec in 1975. Considered the first modern treaty in Canada, the deal affirmed Inuit and Cree hunting and trapping rights in the area and established $225 million in compensation over 20 years in exchange for construction of hydroelectric dams. During her time as Circumpolar Affairs ambassador, she led negotiations to create what is now known as the eight-country Arctic Council. She also worked a producer and announcer for CBC North. In 2016, she served as special adviser on the Arctic to Carolyn Bennett, who was then Indigenous and northern affairs minister, and proposed Indigenous-protected areas in the North. Pita Aatami, president of Makivik Corp., said in a statement when Simon was named as Canada's next Governor General: In Nunavik, we all know our new Governor General as Mary." Priscilla Chan, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's wife, has made a name for herself separate from her husband, but how exactly did she build her fame and fortune? The 36-year-old American philanthropist is a pediatrician by profession whose parents were Chinese refugees who escaped Vietnam using boats. Chan grew up speaking both Cantonese and English. Zuckerberg's wife graduated in 2003 as class valedictorian and became the highest-ranking student among her peers. Her fellow students also voted her as a "class genius" due to her intellect. Priscilla Chan's Net Worth She then attended Harvard University where she met and later started dating the Facebook founder. After finishing her studies and graduating with a BA in biology in 2007, Chan continued her education and finished her pediatric residency in 2015. Chan and Zuckerberg dated for 9 years before they decided to get married in 2012. The couple announced the birth of their first daughter, Max, on Dec. 1, 2015. And on Aug. 28, 2017, the two announced the birth of their second child, August, as per The Sun. The couple is known for founding the philanthropic limited liability company Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative in 2015, its charitable arm, the Chan-Zuckerberg Foundation, and its political Chan-Zuckerberg Advocacy. Read Also: Melinda French Gates Net Worth 2022: How Wealthy Is Bill Gates' Ex-Wife After Their Divorce? Chan was born in Braintree, Massachusetts, to a low-income immigrant family and previously worked as an elementary school teacher after graduating college. Despite being married to the founder of the largest social media platform in the world, Chan reveals very little about her private life. Over the course of their lifetimes, Chan and Zuckerberg have pledged to donate 99% of their Facebook stock, which has an estimated value of $45 billion in 2015, and roughly $100 billion as of December 2020. According to InfluenceWatch, the Initiative's tax implications as an LLC differ from standard non-profit organizations. Stock given to the Initiative will not result in tax credits and will continue to be under Zuckerberg and Chan's control throughout their ownership of the Initiative. Significant Fortune However, when either of the two decides to liquidate or contribute the shares for direct grants, they will then be eligible for tax benefits. Furthermore, if they choose to transfer their wealth in company shares to the Initiative, the couple can avoid paying estate taxes on their wealth in the future upon their deaths. Combining all of her efforts and endeavors, Chan has an estimated net worth of $50 billion, which is primarily due to her marriage to Zuckerberg, who is one of the richest people in the world. She has pledged more than $4.6 billion with her husband to various charities, with some of their more notable donations being made to the San Francisco General Hospital and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The couple has significant real estate holdings and spent nearly $60 million in 2019 on two adjacent properties in Lake Tahoe. Chan and Zuckerberg, after buying property in Palo Alto, spent more than $30 million to purchase their neighbor's homes to create a greater barrier to privacy. The two own in total 10 separate properties in four different regions: Palo Alto, San Francisco, Hawaii, and California, Celebrity Net Worth reported. Related Article: Bill Gates Net Worth 2022: What Is His Rank on Forbes' Billionaires List? @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Photo: The Canadian Press Iuliia holds her dog, Chackie, upon her arrival to a reception center for displaced people in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Sunday, May 8, 2022. Iuliia drove her grandmother's friend from Kherson as thousands of Ukrainian continue to leave Russian occupied areas. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco) Russian forces pushed forward Monday in their assault on Ukraine, seeking to capture the crucial southern port city of Mariupol as Moscow prepared to celebrate its national Victory Day holiday. Determined to show a success in a war now in its 11th week, Russian troops have targeted a sprawling seaside steel mill where an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters were making what appeared to be their last stand to save Mariupol from falling. The mill is the only part of the city not overtaken by the invaders, and its defeat would deprive Ukraine of a vital port and allow Russia to establish a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that worsening attacks could be linked to Victory Day, which marks Russias greatest triumph, over Nazi Germany in 1945. Russian President Vladimir Putin may want to proclaim a win in Ukraine when he addresses troops parading on Red Square. They have nothing to celebrate, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said of the Russians, speaking on CNN. They have not succeeded in defeating the Ukrainians. They have not succeeded in dividing the world or dividing NATO. And they have only succeeded in isolating themselves internationally and becoming a pariah state around the globe. Though fighting continues on multiple fronts, Russia is closest to victory in Mariupol. Ukrainian fighters in the steel mill have rejected deadlines set by the Russians for laying down their arms even as attacks continued by warplanes, artillery and tanks. We are under constant shelling, said Capt. Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Ukrainian Azov Regiment, a unit holding the steel mill. Lt. Illya Samoilenko, another member of the Azov Regiment, said there were a couple of hundred wounded soldiers at the plant but declined to reveal how many able-bodied fighters remained. He said fighters didnt have lifesaving equipment and had to dig by hand to free people from bunkers that had collapsed under the shelling. Surrender for us is unacceptable because we cannot grant such a gift to the enemy, Samoilenko said. The last of the civilians taking shelter with fighters at the plant were evacuated Saturday. They arrived Sunday night in Zaporizhzhia, the first major Ukrainian city beyond the frontlines, and spoke of constant shelling, dwindling food, ubiquitous mold and using hand sanitizer for cooking fuel. Elsewhere in Ukraine, more than 60 people were feared dead after a Russian bomb flattened a school being used as a shelter in the eastern village of Bilohorivka, Ukrainian officials said. Authorities said about 90 people were sheltering in the schools basement when it was attacked Saturday. Emergency crews found two bodies and rescued 30 people, but most likely all 60 people who remain under the rubble are now dead, Serhiy Haidai, governor of Luhansk province, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Russian shelling also killed two boys, ages 11 and 14, in the nearby town of Pryvillia, Haidai said. Luhansk is part of the Donbas, the industrial heartland in the east that Russias forces are working to capture. On Ukraines coast, explosions echoed again across the major Black Sea port of Odesa. The Ukrainian military said Moscow was focusing its main efforts on destroying airfield infrastructure in eastern and southern Ukraine. In a sign of the dogged resistance that has sustained the fighting into its 11th week, Ukraines military struck Russian positions on a Black Sea island that was captured in the wars first days. A satellite image by Planet Labs showed smoke rising from two sites on the island. But Moscows forces showed no sign of backing down in the south. Satellite photos show Russia has put armored vehicles and missile systems at a small base in the Crimean Peninsula. The most intense combat in recent days has taken place in eastern Ukraine. A Ukrainian counteroffensive in the northeast near Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city, is making significant progress, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank. However, the Ukrainian army withdrew from the embattled eastern city of Popasna, regional authorities said. South of Kharkiv, in Dnipropetrovsk province, the governor said a 12-year-old boy was killed by a cluster munition that he found after a Russian attack. An international treaty bans the use of such explosives, but neither Russia nor Ukraine has signed the agreement. As Victory Day neared and the spotlight turned to Putin, Western leaders showed new signs of support for Ukraine. The Group of Seven industrial democracies pledged to ban or phase out imports of Russian oil. The G-7 consists of the U.S., Canada, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Japan. The United States also announced new sanctions against Russia, cutting off Western advertising from Russias three biggest TV stations, banning U.S. accounting and consulting firms from providing services, and cutting off Russias industrial sector from wood products, industrial engines, boilers and bulldozers. Photo: The Canadian Press Quebec Premier Francois Legault, right, speaks with Montreal Chamber of Commerce president Michel Leblanc. As Quebecs contentious language law heads closer to adoption, the provinces business community is growing increasingly anxious about what it could mean for their bottom line, with some companies considering leaving entirely. Known as Bill 96, the legislation would impose tougher language requirements on small businesses and companies in federally regulated industries, such as banking and telecommunications, as well as governments and schools. The bill is expected to pass before the legislature breaks for the summer. On top of strengthening 1977's Charter of the French Language the province's signature language law usually known as Bill 101 the legislation would apply to tens of thousands of previously exempt businesses. If it passed, companies with 25 employees or more would be subject to francization government certification that use of French is generalized in the workplace down from 50 currently. The bill also assigns new powers to the French-language watchdog and sets tighter language rules for professional orders. The cost for a roughly 50-employee company would range between $9.5 million and $23.5 million, according to estimates from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Expenses range from fees for translation and legal services to administrative burdens, such as creating a workplace assessment to ensure French permeates all corners of the company. An internal or public complaint could trigger an investigation from the provincial Office quebecois de la langue francaise. The watchdog can also demand on its own initiative that a business between 25 and 100 workers form a francization committee, another expense for smaller companies. Other provisions beef up existing protections of the charter. One clause bars employers from demanding proficiency in a language other than French unless they can show the job demands it and that all reasonable avenues were explored to steer clear of the requirement. Currently, requiring another language as condition of employment is allowed only if "the nature of the duties requires such knowledge," Bill 101 states. The high thresholds risk driving head offices from Quebec and hampering the province's export economy, trade associations say. Companies in Quebec have to be able to have bilingual employees and be able to service outside buyers in English, Michel Leblanc, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, said in a phone interview. We want companies to be able to decide when they should hire bilingual people. On top of strengthening the prominence of French on signs and posters, the legislation also requires businesses to draw up employment contracts and other documents in French. That's not doable. We have companies in Quebec doing businesses with companies all over the world, Leblanc said, adding that French does need some special protections. Amid a labour shortage in industries like fashion and food services, many stores increasingly look to students including those from out of province or country to staff counters and stock shelves, with the possibility that some will stay on and integrate post-graduation. Now that door will largely close, since many of those students do not speak fluent French, he said. Outfits affected range from retail stores to small, international tech companies as well as big federal firms. The language office estimates Quebec is home to about 20,000 businesses of between 25 and 49 workers. Thousands more work for companies that fall under federal jurisdiction. Former Crown corporations such as Air Canada and Canadian National Railway Co. are already subject to the federal Official Languages Act, which requires them to provide services in English or French on request. But most federally regulated companies are not included in that 53-year-old legislation. As of 2013, nearly 135,000 employees in Quebec worked at 1,760 federally regulated companies not subject to provincial or national language laws, according to a study by the federal Innovation, Science and Economic Development department. Now, all would be. Even if those companies claim they are not beholden to the provincial legislation, a proposed federal law aims to ensure compliance. Reintroduced in March after first being tabled last June, the Liberals' Bill 13 requires companies under federal jurisdiction that are not currently subject to the Charter of the French Language or the federal Official Languages Act to either submit to Quebecs rules on French in the workplace or to a parallel regime on track for passage in Ottawa. Litigation is another potential drain on corporate time and accounts. As it stands, incidents of non-compliance are worked out between the company and the watchdog, with negotiable compliance timelines. Bill 96 would change that process. Now any Quebec resident who feels that in an interaction with a business their rights under the Charter of the French Language have not been satisfied could make a claim for damages, said Alexandre Fallon, a partner at Osler law firm in Montreal. Even if an agreement is reached with the regulator, private litigation could still ensue. Customer service encounters, receipts, brochures, product packaging, menus and advertising could all form the basis for a case. Businesses small and large are very worried, Fallon said. It upsets the environment of trust, added Sylvia Martin-Laforge, director general of the Quebec Community Groups Network. Business groups ranging from the Quebec Retail Council to the Quebec Manufacturers and Exporters and the Council of Canadian Innovators are asking the government to soften its rules particularly around francization to offer supports to businesses that undergo it and to extend compliance deadlines. But Giovanni Bisciglia, leader of the nascent Centrist Party of Quebec, which has applied to the province's chief electoral officer for authorization, questions whether Premier Francois Legault's government hears the concerns of anxious business owners. The anglophones are accusing the francophones, the francophones are accusing the anglophones. They're making monsters of each other and both claiming they're victims of each other, he said. No one is communicating. Photo: The Canadian Press A Ukrainian serviceman and worker carry the body of a Russian soldier into a refrigerated train in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Thursday,. Russian President Vladimir Putin used a major patriotic holiday Monday to again justify his war in Ukraine but did not declare even a limited victory or signal where the conflict was headed, as his forces pressed their offensive with few signs of significant progress. The Russian leader oversaw a Victory Day parade on Moscow's Red Square, with troops marching in formation, military hardware on display, and a brass band blaring to mark the Soviet Union's role in the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. But his much-anticipated speech offered no new insights into how he intended to salvage the grinding war and instead stuck to allegations that Ukraine posed a threat to Russia, even though Moscows nuclear-armed forces are far superior in numbers and firepower. He steered clear of battlefield specifics failing to mention the potentially pivotal battle for the vital port of Mariupol or even uttering the word Ukraine. Putin has long bristled about NATOs gradual creep eastward, including into former Soviet republics, and sought to justify Russias invasion of Ukraine before an inevitable clash. Ukrainian leaders and their Western backers have rejected claims that Kyiv or NATO posed any threat to Russia but tensions could rise further if Sweden and Finland decide to join the Western alliance, as support for that increases in both countries. The danger was rising by the day, Putin said. Russia has given a pre-emptive response to aggression. It was forced, timely and the only correct decision. He also sought to portray the current battle for the eastern region of the Donbas Moscows focus after its early failure to sweep across Ukraine and overrun the capital as a fight on historic lands of Russia, part of his wider effort to deny Ukraines own thousand-year history. But even in that region, where some thought Russia would finally see some decisive victories, progress has been slow going. Many analysts had suggested Putin might use his speech to declare some sort of limited victory potentially in Mariupol as he looks for an exit from the conflict that has unleashed punishing sanctions from the West and strained Russias resources. Others suggested he might order a nationwide mobilization to beef up the depleted ranks for an extended conflict. Neither was forthcoming. Critics said the speech skirted some uncomfortable realities that Putin is facing: With the campaign in Ukraine faltering, he has not asked Russians to accept sacrifices necessary to weather a squeeze of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation. He also left unanswered the looming question of whether Russia will mobilize more forces in the face of significant losses. Without concrete steps to build a new force, Russia cant fight a long war, and the clock starts ticking on the failure of their army in Ukraine, tweeted Phillips P. OBrien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews. As Putin laid a wreath in Moscow, air raid sirens echoed again in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared in his own Victory Day address that his country would eventually defeat the Russians. Very soon there will be two Victory Days in Ukraine, he said in a video released to mark the holiday. We have never fought against anyone. We always fight for ourselves. ... We are fighting for freedom, for our children, and therefore we will win. But the Ukrainian militarys General Staff warned Monday of a high probability of missile strikes on the holiday, and Britains Defense Ministry said in its daily assessment Russian forces could increasingly subject Ukrainian towns and cities to intense and indiscriminate bombardments with little or no regard for civilian casualties" as they run short of precision-guided munitions. In fact, more than 60 people were feared dead after a Russian bomb flattened a Ukrainian school being used as a shelter in Bilohorivka, an eastern village, Ukrainian officials said. In a sign the anti-Russian backlash in Europe, protesters threw what appeared to be red paint at Russia's ambassador to Poland, Sergey Andreev, as he arrived at a cemetery in Warsaw to pay respects to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. With the war now in its 11th week, battles were being waged on multiple fronts, but Russia was perhaps closest to victory in Mariupol, where Ukrainian fighters are making a last stand at a sprawling steel mill in a battle that has highlighted some of the worst suffering of the war. The complete capture of Mariupol would deprive Ukraine of a vital port, allow Russia to complete a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, and free troops up for fighting elsewhere in the Donbas. The fall of the city would also provide a much-needed symbolic victory for Russia. Russian forces pounded away over the weekend at the plant, where as many as 2,000 Ukrainian fighters are estimated to be holding out. We are under constant shelling, said Capt. Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Ukrainian Azov Regiment, which held the mill. For weeks, hundreds of civilians also took shelter with the fighters at the plant, but Ukrainian and Russian officials said the last were evacuated Saturday. In a convoy led by the United Nations and international Red Cross, they arrived Sunday night in Zaporizhzhia, the first major Ukrainian city beyond the frontlines. They spoke of constant shelling, dwindling food, ubiquitous mold and using hand sanitizer for cooking fuel. The Ukrainian military warned Russian troops were seizing "personal documents from the local population without good reason in parts of the Zaporizhzhia region that they controlled allegedly as a way to force residents to join in Victory Day commemorations. With Russia's offensive now focused on the Donbas in the east and some areas of southern Ukraine, the Black Sea port of Odesa has increasingly come under bombardment recently. Ukrainian officials said Russia fired four cruise missiles targeting the southern city Monday from Crimea. It said no civilians were wounded in the attack, but did not elaborate on what was struck. The enemy continues to destroy the infrastructure of the region and exert psychological pressure on the civilian population, the command said. Hours later, the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, announced that he had visited the city the latest in a series of high-profile visits to Ukraine. Beyond the thousands killed in Ukraine and the millions forced from their homes, the war in a crucial grain producer disrupts food supplies in places as diverse as Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia. Unshipped wheat and other foodstuffs have piled up in idle ports. I saw silos full of grain, wheat and corn ready for export, tweeted Michel about his visit to Odesa. This badly needed food is stranded because of the Russian war and blockade of Black sea ports. Causing dramatic consequences for vulnerable countries." Photo: The Canadian Press More bodies were pulled from the ruins of a luxury hotel in Cuba's capital on Monday, bringing the official death toll of a powerful explosion at the iconic building to 35. Cuba's Fire Department Chief Luis Guzman told state TV that three more bodies were recovered overnight as search crews with dogs hunted for hours through debris in the 19th century structure of the Hotel Saratoga. The Ministry of Health later said the toll of dead had risen to 35, with 20 injured patients still hospitalized. The 96-room, five-star hotel in Old Havana, was preparing to reopen after being closed for two years when an apparent gas leak ignited, blowing the outer walls into the busy, midmorning streets just a block from the countrys Capitol building on Friday. Several nearby structures also were damaged, including the historic Marti Theater and the Calvary Baptist Church, headquarters for the denomination in western Cuba. Authorities said the cause of the explosion at the hotel owned by Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA was still under investigation. Photo: Glacier Media A 14-year-old Burnaby girl who died after being hit by a dump truck last week had recently moved to Canada from Afghanistan with her family in search of a better future, according to organizers of an online fundraiser for the family. She was known to be generous, kind, loving and the eldest of her siblings, helping her mother with all that was required in the home while also keeping her dreams alive, states a write-up on a GoFundMe page that went up Sunday. Her new life was filled with new friends, a new school, new neighbors and a new city, and she was so proud to have arrived in Canada with so many hopes. The Byrne Creek Community School Grade 8 student was walking home from school Thursday about 3:20 p.m. when she was struck and killed on 11th Avenue near 16th Street by a dump truck associated with the nearby Southgate City construction site. The driver, a 57-year-old man, is cooperating with police and an investigation into what caused the crash is ongoing, according to RCMP. The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the girls family pay for her funeral. "This tragedy has left her entire family and community in utter shock and despair. She leaves behind her Father, Mother, five siblings and a community of loved ones who continue to mourn her loss," states the GoFundMe page. As of Monday morning, the campaign had raised more than $14,000 of its $20,000 goal. Pakistan's ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to be booked for using 'filthy' language in the public meetings against national institutions and reports suggest that amid rising political temperature clashes could erupt during his upcoming Islamabad mega rally. This comes after Imran's address to the Abbottabad public gathering on Sunday where he warned PM Shehbaz Sharif-led government that no power could stop them from entering the federal capital during the long march to be held on May 20. According to the sources, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran will be booked in a day or two and his arrest cannot be ruled out now, reported The News International. This stern action against the deposed PM will be supervised by the Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan and State Minister Abdul Rehman Kanju. The sources informed the media outlet that the Imran Khan is planning to covertly gather the party workers ahead of the day of the mega rally. Furthermore, the PTI is eyeing to enforce a lockdown as part of its so-called countrywide march. Additionally, the sources revealed that the PTI workers have also earmarked points where obstacles will be erected in order to enforce the lockdown in the country. It further says that Imran Khan has advised the workers to not desist from any sort of resistance. In view of the information, it is to be understood that in these circumstances a large scale clash would be hard to avoid. To contain the probable situation, the government would go for massive arrests of PTI leaders and activists in the backdrop of the preparations for the protest and long march, as per the media outlet. The government has carved out a plan to tackle the emerging situation and as per the sources monitoring rooms would be set up in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore from where the senior authorities would keep watching the whole activity. Imran Khan in his Abbottabad rally warned the federal government led by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) that over two million people will reach Islamabad to get real independence and to protest against the "imported government." Khan told the Shehbaz Sharif-led government that two million people will come to the federal capital irrespective of how many containers are put up to create hindrances. "Our opponents say if the day temperature is high, then people will not come out. Put as many containers as you want, but two million people will come to Islamabad," said Imran Khan. The former Prime Minister told his supporters that the incumbent government "fears" their passion and added that 11 parties had gathered to remove him from power. The upcoming public gatherings were scheduled in Jhelum on May 10, Attock on May 12, Mardan on May 13, Sialkot on May 14, Faisalabad on May 15, Swabi on May 16, Kohat on May 17, Chakwal on May 19 and Multan on May 20. (ANI) Cementir's 1Q21 regional results boosted by domestic cement sales 09 May 2022 In the1Q22 Cementirs regional revenues were boosted by Danish sales that reached EUR109m, up 17.7 per cent compared to EUR92.6m in the 1Q21, thanks to sustained demand in all business activities and the increase of sales prices, said Cementir. Cement volumes on the domestic market, both grey and white, increased by around 20 per cent due to growth in all the main market segments, due to favourable weather conditions and the start of new infrastructure projects. Exports of white cement, fell by 19 per cent, due to lower deliveries to the USA. Ready-mixed concrete volumes in Denmark declined by three per cent compared to the corresponding quarter of 2021 due to the sales mix and restructuring activities at one of the plants. EBITDA reached EUR24.6m in the first quarter of 2022 (EUR23.4m in 2021), up 4.8 per cent compared to 2021. Norway and Sweden In Norway ready-mixed concrete sales volumes increased by approximately 14 per cent compared to the same period of the previous year. In Sweden ready-mixed concrete and aggregate volumes fell by 20 and 28 per cent respectively, compared to the previous year. The production of aggregates was also constrained by the procedures in getting new concessions for quarries exploitation. In the 1Q22 sales revenues in Norway and Sweden grew by 15.8 per cent, and were equal to EUR 50.7m compared to EUR43.8m in the 1Q21, while EBITDA increased by 34.7 per cent to EUR4.2m (EUR 3.1m in the same period of 2021). Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany In the 1Q22 cement sales volumes increased by five per cent compared to 2021. Ready-mixed concrete sales volumes in Belgium and France increased by approximately 18 per cent in the first three months of 2022, also thanks to the launch of some major projects in various areas of Belgium. Aggregates sales volumes increased by approximately 16 per cent compared to the corresponding first three months of 2021. Sales in Belgium benefitted from the growth in infrastructure construction, positive weather conditions and the acquisition of new customers. In France, on the other hand, there has been a recovery in the road construction sector. However, the trend in business was marked by the increase in the price of fuels. Overall, in the first quarter of 2022, sales revenues grew by 20.7 per cent to EUR76.1m compared to EUR 63m in the same period of 2021. USA In the United States, the 3.5 per cent growth in white cement sales volumes was driven by higher deliveries, especially in Texas and California. Overall, in the USA, revenues increased by 27.9 per cent to EUR44.6m (EUR34.9m in the 1Q21) while EBITDA increased by 69 per cent to EUR6.9m (EUR4.1m in 2021). Turkey In Turkey revenues reached EUR41.4m, an increase of 16.3 per cent compared to the 1Q21 (EUR35.6m). In the cement sector, the increase in sales prices led to a 108 per cent increase in revenues from sales in local currency. Sales volumes in the domestic market fell by nine per cent due to the significant reduction in sales at the Elazig plant (-55 per cent), in Eastern Anatolia only partially offset by higher deliveries from the Izmir plant (20 per cent) in the Aegean region for the continued reconstruction following the earthquake of October 2020. Cement and clinker exports, on the other hand, increased by four per cent. Ready-mixed concrete volumes also fell by 10 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2021, due to bad weather conditions. Volumes of aggregates, on the other hand, increased compared to the 1Q21, due to the full operation of the new quarry acquired in the second part of 2021. Overall, EBITDA reached EUR1.6m, an improvement on the previous year (EUR1.1m). Egypt Egyptian sales revenues grew by 11.2 per cent to EUR14.3m (EUR12.9m in the 1Q021), despite lower volumes sold both on the local and export markets. White cement domestic sales volumes were affected by some deliveries to customers brought forward to December 2021 in anticipation of the year end. EBITDA decreased by 16.8 per cent to EUR2.5m (EUR3m in the 1Q21), due to lower volumes sold and higher fuel purchase costs partially offset by higher selling prices. China Chinese sales revenues increased by 23.4 per cent to EUR13.4m (EUR10.8m in the 1Q21) despite lower sales volumes by three per cent compared to the corresponding quarter of 2021. The contraction in volumes was offset by sales prices increase. EBITDA increased by 16.9 per cent to EUR 2.9m (EUR2.5m in the same period of 2021). Malaysia Malaysian sales revenues increased by 18 per cent to EUR 2m (EUR 10.1m in the corresponding period of 2021) with a two per cent rise in overall volumes. Exports volumes increased by seven per cent compared to 2021, thanks to the higher clinker volumes to Australia only partially offset by the lower volumes in Vietnam. EBITDA reached EUR1.3m up 13 per cent compared to EUR1.2m in the corresponding quarter of 2021. EBITDA increased to EUR2.5m (EUR1.2m in the 1Q21). Published under A woman called police and said the day before she was at her friends home on North Hickory Street and went into the bathroom. She said she left her purse containing her Tennessee driver's license. When she returned, her drivers license was not inside her purse. She doesnt have proof that her friend took her drivers license, but wanted to document this in case anything happens. * * * An anonymous caller reported a man in a red GMC pickup truck was going door to door on Auburndale Avenue asking residents if they needed work. An officer spoke with the man and he said he was seeing if anyone wanted to buy mulch from him and he would put it around their flowerbeds. The man said he had been doing this for years. He had a truck-bed full of mulch and shovels. * * * A man on Reggie White Boulevard told police sometime overnight someone cut the catalytic converter, worth $,1000, off his 2012 Jeep Liberty Sport. * * * A woman on East 11th Street told police a package valued at $45 was delivered for her. No one at her complex is aware of a package so she believes it was stolen. * * * An employee of Hobby Lobby at 2288 Gunbarrel Road showed police video of a black male entering the store, taking merchandise and fleeing the scene passing all points of sale without making any attempts to pay for the stolen merchandise. The stolen merchandise is valued to be $399.98. * * * A woman on South Howell Avenue told police someone ransacked her vehicle sometime overnight. Nothing of value was stolen. * * * Police were informed that a black male was walking into the roadway at 2289 Gunbarrel Road and shouting profanities at vehicles. An officer met with the man and he was not doing any of those things. He left the area without incident. * * * A security guard at Patten Towers told police a resident was intoxicated in the front lobby and refusing to go to his room. At this time, a verbal argument began between the security guard and the resident. The security guard called police and they spoke with the resident who agreed to return to his room for the evening. * * * A woman on Rivermont Place told police someone broke out the front passenger window, valued at $400, on her 2012 Subaru Outback and stole $140 cash and two jackets - Mountain Hardware and Patagonia, valued at $400. * * * A man on East 10th Street told police sometime overnight, someone used a key to jimmy open the toolbox in the bed of his truck and stole approximately $500 in tools. * * * A woman at Motel 6 at 5505 Brainerd Road told police she wanted to get some belongings out of room 106, but contact could not be made with her former friend. She said she would return at another time. * * * Police were flagged down in the area of Alan Golds at 1100 McCallie Ave. and a man told police he believed that he was owed $12 from the bar as a result of drinks not provided. At the request of the man, police brought this to the attention of security for Alan Golds. Police were able to observe the camera footage of this, and saw that the man was given two drinks, one of which was passed to a friend. Police then saw the bartender retrieve the drink from the man for an unknown reason. Alan Golds compensated the man $6 for the drink which was taken back. Serbia, China commemorate journalists killed in NATO bombing 23 years ago Xinhua) 10:41, May 09, 2022 BELGRADE, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Serbian and Chinese officials have commemorated the 23rd anniversary of three Chinese journalists killed during the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade during their 1999 campaign against then Yugoslavia. Memorial plaques in front of the bombed embassy, which today has become a modern cultural center, were covered Saturday with colorful wreaths. Nino Brajovic, Secretary-General of the Association of Journalists of Serbia (UNS), told Xinhua on Sunday that the Serbia and China have begun jointly commemorating the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy a decade ago. Brajovic noted that "Every year during the commemoration, there is a growing interest in this event, and for the first time we saw some organizations keep photos of the killed journalists, which means that they really keep these people in the heart." "I think that this murder of Chinese journalists was not adequately sanctioned by international journalistic organizations and that this reflects their double standards. We oppose it as much as we can," he said. Shao Yunhuan of China's Xinhua News Agency, and Xu Xinghu and his wife Zhu Ying, of the Guangming Daily newspaper, were killed and dozens injured in the NATO bombing on May 7, 1999. Among the officials present at the commemoration on Saturday were Serbian Interior Minister Aleksandar Vulin, Minister of Labor, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs Darija Kisic Tepavcevic, and Tian Yishu, Charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Serbia. Andreja Mladenovic, Deputy Mayor of Belgrade, said that the Chinese people, together with the Serbs, became victims of NATO aggression, which is a solid foundation of their lasting friendship. "We came here to show our sincere respect for our Chinese brothers, who were killed in the bombing by the aggressors. It is very difficult for us to deal with the losses caused by the aggressors - the United States and NATO," 83-year-old retired Colonel Svetozar Parezanin told Xinhua on Saturday. "We remember that day well and we will never forget it. We come here every year, " Parezanin said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) United States First Lady Jill Biden made a surprise visit to Ukraine and met with her counterpart in the small European nation, celebrating Mother's Day with a show of solidarity amid Russia's continued invasion. The wife of President Joe Biden traveled to Uzhhorod, Ukraine, which is a small city in the far southwestern corner of the country and has been under attack by Moscow for the last ten weeks. A school in the area was converted into temporary housing for displaced citizens and became the meeting place between Biden and Olena Zelenska. Jill Biden Visits Ukraine The wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not been seen in public since the beginning of the war between the two European countries on Feb. 24. In a statement, Biden said that she wanted to visit Ukraine on Mother's Day. The two first ladies were seen seated at a small table in a classroom of the converted school, which now housed 48 children among other residents. The American first lady added that it was important to show the people of Ukraine that the war has to stop, noting that it has been a brutal war between two nations, as per CNN. Biden spent roughly two hours in Ukraine and traveled by vehicle to meet her Ukrainian counterpart. She has now become the latest high-profile American to enter the country amid the invasion. During her trip, Biden also toured a border processing facility located at a Slovakian border village 10 minutes away from the school. Read Also: Russia's Victory Day Will Showcase Putin's 'Doomsday' Threat to the West In response, Zelenska expressed her gratitude to Biden and noted her "courageous act," saying they understood how difficult it was for the U.S. first lady to come to another country involved in a war. The Ukrainian first lady added that the trip was made even more dangerous because military actions were taking place every day. According to the Associated Press, before meeting each other, Zelenska arrived first at the meeting place and waited for Biden in her black SUV. When the two finally got to see each other, they shared an embrace, and Biden handed over a bouquet of flowers to Zelenska. Russia-Ukraine War Before Biden, the last trip was made by American officials, namely House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Furthermore, the American first lady's trip to Ukraine comes as dozens are feared to have been killed by Russian shelling. The attacks struck a school located in the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine. It is one of the two regions that make up the Donbas, where Moscow's military forces concentrate their efforts. Fortunately, Ukrainian officials announced the successful evacuation of the last women, children, and elderly from the Azovstal steel plant. The infrastructure was the last holdout of Ukrainians in the besieged port city of Mariupol, said the country's deputy prime minister. Zelensky also presented his country's famous mine sniffing dog named Patron and his owner with a medal to recognize their dedicated efforts to serve Ukraine since Russia's invasion, CNBC reported. Related Article: Ukraine: New Kind of War Starts as Russia Attempts to Disrupt Supply Lines From West @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Katherine Sherman brings her eight-year-old son, Liam, to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga every chance she gets. They live about 40 minutes away in South Pittsburg, Tn., but their experiences and adventures on campus are always well worth the drive, said Ms. Sherman, who graduated on Saturday, with a bachelors degree in psychology and a minor in business administration. Liams favorite spot on campus is the pool at the Aquatic Recreation Center, but that might've changed when he went to McKenzie Arena for the first time to see his mom earn her diploma. Ms. Sherman is determined to stay connected to UTC after commencement. Its bittersweet because I dont really want to leave, not least of all because she and Liam have so much fun here, she said. I grew up poor and for children who come from poverty, college is really just a dream, she said. Thats why I bring him to campus. I want him to know all about college. I want it to be tangible for him. The mother-son duo delight in trying new things and enjoy the Universitys culture and diversity events the most, she said, especially ones with food. At an April event in the University Center, they got to try, among other things, Hawaiian-style Spam fried rice. (Liam was a big fan.) We dont always like it all, but we try it all, said Ms. Sherman, 32. Exposing him to different people and cultures is important, and UTC is one of the most diverse places in Chattanooga. Its better for kids to grow up that way, said Ms. Sherman, a first-generation college student raised in almost the opposite fashion. Born in Daleville, Al., she grew up not far from Chattanooga in rural Dade County, Ga. Her childhood was turbulent, marred by abuse, trauma and a stint at a domestic violence shelter when she was sevem years old, the same year she decided to go to college. All I could see was that people who went to college had nicer things, nicer houses. And thats what I wanted, said Ms. Sherman. But her path to graduating from UTC was not easy and far from direct, not least of all because her family believed a womans place was in the home, she said. So she moved out on her own at 18. She eventually landed in Tallahassee, Florida, got married, had Liam and started pursuing her associates degree. But it was anything but a happy ending. After her husbands abuse became too much for her to bear, Ms. Sherman and Liam moved back to Tennessee in 2018. A family member let them live in an abandoned ramshackle farmhouse on the outskirts of South Pittsburg. They slept in a tent she set up in the living room to keep the mice and rats at bay. The refrigerator had to be kept on the porch because of wonky wiring. Bird baths with water boiled on the stove were also part of the daily grind of life for them during that time. It was horrible and traumatic, she said, but all Liam remembers, hopefully, was camping. Ms. Sherman said she was in survival mode and didnt have time to feel bad. When youre busy surviving and struggling, sometimes you just need to focus on the now for your mental health and to not lose sight of your goals, she said. She got a job making $7 an hour at the local Goodwill and was able to complete her associates degree online at Tallahassee Community College from Tennessee. Sometimes Id save up $45 so we could go to a hotel for a night, she said, and I did my homework sitting in my car in the McDonalds parking lot so I could use the Wi-Fi. She eventually qualified for government housing assistance, got an apartment and was accepted at UTC as a spring 2020 transfer student. Then the pandemic hit. But the worlds timeout gave Ms. Sherman the chance to focus full-time on school and raising Liam. She decided to pursue industrial psychology thanks to a bit of inspiration from her Goodwill colleagues, some of whom self-identify as neurodivergent, a relatively new term used to describe people who think in an atypical way. Both she and Liam have been diagnosed with ADHD, considered a form of neurodivergence, she said. Meeting people in that community and connecting as part of that community got me interested in psychology and working in employee relations, which is what industrial psychology is all about, she said. Combined with her innate draw to cultural exploration at UTC, Ms. Sherman feels confident in her career path. In modern times we need to integrate our different backgrounds and cultures and flavors of people so we can do our jobs well, she said. Most people are loving and kind, so its about teaching and educating ourselves despite our differences so we can be successful, whether thats in the workplace or school. Chattanooga's Cameron Hill, in its heyday, was a magical place. A smaller image of Lookout Mountain just to the south, it rose dramatically just above downtown Chattanooga. The town's earliest homes were either on the lower slopes of Cameron Hill or the hill just across Market Street from it. Talk about convenience, you were just steps away from the bustling city streets - jobs and shopping and the seats of government - in between the two hills. Boynton Park at the steep northern peak had the most dramatic view of river and mountains and sky in all directions. Several antebellum homes long stood on Cameron Hill, and they were occupied by the generals who came to town during the Civil War. The columned Rathburn-Nottingham house was long a gracious center of hospitality. The Hooper house was one of the town's oldest residences. The Cabins that Thomas Crutchfield Sr. resided in while building the Crutchfield House hotel long stood on West Eighth Street. Beginning in the 1870s, such an assortment of architectural styles of all types began to sprout up on Cameron Hill. It was a truism that the higher you went up the hill the finer the homes. But there were some majestic ones on the lower slopes as well - the brick Whiteside mansion that dated to just after the Ross's Landing days, the home of the world famous publisher Adolph Ochs on West Fifth Street, and dozens more of every conceivable style built by the physicians and the successful entrepreneurs of the town. Scattered in between were smaller but substantial homes occupied by the mill workers, the railroad engineers and the bookkeepers. The creme de la creme was at the very top on the East Terrace. D.P. Montague's Italianate mansion was the only home in Chattanooga with its own pipe organ and the grounds were landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted's firm. Capt. Hiram Chamberlain had the grandest view from the south end of the Terrace at his sprawling stone mansion. H. Clay Evans, who came close to being vice president and to being the Tennessee governor, entertained presidents at his delightful home in the middle of East Terrace. With many of the mansions split up into apartments and many of the properties not kept up, there came a plan in the 1950s to tear them all down and to slice off the top of Cameron Hill at Boynton Park. Despite the protests of many, it was followed through. Today, few photographs of the original Cameron Hill have survived. Thankfully, in recent months Tony St. Charles graciously shared photos taken by his father, Pat St. Charles, Jr., who was hired by the Chattanooga Housing Authority to perform appraisals for the West Side Redevelopment Project.This amazing collection of some 375 Cameron Hill homes has inspired a new examination of Cameron Hill and a search to discover who were the delightful characters who lived there. Chattanoogan.com today begins a series of articles letting you know what we found out about the once-magical Cameron Hill. After a national search and campus forums for four finalists, Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora W. Tydings is recommending Dr. Ty A. Stone for appointment as the next president of Cleveland State Community College. The Board of Regents will convene a special called meeting May 25 to consider acting on the appointment. Dr. Stone is president of Jefferson Community College in Watertown, N.Y., and was one of four finalists for the Cleveland State presidency selected last month by an 18-member search committee composed of board members and representatives of the campus community. If appointed by the Board of Regents, she would succeed Dr. Bill Seymour, who is retiring this summer after leading Cleveland State for 8 years and more than 43 years in higher education administration. The finalists participated in campus meetings and public forums at Cleveland State last month. Dr. Tydings reviewed input from the campus community and the public and conducted further interviews with the candidates before deciding on her recommendation to the Board. The Board of Regents will meet by teleconferencing at 1:30 p.m. ET/ 12:30 CT May 25, 2022, to consider acting on the chancellors recommendation. Also on the agenda for that meeting are consideration of appointments of the next president of the Tennessee College of Applied Technology Elizabethton and the next vice chancellor for business and finance for the TBR system. The meeting will be live streamed and archived on the TBR website. More details will be announced and posted a week prior to the meeting. Im excited to recommend Dr. Ty Stone for our Boards consideration as the next president of Cleveland State, Chancellor Tydings said. I want to thank the members of the search committee for their diligent work in bringing forth four excellent finalists, from a group of highly qualified candidates. After observing the forums, reviewing the feedback from the campus community and the public, and further interviews with the candidates, I believe that Dr. Stone is the ideal candidate to lead the College to new heights in serving the students and communities of Southeast Tennessee. Dr. Stone earned a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) in organization and management at Capella University, a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in organizational strategy at Trinity University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Washington Adventist University. She is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and has twice been named to the City & State New York Higher Education Power 100 list of higher education leaders, public officials and philanthropists. Her resume and more information about the search process are available on the TBR website at https://www.tbr.edu/hr/executivesearches/president-cleveland-state-community-college. She has been president of Jefferson Community College since 2017, and previously served in various leadership roles at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, from 2010 to 2017, including vice Members of the Regular Grand Jury in a final report recommended that grand juror tours resume of the Silverdale Jail, the Juvenile Detention Center and CADAS. The tours were halted during the COVID epidemic. Jimmy Anderson is the foreman of the Regular Grand Jury. Here is the final report: The Grand Jury was comprised of a variety of diversity from all areas of Hamilton County. We worked very well together and were always able to discuss some of the more difficult cases with a unanimous decision. During the term, 379 cases were presented to the Regular Grand Jury. The Grand Jury returned 327 true bills, 50 presentments, and two no bills. The Grand Jurors were very appreciative for the insightful expertise of the Assistant District Attorney, Jerry Sloan. Jimmy Anderson, the Grand Jury Foreman, helped us navigate through the process effortlessly. Mr. Anderson started each day with an ice breaker every morning (What world problem are we going to solve today) this helped to build camaraderie amongst the jurors. We would like to thank Sgt. April Bolton for presenting cases during the down time. Although they were not her cases, she made sure we had a good understanding of the events that took place. The jurors had a pleasant and mostly positive experience overall. While serving most everyone commented how much they learned and what a great experience it was to learn about our Judicial system, law enforcement as well as our community as well as some surrounding areas. Below are a few observations on the experience of serving on the Hamilton County Regular Grand Jury: Unfortunately, we were unable to visit the juvenile detention center facility, CADAS and the Silverdale Workhouse due to COVID restrictions. The tour would have provided better understanding of how these facilities work and a closer perception of what has been done to help the defendants overcome their problems and/or addictions. We appreciate the courtesy of the officers and detectives who came before us to present their cases. They all (mostly) made good efforts to answer any question we might ask, and never made any attempt to influence our viewpoints beyond presenting the facts. The same is to be said of our DA Jerry Sloan and Jimmy Anderson Jury Foreman. We have a better understanding of how the court system and the process work. We dont feel like all cases should be handed over to the Grand Jury, such as DUI cases. The law on DUI cases is clear cut from the first DUI to the fourth. Sending these cases to the Grand Jury appears to create a backlog in more serious cases. Continue bringing the Judges in to speak with the Grand Jury, its very beneficial. We feel it would be more beneficial to find a way to have a more diverse representation of the community. There were several guest speakers that addressed the grand jury. Judge Greenholtz addressed us with our responsibilities as the Grand Jury. He also thanked us for serving. Judge Greenholtz revisited the Grand Jury to give us more information about the Drug Court and his courtroom and made sure we understood the first political principle is liberty regardless of race, class, gender, etc. Judge Poole talked to us about the Mental Health court and how it connects to some cases and the benefits of the program to try and assist defendant with rehabilitation. Judge Steelman thanked us for our services and commitment to Hamilton County. Judge Steelman was very informative on fines, court cost, why some cases are delayed longer that others. We also had the pleasure of being introduced to the cold case team as well as District Attorney Neal Pinkston. The cold case team presented very detailed information about their case. We would like to thank all our guest speakers for their time, the information given and answering our questions. Testimony is given by officers and detectives from varying law enforcement agencies. They are very willing to answer our questions to help us understand the law and why an arrest was made in a professional manner. In some cases, it was noted that most of the officers have been very detailed. We would like to impress of all the officers that the more we know, the more likely we are to return a True Bill. Also, knowing that much time may have passed since the incident. It would be beneficial to read over your statement and refresh your memory before presenting to the Grand Jury. The officers must keep in mind someone else may have to present their case to the Grand Jury. The power is in the Details. Have one person represent the County Sheriff department, East Ridge Police etc. like Sgt. April Bolton does for the Chattanooga Police Department. This may help speed up the process and free up the officers to be on duty or take their day off as scheduled. With that being said the officers should be offered a class on how to present a case to the Grand Jury. It is important for the Grand Jury to be given a clear and concise understanding of the law. The law is not something that is in the wheel house of the Grand Jurors. We relied on the Jury Foreman and the Assistant District Attorney to interpret the cases for us. We would like to recommend a chart/table of charges (Felonies, Misdemeanor etc.) prioritized by the consequence for the Grand Jury to have in hand. This may keep some repetitive questions from being asked. The scheduling of the cases could be handled much better with todays technology. There are two Grand juries that meet every other week for two days each week. Some of the jurors have concerns about the amount of time wasted for witnesses and the officers that must wait an enormous amount of time on their days off or after coming off third shift. At times it was difficult to hear the presentation when there were conversations coming from other parts of the room. Some of us also had difficulty watching the visual aids. The Television should be placed in a central location since the room is set up in a U shape. Bring back the tours to the prison, Juvenile facility, etc, this will give a good perspective of what our officers deal with. Allow an afternoon for Drug or Gang Enforcement Officers to come speak to the Jurors about the nature of those elements in Chattanooga and surrounding areas and where we are in reducing crime related to those events in Chattanooga Make it work out that the teachers can keep their pay or use it for their classroom as they are underfunded. Make the drug court program and the mental health program public or more public so that people know what is offered in hopes of getting donations and/or volunteers. There should be more PR put out for these programs. Offer a Time slot for officers to sign up for their time with the Grand Jury. A new water fountain or water service (the jugs that have hot or cold water). Find a way to have a more diverse representation of the community, this may include increasing the Jury duty pay to at least $20-$25. More funding for the DAs office and Public Defenders offices to help keep up with the cases and avoid backlog. Give our officers a raise! They deal with stressful situations and risk their lives. The BLVD Project is a grassroots organization that seeks to improve safety, transportation, aesthetics, and the business environment along the Rossville BLVD corridor. The corridor begins at the I-24 overpass and continues 2.2 miles south to the TN/GA State Line. The group is partnering with the Rossville Downtown Development Authority to host a series of Open Air Market events this summer, to be held on the first Friday of June, July, and August. The Open-Air Market is the second joint effort from the two cities that sit across the border from each other. They recently partnered to host a successful State Line Clean up Day in April. The BLVD Project initially pitched this idea after completing the Local Foods Local Places strategic planning workshop in September. The workshop sought to discover ways to address the food desert for residents of 37407 and increase accessibility to locally grown foods to those in the neighborhood. Piloting an open-air market was one of the recommendations that came from the group. Currently, the closest farmers market is on Main Street or the downtown markets on the weekends. There can be logistical and cultural barriers for residents of North Georgia and the far south corner of Chattanooga in accessing these locations. The groups hope to give locals in the area a fun reason to gather and enjoy their downtown that continues to undergo layers or renovation. The market is seeking vendors to sell locally grown produce, artisan crafts, etc. The market will feature a live band and have food/alcohol sales. Many of the local businesses in the area have stepped up to sponsor the market. "Our residents are really looking forward to having something fun and positive to attend in our part of town," said Heather Herweyer, director of The BLVD Project. "Often, we're driving to other parts of town to get the services and goods we want. It's really exciting to have an opportunity to keep our money here, keep it local." The group hopes to give locals in the area a fun reason to gather and enjoy their downtown that continues to undergo layers or renovation. The event will be held on the Georgia side on a grassy lot at 207 Chickamauga Ave., Rossville, on Fridays June 3, July 1, and Aug. 5 from 4-8 p.m. Row 1 (L to R) Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Dr.Justin Robertson, Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences Executive Principal Jim D. Boles, Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences teacher Benjamin Schulz, Secretary of State Tre Hargett, Representative Yusuf Hakeem and Hamilton County Administrator of Elections Scott Allen; Row 2 (L to R) Senator Todd Gardenhire and Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences students Two Hamilton County high schools, Ivy Academy and Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences earned the Secretary of State's Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award by registering 100% of the eligible students who are 18 or older to vote. Lookout Valley Middle/High earned the Anne Dallas Dudley Silver Level Award by registering 85% of the eligible students to vote. "Congratulations to Ivy Academy and Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences for reaching 100% voter registration and to Lookout Valley Middle/High School for reaching 85% voter registration," said Secretary of State Tre Hargett. "I appreciate the Hamilton County Election Commission and the students, faculty and staff of each of these schools joining with us in our efforts to increase voter registration through participating in the Anne Dallas Dudley Award program." "I appreciate the Hamilton County Election Commission and the students, faculty and staff of each of these schools joining with us in our efforts to increase voter registration through participating in the Anne Dallas Dudley Award program." The Secretary of State's office launched the Anne Dallas Dudley Award program for the 2021-2022 school year to promote voter registration among Tennessee high school students. High schools that register 100% of the eligible students earn the Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award. High schools that register at least 85% of the eligible students earn the Anne Dallas Dudley Silver Level Award. "Congratulations to Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences and Ivy Academy for receiving the Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Award, said Hamilton County Administrator of Elections Scott Allen. This award shows your dedication to ensuring that Hamilton County students are prepared and motivated to contribute to our democracy. I want to thank the faculty, staff, and students at these schools, as well as our Silver Award Winner, Lookout Valley Middle/High, for their hard work in providing that their student's voices are heard." All Tennessee public, charter or private school or home school association can participate in the Anne Dallas Dudley Award program. This year 17 Tennessee high schools in 11 counties earned the Anne Dallas Dudley Gold Level Award. Eighteen high schools representing 13 counties earned the Anne Dallas Dudley Silver Level Award. Ivy Academy is honored to receive this award in the legacy of Anne Dallas Dudley, said Ivy Academy Chattanooga High School Principal Rachel Swafford-Cook. All of our students who will be eligible to vote in the next election are registered voters, a crucial step into civic-minded adulthood. We would like to recognize the tireless dedication of our government and civics teacher, Elizabeth Arce-Spollen, to helping our students register and innumerable other ways she has woven civics education into our students' academic lives. Most of all, we congratulate our students for completing this important milestone. "At Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences, our goal is to teach students to be active citizens in this world and to read and to understand issues, to be willing to listen to other's thoughts and experiences, and then to be able to communicate well orally and in writing, said Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences Executive Principal Jim D. Boles. "Our school is honored to receive the Anne Dallas Dudley Award. It provided the perfect opportunity for our students to learn the importance of registering to vote and engaging in the practice of decision making by going to vote on Election Day. We hope to change the world one graduating class at a time!" The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga is celebrating the 30th anniversary of one of its most successful and venerable scholarship programs: Together We Can. The Together We Can Scholarship Fund was created in 1992 in partnership with the city of Chattanooga. It is a need-based, renewable college scholarship that targets eligible public high school seniors who are first-generation, college-bound students and/or considered low-income as measured by their eligibility on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The scholarship award provides $1,000- $3,000 per academic year for full-time enrollment at any regionally accredited, non-proprietary, technical, community or four-year college or university. Riya Bijoy is among the recipients of the Together We Can Scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year. She graduated from Tyner Academy and will be attending UTC. Winning this scholarship has a very deep meaning to me, said Ms. Bijoy. My parents have worked really hard in raising me and I feel like I finally got an opportunity to support myself and relieve their burden! I wanted to make them proud and now I feel like I have! I appreciate and thank the committee for providing me with this opportunity! I will use this opportunity and try my best to achieve my goals and dreams! Anthony Do, a graduating senior at East Hamilton High School who will be attending the University of Tennessee at Knoxville this fall, described the Together We Can Scholarship as Life changing. The Together We Can Scholarship reduces the stress of the financial barrier, said Mr. Do. With this scholarship I can maximize my education because I wouldnt have to spend hours working but instead I have more time to volunteer and gain knowledge. Since 1992, more than 1,500 Hamilton County students have received more than $6 million from the Together We Can Scholarship. Together We Can is one of several college scholarships administered by the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga and supported by the generosity of its donors. Young adults who want to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy need access to a post-secondary education, whether that is a technical, 2-year, or 4-year degree says Dr. Stephanie Young, the Foundations director of Scholarships. However, we know that student loan debt can be a crushing burden for many students and their families, particularly those who already face steep financial challenges. The financial assistance we can provide unlocks the potential for thousands of local young people by bringing a college degree within reach. For more information on Together We Can or the Community Foundations other scholarships, please visit CFGC.org/scholarships. Alton Brown has long been one of the most popular chefs on the Food Network, a host and television personality who is beloved for his outgoing personality and unabashed love of food. A celebrity chef who loves to share kitchen hacks and simple twists on classic recipes, Brown frequently opens up about some of his favorite kitchen gadgets and tools. Recently, Brown dished on his favorite brand of cast iron cookware, admitting that the brand is not only reliable but extremely affordable as well. Alton Brown | Mark Von Holden/Getty Images Alton Brown revealed his favorite cast iron brand Even though Alton Brown is a major celebrity, he knows the value of saving money and usually, when he shares his favorite products with his fans and followers, he references items that can easily be fit into any budget. In March 2021, Brown took to Instagram to share a photo of his favorite cast iron skillet, made by Lodge brand cookware, and in a recent interview with Times Union, the chef opened up about his affinity for the brand. I collect cast iron, so I got a lot of really old stuff, stuff that isnt made anymore, Brown told the publication. If I had to swear what my favorite was, itd probably be a Griswold from the 1940s but like I said, theyre not made anymore. From a metallurgical standpoint, Lodge is probably the best around. He went on to praise the affordability of the Lodge brand, noting, There are people out there with foundries that are making very, very boutique metal. But for the money, its not possible to be a Lodge 10-inch cast iron pan. And once youve invested about 15 years into the surface for your Lodge, its hard to give away even for fancier stuff. Lodge brand cast iron is known for being affordable and high-quality Hey, Food fans. Heres my big news: Iron Chef is back, bigger, better, and on @netflix starting June 15. pic.twitter.com/2DAErhFwwE Alton Brown (@altonbrown) May 2, 2022 Times Union reports that Lodge brand cookware was founded in 1896 in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, and is Americas oldest and most enduring cast iron manufacturer. To this day, Lodge is still operated by the descendants of the original founder Joseph Lodge. In addition to the appeal of owning a small piece of American history, those who choose to purchase Lodge cookware could save some money as well. Amazon features the Lodge pre-seasoned 9-inch skillet for under $20. The skillet is oven safe and designed for use on all cooking surfaces. Made in the USA, the skillet features more than 128,000 reviews, most of them very positive. It seems that for the money, people who want to get their hands on a good cast iron skillet wont be able to do better than a Lodge brand product. What is Alton Brown best known for? And there you have it. https://t.co/eIc2ORXZ3U Alton Brown (@altonbrown) April 27, 2022 Brown is probably best known to viewers as the host of the long-running show Good Eats. The series ran on the Food Network for 16 seasons, earning Brown millions of fans around the world. It went off the air in 2012, only to return for a revival in 2019, introducing Brown to a new generation of viewers. Brown has also made lots of appearances on other Food Network shows, including hosting Cutthroat Kitchen and Iron Chef America. The chef has published multiple bestselling books, including Im Just Here for the Food: Kitchen Users Manual, Im Just Here for More Food: Food Mixing + Heat = Baking, and Good Eats: The Early Years. Brown is also active on social media, sharing lots of easy recipe hacks and twists on familiar favorites such as a classic roast turkey. RELATED: Many Reviewers Gush Over Alton Browns Pulled Pork Recipe: Possibly the Best Recipe on Food Network Episode 1 of Candy on Hulu pulls viewers in with the bizarre things that Candy Montgomery (portrayed by Jessica Biel) did throughout the day on Friday, June 13, 1980. It also gives a picture of Betty Gores (portrayed by Melanie Lynskey) life from the day she died. However, the true crime episode only hints at what happened to Betty Gore in Wylie, Texas, in 1980. Candy Montgomery is a good little tree in Candy on Hulu Episode 1 Candy on Hulu Episode 1 begins with Candys story about a good little tree. She practiced the story with her husband, Pat Montgomery (Timothy Simons), the night before Bettys death. The tree did everything right, but a woodcutter chopped the tree down anyway. However, it was cut into beams that she made into Jesus cross. The moral of the story is that although things look bleak, they work out in the end. The next day, Candy and Pat discuss keeping Bettys daughter, Christina (Antonella Rose), another night so they can see The Empire Strikes Back together. Both Christina and Becky (Aven Lotz) squeal with excitement. When Candy calls Betty to make the arrangements, Betty is annoyed but agrees. Candy decides to stop by Bettys house around 10 a.m. instead of noon as they agreed upon because it worked better for her schedule. At 11 a.m., shes still not back at the church. Instead, Candy returns to her home at 11, soaked in blood. While the pageant goes on at Vacation Bible School, Candy washes her clothes and cleans herself up. When she gets back to the church, she gives an alibi to the other women, that she spent time talking to Betty. She went to Target, but her watch stopped working, so she never went into the store. RELATED: Why Jessica Biel Replaced Elisabeth Moss in Candy on Hulu and How It Changed Everything [Exclusive] She calls Pat at work and runs down how crazy her day was, repeating the odd alibi, true to the real-life Candy Montgomery story. Candy also asks him if he knows where Allan Gore (Pablo Schreiber) is working that day. Candy takes the girls to swim lessons and then watches the girls play in the yard while her friend talks. She had stopped by to borrow a table to visit with the in-laws but noticed that Candy didnt seem like herself. Later, Candy meets her husband and takes the kids to see The Empire Strikes Back at 5:15 p.m. On the way out of the theater, Candy pukes, and the family heads home. Melanie Lynskey plays distraught housewife Betty Gore in Candy on Hulu Meanwhile, in Candy Episode 1, Betty woke up to a screaming baby on Friday the thirteenth, while her husband, Allan Gore, took the dogs out. He went about his morning routine while Betty cared for the still screaming baby. When the married couple finally speaks to each other, Betty asks her husband why he has to go away on a business trip over a weekend. Candy on Hulu: Melanie Lynskey as Betty Gore and Pablo Schreiber as Allan Gore | Tina Rowden/Hulu Bettys worried that she might be pregnant again. He appeases her by talking about their upcoming trip to Switzerland. After her husband leaves, she tries to put the baby down for a nap, but she cries more, so Betty runs the vacuum and washing machine. After Candy visits, Betty, viewers notice a blood spot on the porch when a young girl rings Bettys doorbell looking for her friend, Christina. The dogs beg to come inside, and theres no sign of Betty. Candy on Hulu Episode 1 recap: Allan Gores business trip to St. Paul, Minnesota Meanwhile, in St. Paul, Minnesota, viewers get a flash of Allan taking out travelers checks to head to Switzerland on a second honeymoon with Betty. However, he hasnt heard from his wife all day in Candy on Hulu Episode 1. Later, at 7:00 p.m., he tries to get through to Betty in Wylie, Texas. He again doesnt reach her and begins to worry. After the movie, Allan calls Candy from St. Paul and asks how Betty seemed when she saw her. Candy mentions twice that Christina is staying another night and then insists he talk to his daughter. Candy offers to go to the house, but Allan declines. When Pat Montgomery asks what the call was about, Candy says Allan cant get ahold of Betty. Then she reiterates her story about Target and the stopped watch. Later, Allan calls a neighbor, Richard (Adam Bartley), to pop in at Bettys house. Allan worries about his wife while sitting with his business partner at dinner at 9:00 p.m. When he calls Richard back, the neighbor says that no one answered the door and her car is missing. Allan calls the hospital and the police after he gets off the phone with Richard. Alan Gores neighbors report that Betty Gore was shot At 11:30 p.m., Allan calls Candy and Richard again. Richard heads over to the house again and realizes that the car is still there. Allan insists that Richard break into the house. Richard runs into Jerry (Bruce McKinnon) when he gets to the house. Jerrys wife, Ruth, insisted he brings a gun. The two men walk in through the garage. Lester arrives to help. The men worry because the car is still there and the lights are all on in the house. Richard finds the door unlocked, and all three men enter the house. They find blood in the bathroom and the baby alive but crying. Jerry and Lester open the utility room door and see a gruesome scene Betty is dead. Jerry tells Allan that he believes Betty was shot, but the baby is OK. As Candy sits in her sons room, she hears the phone. Allan called Candy to tell her that Betty was dead. Allan says that Betty was shot with a gun, and Candy seems relieved. However, the camera pans to a bloody scene and an ax. Candy premieres on Hulu Monday, May 9, with the release of only the first episode at 9 p.m. PT/midnight ET. The remaining four Candy episodes drop every day following the premiere, with the finale dropping on Friday, May 13. RELATED: Jessica Biels Candy on Hulu Review: The Mundane Violent Details Capture the Viewer in This Bingeworthy True Crime Drama Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl loves coffee almost as much as music. There was a time when Grohl drank so much coffee it started to affect his health. Once he thought he was having a heart attack, but it turned out his caffeine intake was a bit excessive. Dave Grohl | JMEnternational/Getty Images Dave Grohl made a hilarious video about his coffee addiction Along with his Them Crooked Vultures bandmates, Grohl made a hilarious video called Fresh Pots, which exaggerated his real-life coffee addiction. The video shows behind-the-scenes footage of Grohl in the recording studio with Them Crooked Vultures. The beginning is prefaced with Dave Grohls coffee addiction spirals out of control. Grohl constantly shouts to someone for Fresh Pots! In most scenes, Grohl is wired and often foams at the mouth like a wild dog. The video is mostly satire, but there was some truth to Fresh Pots. RELATED: Dave Grohls Father Didnt Expect His Music Career to Last More Than a Year Grohl thought he was having a heart attack, but he was drinking too much coffee The frontman talked about Fresh Pots on an episode of Good For You Podcast with Whitney Cummings and explained there was some truth to it. Grohl said he was addicted to coffee and admitted that his coffee addiction once put him in the hospital. Grohl said, I had to go to the hospital once for drinking too much coffee, I was having chest pains, I thought I was dying. This is 10 years ago. The whole Fresh Pots thing, that was real. That was a real thing, and I drank so much coffee over the course of three weeks that I started having chest pains, and I thought I was having a heart attack. But we were about to go play at the White House on the 4th of July. So, I put Bayer Asprin in my wallet and drank a lot of red wine to keep myself from dying. So, played D.C., came home, called my doctor, and Im like, Mel, Im having chest pains right now.' Grohls doctor ran some tests and concluded that he was drinking too much coffee. However, at that time, Grohl didnt have time for sleep. We were in the studio making a record and I was drinking a lot of coffee, he told Absolute Radio (per NME). I was doing Vultures stuff at night, Foo Fighters stuff during the day and I had a newborn at home so I was sleeping two-three hours a night on an air mattress in a guest bedroom. And yeah, I had too much coffee, I started to get chest pains so I went to the hospital and they told me to stop drinking the coffee. RELATED: Dave Grohl on His Partial Hearing Loss: Ive Been Reading Lips for 20 Years Foo Fighters made a follow-up video to Fresh Pots For the 10th anniversary of Fresh Pots, Grohl and Foo Fighters made another hilarious satirical video for Saturday Night Live. It was a spoof advertisement for a product called FreshPotix. Grohl reflects on his coffee addiction, explaining that he was in the grips of a debilitating caffeine addiction. My ability to maintain personal relationships and solid bowel movements were compromised by crippling sleep deprivation and noxious coffee breath, he said in the ad. As the bean took over, I found myself doing anything for a fix. My roast grew darker and darker until I finally hit pot bottom. The video cut to clips of Grohl eating coffee sandwiches and rolling coffee joints while on the toilet. Then, Grohl took the new drug FreshPotix, which helped a lot. Although, the drug has some strange side effects like Violent Fits of Rage Towards Left-Handed People, Extra Toe, Urge To Found Your Own Colony, Stomach Tail, and Nose Chickens. With FreshPotix, I no longer have to shoplift or sell my body for that fantastic buzz that kept me awake for 36 hours at a time and sent me to the hospital for a CAT scan and psychotic evaluation, Grohl says at the end of the video. Its uncertain whether Grohl curbed his coffee intake. Hopefully, he isnt still experiencing his Fresh Pots days. Although, Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins said Grohl still likes to pull all-nighters to barbecue. RELATED: How a Trip to Irelands Ring of Kerry and a Hitchhiker Helped Heal Dave Grohl After Kurt Cobains Death If the confrontation proceeded to the use of nuclear weapons, a Russian official claimed that Russia would annihilate NATO countries in just an hour. Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Russia's space agency Roscosmos and a former Deputy Prime Minister, stated on Sunday that NATO countries would be annihilated by Russia in half an hour if there was a nuclear war. Russia Feared to Use Nuclear Weapons As Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares for the May 9 Victory Day celebrations, which include a big military parade and a nuclear theme that he believes would send a doomsday message to Europe and the United States, he has stoked fears and concerns about the potential use of nuclear weapons. The Russian Ilyushin Il-80, dubbed as the doomsday, will fly above the parade, carrying the administration's senior leadership in the event of a nuclear war. Rogozin controls the launch and administration of Russia's satellites as head of Roscosmos, which includes some overlap with intelligence and war support tasks. Rogozin, on the other hand, is no stranger to making bizarre remarks. Following western sanctions for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, he made multiple erratic statements, including threats to the International Space Station. He also said that Russian missiles are the most trustworthy in the world and implied that those who devised the sanctions had Alzheimer's disease, according to Fox News. Rogozin stated that the mobilization of the state economy, as well as the transfer of Russia's military-industrial complex and allied industrial sectors, must be done promptly and fast. Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson stated on Friday that the country will not use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Russia's'special military operation' in Ukraine, according to Alexei Zaitsev, does not need the use of nuclear weapons. Despite this, Russia said in April that it had successfully tested its Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile. The missile was launched from Plesetsk in the northwest and targeted targets on the Kamchatka peninsula in the far east. According to the US Congressional Research Service, Russia plans to deploy the Sarmat with ten or more warheads on each missile. Meanwhile, weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon warned Express.co.uk that Putin may drop a tactical nuclear bomb on Ukraine tomorrow to alter the shape of the battle during Victory Day festivities, as per Express. Read Also: Is Putin Dying? Journalist Raises Fears About Health Status of Russian President Group of Seven Imposes New Sanctions Against Russia Because of the prospect of a nuclear assault, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Friday that Russia believed it could avoid punishment for war crimes. On Sunday, the United States, the European Union, and the Group of Seven leaders announced further sanctions against Russia's industrial sector, state-controlled media, and Russian and Belarusian financial executives from key banks, including Russia's Gazprombank. The G-7 countries, which include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Canada, and Italy, also pledged to phase out or restrict Russian oil imports, a measure that European leaders have so far rejected but that the European Union suggested last week. As a result of Russia's escalating invasion of Ukraine, which began in late February, the US has already prohibited the import of Russian oil, gas, and coal. On the day of Russia's Victory Day, which commemorates the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, President Biden had virtual conversations with G-7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Following the call, which lasted almost an hour, G-7 leaders issued a statement assuring Zelensky of their entire solidarity and support, promising more than $24 billion in extra aid from the start of the conflict until 2022. The current restrictions also prevent Western professional service businesses from doing business with anybody in the Russian Federation, including multinational management consulting and accountancy organizations such as Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and PwC. As reported by US officials, some of these organizations have been asked to help Russian companies restructure their business strategies to avoid sanctions or hide their wealth, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the announcement's details. However, the prohibition does not apply to legal services, AOL reported Related Article: Russia's Victory Day Will Showcase Putin's 'Doomsday' Threat to the West @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ex on the Beach (U.S.) hasnt been able to replicate the success of the British reality series. Presumably, due to dropping ratings, the dating show is looking to turn things around by casting civilian couples instead of the usual reality TV star lineup. MTV logo | Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images Ex on the Beach is now casting civilian couples After five seasons, the U.S. version of Ex on the Beach will shift gears and cast civilian couples rather than reality TV singles. The show recently announced its new direction and encouraged couples who are over the age of 21 and seriously dating to apply. Think your relationship can handle it? A promotional poster teased. Are YOU in a committed relationship? Then we want BOTH OF YOU! Think your relationship can handle it? COUPLES APPLY NOW: https://t.co/Nv1OlqCfB8#ExOnTheBeach pic.twitter.com/S0z2oyhPOI Ex On The Beach (@ExOnTheBeach) April 29, 2022 RELATED: Ex on the Beach: David Barta Admits He and His Parents Didnt Talk for Months After Coming Out The show may take a similar approach as USA Networks Temptation Island, in which couples test their relationships by splitting up and spending their time with singles of the opposite sex. However, with the Ex on the Beach format, those invited to the villas might be their exes. Couples then choose to rekindle their old flame, stay with their new partners, or leave single. Is anyone from Ex on the Beach still together? Ex on the Beach: Peak of Love (2019) spawned couple Georgia Steel and Callum Izzard. Even though their relationship survived several exes, they didnt survive the outside world, and the engaged pair split several months after filming. Lexi Kaplan and Max Davis-Kurtzman reunited during season 3 (2019) and continued to date following the show. However, they seemed to split in 2020. Kenya Scott and Tevin Walker had a strong connection during Are You the One? 7 and attempted to pursue a relationship after reconnecting on Ex on the Beach season 3 (2018). Callum is ready to marry Georgia. You love to see it #ExOnTheBeach pic.twitter.com/pcFJskdYM8 Ex On The Beach (@ExOnTheBeach) February 21, 2020 Janelle Shanks and Darian Vandermark had a long relationship before rekindling in season 2. In April 2019, they revealed their breakup. The Challenge star Nelson Thomas also met Angela Babiscz during season 2, and they dated on and off until March 2020. Cory Wharton and Taylor Selfridge met during season 1 (2017) and are currently the only couple from the series that are still going strong. The pair have welcomed daughter Mila together and are expecting their second. Ex on the Beach 5 is currently airing on MTV Single Arisce Wanzers ex Mike Mulderrig was one of the first to walk in, and other single David Barta admittedly had his eyes on him. Even though Mike initially claimed he wanted to work on his relationship with Arisce, he called her boring and wanted more. Ray Gantts ex Caro Viee wasnt in the house for long before she lost her temper and threw a drink after he repeatedly lied to her. If you were given a SECOND CHANCE with your EX, would you take it? Will sparks FLY or will they be E-TINGUISHED? #ExOnTheBeach is BACK THURSDAY, MARCH 31st at 8/7c on @MTV pic.twitter.com/SJaCSwYwqI Ex On The Beach (@ExOnTheBeach) March 10, 2022 Shortly after she left, his ex Nicole Amelia entered, who has since developed a fling with single Bryce Hirschberg. Finally, Jamar Lee came to the house for DaVonne Rogers, but she quickly cut things off when she figured out how he discussed her behind her back. After his ex Minh Ly Nguyen-Cao left, Jamar followed suit. Ex on the Beach airs Thursdays on MTV. RELATED: Ex on the Beach: Jamar and Minh-Ly Reportedly Sent to Hotel for Off-Camera Fight The Monkees produced several successful albums, including their self-titled album, More of the Monkees, and Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. Mike Nesmith was asked to name his favorite Monkees album. Subsequently, he mentioned one album but he refused to say whether it was good. Mike Nesmith of The Monkees | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Mike Nesmith refused to say if 1 of The Monkees No. 1 albums was good During a 2018 interview with The Arizona Republic, Nesmith was asked what he thought of The Monkees albums. Some are good and some are not so good, he said. In the long run, though those opinions are formed by each of us but the salient point for me is that my opinions have stayed pretty much the same over the decades. Subsequently, Nesmith was asked to name his favorite Monkees album. Headquarters was fun we were living out a kind of young boy fantasy making a record we wrote and played but I dare not offer an opinion about whether it was good in the larger sense of things that I dont know and doubt that I ever will, he replied. RELATED: The Monkees Micky Dolenz Said a Famous Movie Song Is 1 of the Few Attempts to Emulate 1960s Music That Worked Why Headquarters was an important album in the groups discography Headquarters was a major evolution in The Monkees history. The album was the first album that featured significant musical contributions from the members of the Prefab Four. Nesmith was asked if it was difficult for him to have input on The Monkees pre-Headquarters albums. Well the question assumes The Monkees were a self-made band working their way up the show business ladder but this wasnt true, he said. Nesmith de-emphasized The Monkees status as a band. The Monkees was first and last a television show and it is easy to see and understand the limits of that, he added. The idea that we should play and sing the songs ourselves was really just a kind of natural flow of events. RELATED: Peter Tork Said The Monkees Making the Album Headquarters Was Like Star Treks Leonard Nimoy Becoming a Real Vulcan How The Monkees Headquarters performed on the charts in the United States and the United Kingdom Headquarters became a hit. The album was No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for one week. Headquarters stayed on the chart for 68 weeks in total. Despite the albums success, none of the songs from Headquarters charted on the Billboard Hot 100. Headquarters was also a success in the United Kingdom. According to The Official Charts Company, the album reached No. 2 on the chart and stayed on the chart for 19 weeks. One of the tracks from Headquarters, Randy Scouse Git, was released in the U.K. under the name Alternate Title. The song reached No. 2 in the U.K. and remained on the chart for 12 weeks. Headquarters was a hit even if Nesmith wasnt ready to praise it. RELATED: Why The Monkees Micky Dolenz and The Carpenters Lost the Chance to Record Three Dog Nights An Old Fashioned Love Song 1st In April 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned to the United Kingdom to briefly meet with Queen Elizabeth. Now there are reports that the couple could make another visit across the pond soonthis time with their two young kids, Archie and Lilibet. However, not everyone is thrilled about the family of four making this upcoming trip. A royal expert believes this is not the right time to introduce the kids to Her Majesty. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Chris Jackson Pool/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might bring their kids to the U.K. In early June, there will be an extended bank holiday to celebrate Queen Elizabeths Platinum Jubilee, which marks the 70th year of her reign. Naturally, it is a huge event that many royals will attend. According to CNN, a spokesperson for Harry and Meghan announced that the couple will be in the U.K. to celebrate with their children. However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the Trooping the Colour parade. A palace spokesperson revealed that this year, only royals carrying out official duties will appear, which also excludes the controversial Prince Andrew. The Sussexes are slammed for choosing the wrong time to introduce Lilibet to the queen Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, said that they will attend the Queens Platinum Jubilee, but they will not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony with other family members. @kristendahlgren has the latest. pic.twitter.com/2c8f9sYYBW TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 7, 2022 Harry and Meghan left the U.K. in 2020 when Archie was less than a year old. The couple, then, welcomed Lilibet in California in 2021. While Archie had met the queen and other family members as an infant, Lilibet has not met most of the royals in person. The jubilee celebration in June is poised to be an opportunity for Harry and Meghan to let Lilibet meet her namesake, Queen Elizabeth. Yet, author Angela Levin believes this might not be such an opportune time after all. I think it is wrong for them to bring their small children over at this time, Levin said (via Express). The Queen is going to be very heavily in demand. There is a lot she has to do during that weekend. Levin added, It will be hard for her because she doesnt have the energy nor the mobility. To have small children, who dont know her, coming around for tea is another burden on her. They could have come any time before now, and done it quietly and nicely, and that would have been a very special and intimate family event. But with so much going on during the Jubilee, it is just the wrong time. Levin also shared her belief that Harry and Meghan are coming to the U.K. mainly to film more content for their alleged documentary for Netflix. In my view, its another chance to make more money out of Netflix, Levin said. Prince Harry might be busy doing something else in June ICYMI: Prince Harrys back in the saddle. The duke has joined close friend and polo star @nachofigueras #LosPadres team to raise awareness and support for charitable causes. Their first games of the new season, for the Vic Graber Tournament, took place at @sbprc this weekend. pic.twitter.com/dyICYQ1DeU Omid Scobie (@scobie) May 1, 2022 Nonetheless, until the Sussexes show up at the jubilee celebrations, some people are still doubtful that they will even attend. According to the Daily Mail, Harry will reportedly play polo with the Los Padres team in Santa Barbara this summer. The duke will have a tournament from June 3 to June 19, which overlaps with the jubilee dates. Whether Harry and Meghan will make it to the U.K. or not remains to be seen. RELATED: Queen Elizabeth Needs to be Protected From Prince Harry, Royal Author Says Some actors have later confessed to lying to get a role. Many, like Mila Kunis, have joked when discussing how they didnt tell the truth about how old they are. But others, such as Rebel Wilson, have gone to court when misinformation spread regarding her age. Rebel Wilson sued a publication for claiming she lied about her age Australian actress Rebel Wilson smiles out the front of the Victorian Supreme Court on June 15, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. After a three week trial, a jury of six has returned unanimous verdicts in favour of Wilson. Rebel Wilson launched action Bauer Media, the publisher of Womans Day, over a series of articles she alleges portrayed her as a serial liar and cost her movie roles in Hollywood. | Scott Barbour/Getty Images Rebel Wilson is a renowned comedian, writer, and actor. However, she apparently lied about her age. In 2015, Womans Day, an Australian magazine, claimed that the Aussie actor had misled the world about her life, including her birth name, age, and upbringing, according to a MsMojo YouTube video. The Pitch Perfect actor had previously stated in interviews that she was raised in the ghetto of Sydney and spent a year in Zimbabwe, where she claimed to have climbed into a cage with a leopard and caught malaria from mosquito bites. The publication also alleged that Wilson incorrectly stated that she was 29. Wilson is currently 42, meaning she would have been in her mid-30s in 2015. Womans Day contradicted the actors story claiming that she had a different upbringing and called her out on her age. The story caught international attention, with some publications even confirming the actors actual age. Wilson took Womans Days publisher Bauer Media Group to court, suing for defamation. She denied claiming to have been 29, saying she only diverted the questions about her age. Wilson won the suit and was awarded A$4,500,000 in damages, but the company appealed and got the amount reduced to A$600,000. Wilson launched a counterappeal, but it got rejected. Wilsons career highlights Wilson is famous in her native country for her roles in the comedy sketch show The Wedge, where she brought to life several characters. Her first role in Hollywood was in the 2011 film Bridesmaids, where she played Brynn, a part written specifically for her. That same year, Variety named her Top Ten Comics to Watch For 2011. She landed a role in What to Expect When Youre Expecting and Struck by Lightning the following year. She also lent her voice to the hit animation Ice Age: Continental Drift. Later that year, she landed her most outstanding performance playing Fat Amy in Pitch Perfect, for which she received critical acclaim and various award nods. Wilson reprised her role for two more Pitch Perfect sequels. The actor was set to voice a character in Kung Fu Panda 3 but was replaced by Kate Hudson. She has appeared in Cats, How to Be Single, Grimsby, and The Hustle. Wilson received pushback from her team for losing weight Wilson had cultivated a reputation as Hollywoods stereotypical funny fat girl and was subsequently cast as such. The trait helped make her money, but the actor decided to go on a health journey amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. She took a health-conscious approach to weight loss. While the world praised the actor, she revealed that her team was against the entire process. The actor told BBC that her decision to get in shape was a major discussion between her and her team. The actor said they didnt want her to lose weight as she wouldnt get any more roles. The decision was more about her health than trying to appear differently. RELATED: Rebel Wilson to Star in Her First Non-Comedy Role in The Almond and the Seahorse After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Michael Peterson married Patricia, also known as Patty. Following nearly 30 years of marriage and two kids, the pair called it quits. She stood by his side during the controversial death of her friend Elizabeth Ratliff and reportedly continued to support him after their divorce and Kathleens death. Patty was also featured in the 2004 French documentary, of which HBO Maxs true-crime series The Staircase is based. At the time of her death in July 2021, her son Clayton reports his parents were living together. Who is Michaels first wife, Patty? Colin Firth attends HBO Maxs The Staircase | Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Patricia Peterson was married to Michael Peterson for over 30 years Born in Paris, Arkansas, to a military family, Patricia, also referred to as Patty Peterson, married Michael, who previously served in the Marine Corps in 1966. After graduating from the University of Texas in Austin with her undergraduate degree, her son, Clayton, recalled Patty earned a Masters degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. In the Netflix series @The_Staircase they know her as Patty Peterson, I knew her as Mrs. Peterson, my second grade teacher. pic.twitter.com/2eKAAIH8Jf Ethan Johnson (@EKJ_62) June 24, 2018 RELATED: The Staircase: HBO Max Series Hints at Owl Theory, Why Jean-Xavier de Lestrade Didnt In the 1980s, the Petersons moved to Germany, where Clayton says she taught elementary school for over 30 years. Around 1994, the pair divorced, and Michael moved back to North Carolina, where he met telecommunications executive Kathleen. The two were married until her death in 2001, in which Michael became a prime suspect. While married to Michael, her friend Elizabeth Ratliff died in 1985, a day after the Petersons hosted her at their German residence. Patty Peterson reportedly lived with ex-husband Michael Peterson at the time of her death Ratliffs housekeeper found her body near the bottom of the stairs. Initially, German officials ruled the death an accident, but it became a huge focal point when trying Michael for his wifes murder. They have since exhumed the body and changed the cause of death to homicide. Patty reportedly attended the murder trial and supported her ex-husband, believing him innocent. Guilty or innocent? Decide for yourself. The Staircase is now streaming only on @netflix. pic.twitter.com/10FrQRUd2e The Staircase (@The_Staircase) June 8, 2018 In July 2021, Patty died at the age of 78. For the last two years of her life, her son Clayton reports that his parents, Patty and Michael, lived together in a North Carolina-based apartment. They were companions, he stated. They took care of each other. HBO Maxs The Staircase follows Michael Petersons trial for the murder of his wife, Kathleen Michaels case, the media frenzy surrounding it at the time, including the 2004 French documentary, and his personal life that was publicized throughout the trial is followed in HBO Maxs new true-crime miniseries, The Staircase. Led by Colin Firth as crime book author who is accused of murdering his wife Michael Peterson and Toni Collette as high-powered executive Kathleen Peterson, new episodes are released every Thursday until the finale on June 9. If I said it once Ill say it again, Parker Posey as Freda Black is genius casting.#TheStaircase pic.twitter.com/7KM5ksfNvf (@5vlilakaJulio) May 6, 2022 The show is based on the true-crime docuseries by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade, portrayed by Vincent Vermignon in the series, that began documenting the case shortly after Michaels 2001 arrest. The miniseries also include Michael Stuhlbarg as his lawyer David Rudolf, Dane DeHaan portrays Michael and Pattys oldest son, Clayton, Patrick Schwarzenegger as their youngest son Todd, Odessa Young as their adopted daughter Martha Ratliff, and Olivia DeJonge as Kathleens oldest daughter Caitlin. The Staircase airs Thursdays on HBO Max. RELATED: The Staircase Star Nick Basta on HBO Maxs New True Crime Series Vials of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine are seen at a pharmacy in Denver on Saturday, March 6, 2021. On Thursday, May 5, 2022, U.S. regulators strictly limited who can receive this vaccine due to a rare but serious risk of blood clots. The 70th Annual Cherokee National Holiday artwork was designed by Cherokee National Treasure Dan Mink. The 70th Annual Cherokee National Holiday theme is Forging a Legacy: Seven Decades of Cherokee Fellowship. The theme and art were designed to honor the 70 years of Cherokee fellowship during the annual Holiday gathering. United States Supreme Court Building located in Washington, D.C. on Capitol Hill. The Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in the Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta. Town Councilors and Board of Education members are considering ways to expedite the construction of two new elementary schools if the projects are approved by voters at referendum this November. On April 19, the two elected bodies met to get answers about the proposed north end elementary school and new Norton School. If approved by voters, the two buildings are projected to be occupied in early 2026. Councilors and Board members believe that educating the public on the projects will be essential to the success at the polls. Councilor Peter Talbot asked representatives from Colliers Engineering & Design, the design firm hired to assist the District through the school modernization plan, if there has been any discussion as to marketing the projects. Weve been so focused on the budget and educational specifications, I dont really think weve dived into this yet at this point, Chuck Warrington, professional engineer and director of project management, said. Thats the next step. I think thats a critical piece of this, ultimately, responded Talbot. Warrington added that there was discussion to solicit architects to develop renderings for the two new schools as a way to demonstrate to the public what a 21st-century school would look like in comparison to Cheshires current facilities. Another option is to reach out to architectural firms to see if they would provide images of completed common spaces, such as gymnasiums, cafeterias, and classrooms, to share with Cheshire voters. Thats something John (Koplas, senior project manager) and I have been working on, reaching out to firms, Warrington stated. Theres multiple firms who said they would be interested in that. Some Councilors, like John Milone, were hesitant to put images out to the public. You dont want people to vote on a design as opposed to an approach, Milone said. We dont want to rush that out and show a concept that might not be thought through. Milone, however, recognized that soliciting interest from architectural and design firms through a request for qualifications could cut months off the project timeline. It seems like if we moved forward before the referendum with some risk and I dont know if were willing to take that risk wed accomplish a couple of things. Wed understand more about what were voting on and we might advance the schedule, Milone said. Warrington estimates that 1516 firms will submit RFQs for the projects, based on recent school projects in which Colliers has been involved. Per state requirements, Cheshire School District officials and the Board would have to narrow down the list to no more than four firms. Conversation also focused on renovating Darcey School, which Koplas informed the Council would cost approximately $18.6 million. One of the issues, he continued, is that the renovation would not be as energy efficient as a new building. Council Chairman Tim Slocum asked if the entirety of Darcey would be renovated, or if parts of the building would be eliminated. Koplas, however, believes the state would not support deconstruction of the school. You would not be demolishing a portion or cutting off a portion of the school, he said. You would be renovating ultimately what would be required to meet the program. More than likely, youre going to be renovating most of it. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jeff Solan commented that renovating Darcey was not originally considered by the School Modernization Committee, and that no further consideration has been given to keeping the building operational. Councilors are expected to vote on May 10 to establish a building committee for the new schools, authorize Solan and the Board to submit grant applications and enter into a grant commitment with the state of Connecticut for each of the schools, and to authorize preparation of schematic drawings and outline specifications. The BBC has announced that Ncuti Gatwa will succeed Jodie Whittaker as the star of 'Doctor Who.' On the popular science fiction program, the 29-year-old will become the 14th Time Lord and the first person of color to assume the major character. Ncuti Gatwa, a Rwandan-born Scottish actor, is most known for his role in Netflix's series 'Sex Education.' Gatwa claimed the character of the Doctor "means a lot to so many people, including myself," on the red carpet ahead of Sunday's Bafta TV Awards, where he was nominated for 'Sex Education.' In 2023, Gatwa will make his Time Lord debut. 'Doctor Who' Names New Actor Russell T Davies, the showrunner, claimed Gatwa wowed him in a fiery audition. On the red carpet of the Baftas, the creator of Queer As Folk and It's A Sin, who is returning to Doctor Who after leaving in 2009, shared a selfie with Gatwa. For the third year in a row, the actor was nominated for the Bafta for best male performance in a comedy show for his role as Eric in Sex Education. He was not only nominated, but he also presented the Bafta for best-written comedy during the event on Sunday, receiving a standing ovation as he stepped on stage, BBC reported. Gatwa, who was born in Rwanda and reared in Scotland, will take over as the 14th Doctor from Jodie Whittaker, who announced her retirement from the series in July. The original BBC program 'Doctor Who' starred a time-traveling hero who rescued the day with just his wits and his wits from 1963 to 1989. Following the relaunch of the program in 2005, several actors, including Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant, and Matt Smith, have played the Doctor. In 2018, Whittaker made history as the first woman to play the Doctor. The BBC revealed that Russell T. Davies, who served as showrunner until 2010, will return to the show after more than a decade away. In a statement, Gatwa stated, "Russell T. Davies is nearly as iconic as the Doctor himself, and being able to collaborate with him is a dream come true, " as per CNET. Read Also: Golden State Warriors' Hot Shooting Too Much For Memphis Grizzlies In Blowout Game 3 Victory Gatwa, Davies Seen Posing For SNAPS as Awards Show Jo Martin portrayed Ruth Clayton, the first black Time Lord, in the January 2020 episode Future of the Judoon, but Gatwa is the first black Doctor to be cast as the series' star. Gatwa and Davies, who is returning as Doctor Who's showrunner, smiled and posed for photos at the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards on Sunday, just hours after the announcement. Ncuti Gatwa finished the ensemble with a pair of shoes and a black suit with a plunging neckline and spectacular floor-length tassels. Gatwa and Davies, who will return as showrunner for 'Doctor Who,' smiled and posed for photos at the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards on Sunday, only hours after the news. Ncuti Gatwa finished the ensemble with a pair of shoes and a black suit with a plunging neckline and spectacular floor-length tassels. Meanwhile, Davies claimed that the crew assumed they had already cast The Doctor until Gatwa walked in and stole the part. Gatwa is up against Jamie Demetriou (Stath Lets Flats), Joe Gilgun (Brassic), Samson Kayo (Bloods), Steve Coogan (This Time With Alan Partridge), and Tim Renkow for Male Performance in a Comedy Programme at this year's BAFTA TV Awards for his performance as Eric in Sex Education (Jerk). After leaving the show in 2009, Davies, who wrote for Queer As Folk and It's A Sin, is returning as the showrunner. Davies, who oversaw the relaunch of Doctor Who in 2005, will return in 2023 to commemorate the show's 60th anniversary, according to the Daily Mail. Related Article: [Report] Will Smith Is Scared of Wife Jada Pinkett Smith, Avoids Getting Divorce; Actor To Take Therapy Following Shocking Oscars Slap @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jesus called peacemakers, the children of God. What would he say of Christians today Any call for peace and unity that disregards injustice is not only empty, it is working against the cause of Christ. Christians are called to peacemaking. Not peacekeeping. Peacemaking. There is a radical difference between the two. Peacekeepers maintain the status quo, but peacemakers are change agents in pursuit of fixing the brokenness in our world. Peacekeepers strive to make everyone happy, but peacemakers strive to make everyone equal. Peacekeepers call for compromise in the face of injustice, but peacemakers are willing to call out racism, sexism, classism and every other oppressive ism even when it makes people uncomfortable. Peacekeeping is standing in the uncontroversial middle trying to placate both sides. Peacekeeping is seeking unity while refusing to deal with marginalization in our communities, but peacemaking means standing for truth, justice, and equity for all, no matter the cost. The prophet Jeremiah speaks of peacekeepers in Scripture: They offer superficial treatments for my peoples mortal wound. Peace, peace, they say, when there is no peace. Jeremiah 6:14 As my mentor used to say, This aint it, yall. There are famous examples of the difference between peacekeeping and peacemaking throughout history. Proponents of Jim Crow were peacekeepers. They felt that separate water fountains, schools, and restaurants for people of color was a good way to compromise between former slave owners and newly freed black people. But Martin Luther King Jr. and others like him were peacemakers. Dr. King fought for equity so hard that he was frequently investigated by the FBI. Those who opposed womens suffrage were peacekeepers. No reason to rock the boat. Women were doing better than they ever had, why push it and let them vote.Susan B. Anthony didnt agree. She was a peacemaker. She protested, voted illegally, and even went to jail in her effort to bring peace and equality to women. Many religious leaders in the first century were peacekeepers. They kept people in constant fear of God by saying He only loved them if they kept all the rules. They believed this would keep everyone in line. But God didnt like being misrepresented by the very ones who claimed to be his followers. So he left heaven and came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ to let everyone know, once and for all, that God's love was freely available to anyone and everyone who wanted it. Jesus was a peacemaker. He confronted the religious leaders, even flipping over their tables in the temple courts when they were using the name of God to extort the poor. And then, in the most incredible peacemaking action in history, he died for the sins of the world. But three days later, he rose from the grave conquering sin and death, and exposing the broken peacekeeping ways of our world. For Christians, the choice between peacekeeping and peacemaking is clear: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Jesus (Matthew 5:9) Did you know this is the only beatitude that comes with an identity statement? Of all the characteristics Jesus describes in Matthew 5, "peacemaker" is the only one listed with an identity instead of a reward. Instead of being "blessed," "comforted," or "shown mercy," it says that "peacemakers... will be called children of God. We are never more like God than when we are peacemaking... This means we are never more like God than when we are peacemaking. We are never more like God than when we are fighting for justice. We are never more like God than when we are bringing shalom, abundant goodness, into every broken relationship and system in our world. There is a temptation to be peacekeepers right now; to not rock the boat or challenge the status quo, but that is not the way of Jesus. It is time for Christians to take a stand on the side of justice for all people and be the peacemakers Jesus calls us to be. The Better Samaritan blog is produced by the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College, a research institute which specializes in resilience and spiritual fortitude. To learn more and apply for a M.A. in Humanitarian & Disaster Leadership, visit our website Zach W. Lambert is the Lead Pastor and founder of Restore Austin, a church in urban Austin, Texas. He holds a Masters of Theology and serves on the boards of Restore Houston, Louder than Silence (a non-profit for survivors of sexual violence), and the Austin Church Planting Network. For tens of thousands of vulnerable children whose lives and families were already unstable before COVID-19 hit, the pandemic brought further disruption, unpredictability, and loss. Prior to 2020, the child welfare system in America had begun to adjust its approach. The focus among Christian ministries, advocates, and government programs had increasingly turned to prevention and early intervention for at-risk families to get the support they need. Theres been a huge shift recently, according to Cheri Williams, senior vice president of domestic programs at Bethany Christian Services, as systems work to find ways to keep kids safe and protected with their [biological] families. The Families First legislation, passed in 2018, addressed strains in the foster care system by promoting ways to keep children being removed unnecessarily from their parents. The law offered more help for kinship guardiansrelatives who could care for children in needwhile aiming to reduce the need for fostering and limit group home options to the most difficult situations. The coronavirus derailed some of those plans, as everything from funding to placements to preventative programs slowed to a halt amid government lockdowns and insufficient, makeshift virtual solutions. Agencies and advocates are now attempting to move forward with pre-pandemic plans, but the consequences of the past couple of years still linger. Foster care entrances were down by 14 percent from 2019 to 2020, according to data released late last year, but not for lack of need. Rather, there were fewer opportunities to see and report abuse or neglect. The Administration for Children and Families found that parental terminations were down by 11 percent in 2020, and 8,000 fewer children were adopted in 2020 than in 2011, likely due to lack of oversight and COVID-19-induced, bureaucratic stall. According to the Childrens Bureau, a federal agency, more than half the decrease in entries occurred in March, April, and May, just as stay-at-home orders across the country were enacted. Calls to child abuse hotlines were down in most states, and runaways and child deaths increased by 13 percent and 6 percent, respectively. Megan Perry is a Christian foster parent and volunteer guardian ad litem (GAL) in Noblesville, Indiana. She fostered and worked with children throughout the pandemic. In her role as a GAL, also known as a court-appointed special advocate or CASA, she would check in with kids over video calls, often with parents just out of frame. Its hard when you arent actually there to say is the neglect and abuse still going on or is it a parenting style, she told Christianity Today. You can only see very small things on video, and you cant be in the home or go to the school, and its all just so impersonal. Because of the lack of access, Perry couldnt be sure she was learning everything necessary. For kids in foster care, if the trauma of home separation wasnt bad enough, they had to go stretches of COVID-19 lockdowns with no in-person contact with their parents at all. The kids on my caseloads wanted to see their parents so unbelievably bad, she said. And they would just get 15 minutes of Zoom with them. Some of those same children, those who might have been reunited with their families in another year, were separated longer because of delays in foster care exit requirements. Delayed court procedures, parenting classes, and drug treatment programs required for families to get their children back caused a system freeze, leaving children to linger in care without their parents. The other issue was COVID-19 itself. More than 200,000 kids in the US lost a parent or caregiver to the virus, creating more need on an overburdened system. And though experts believe the best place for children who cant be with their parents is often with kin caregivers, those family members are disproportionately older, putting them at higher risk for the virus. This meant fewer foster families and caregivers were available to open their homes, and less oversight and opportunity for children to get back to their biological families. Weeks into the pandemic, Bethany president Chris Palusky predicted this result. The coronavirus has already claimed millions of victims, he wrote for CT in April 2020. Whenever the COVID-19 crisis ends, we will need homes for a different kind of victim: the additional children entering foster care over the coming weeks and months. In many states, the foster care system was already struggling before COVID-19. Last year, a shocking study reported that 978 children went missing from Missouris foster care system in 2019. The state is not an outlier. Gen Justice, an organization that exists to protect and represent vulnerable children, found that 20,000 children disappear from foster care every year nationwide. Jedd Medefind, president of Christian Alliance for Orphans, said the stories of missing children are a heartbreaking glimpse into the foster care system and a call to the church to step into a vital role. May marks National Foster Care Month. The church cant outsource the responsibility they have to help provide caring homes and supportive communities for those within the child welfare system, he said. CAFO works with churches across the country to grow effective adoption, foster care and global orphancare rooted in the local church. About 40 percent of Protestant churchgoers say their congregation had been involved with adoption or foster care, according to a 2018 Lifeway Research survey, and a quarter knew someone at their church who had fostered children. Some fear many of the missingusually runawaysmay be getting trapped into the sex trafficking industry. Studies out of the University of Connecticut found that half of sex trafficking victims had been part of the child welfare system or juvenile justice system at some point. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children estimated that, of children reported missing in 2021, 19 percent were likely victims of sex trafficking. Gen Justice worked to help pass a bill in Arizona that would require the immediate reporting of missing foster children through a photo ID system integrated with search and rescue. Our missing kids will now also be reported to law enforcement within two hours, rather than weeks later or not at all, wrote Gen Justice Founder Darcy Olson. Despite these challenges, child welfare advocates are on a mission to protect more children through preventative and early intervention services that keep families together. Through Families First funding, foster agencies, ministries, and other organizations work with families before the need for foster care arises. The legislation provides funding for parents to cover mental health services, substance abuse treatment, or parenting skills classes. It also allots funds for families providing kinship care and for vulnerable youth who are aging out of the foster care system without support up to the age of 23. Were shifting to say, Hey, how can we, as the body of Christ and the church, come alongside those who are struggling? said Williams. How can we learn to be good neighbors, as believers can and should, versus judging families that are struggling? Williams believes Bethanys mission as a Christian organization is to listen to the voices of foster families and children and to find innovative solutions in partnership with given federal resources. Even with pandemic restrictions lifted, job loss, addiction, depression, anxiety and other negative responses could make the task of biological-family unity harder. As Christians, we have a clear imperative that God designed the family as his best for his children, said Medefind, who supports new changes in the Families First legislation to support families but hopes to see continued improvement on the side of child protective services as well. Taking from one [source of funding] and moving it to the other is going to leave many children highly vulnerable. Because Families First directs funds to family unification and prevention, some of the funding for child protective services, money that goes toward foster care programs, has been diverted. Various components of the Families First legislation have been rolled out over time. The next piece of the bill is set to be in place by the end of 2025, when the US Government Accountability Office will submit an evaluative study to Congress. Other helpful tools, like the Supporting Foster Youth and Families Through the Pandemic Act, were also passed. This act banned states from allowing a child to age out of foster care before October 1, 2021, giving young adults an option to return to foster care and receive funding if necessary. With 23,000 youth aging out each year, many of whom become homeless, this bill was important. Money, however, is just one facet of helping these young adults succeed. CAFOs Aging Out Initiative was developed to equip churches to walk with children aging out of the system through a series of steps, including life skills training, transitional housing, spiritual mentoring, career development and church and community support. Other programs, like San Antonios Thru Project, are locally based and began out of faith-based ministries or churches. The Thru Project helps those aging out secure housing, get life skills training, and obtain free cellphones and career training. Life is never simple for young people transitioning into adulthood without the support and care of family, said Medefind. COVID and our response to it dramatically amplified that strain and isolation. The one thing that every aging-out youth most needsstrong relationshipswas put all the more out of reach. Satan uses insecurities, self-doubt to stop Christians from serving the Church: Life.Church pastor A Life.Church pastor has warned that the devil will often remind Christians of their past failures and insecurities to stop them from being used for God's purpose. Pastor Sam Marin of the Edmund, Oklahoma, campus of Craig Groeschel's mutli-site megachurch preached a sermon earlier this month titled, "Facing Your Insecurities." He spoke of how many Christians struggle with self-doubt when it comes to their knowledge of the Bible, their ability to lead a small group or their ability to pray aloud. Marin said other Christians doubt themselves because they have a sinful past or struggle with sin in their lives. And some, he added, are insecure because they were hurt by others or inflicted harm on others in different ways in their past. But he assured: God knew exactly what he was doing when He made you. Marin told the audience to practice "self-love" by hugging themselves and saying to themselves, I love you. You're amazing. You're doing great. I'm so proud of you. Youre the best and I love you. Now, some of you, that felt good, right? Marin said. But, for some of you, that was actually hard to say, let alone believe. Marin turned to Ephesians 2:10, a verse written by the Apostle Paul, who tells the followers of Jesus that we are Gods handiwork or "masterpiece." We are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago, Marin preached. "So, what are you? You're God's masterpiece, you're God's workmanship." Marin said that the word masterpiece came from the Greek word poiema, which means a creation with a designated purpose. This is where we get our word poetry from. So what are you? You're God's poetic statement. You're beautiful. You're valuable. Youre custom-designed, like a good tailored suit. Youre custom fit for what God created you to do, Marin proclaimed. He created you with a purpose. God gave you the right personality, the right mindset. He gave you the right preferences, and He gave you the right things in your life to do the work that He wants you to do." When the devil tells a Christian that God cannot use them because they are "a mess," Marin said believers need to shout back, saying, I was a mess. But, now I'm God's masterpiece. Whenever God calls you, the devil is going to try to stop you," Marin warned. "You see, one of the greatest tools that the enemy uses is to attack your self-worth. He's going to tell you, Who do you think you are? You're not ready. You don't belong here. You're not good enough.'" Think about it. If God didnt want to use you, the devil wouldn't be trying so hard to stop you. He wants to use you, he continued, receiving applause in response. During the sermon, Marin opened up about his past struggle with a secret pornography addiction from age 12 to 30, which he said ate away at him for many years. Marin admitted that even though he has been free from his porn addiction for more than 12 years, there are still times when he is tempted. Because he struggled with temptation, dropped out of college and never attended seminary, Marin said, he experiences feelings of insecurity about his pastoral role among other church leaders, who he often views as "a lot more accomplished" than himself. I get the privilege of sitting and just being around some really incredible men of God. And there are many times where I'm sitting there, and I'm thinking: how the heck am I sitting here? And when I think about my life, and I think about my past and all the things that I've done, it just kind of breeds that insecurity, Marin said. Marin has coped despite the internal struggles by reminding himself that no person is perfect. [Many times], I may not feel like I can sit next to godly men. And then, I remember there isn't nobody that godly. We all messed up. We all have our faults and failures, Marin said. And yet God called me, and because of God's favor and His grace, I can stand on a stage and deliver a message that says: if God can use someone like me with my inadequacies, with my insecurities; if He can use me, He can absolutely use you. He wants to use you." God will most often use the unlikely" to do the "impossible," according to Marin. Jacob, he was a cheater. Moses was a murderer. David had an affair. Jonah ran from God. Elijah was depressed; God used him too. Miriam was a gossiper," he explained. "Time after time, you look at scriptures, people failed God and yet God chose to use them." Even without great confidence, Marin said that it is possible for a Christian to still serve in Gods Church because serving God is not meant to be done alone. Marin spoke to those who have "been just sitting in the background, sitting in the back, watching others having an incredible time. "And it's time to get up," Marin said. You've been created with talents and gifts to be used in the Church. Some of them are hidden. ... It's time to get off your seat." Heres what I need you to understand. There is a need in the church that needs to be filled by you. You got to pick up your instrument and you got to join the band, baby." Marin urged churchgoers to "get plugged in and start using your dance," adding that "some of you ... got great talents." "You're great with kids or maybe you're great with numbers and data, or maybe you're great with technology and you're not using your gifts, he concluded. "If you're not serving, there's something in the church that's not being done." Man dressed in suit and tie killed by police after shooting up Washington church A nattily dressed man who fired shots into the Living Hope Community Church in downtown Wenatchee, Washington, on Saturday morning and then wounded an officer was shot dead by police on the churchs doorstep, the churchs pastor said. A release from the North Central Washington Investigation Unit said the suspect, whose identity has not yet been released, began shooting at the church located at the corner of Chelan Avenue and Palouse Street around 8:27 a.m. When Wenatchee Police confronted the suspect at the scene, the suspect wounded an officer in the leg before he was killed. When contacted by The Christian Post for further details on the shooting and the suspect on Monday, a Wenatchee police official said they were unable to comment or investigate the shooting due to laws in Washington that require an independent investigation of all officer-involved shootings. While our agency had the shooting officers, we cant investigate the shooting, the official told CP. The case was passed to the Douglas County Sheriffs Office. Douglas County Undersheriff Tyler Caille told CP Monday that the case is still being investigated but that investigators have identified the suspect and informed his family. However, they will not be releasing any further details on the shooting until mid-week. Callie could not say if the suspect had a history of mental illness or if the suspect had any connection to the church. The investigators are still working on it, trying to determine motive and what reasoning he would have to have been at the church that day. But it has not been determined at this time, Caille said. The undersheriff said there were witnesses because vendors were preparing for the annual Apple Blossom Festival parade at a park across the street from the church at the time. He could not confirm who fired first. Living Hope Community Church did not immediately respond to calls from CP on Monday. But during Sundays worship service broadcast on YouTube, Lead Pastor Jeremy Peyton shared what he knew. He said a few hours before the Apple Blossom Festival parade began, there was a man that was not familiar to us who was dressed in a suit and tie and, for whatever reason, decided he wanted to enter the church building from the south door. People gathered across the street from the church for the festival started hearing shots. He tried to enter using firearms and tried to come in the door. And, of course, it was parade day. So there were lots of officers around ready to respond. And so when they heard that coming in, obviously they encountered a man who was firing into a building, Peyton continued. Not knowing what was going on inside, who may or may not have been inside the building, they drew their weapons and told him to put his down, at which point they exchanged fire. An officer was struck, and the man was fatally wounded right on the scene. Peyton said the man reportedly died very quickly. There is a lot of misinformation that was throwing around. We dont really know motives or anything like that. So I mean, there are some people who have kind of spread a lot of things that we just dont know about, he said. The pastor said he was called into the church pretty soon after the shooting and arrived at about 9 a.m. Peyton said the churchs door and windows were damaged. Thats a really sad, yucky thing that happened on our doorstep, he said. It wasnt what I expected to walk into. Peyton allowed members of the church to share their thoughts on the shooting. One elderly parishioner said he hoped that the suspect had come to the church seeking hope and offered prayers for his soul. When I first heard about this, I thought about the many times in my job [when] I was out in the remote areas of Alaska, and I would go into small towns and at night. I would seek out a church, and the doors would be open, and I could just go in and seek hope, the parishioner said. If nothing else, I pray that this man was seeking hope and I hope he found it, and just pray for his soul. A female parishioner said she was happy that no one else was killed except for the poor man who probably had mental illness and was not in his right mind. I feel bad for his family. So I mean, instead of demonizing him [lets] be compassionate because thats not normal, she said. In the meantime, police say they are still trying to find out why the man dressed in a suit and tie turned up at Living Hope Community Church with a gun on Saturday morning. We are trying to figure out why the suspect went there, Caille said. We cant find any correlation to the parade either. Leader of Nebraska church to donate life-saving kidney to associate pastor A senior associate pastor at the Bellevue Christian Center in Nebraska, who had been waiting for months to find a donor on the University of Nebraska Medical Centers kidney transplant list, cried tears of joy before his congregation as he revealed their lead pastor was found to be a perfect match. And come Aug. 2, Walter Hooker, a father of three and a grandfather of seven, will undergo surgery to receive a healthy kidney from his lead pastor, Andy Kaup, who is also a married father of three. Because of the faithfulness of our God, Aug. 2, Ill be in surgery. Incredible, a tearful Hooker revealed during a video announcement posted on the churchs Facebook last week. And folks, I want you to know that finding a donor is not easy." Once someone is added to the national transplant waiting list, they can sometimes wait many years to find a match or sometimes can be matched fairly quickly, according to the National Kidney Foundation. In general, the average time frame for waiting can be 3-5 years at most centers and even longer in some geographical regions of the country, the foundation states. Hooker's Kidneys are functioning at about 10% and he has had to do dialysis three days a week. He began screening to be placed on UNMC's kidney transplant list in June 2021. He said while people around the country prayed for him to find a kidney donor, some 10 to 15 individuals stepped forward and applied to see if they could be that donor. And Kaup was among them. Kaup told his Assemblies of God congregation how God moved during the process that led him to become a kidney donor for his associate pastor. You know, several months ago, as it became a reality what was going on with Hook ... I can remember just hearing Hook and Melba [Hookers wife] talk about the story that God was writing, how even though things looked impossible and things looked scary, I mean beyond scary, Kaup said. Most of us have no idea how bad things really were, and yet, the two of them and their family as a whole just continued to say, Gods working something out in the midst of this. Kaup said he talked with his wife Michelle, and they prayerfully approached the process of finding a donor for Hooker with a heart to be obedient to God in whatever He would do. Michelle and I began to have some conversations and say, 'OK, I dont know what this would look like, but God, if there is an opportunity to be a part of this story, then were willing because, God, its Your story. Youve been penning this thing. Youve been the author of this thing from the beginning,'" Kaup said. "We started going through the process, going through several rounds of testing just to find out what kind of match are we. And the boxes just kept being checked and it got to a point where it was just really clear that if God is making a way for this to happen, [we had to obey]. Kaup spoke to the congregation about the need for obedience among Christians in fostering a relationship with God. One of the things that Ive learned about God in each and every step is that Hes constantly inviting us into His story, and Hes always got room for you to step in and to watch what He can do and to just let Him move in your life. The trick is that its just up to us to be obedient. And thats our heart in this. It was just to be obedient, the pastor said. You know, in James 2 it talks about faith and works, and it kind of brings this thing out, you know. What good is it if your brother has a need and you say go and hope that your need is met when its in your power to help? he asked. And so, we just wanted to be a part of helping. We just wanted to be able to say, 'Were tied together, were in this together. This is Gods story. What can God do through all of this?' And so, it truly is just a joy and an honor to be able to step into this story. And to watch God move not just in one family or two families, not just in one church or one city, but what can God do through all of this." In recounting how God set up the moment for Kaup to be a factor in saving his life, Hooker recalled going on a mission trip to Mexico with Kaup and Kaup's father for the first time in the late 1990s. Hooker said his first trip to Africa was also with Kaups father and the lead pastors older brother. Kaups mother also served as Hookers administrative assistant for several years. Bellevue Christian Center explains on its website that it is a "diverse church made up of various ages, backgrounds, family styles and more. The church exists "to saturate our city and our world with the heart of God." The Christian Post reached out to the church for further comment on Monday but did not immediately receive a response. God isn't finished with you yet! As Ive come across people over the years, many are amazed at our familys story. Our ministry and musical outreach have been so large for so long, including the careers of Rebecca St. James and for KING & COUNTRY. People are curious how these two entities came out of one family and how we all came to be who and what we are today. They want to know how it is weve worked and stayed together through obstacles and detours most normal families dont encounter. There isnt one response I can think to give. Our journey has been filled with a variety of faith-stretching occurrences that could only have been orchestrated by God, both in their inceptions and in His miraculous outcomes. But for me, as a mum who loves Jesus, I am convinced that nothing we have accomplished or overcome would have happened without His divine intervention and our commitment to follow His lead, regardless of how unusual or against the flow His plan seemed. It is now 30 years since David and I left Australia for the United States. Back then, with six young children and one on the way, we had no idea of what was before us. We were just putting one foot in front of the other one day at a time. Little did we know the plans God had for us and the journey He would take us on! But we have seen Him. We have known Him. He has been right beside us, loving us, providing for us, opening and closing doors, and blessing us. And since then, our family has grown. Each of our children, except Libby, is now married. And we currently have 13 grandchildren, which takes our family to 28 members. We are a family that still works together, vacations together, and plays together, and as you can imagine, we have pretty loud, fun, and active celebrations. We can also still be a hard family to be a part of, particularly for introverts. We definitely arent perfect by any means we make mistakes and hurt each other as all families do but we mostly give love, grace, and acceptance as a general rule. David is a true patriarch, and I am the matriarch of the whole rowdy bunch. I am passionate about family, especially about mothers. It breaks my heart to see families torn apart the family is the foundation of culture, and the center point of the family is the mother. She holds everything together. A mother, through her children, impacts the world of tomorrow, and yet her role is not hugely respected by society. It is also not recognized for what it is the most difficult job on the planet. But while its the most difficult, it is also the most rewarding and godly role. About 11 years ago I was asked by a younger mum, Heather Rae Houle, from our local church to participate in a mothers mentoring group that met once a week. So I decided to try it, and I have been mentoring ever since. Heather and I call our model for mentorship MUMlife Community. The "mum" in MUMlife is an acronym for mothers uplifting mothers. It is based on Titus 2, which has the older mothers coming alongside the younger mums to encourage them on their journeys. Weve recently launched the MUMlife Community Podcast which enables us to reach and encourage mothers all around the world. Only God! I feel quite stretched by God in doing the podcast because I have always loved being behind the scenes. Im definitely not a front person; it has been fine for me to push the kids out into the limelight while I stay safely ensconced in my safe, comfortable environment. But God doesnt want any of us to stay in our safe zone, including me. He wants us to continue to grow and live out our lives that means our entire lives for His purposes. I have also known deep down for a long time that a book needed to be written about our family story, and I knew it was me who needed to write it. As I contemplated the thought, I knew I wanted to share not just our story but how amazing God is in our story. It all starts and ends with Him. After praying for the right time to actually do it, I felt the nudge about a year ago that the time was ripe. And now my memoir, Behind the Lights: The Extraordinary Adventure of a Mum and Her Family, is out in the world. At the same time, God has also been pushing me into doing more speaking. I have so enjoyed remaining anonymous and unrecognized, and Im afraid that comfortable space is disappearing. Moving forward, I know God will give me the strength I need to rise to these new endeavors, and I firmly believe that if He has called me to them, then He will be faithful to give me what I need to be obedient. I will simply do what Ive always done, and that is to take things one day at a time. When Im not podcasting or writing, David and the farm have been and will continue to be my happy place. I am surrounded by open fields and the beauty of life, which entails some of my friends. We have 10 horses, of which quite a few are retired, as well as 2 donkeys, 6 goats, 2 pigs, and 6 alpacas. It doesnt matter what age you are. God not only has a plan for your life but also a purpose. You may be in the prime of youth, or you may be older like David and me. If you still have breath in your lungs, then God is not finished with you you have meaningful contributions to make to your family, your church, and the community. The faithfulness and favor God has shown me shown all of us is the same faithfulness He shows to anyone who fully commits their life to Him. It is my hope that from our story, you will be inspired to step outside of your box and embrace Gods plans for you without fear or hesitation. When you do, His peace will carry you no matter what you face, the same way it has carried me. Adapted from Behind the Lights: The Extraordinary Adventure of a Mum and Her Family by Helen Smallbone (K-LOVE Books, 2022). Missouri pastor donates kidney to church member, says it was a calling from God Rev. Jack Coultas, the pastor of Park Grove Christian Church in Deepwater, Missouri, donated a kidney to one of his church members, Jeremy Whitman, who was struggling for nearly two years with kidney failure caused by diabetes. Rev. Coultas, 35, who has been a pastoral leader and friend to Whitman and his family since 2008, said he recalls the day he found out Whitman was suffering from kidney failure. In 2018, Whitman, 36, was coping with diabetes and managing his autism. Whitman had also recently started a new job and moved into a new home, the pastor told The Christian Post. Rev. Coultas said, at the time, it seemed like everything in Whitmans life was working out for the best until the unexpected occurred. One morning, when Whitman woke up from sleeping, he opened his eyes and could not see anything, according to Coultas. Whitman was completely blind in both his eyes and managed to find his phone to call his father. He was rushed to the hospital, where they discovered his kidneys had completely shut down. Whitman was placed on dialysis to remove waste products and excess fluid from his blood. It took a year for Whitman to be placed on the kidney recipient list. It broke my heart when I was told what happened because he had been doing so well, said Rev. Coultas, who has been head pastor of Park Grove Christian Church for seven years. While he was in the hospital, I prayed a lot for him to receive healing. For over 365 days, Rev. Coultas said he continually prayed for Whitman's healing. But to the pastor's surprise, God answered his prayer by calling him and putting it on his heart to be a kidney donor for Whitman. Every time Rev. Coultas met with Whitmans family for counseling sessions and prayer, he said a Bible passage came into his mind. The scripture passage that he thought about repetitively was 1 John 3:16-18. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters," the Scripture reads. "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. Coultas said he believes in the power of prayer. But he also believes that when someone is in need, people should strive to do more than just pray. We shouldnt just pray if we see more ways we can help, Coultas said. The lord started pressing those scriptures into my heart. I realized that if Christ gave His life for me, then I should be able to give to someone else a life-saving organ. After many days of thinking and praying to God, the pastor felt deep in his heart that God was calling him to be a donor. In April of 2019, Coultas took a blood test and found out he was a donor match for Whitman. After finding out he was a match, he had more confirmation that God wanted him to do the surgery. I felt a sense of relief because it was such a long process of praying and considering the decision," Coultas told CP. I would say my decision to go forward with the surgery was a basic example of Christian behavior because we are called to obey God and love others. Coultas and Whitman successfully underwent surgery in January 2020 at Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City. Since donating his kidney, Coultas said he experienced a health complication. He had to have his hernia repaired in February. For three months following the repair, he could not do many physical activities. However, the pastor has since completely recovered. For Whitman, his recovery has reportedly been smooth, and he continues to get better every day. I didnt let the aftermath of the hernia repair stop me from moving forward in love, Coultas said. I would do the kidney donor surgery again if I could. Love is not safe. Love is supposed to be challenging, and God called us all to show love to others whether it is difficult or joyful. As a pastor, Coultas believes there are a few things Christians should consider "if what they believe God is calling them to do is, in fact, from God. Among other things, followers of Christ should consider the weight on their hearts by evaluating whether what they feel God is calling them to do is something that matches up to the Bible as something God would approve of. Secondly, he believes that anyone who wants to confirm if a calling from God is from God should seek out wise counsel. Lastly, Coultas said that people should consider the circumstances surrounding what they feel God is calling them to do by seeing if it is possible. If what they feel they are being called by God to do is not possible, most likely God does not approve of what they feel they're being called to do. When I was considering whether or not I should pursue the calling of being a kidney donor, I prayed, referred to scriptures and I brought it up to wise counsel my wife because I knew it would affect her and my family, he said. Lastly, I considered the circumstances surrounding what I believed I was being called by God to do. And when I found out that I was a donor match, that is when I knew it was not just my heart, but it was something the Lord wanted because he opened up a doorway of possibility through circumstance. Coultas explained that when someone considers answering a calling from God, they should evaluate" the "motivation of their heart" in accordance with 2 Corinthians 9:7. I would encourage any Christian to check out the motivation of their heart by making sure they are not doing anything for selfish gain, he advised. They also shouldnt do anything for others begrudgingly, but with a cheerful heart. When Christians choose to disobey God by not answering a call to do something, he believes "they miss out on many things. They lose out on the chance to have a testimony, as well as different blessings and experiences. And they miss out on the chance to bless someone else, Coultas said, adding that it should never just be about receiving blessings in return for obedience. Every time a Christian says 'no' to anything God calls them to do, such as being called to share the Gospel, they lose out on the opportunity to be a blessing and to be blessed, and they miss the chance to glorify God in the future. The mother of former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst has opened up about her daughter's struggle with depression for the first time since the controversial suicide incident in January this year. Kryst was known for competing as a Division 1 athlete, a fighter for social justice, and a winner of two Emmy nominations for her work as an "Extra" correspondent. With all of her achievements, many wondered why she took her own life at the young age of 30. Struggle With High-Functioning Depression The former 2019 Miss USA's mother, April Simpkins, talked in an interview on Wednesday on "Red Table Talk" and raised awareness about her late daughter's high-functioning depression. She said that depression, contrary to what many people believe, is not always seen as someone lying in bed. Simpkins noted that there were people who were considered "high-functioning" and getting through the day seemingly fine. She said that Kryst wore that face every day and still struggled with depression, as per Fox News. Despite being used, high-functioning depression is not a formal diagnosis found in the common handbook that healthcare professionals use to diagnose mental healthcare conditions. It is a colloquial term that means a person meets the criteria for depression but continues to function on a daily basis without showing their condition to other people. Read Also: Johnny Depp-Amber Heard Relationship and Feud Timeline: All of What You Need to Know From Ex-Couple Psychologist and adjunct professor at Webster University in Missouri, Dr. Jameca Woody Cooper, said that this type of depression could be hidden from other people and the patient themselves. In the interview, Simpkins said that her daughter had already tried to commit suicide before the January incident. Furthermore, the former Miss USA's mother said that the first attempt only brought them closer and came as Kryst showed signs of depression in her early 20s. According to The Root, Simpkins said the most likely factor that surprised people about her daughter's death was that Kryst was mostly seen smiling and being bubbly. Death by Suicide Simpkins also shared with the public the last text messages that she received from her daughter before the suicide. One of the messages showed Kryst expressing her apologies for taking her own life. The former Miss USA also said that what made her even sadder was writing the message to her mother, knowing that it would hurt her. In the text, Kryst said she loved her mother, calling her a best friend and the person she had lived for, for years. The former Miss USA added that she wished she could stay with Simpkins but said she could not bear the crushing weight of "persistent sadness, hopelessness, and loneliness." Simpkins also made a plea to the public and the people who were spreading rumors about her daughter's death. She said the one thing that she wanted to be laid to rest were talks and theories that Kryst was murdered. She noted that this type of misleading information would get other people involved. She said that she knew full well that her daughter died by suicide and that it was painful for her to hear people contradict the fact. Simpkins hopes that the people who want to dirty Kryst's past should stop immediately, Business Insider reported. Related Article: Viral Video Shows Exact Moment Vicki White Helped Murder Suspect Casey White Escape From Alabama Prison [WATCH] @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Jen Hatmaker voices support for abortion, calls opposition political theater Author says pro-life lawmakers should provide a multitude of subsidies from free child care to marriage counseling Christian author Jen Hatmaker, a mother of five, has voiced her support for Roe v. Wade after a leaked U.S. Supreme Court opinion suggests that the landmark decision that legalized abortion appears set to be overturned. The overturning of the 1973 Supreme Court judgment will cause immediate, disproportionate harm, and not just emotional harm; physical and legal harm, Hatmaker wrote on her blog. Last week, Politico published a leaked draft majority opinion regarding the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health, which suggested that five of the nine Supreme Court justices voted to uphold a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15-week gestation and they would overturn Roe v. Wade, which usurped states' laws on abortion and legalized the practice nationwide. An overturned Roe v. Wade decision would send the issue back to the 50 respective states to each determine their abortion laws. Hatmaker, who made headlines in 2016 for affirming same-sex marriage, claimed that data unambiguously proves that making abortion illegal doesnt lower abortion rates. It simply makes them more dangerous, she argued. And dangerous for whom? 1-in-4 American women have had an abortion, so dangerous for your daughters, your sisters, your best friends, your colleagues, your neighbors, your church friends, and of course those of you reading with your quiet, private personal history here, as it should be, yourself. It will be disproportionately dangerous for women of color and under-resourced women, as all social ills are. Hatmaker further argued that abortion is a choice women make for endless personal reasons including the health of the mother, the health of the baby, rape, incest, viability, financial instability, a dangerous home environment, lack of help, and of course reasons that are theirs alone as are their bodies. She added, This is intensely personal and private, and women deserve agency and choice not only with their bodies but over the decision to parent for the rest of their lives. Anti-abortion advocates have every right to their convictions, but those convictions should only apply to their bodies, their families, and their futures. Hatmaker called the legislative opponents to Roe political theater. If this rabid energy was genuine if it had any integrity, it would come baked in with the fiercest and staunchest advocacy for free birth control, comprehensive sex education, maternal health care and paid maternity leave. The list included: subsidized child care, affordable housing, marriage counseling and family support systems, guaranteed food security, victims rights for all the rape and incest survivors forced to carry their abusers baby, subsidized medical care for all the women forced to carry a baby to the detriment of their own health or that of their baby, life insurance for the families whose mothers died in forced childbirth, and every conceivable support for a mother, baby, and family from birth until forever. However, many of her followers didnt agree with her. Each life is precious and deserves a chance, wrote one follower on Facebook. Reversing Roe V. Wade will give more unborn children a chance at life. There is no other way to look at it or justify keeping abortion legal. While every woman that becomes pregnant has infinite value, so does the life she carries inside her. So many women have experienced abortion and it not only has caused irreparable harm to them but permanently taken away the rights of the unborn person inside them. There are pro-life people who care about both the baby and the mother. As The Christian Post reported last week, an ABC News/Washington Post poll suggests that most Americans dont want the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade, but a recent Fox News poll shows that about half of registered voters favor banning abortions past six weeks gestation. In the most recent ABC/Post poll, 54% said the Supreme Court should uphold Roe and 28% wanted it overturned. Fifty-eight percent of respondents said abortion should be legal in all or most circumstances, while 37% thought that it should be illegal in all or most cases. When asked whether they would support a law in their state banning abortions after six weeks gestation, 58% of respondents indicated that they would oppose it. Fifty-seven percent of participants said they oppose banning abortions abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, but how late into the pregnancy those surveyed think abortion should be available remains unclear. Sixty-seven percent said abortion should be legal if the unborn child has severe birth defects, with 23% opposed. Forty-eight percent said they support legal abortion in cases where the mother cannot afford a child and 45% disagreed. A Fox News poll conducted from April 28 to May 1 by Beacon Research and Shaw & Company Research suggests that 54% of over 1,000 registered voters surveyed believed their state should ban abortions after 15 weeks of gestation, while 41% opposed such a ban. Exactly one-half of respondents expressed support for banning abortions after six weeks of gestation, while 46% thought abortion should remain legal beyond the first six weeks of pregnancy. Hatmaker also made headlines in 2020 after she publicly said she was glad her daughter is a lesbian. I cant get past the hundreds of messages and notes and emails and texts yall are sending Sydney and me after our podcast last week. We screenshot and send them to each other every day, because WE ARE SO UNDONE, Hatmaker wrote in a lengthy Facebook post at the time. Estranged moms asking their gay children to forgive them. Gay grandmas coming out for the first time. Siblings and aunts and kids of trans people reaching out with apologies and connection. Mamas saying they can love and affirm their young, closeted gaybies with no reservations now. LGBTQ people who finally believe Jesus loves them, she added. 4 things to know about state abortion laws if Roe is overturned As the possibility of a reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide looms large, individual U.S. states are poised to head in drastically different directions when it comes to regulating the hot-button issue. A draft opinion in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health leaked and was subsequently published in Politico Monday. In the draft opinion, which is not final, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito wrote that Roe v. Wade must be overruled in a ruling that would uphold Mississippis 15-week abortion ban. Roe is the 1973 Supreme Court decision that determined that there is a constitutional right to abortion. While the prospect of overturning Roe has caused outrage in pro-abortion circles and cautious optimism in the pro-life community, abortion will remain legal in many states if the longstanding decision is gutted. On the other hand, several states will have the freedom to enact abortion laws that reflect their residents views on the polarizing political issue. The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion advocacy organization, has compiled a list of state laws that would take effect in the absence of Roe that also highlights which states have codified the right to abortion into state law. Here are four takeaways about the legal status of abortion at the state level if Roe is overturned. 1 2 3 4 5 Next Pro-abortion activists call for protests at churches on Mother's Day after Supreme Court draft leak A pro-abortion group is threatening and urging others to disrupt services at Catholic and Evangelical churches this weekend as the fallout from this week's leaking of an initial draft opinion that could overturn the U.S. Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade continues. Ruth Sent Us, which describes itself as a group working to force accountability using a diversity of tactics from the 6-3 extremist Supreme Court, is urging abortion supporters to stand at or in a local Catholic Church Sun May 8" as a show of support for Supreme Court precedent that has legalized abortion nationwide. A video accompanying a May 3 tweet containing a call to action shows pro-abortion protesters dressed in Handmaids Tale costumes chanting abortion on demand and without apology as they walk through a Catholic Church as organ music plays in the background. Whether youre a Catholic for Choice, ex-Catholic, of other or no faith, recognize that six extremist Catholics set out to overturn Roe. Stand at or in a local Catholic Church Sun May 8. #WarOnWomen#MothersDayStrikepic.twitter.com/v2vtpd12Gp Ruth Sent Us ???? (@RuthSentUs) May 3, 2022 Whether youre a Catholic for Choice, ex-Catholic, of other or no faith, recognize that six extremist Catholics set out to overturn Roe, the group warned as it promoted the hashtag #MothersDayStrike. The push for protests at Catholic masses comes after Politico published a leaked draft opinion regarding the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health. According to the leaked initial draft, five of the nine Supreme Court justices voted to uphold a Mississippi law banning abortion after 15 weeks gestation. The initial draft opinion for Dobbs, which is not final and could change, did not receive the support of six extremist Catholics. While opinion author, Justice Samuel Alito, is Catholic and Catholic Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas also backed the draft opinion, the fifth justice who supported the draft opinion, Neil Gorsuch, is Episcopalian. Although Chief Justice John Roberts is Catholic and part of what Ruth Sent Us describes as the 6-3 extremist Supreme Court, he did not sign onto the draft opinion. Another video posted Tuesday by Ruth Sent Us featured protesters dressed in Handmaids Tale outfits declaring: For 2000 years, the Catholic Church has been an institution for the enslavement of women. In the tweet, the group declared: This is what Mothers Day should look like in Catholic and Evangelical Churches nationwide. The Catholic Church is among the most outspoken critics of abortion, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines abortion as gravely contrary to the moral law. There are calls for a #MothersDayStrike. We support it, along with @StrikeForChoice whos planning a day of walk-outs on Thu May 12. #DefendRoe This is what Mothers Day should look like. Catholic and Evangelical Churches nationwide: pic.twitter.com/BxvGhBGodn Ruth Sent Us ???? (@RuthSentUs) May 3, 2022 The group CatholicVote is urging Catholic parishes across the U.S. to take the threat of disruption seriously. In a statement, CatholicVote Communications Director Joshua Mercer noted that the organization "might have blown off the words of these activists at empty threats" in past years. But given the recent rash of very real attacks on Catholic statues and churches, it makes sense to be cautious, he added. Mercer alleged a pattern of anti-Catholicism among the Ruth Sent Us activists. If they wanted, they could have just focused on the issue of abortion, he said, recalling their characterization of several Supreme Court justices as extremist Catholics. Instead they chose to highlight the Catholic faith of some of the pro-life justices. He warned Catholic churches to keep your eyes open," calling the activists ruthless people" who are "looking for a confrontation. As a cause for concern, Mercer cited a TikTok post documenting a video of activists marching toward the doors of a Catholic Church accompanied by the caption, Sometimes a******s need a beating." The pro-abortion activism of Ruth Sent Us extends beyond their call for a #MothersDayStrike. The group plans to hold an event titled Walk-by Wednesday outside the homes of the six extremist justices next Wednesday to pressure them to reverse their opinion before the final ruling is published. A map on their website identifies the streets that the six Republican-appointed justices live on but does not give their exact addresses. Mercer expressed concern about the safety of the Supreme Court justices going forward. Were talking about human beings with children," he said. Ruth Sent Us derives its name from the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who consistently voted to strike down abortion restrictions as unconstitutional throughout her 27 years on the bench. Ruth Bader Ginsburg spent her entire life moving the needle towards justice for all, the group maintained. She believed, and we believe that women deserve trust, black lives matter, love is love, and no human is illegal. While Ginsburg developed a consistently pro-abortion voting record on the Supreme Court, she also expressed concern that the Roe decision short-circuited the democratic process. As Alito explained in his draft opinion in the Dobbs case, Ginsburg suggested in a speech at New York University School of Law in 1993 that the 1973 Supreme Court decision may have halted a political process, prolonged divisiveness and deferred stable settlement of the issue through the legislatures. Ruth Sent Us is just one pro-abortion advocacy group kicking its activism into high gear following the leak of the draft Dobbs opinion. The group Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights has developed plans for a Week of Action next week. The week will kick off Sunday with a campaign to post videos on social media, asserting that motherhood should be a choice." The campaign calls for a nationwide effort to rally outside of churches. WE MUST NOT LET WOMAN-HATING FASCISTS like Amy Coney Barret, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh & Thomas decide the fate of half of humanity. #RoeVWade WOMEN ARE NOT INCUBATORS! Abortion On Demand & Without Apology! Rise Up & Wear #Green4Abortion during the week of resistance May 8-14 pic.twitter.com/ZhwTlLram5 Rise Up 4 Abortion Rights (@riseup4abortion) May 3, 2022 Additional plans for the week include a chalk your town initiative. On Monday, activists are called to print and post posters," while a green-out featuring art installations and murals is slated for Tuesday. The group wants mass banner drops Wednesday and a national student walk-out Thursday. The week will conclude with nationwide die-ins on Friday and mass protests on Saturday, May 14. The group encouraged supporters to wear #Green4Abortion during the week of resistance. A decision in the Dobbs case is expected by the end of June. If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the issue will be decided on a state-by-state basis. Specifically, 21 states will have more restrictive abortion laws and, in some cases, will completely ban the procedure, 16 states will see no changes in their abortion laws as they have codified the right to abortion in state law and 10 additional states will see no immediate changes in their abortion laws. Voters in three states may have the chance to amend their states abortion laws at the ballot box in the near future. Satanic Temple pushes Boston to fly its flag after Supreme Court ruling in favor of Christian group Days after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Boston, Massachusetts, was wrong to prohibit a group from flying a Christian flag at city hall, The Satanic Temple wants to fly a flag over the downtown building. The Salem-based group wrote on Twitter that it has filed a request with Bostons property management department to raise and lower a flag to observe Satanic Appreciation Week from July 2329. The Satanic Temple replies to the Supreme Court ruling that found Boston violated First Amendment rights by refusing to fly Christian flag at City Hall Plaza, the organization wrote, with a screenshot of the request. When government officials are able to impose arbitrary restrictions on claims of conscience, or to abridge the civic capacities of some based on their religious identity, we fail to be a free, democratic republic, Lucien Greaves, the organizations co-founder, told The Associated Press in an email. Greaves added that The Satanic Temple has yet to decide which of its official flags it will ask the city to fly. One of its flags looks like the American flag with only black and white stripes and an emblem of a pentagram and goat skull where the 50 stars would be. On Monday, the high court unanimously ruled in the case of Harold Shurtleff, et al. v. Boston, MA, et al., to reverse a lower court decision and remand the case back to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Justice Stephen Breyer delivered the courts opinion, concluding that the First Amendment prevents [the government] from discriminating against speakers based on their viewpoint. At issue, according to the court's opinion, was whether Bostons flag policy represented government speech; if it did, then it had the right to reject the Christian flag. We conclude that, on balance, Boston did not make the raising and flying of private groups flags a form of government speech, wrote Breyer. That means, in turn, that Bostons refusal to let Shurtleff and Camp Constitution raise their flag based on its religious viewpoint abridg[ed] their freedom of speech. Justice Brett Kavanaugh authored a concurring opinion, in which he wrote that a government does not violate the Establishment Clause merely because it treats religious persons, organizations, and speech equally with secular persons, organizations, and speech in public programs, benefits, facilities, and the like. Under the Constitution, a government may not treat religious persons, religious organizations, or religious speech as second-class, he added in his brief concurrence. In February, Christians gathered, prayed and read scriptures outside an Arizona hotel that hosted a three-day event by The Satanic Temple called SatanCon, which included such sessions as Raising Children in a Satanic Household and Abortion as a (Religious) Right. The Catholic demonstrators prayed, read from the Bible, held signs, banners, rosaries, crosses and images of the Virgin Mary outside the Saguaro Hotel in Scottsdale, the site of the Satanic Temples event, Fox 10 reported at the time. Were out here to let the satanists know that theres no place for evil in Arizona, a protester was quoted as saying. And were here to combat that. And were here to say that Jesus is Lord. In 2016, The Satanic Temple launched a nationwide After School Satan Club to counter Christian student organizations in public schools. The groups creation came in response to the Christian Good News Club that was meeting at public schools throughout the nation. Greaves told The Christian Post at the time that the Christian clubs presence at public schools created the need for a counter-balance in the extracurricular options. Moises Esteves, vice president of USA Ministries for Child Evangelism Fellowship, told CP at the time that he believed the Satan club was yet another atheist PR stunt that has no staying power. The After-School Satan Club is simply another attention-seeking atheist club. The choice of mascot reveals that its leaders simply hate God, and are trying to provoke or spook parents and schools, said Esteves. Like those before it, this club will fizzle out, because parents don't view their children as pawns for a blend of political activism, religious critique and performance art by angry atheists. Does the pro-life movement help mothers? One of the biggest myths about abortion today is that the pro-life movement doesnt help mothers. But I guess that shouldnt be surprising. Any culture that believes theyre helping mothers by encouraging them to kill their own children shouldnt be expected to know what it really means to help mothers. When people who kill children are considered heroes of course, people who save children will be considered villains. Therefore since the leak that Americas Supreme Court is set to revoke Roe v. Wade, critics of the pro-life movement have become even more devoted to that myth. The critics say the pro-life movement isnt pro-life from womb to tomb or holistically pro-life. They say were just pro-birth and anti-abortion. They say we dont care about mothers, we only care about babies; otherwise, we would support socialist healthcare, paid parental leave, free child care, and more. Essentially, they claim the pro-life movement doesnt help mothers. As youve probably noticed on social media increasingly, some of these critics are professing pro-life Christians, including organizations like And Campaign and influential evangelicals like Russell Moore. Earlier this week, Russell Moore said: If in fact Roe is overturned, those of us who are pro-life must work to convince our neighbors that we can and will love and protect both mothers and children. And a few years ago, an ad from The And Campaign shamefully described the pro-life movement as protecting the unborn baby (but) ignoring the mother. And worse, they described the pro-abortion movement as protecting the mother (but) ignoring the unborn baby. Its depressing that many professing Christians are embracing talking points from abortion activists. Some professing Christians really believe the pro-life movement ignores mothers? And they really believe the pro-abortion movement protects mothers? We should expect these deceptive and deadly words from the devil and his minions, not Christians. How could anyone especially professing Christians suggest people who murder a baby actually care more about the babys mother than the people who attempt to save that baby? How could anyone suggest the pro-abortion movement protect mothers? How could anyone suggest the pro-life movement ignores mothers? People who murder a mothers baby are not protecting the mother. And people who protect a mothers baby are not ignoring the mother. After all, what is the definition of a mother? A mother is simply a woman with a child, right? Meaning, a mother is defined by her relationship to her child. Its impossible to relationally separate a mother from her child. Therefore, if a person harms a baby they are not helping the mother. If a person kills a baby, they are not protecting the mother. In the same way, if a person helps a baby they are not harming the mother. If a person protects a baby, they are not ignoring the mother. Its bizarre that this needs to be said: the best thing a person could do for a mother is to save her baby. After all, wouldnt a good mother sacrifice her own life to save her baby? If a person kills a baby, they are not merely guilty of killing the baby theyre also guilty of hurting the mother. Therefore, to be unmistakably clear: the pro-abortion movement doesnt protect the mother but ignore the baby. The pro-abortion movement doesnt protect mothers, and they surely do not ignore babies. O how I wish they ignored babies! Pre-born babies and their mothers would be better off if the pro-abortion movement ignored them! If the pro-abortion movement ignored babies, 1 of out 4 women wouldnt get abortions. If the pro-abortion movement ignored babies, 63 million pre-born babies wouldnt have been murdered in America since Roe v. Wade in 1973. The pro-abortion movement doesnt ignore babies: they murder them. The pro-life movement, however, protects babies and their mothers. As for the ridiculous claim that the pro-life movement needs to embrace essentially leftist or socialist causes in order to prove were authentically pro-life: no. Were anti-abortion because were anti-murder, were not ashamed of that. Besides, leftist and socialist history is tied to murder and death. Leftism and socialism are not pro-life. They promise life, but they deliver death. Most people who suggest pro-life people need to embrace leftist policies to prove were genuinely pro-life are insincere abortion activists. However, some critics of the pro-life movement sincerely believe pro-life people should embrace leftists policies because they think leftist policies decrease abortion. But that is also a myth. In America, the states with the highest abortion rates are actually Democrat-controlled states with the most leftist and expansive social welfare programs in the country. And thats consistent with international data: the top 14 nations with the highest abortion rates in the world are either current or former socialist nations. Nevertheless, anyone who claims the pro-life movement isnt really pro-life because we do not support leftist or socialist causes is just as ridiculous as a person who claims the abolitionist movement wasnt really abolitionists because they didnt support leftist or socialist causes. Just as its okay for the abolitionist movement be strictly anti-slavery, its okay for the pro-life movement to be strictly anti-abortion. And yet, the pro-life movement is much more than an anti-abortion movement. Unlike the pro-abortion movement, its a pro-mothers movement too. Ive talked to thousands of people in churches, conferences, schools, and streets about abortion. And like every pro-life advocate, there isnt a single time when I didnt talk about how important it is for the pro-life movement to continue to help mothers. Thats deeply important to me. I was raised by a single mother in Ghana after my father abandoned our family when he learned my mother was pregnant with me. Many mothers, like my mom, are abandoned by their husbands or boyfriends when they get pregnant the pro-life movement shouldnt abandon them either. And by the Grace of God, I can say that we do not abandon them. There are over 600 Planned Parenthood locations committed to killing babies and hurting mothers in America. However, there are at least 2546 crisis pregnancy centers across the country. Meaning, for every Planned Parenthood location there are at least 4 crisis pregnancy centres. These centers are led and funded by Catholics and evangelicals, and they protect pregnant women suffering from domestic violence, abandonment, drug addiction, financial hardship and more. They offer women free pregnancy tests, counseling, baby and maternity clothes, adoption information, parenting recourses, financial assistance, housing, and more. Like every good social movement, of course the pro-life movement could be better than what it is today. Just as we could do more to protect babies, we could do more to protect mothers too. However, considering the number of crisis pregnancies centers pregnancies in America, especially compared to Planned Parenthood locations and considering the increasingly strong pro-life bills across America, including the news that the Supreme Court is apparently set to revoke Roe v. Wade: the pro-life movement is doing extraordinarily well, despite overwhelming opposition. The pro-life movement protects mothers and babies from people who want to strip them from the wonderful bond between a mother and her child so yes, the pro-life movement helps mothers. Originally published at Slow to Write. Why abortion is a Gospel issue In the past few days, thousands of pro-choice people are marching in favor of the so-called right to choose because of the leak of a looming Supreme Court decision regarding abortion. Many believe this leak was perpetrated by a Supreme Court clerk or insider who wanted to garner widespread backlash with the hope of influencing the courts decision before the final vote. Many on the left are also trying to incite a frenzy of fear by saying that some of the justices on the court will soon attempt to overturn interracial and same-sex marriage. These two far-fetched scenarios are attempting to connect Supreme Court conservative judges to racism and bigotry (fomenting even more popular protests). The Supreme Court is now under tremendous pressure and likely more divided than ever between those who hold more of a progressive view and those with a conservative ideology. I.E., As a contrast to Judge Alitos leaked opinion, last year, his colleague, Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor, compared an unborn child to a brain-dead adult who merely responds to stimuli. This devaluation of human life is horrific, especially coming from somebody who sits on the highest court of the United States! In my opinion, most reasonable citizens on both the left and right side of the political spectrum agree that racism is abhorrent, however anti-racists who are pro-choice compromise when it comes to human life. Furthermore, in the past, I found it interesting that a pro-choice person, like the former governor of Virginia, Ralph Northam, said that he approved abortion up until the time of birth. This same governor had pictures of himself, in his college yearbook, depicted in BlackFace and another of him wearing a KKK hood. Not coincidentally, Planned Parenthoods founder, Margaret Sanger, was an avowed White Eugenicist. She started abortion clinics in Black communities and openly said she wanted to exterminate the Jewish and Black races. Margaret Sanger said, We dont want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population, and the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members. Planned Parenthood, through the years, was also caught in recorded telephone conversations admitting their racist tendencies against minorities. (To know more about the racist history of Planned Parenthood, read this article in The Washington Times.) Anti-racism and the pro-life cause go hand in hand. An accurate and consistent sanctity of life position has to include both the values of pre-birth and post-birth (respect, dignity, and protection for all people) if it will be legitimate. Historically, the Church has always been pro-life. This is proved by some of the earliest extra-biblical documents such as Didache, the epistle of Barnabas, and the writings of some great church fathers, like Tertullian, Cyprian, Athenagoras the Athenian, and more. Galatians 3:28 makes it clear that for believers there is no such thing as class or gender discrimination since we are all one in Christ. Additionally, since humankind is made in the image of God, as His crown jewel of creation, God forbids the murder of another human being (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 8, Genesis 9:5-6). Scripture says God hates the shedding of innocent blood. Who can be more innocent than a pre-birth human? He even forbids the murder of a human being in His top ten list of commandments (Proverbs 6:17, Exodus 20:13). Hence, to devalue human life with ideologies and activities that promulgate racism, sex trafficking, slavery, abuse, or abortion, is contrary to the Gospel since Jesus took upon Himself human flesh (not the flesh of an animal or nature of an angel) to save us (John 1:14, Hebrews 2:14). Consequently, it is impossible to have a true Gospel without Jesus adorning a flesh and blood human body. This means that if there was no incarnation (Jesus becoming human), there could be no cross. Without the cross, we have no Gospel. It is also not a coincidence that the first act of worship concerning Jesus Advent came from a babe in the womb (Luke 1: 41-44). It is also interesting that Elizabeth blessed the fruit in Marys womb. She referred to Mary as the mother of my Lord while Jesus was still in the pre-birth stage. She viewed a pre-birth baby, Jesus, as her Lord. I contend that we cannot separate abortion and the pro-life position from the Gospel. God made humans in His image and likeness, and Jesus innocent blood was shed to redeem believers (Genesis 1:28). Therefore, the shedding of innocent human blood is an affront to God because His Sons precious blood was spilled to save the life of fallen humanity. Considering the above, it is a gross misapprehension of the nature of the Gospel when someone considers abortion a very political issue and not a Gospel issue. Those with this view fail to understand that when we objectify a post-birth human with sex trafficking, slavery, abuse, racism, or treat an unborn human baby as a mere blob of flesh or fetus, we devalue Jesus humanity. We treat the blood of the Covenant as a common thing, and we undervalue the price He paid to save us. Truly, both abortion and racism are Gospel issues that should obligate all believers to stand up for the sacredness of human life. In conclusion, the implications of this pro-life Gospel should profoundly affect both our internal convictions and public positions, or else the Gospel has no practical application, and the Church cannot function as the Salt and Light of the world. Indeed, abortion is both a Gospel issue and a policy issue which then incontrovertibly connects both faith and politics. Hyundai Experimentation is part of innovation . Sometimes it is necessary to put on the table ideas that may seem strange or impossible in order to create something new and different. In 2019, Hyundai presented a concept under the name of Elevate that attracted attention at the time: a vehicle with folding and articulated robotic legs that are also equipped with tires, which would allow it to advance on practically any type of terrain. In 2021, the South Korean company presented TIGER , another concept vehicle with characteristics very similar to those of the Elevate , but designed to transport equipment and not passengers, in addition to the fact that it can be attached to a module with blades that would allow it to fly. Through a statement, Hyundai announced that it has opened a laboratory within the Montana State University (MSU) , located in the city of Bozeman, to advance the development of technology and make vehicles a reality. The company plans to invest $20 million and employ 50 researchers for the project. Cryptocurrency is rapidly rising around the globe, and the Permian Basin is playing an increasing role in the technology. Bitcoin a cryptocurrency created in 2009 mining utilizes a lot of computing power and electricity, and Permian Basin natural gas is increasingly utilized to power those computers. In fact, bitcoin mining has grown so significantly in the Permian Basin over the last six months that the Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance (MOTRAN) Wednesday held a workshop on the subject. Kat Galloway, chief executive officer of Artemis Energy and founder of Bright Sky Environmental, told a packed auditorium at the Petroleum Museum that the two industries work well together because they solve each others problems. Bitcoin needs energy, oil and gas operators need to reduce their emissions, she said. She explained that instead of flaring the natural gas, it could be put to use generating electricity for other purposes, such as bitcoin mining. That natural gas can be used to power equipment on site, a concept that is not new, Galloway said. What is new is what we do with that power, which is bitcoin mining. She estimated that using oilfield gas for bitcoin mining -- instead of flaring it -- reduces volatile organic compound emissions by 98 percent, carbon monoxide emissions by 69 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions by 43 percent and greenhouse gas emissions in the form of carbon dioxide equivalents by 28 percent. By using flared gas to reduce emissions, bitcoin mining can be pollution abatement, she said, adding that if the infrastructure is designed properly, it provides real and credible emissions reduction for operators. It is also a revenue generator for operators, she said, estimating bitcoin mining generates $10 to $30 per Mcf in revenue. Cole Harrison, business development manager for Baseline Energy Services, a rental provider of natural gas generators across the country, said bitcoin miners have been using his companys larger generators for their operations. For oil and gas producers to effectively partner with bitcoin miners, Harrison said they need to provide a consistent supply of gas and room on well pads for the generators. Off-grid mining utilizes flared gas, stranded gas or excess gas to power their operations. Were seeing operators wanting to diversify and delegate some of their gas production to bitcoin miners, he said. Not only does bitcoin mining reduce emissions but creates jobs for pumpers, information technology specialists, electricians and construction workers who need to extend well pads, Harrison said. It also provides new revenue streams in terms of increased royalties and production taxes. Education in the Permian Basin as well as the city of Midland could benefit as bitcoin mining expands and matures in the region, said Paul Cockerham, who currently manages Fortress Energys operated assets as operations engineer and Verde Minings flare gas bitcoin mining. Bitcoin mining could attract highly-skilled workers to Midland and drive innovation, Cockerham said. It could also help area schools Midland College and the University of Texas Permian Basin attract research grants and projects. Focusing on education, Cockerham said he wants to start touting the benefits to high school students before they head to college. If theyre able to study the technology at local schools, he said, they may stay and build their careers. Cockerham also sees tax benefits through tax abatements for those who use natural gas to power mining operations, such as those offered in Wyoming. He predicted that could bring about an end to gas severance taxes. Midland will also have a cleaner environment lower emissions, better air quality, less light pollution. When I first moved here, I could see stars, he said. A former Alabama jail official on the run with a murder suspect she was accused of helping escape shot and killed herself Monday as authorities caught up with the pair after more than a week of searching, officials said. The man she fled with surrendered. The death of Vicky White, 56, only deepened the mystery of why a respected jail official would leave everything to help free Casey White, 38, a hulking inmate with a violent and frightening history. The two fugitives were caught following a manhunt through three states in Evansville, Indiana, when U.S. Marshals chasing them crashed into their vehicle, authorities said. Casey White gave himself up and Vicky White shot herself and was taken to a hospital, authorities said. Vanderburgh County Coroner Steve Lockyear said she died from her injuries. Before Vicky Whites death, authorities celebrated the fugitives apprehension. We got a dangerous man off the street today. He is never going to see the light of day again. That is a good thing, for not just our community. Thats a good thing for our country, Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton of Alabama said. The manhunt began April 29 when Vicky White, the assistant director of corrections for the jail in Lauderdale County, allegedly helped engineer the escape of Casey White, who was awaiting trial in a capital murder case. Vicky White had told co-workers she was taking the inmate from the jail for a mental health evaluation at the courthouse, but the two, who are not related, instead fled the area. The car they took off in was later found abandoned in Tennessee, but there was no trace of the pair until U.S. Marshals received a tip Sunday that surveillance photos from an Evansville car wash showed a man who closely resembled Casey White exiting a 2006 Ford F-150 pickup truck, the Marshals Service said. White stands 6 feet, 9 inches (2.06 meters) tall and weighs about 260 pounds (118 kilograms). On Monday, officials learned that the pair was spotted near the sheriffs office, said Vanderburgh County Sheriff Dave Wedding in Indiana. As officers arrived, the pair fled in a vehicle and led police on a pursuit, he said. U.S. Marshals collided with them to try to end the pursuit, he said. Casey White was injured, not too seriously, in the crash and Vicky White then shot herself, causing very serious injuries, he said. Were lucky that no law enforcement was injured, no innocent civilians were injured, the pursuit was short in nature and we have both people in custody, Wedding said. Casey White was serving a 75-year prison sentence for attempted murder and other charges at the time of his escape. He was awaiting trial in the stabbing of a 58-year-old woman during a burglary in 2015. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. Federal and local law enforcement officials have also learned Casey White threatened to kill his former girlfriend and his sister in 2015 and said that he wanted police to kill him, the Marshals Service said. A warrant was issued on May 2 for Vicky Sue White charging her with permitting or facilitating escape in the first degree. Before her death was announced, the Alabama sheriff said he hoped to get answers from his once trusted jail employee about her actions but acknowledged those answers might not come. I had every bit of trust in Vicky White. She has been an exemplary employee. What in the world provoked her, prompted her to pull a stunt like this? I dont know. I dont know if well ever know, Singleton said. Vicky Whites family members and co-workers said they were stunned by her involvement. Singleton said it appeared the plan had been in the works for some time. Jail inmates said the two had a special relationship and she gave Casey White better treatment than other inmates. In the past several months, she bought a rifle and a shotgun and also was known to have a handgun, U.S. Marshal Marty Keely said. She sold her house for about half of market value and bought a 2007 orange Ford Edge that she stashed at a shopping center without license plates. This escape was obviously well-planned and calculated. A lot of preparation went into this. They had plenty of resources, had cash, had vehicles, Singleton said. The escape happened on what Vicky White said was going to be her last day at work. She told co-workers that Casey White had a mental health evaluation at the courthouse, but none was scheduled. She did not have a second officer accompany them, which was against jail policy. Video showed the pair went from the jail to the shopping center, where they picked up the Ford and left, Singleton said. Their flight was not discovered for much of the day. Investigators believe the pickup truck Casey White had at the car wash was stolen in Tennessee and then driven about 175 miles (280 kilometers) to Evansville, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official could not discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. ___ Associated Press writer Ken Kusmer contributed from Indianapolis. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi(D-Calif.) slammed the US Supreme Court on Sunday for a draft ruling denoting the possible reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that upholds American women's right to abortion, saying it "slapped women in the face" as it diminishes their power to decide for their families. In an interview with "Face of the Nation," Speaker Pelosi said that the issue is "about something so serious and so personal and so disrespectful of women," per CBS News. "Here we are on Mother's Day, a week where the court has slapped women in the face in terms of disrespect for their judgments about the size and timing of their families," she said. Overturning a Landmark Decision on US Reproductive Health Written by Justice Samuel Alito and circulated among the justices in February, the draft opinion calls Roe v. Wade "egregiously wrong." If finalized in June, it would overrule that landmark decision and 1992's Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which reaffirmed Roe. The draft also said states could not enact regulations that impose an undue burden on a woman's right to an abortion before fetal viability. The Supreme Court acknowledged the draft opinion was authentic but noted it doesn't represent a decision by the court or the final position of any of its members. Pelosi's remarks came days after Politico disclosed a draft Supreme Court opinion in which a majority of justices voted to reverse Roe v. Wade. The Supreme Court has certified the leaked document was "genuine," but stressed that it was not the high court's final ruling. In anticipation of the Supreme Court overturning the almost 50-year-old rule, Democrats on Capitol Hill are hurrying to adopt legislation codifying Roe v. Wade. In September, the House passed legislation, but Senate Republicans rejected it in February. Read Also: Jill Biden Makes Surprise Visit to Ukraine in Show of Solidarity, Meets With First Lady Olena Zelenska Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) has stated that the bill will be voted on next week. However, the initiative is unlikely to succeed, as per a report from The Hill. Some Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom (D), are becoming upset by the lack of federal movement on abortion rights. The Supreme Court Cannot Be 'Bullied' In response to protests of reproductive-rights advocates, US Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas says the court cannot be intimidated into making a ruling that favors the preferences of some. "We can't be bullied into giving you just the outcomes you want," Thomas told a group of mostly lawyers and judges at the 11th Circuit Judicial Conference in Atlanta on Friday, per NBC News. The happenings after the controversial leakage of the high court's draft ruling are "a symptom" of such concern, according to the 73-year-old justice. "We are becoming addicted to wanting particular outcomes, not living with the outcomes we don't like," the associate justice said. According to NPR, Chief Justice John Roberts described the leak of the draft opinion as "absolutely appalling" at the same conference. The leak sparked a political whirlwind, with pro-abortion activists holding rallies outside the courtroom and around the country and an internal conflict at the country's highest court, which is probing the origin of the extraordinary leakage. Related Article: Mother of Former Miss USA Cheslie Kryst Opens Up About Daughter's Struggle With Depression @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. PHOENIX (AP) With anti-immigrant rhetoric bubbling over in the leadup to this year's critical midterm elections, about 1 in 3 U.S. adults believes an effort is underway to replace U.S.-born Americans with immigrants for electoral gains. About 3 in 10 also worry that more immigration is causing U.S.-born Americans to lose their economic, political and cultural influence, according to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Republicans are more likely than Democrats to fear a loss of influence because of immigration, 36% to 27%. Those views mirror swelling anti-immigrant sentiment espoused on social media and cable TV, with conservative commentators like Tucker Carlson exploiting fears that new arrivals could undermine the native-born population. In their most extreme manifestation, those increasingly public views in the U.S. and Europe tap into a decades-old conspiracy theory known as the great replacement, a false claim that native-born populations are being overrun by nonwhite immigrants who are eroding, and eventually will erase, their culture and values. The once-taboo term became the mantra of one losing conservative candidate in the recent French presidential election. I very much believe that the Democrats from Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, all the way down want to get the illegal immigrants in here and give them voting rights immediately, said Sally Gansz, 80. Actually, only U.S. citizens can vote in state and federal elections, and attaining citizenship typically takes years. A white Republican, Gansz has lived her whole life in Trinidad, Colorado, where about half of the population of 8,300 identifies as Hispanic, most with roots going back centuries to the regions Spanish settlers. Isnt it obvious that I watch Fox? quipped Gansz, who said she watches the conservative channel almost daily, including the top-rated Fox News Channel program Tucker Carlson Tonight, a major proponent of those ideas. Demographic change is the key to the Democratic Partys political ambitions, Carlson said on the show last year. In order to win and maintain power, Democrats plan to change the population of the country. Those views aren't held by a majority of Americans in fact, two-thirds feel the countrys diverse population makes the U.S. stronger, and far more favor than oppose a path to legal status for immigrants brought into the U.S. illegally as children. But the deep anxieties expressed by some Americans help explain how the issue energizes those opposed to immigration. I don't feel like immigration really affects me or that it undermines American values, said Daniel Valdes, 43, a registered Democrat who works in finance for an aeronautical firm on Florida's Space Coast. Im pretty indifferent about it all. Valdes' maternal grandparents came to the U.S. from Mexico, and he said he has tons of relatives in the border city of El Paso, Texas. He has Puerto Rican roots on his father's side. While Republicans worry more than Democrats about immigration, the most intense anxiety was among people with the greatest tendency for conspiratorial thinking. That's defined as those most likely to agree with a series of statements, like much of people's lives is "being controlled by plots hatched in secret places and big events like wars, recessions, and the outcomes of elections are controlled by small groups of people who are working in secret against the rest of us. In all, 17% in the poll believe both that native-born Americans are losing influence because of the growing population of immigrants and that a group of people in the country is trying to replace native-born Americans with immigrants who agree with their political views. That number rises to 42% among the quarter of Americans most likely to embrace other conspiracy theories. Alex Hoxeng, 37, a white Republican from Midland, Texas, said he found those most extreme versions of the immigration conspiracies a bit far-fetched but does believe immigration could lessen the influence of U.S.-born Americans. I feel like if we are flooded with immigrants coming illegally, it can dilute our culture, Hoxeng said. Teresa Covarrubias, 62, rejects the idea that immigrants are undermining the values or culture of U.S.-born Americans or that they are being brought in to shore up the Democratic voter base. She is registered to vote but is not aligned with any party. Most of the immigrants I have seen have a good work ethic, they pay taxes and have a strong sense of family, said Covarrubias, a second grade teacher in Los Angeles whose four grandparents came to the U.S. from Mexico. They help our country. Republican leaders, including border governors Doug Ducey of Arizona and Greg Abbott of Texas who is running for reelection this year have increasingly decried what they call an invasion, with conservative politicians traveling to the U.S.-Mexico border to pose for photos alongside former President Donald Trumps border wall. Vulnerable Democratic senators up for election this year in Arizona, Georgia, New Hampshire and Nevada have joined many Republicans in calling on the Biden administration to wait on lifting the coronavirus-era public health rule known as Title 42 that denies migrants a chance to seek asylum. They fear it could draw more immigrants to the border than officials can handle. U.S. authorities stopped migrants more than 221,000 times at the Mexican border in March, a 22-year high, creating a fraught political landscape for Democrats as the Biden administration prepares to lift Title 42 authority May 23. The pandemic powers have been used to expel migrants more than 1.8 million times since it was invoked in March 2020 on the grounds of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Newly arrived immigrants are barred from voting in federal elections because they arent citizens, and gaining citizenship is an arduous process that can take a decade or more if they are successful. In most cases, they must first obtain permanent residency, then wait five more years before they can apply for citizenship. Investigations have failed to turn up evidence of widespread voting by people who aren't eligible, including by non-citizens. For example, a Georgia audit of its voter rolls completed this year found fewer than 2,000 instances of non-citizens attempting to register and vote over the last 25 years, none of which succeeded. Blake Masters, a candidate for Senate in Arizona, is among the Republicans running for office this year who have played into anxieties about a changing population. What the left really wants to do is change the demographics of this country," he said in a video recorded in October. They want to do that so they can consolidate power so they can never lose another election. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 4,173 adults was conducted Dec. 1-23, 2021, using a combined sample of interviews from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population, and interviews from opt-in online panels. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 1.96 percentage points. The AmeriSpeak panel is recruited randomly using address-based sampling methods, and respondents later were interviewed online or by phone. The Jacksonville Public Library board of trustees is scheduled to meet in regular session at 5 p.m. today at the library, 201 W. College Ave. Among the items on the agenda are: RENO, Nev. (AP) Authorities have identified a man who died after drowning in Topaz Lake over the weekend. The Reno Gazette-Journal reports 32-year-old Jacques Jack Castaneda was confirmed Monday as Nevada's first boating-related death this year. KINSHASA, Congo (AP) Rebels in eastern Congo attacked a village near a mine in Ituri province, killing at least 52 people, government officials said. Fighters with the group known as CODECO attacked the town of Kablangete on Sunday, said Jean-Pierre Bikilisende, the mayor of Mongwalu, which is 7 kilometers (4 miles) away. In addition to those killed, 100 civilians were missing, Bikilisende said. Congo's government condemned the killings as a barbaric and cowardly act of CODECO terrorists on innocent populations," Congos Ministry of Communications said in a statement. The government said it is determined to restore peace in the region. At least 38 civilians, including women and children, were killed at the Blakete-Plitu mining site, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in New York, and more civilians were displaced and reported missing when the attackers set fire to the nearby Malika village, where they also reportedly raped six women." The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo evacuated severely injured civilians on Monday to medical facilities in Bunia in Ituri Province, Dujarric said. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Congolese authorities to investigate the incidents, bring those responsible to justice, and ensure the peacekeeping mission's immediate access to the area to facilitate efforts to protect civilians," Dujarric said. The U.N. chief urged all armed groups in Congo to stop attacking civilians, participate in the political process and lay down their arms, he said. Jean Ladis Maboso, an administrator in the affected area, called for justice. We condemn this killing of civilians. The militiamen executed civilians in the absence of security elements, he said. It is a criminal act that cannot go unnoticed. In February, CODECO fighters attacked the Djugu area and killed at least 60 people. Eastern Congo has been destabilized for years by attacks by several different rebel groups, including CODECO, that are vying for control of the mineral-rich area. The ongoing violence has prompted thousands of rural residents to flee their homes for safer areas. The latest attack comes a week after discussions were held in Kenya between the Congolese government and rebel movements to try to establish peace and stability in the area. ___ Associated Press writers Carley Petesch in Dakar, Senegal and Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report MENDON, Mass. (AP) A father and son leaving work at a Massachusetts restaurant died when their car was struck by a pickup truck and ended up submerged in a lake, authorities said. The victims of the crash in Mendon at about 10:30 p.m. Friday were identifed Sunday by the Worcester district attorney's office as Edwin A. Sosa Acevedo, 34, of Attleboro, and his son, Christian Sosa, 15. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MADISON, Wis. (AP) Police asked for the public's help in tracking down those who vandalized and threw two Molotov cocktails into the office of a prominent Wisconsin anti-abortion lobbying group's office that was damaged by fire. No one has been arrested and there are no suspects in custody in the fire that was discovered early Sunday morning when someone driving to Madison's nearby airport noticed flames coming from the office building, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes at a news conference Monday. The fire at the Wisconsin Family Action office came after two Catholic churches in Colorado, including one known for its annual anti-abortion display, were vandalized last week. And police said two Molotov cocktails were thrown at an anti-abortion organization Sunday night in a suburb of Salem, Oregon, after an unsuccessful attempt to break in. The leak last week of a draft opinion suggesting that the U.S. Supreme Court was on course to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide sparked protests across the country, including in Madison. Demonstrations included weekend protests by abortion rights supporters outside the homes of conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices, with more planned this week. One Molotov cocktail thrown into the Wisconsin Family Action office failed to ignite and the investigation is ongoing as to whether the second one did, the police chief said. The message If abortions arent safe then you arent either was spray-painted on the exterior of the building. No one was hurt, but Barnes said had someone been in the office it could have gone differently. Barnes said he was not aware of any threats to others, but he cautioned that the investigation could be lengthy. I do anticipate we will be able to solve this but we want to take our time to be sure we do it correctly," he said. Investigators from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the investigation. Barnes encouraged anyone who may have seen anything to contact police. Area businesses were also being contacted to see if they have any evidence or captured anything on surveillance cameras, he said. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is up for reelection in November, decried the attack Monday when asked about it at a groundbreaking event in a Madison suburb. It was a horrible, horrible incident, Evers said, adding that whoever is responsible "should be arrested and put on trial. This is unacceptable. Violence does not solve the issues were facing as a country, Evers said. The president of the lobbying group, Julaine Appling, said she believed the vandalism was a direct response to the leak of the court's draft opinion. She said this attack fails to frighten us, and instead steels the resolve of law-abiding, common-sense, every-day folks to stand up and push back. Wisconsin Family Action has been a prominent force in the state for years, advocating for laws to limit access to abortions, fighting to overturn Roe v. Wade and working on numerous other hot-button social issues. Politicians from both parties swiftly condemned the vandalism. Clinics that perform abortions have sometimes been targeted by vandals, too, including as recently as January when a Planned Parenthood clinic in Tennessee was hit by arson. ___ Associated Press writer Todd Richmond contributed to this report. ___ The story has been updated to correct that the fire at anti-abortion organization in Oregon was Sunday night. DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. (AP) A shooting killed three people and wounded three others Sunday at a condominium in suburban Atlanta, officials said. Three people died at the scene and two were taken to local hospitals in serious condition, after police responded at around 7 p.m. to a report of a person shot in DeKalb County, WSB-TV reported. Police said they found five shooting victims there, while the sixth showed up soon after a hospital, also in serious condition. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LAS VEGAS (AP) Las Vegas is being flooded with lore about organized crime after a second set of human remains emerged within a week from the depths of a drought-stricken Colorado River reservoir just a 30-minute drive from the notoriously mob-founded Strip. Theres no telling what well find in Lake Mead, former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said Monday. Its not a bad place to dump a body." Goodman, as a lawyer, represented mob figures including the ill-fated Anthony Tony the Ant Spilotro before serving three terms as a martini-toting mayor making public appearances with a showgirl on each arm. He declined to name names about who might turn up in the vast reservoir formed by Hoover Dam between Nevada and Arizona. Im relatively sure it was not Jimmy Hoffa, he laughed. But he added that a lot of his former clients seemed interested in climate control mob speak for keeping the lake level up and bodies down in their watery graves. Instead, the world now has climate change, and the surface of Lake Mead has dropped more than 170 feet (52 meters) since 1983. The lake that slakes the thirst of 40 million people in cities, farms and tribes across seven Southwestern states is down to about 30% of capacity. If the lake goes down much farther, its very possible were going to have some very interesting things surface, observed Michael Green, a University of Nevada, Las Vegas history professor whose father dealt blackjack for decades at casinos including the Stardust and the Showboat. I wouldnt bet the mortgage that were going to solve who killed Bugsy Siegel, Green said, referring to the infamous gangster who opened the Flamingo in 1946 on what would become the Strip. Siegel was shot dead in 1947 in Beverly Hills, California. His assassin has never been identified. But I would be willing to bet there are going to be a few more bodies, Green said. First, the dropping lake level exposed Las Vegas uppermost drinking water intake on April 25, forcing the regional water authority to switch to a deep-lake intake it completed in 2020 to continue to supply casinos, suburbs and 2.4 million residents and 40 million tourists per year. The following weekend, boaters spotted the decomposed body of a man in a rusted barrel stuck in the mud of newly exposed shoreline. The corpse has not been identified, but Las Vegas police say he had been shot, probably between the mid-1970s and the early 1980s, according to the shoes found with him. The death is being investigated as a homicide. A few days later, a second barrel was found by a KLAS-TV news crew, not far from the first. It was empty. On Saturday, two sisters from suburban Henderson who were paddle boarding on the lake near a former marina resort noticed bones on a newly surfaced sand bar more than 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) from the barrels. Lindsey Melvin, who took photos of their find, said they thought at first it was the skeleton of a bighorn sheep native to the region. A closer look revealed a human jaw with teeth. They called park rangers, and the National Park Service confirmed in a statement that the bones were human. There was no immediate evidence of foul play, Las Vegas police said Monday, and they are not investigating. A homicide probe would be opened if the Clark County coroner determines the death was suspicious, the department said in a statement. More bodies will be discovered, predicted Geoff Schumacher, vice president of The Mob Museum, a renovated historic downtown Las Vegas post office and federal building that opened in 2012 as The National Museum of Organized Crime & Law Enforcement. I think a lot of these individuals will likely have been drowning victims, Schumacher said, referring to boaters and swimmers whove never been found. But a barrel has a signature of a mob hit. Stuffing a body in a barrel. Sometimes they would dump it in the water. He and Green both cited the death of John Handsome Johnny Roselli, a mid-1950s Las Vegas mobster who disappeared in 1976 a few days before his body was found in a 55-gallon (208-liter) steel drum floating off the coast of Miami. David Kohlmeier, a former police officer who now co-hosts a Las Vegas podcast and fledgling TV show called The Problem Solver Show, said Monday that after offering a $5,000 reward last week for qualified divers to find barrels in the lake, he heard from people in San Diego and Florida willing to try. But National Park Service officials said that's not allowed, and that there are hundreds of barrels in the depths some dating to the construction of Hoover Dam in the 1930s. Kohlmeier said he also heard from families of missing people and about cases like a man suspected of killing his mother and brother in 1987, a hotel employee who disappeared in 1992, and a father from Utah who vanished in the 1980s. Youll probably find remains all throughout Lake Mead, Kohlmeier said, including Native Americans who were the area's earliest inhabitants. Green said the discoveries have people talking not only about mob hits, but about bringing relief and closure to grieving families. Not to mention the ever-growing white mineral markings on steep lake walls showing where water used to be. People will talk about this for the right reasons and the wrong reasons, the professor said. Theyre going to think were going to solve every mob murder. In fact, we may see some. "But its also worth remembering that the mob did not like murders to take place in the Las Vegas area, because they did not like bad publicity going out under the Las Vegas dateline. The right reason, Green said, is the visible evidence that the West has a serious water problem. "The bathtub ring around the lake is big and getting bigger, he said. Whatever story emerges about the body in the barrel, Goodman predicted it will add to the lore of a city that, with lake water, sprouted from a creosote bush-covered desert to become a marquee gambling mecca. When I was the mayor, every time I went to a ground breaking, Id begin to shake for fear that somebody I may have run into over the years will be uncovered, he said. We have a very interesting background," Goodman added. It certainly adds to the mystique of Las Vegas. ___ This story has been updated to correct that the Flamingo opened in 1946, not 1944. RENO, Nev. (AP) Republican Senate hopefuls Adam Laxalt and Sam Brown clashed Monday over Laxalts performance as chairman of then-President Donald Trumps 2020 campaign in Nevada and whether he did enough to combat voter fraud when he was attorney general. Few philosophical differences emerged between the two conservatives during an hour debate taped for broadcast this week on Nevada Newsmakers as they seek the GOP nomination to face Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto in November. At one point, Brown did voice opposition to outlawing same-sex marriages, something Laxalt has advocated in the past. The series of sharp exchanges came in the final minutes after Laxalt touted his record as Nevada attorney general from 2015-19 and current endorsements from Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and others. Brown then went on the offensive against the perceived front-runner in the GOP primary. Mr. Laxalt relies on endorsements because Nevadans cant rely on him, Brown said, listing "election integrity as an example of where he failed us. Calling that claim pretty comical, Laxalt said that as chairman of Trumps Nevada campaign he sounded every alarm imaginable as the Democrats radically altered our election. Unfortunately, they gave us a system that created the opportunity for fraud and made voters feel like we got a much less safe system, he said. He said the secretary of state, not attorney general, is responsible for investigating voter fraud in Nevada. Brown said that while Laxalt was attorney general he knew that non-citizens registered to vote and voted in Nevada elections. When President Trump, Nevadans and Americans were relying on you to be the one to challenge any sort of issues in the 2020 election, the only thing you did was file a lawsuit, that by your own admission was late, Brown told him. Nevadans deserve better and you need to be honest about your record. Laxalt then took a swipe at Browns decision to move to Nevada after he lost a state legislative primary in Texas in 2014. Sam, you need to be honest with the voters, Laxalt said. You were running in Texas and living in Texas when you are accusing me of not doing these things I never had power to do. Laxalt said Trump endorsed him because he knows I did the best I possibly could standing up for our election. He said Democratic Gov. Steve Sisolak and the Democratic-controlled Legislature changed the rules for voter registration and unfortunately, there was nothing much we could do about that. Laxalt described himself as a co-chair of the campaign who was not in charge of litigation. That was the Trump campaign they hired lawyers, they filed the lawsuits, he said. Brown countered: As the chairman of the Trump campaign, at what point do you accept responsibility for the lack of lawyers performing or the failure of lawsuits to be filed on time? Laxalt said it was a national effort coordinated by the Republican National Committee. They got caught flat-footed, and we simply did not get the resources that we needed here, he said. Brown said it showed a lack leadership that underscored Laxalts refusal to take responsibility for his actions. Nevadans deserve better. We are not going to settle for people who blame everyone else when they fail, he said. Both candidates are U.S. military veterans. Laxalt, the grandson of the late Nevada Gov. and U.S. Sen. Paul Laxalt, served in Iraq. Brown served in Afghanistan, where his face was badly burned in an explosion. Both criticized the Biden administration's handling of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and said they would not send U.S. troops there. On social issues, each described himself as pro-life. Moderator Sam Shad asked whether they thought the recent leak of the draft Supreme Court opinion suggesting the justices might overturn abortion rights under Roe v. Wade could also eventually bring an end to same-sex marriages. Laxalt said it was a hypothetical question that Democrats were trying to capitalize on in an effort to divide Americans, but declined to say whether hed support such a move. Brown said he didnt think there was any chance that would happen, but that the broader question is why is government in the business of marriage to begin with? I think this is what Americans are tired of: A government that wants to get further and further involved in peoples lives, he said. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville held commencement exercises in the Vadalabene Centers First Community Arena on Friday and Saturday with ceremonies honoring thousands of eligible graduates. Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Denise Cobb, PhD, conferred degrees on graduates from the Graduate School, as well as the Schools of Business; Nursing; and Education, Health and Human Behavior on Friday. She also led the conferral of degrees Saturday for the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the School of Engineering (SOE) on Saturday. At the 9 a.m. ceremony Saturday, CAS student speaker Josie Pauley, who earned a bachelors in applied communication studies, encouraged graduates to live in the now and make the most of every moment. Live in your own present, she said. Once we master the process of living in the present and focusing on ourselves, the possibilities that surround us are truly endless. Having crossed the commencement stage 50 or more years ago, Class of 2022 Golden Graduates were honored. Cobb referenced the speech given by U.S. Senator Charles H. Percy at the Golden Graduates commencement ceremony in June 1972. I would like to read you a few excerpts from his speech, which still hold true today, Cobb said. Remember that the most precious gift you have is the right to be a free citizen in a free society. Use that freedom to participate, to shape, to influence and to count to the fullest. Much of my faith in the future of our country stems from my belief that you will maintain your commitment to participate and to encourage others to participate. Elizabeth Semande served as the student speaker during the noon CAS ceremony. Semande received a bachelors in geography and anthropology. Following graduation, she will serve as a geospatial analytical intern with Maxar Technologies. In the past four years I can definitely say that my life has changed, she said. All of ours have. The world changed before we were ready for it. We had to persevere and adapt more times than we can count. Weve proven that we can persevere through trying times and continue pushing toward our goals. I am confident we will succeed and create a positive future for ourselves and others as we become engaged citizens of the world through our hard work, kindness, creativity, innovation, inclusion and a love for learning. During the 4 p.m. SOE ceremony, Dean Cem Karacal, PhD, recognized the schools dual diploma programs with Istanbul Technical University and Changshu Institute of Technology, which offer students from Turkey and South Korea a chance to study for two years in the United States. Madison House earned a bachelors in electrical and computer engineering and represented SOE graduates as the student speaker. This class can achieve anything we put our minds to, and we can use our creative and innovative ideas, technological skill sets, and strategic management abilities to build a better future, House said. Fellow graduates, never stop putting one foot in front of the other, because your story is not over yet. This is just the beginning of an incredible road ahead. House has secured a position as an associate electrical engineer at the Callaway Nuclear Power Plant with Ameren Missouri. She will be pursuing a masters in electrical and computer engineering at SIUE. At 9 a.m. Friday, Colin Boysen served as the student speaker during the School of Business ceremony. Boysen was an active member of multiple student organizations, taking on leadership roles and recruiting new members. When the pandemic hit, Boysen led the development of the Cougar Connectors peer mentoring program to support first-year students. Next, he will pursue law school at the Chicago-Kent College of Law. Your degree represents your grit and determination to succeed in spite of a pandemic, Boysen said. Ahead of you lies an uncertain world. What does it mean to graduate with a business degree in 2022? It means you have proven that you can adapt and overcome. You are prepared for changes and will succeed in the business world despite any obstacles ahead. The future awaits. Congratulations! During the School of Nursings noon ceremony, awards were presented to Demarco Brownlee and Kaylie Rhoades for their student leadership. Tami Tutor was recognized for her outstanding contributions to community service. Student speaker James Clancy received a doctor of nursing practice in the Nurse Anesthesia program. Clancy earned a bachelors in nursing from SIUE in 2015, and worked as a registered nurse in both a cardiothoracic intensive care unit and a childrens emergency department before returning to pursue his doctoral degree. He will begin his career as a nurse anesthetist with South County Anesthesia Associates at Mercy Hospital South in St. Louis. We have all engaged in countless hours of studying, completed many exams, and provided high quality care to patients during clinical rotations, Clancy said. You completed all of this to establish yourselves among the most trusted professionals in the world. The University honored Distinguished Service Award recipient Shirley Portwood, PhD, during its 4 p.m. ceremony for all Graduate School graduates. Portwood is a professor emerita of history at SIUE, longtime educator and a former SIU Board of Trustees member. I am honored to receive this Distinguished Service Award, Portwood said. I thank those who mentored and supported me over the years, including my family and my parents, who insisted that all of their children go to college and become professionals. Much of my service has been inspired by the examples that I saw growing up in various communities, she continued. At an early age, we learned the importance of community. Everyone helped everyone else without expecting reciprocity. We didnt know the term pay it forward at that time, but thats what we did. Experiences at SIUE reinforced that pay it forward ideology. Faculty encouraged me to soar higher than I had originally aimed. My service has been defined by those who have surrounded, nurtured and inspired me. Now a three-time alumna of SIUE, student speaker Charity Eugea earned a doctorate in educational leadership. Eugea is an administrator for the Sparta Community Unit School District. Perspective is a powerful tool, she said. It can be the lens through which we view the glass as half empty or half full, the sky as partly cloudy or partly sunny, or as a chance to fail or succeed. As graduate students weve learned how to challenge our thinking, go beyond our understanding of the facts, and truly understand the power of perspective. Fridays series of ceremonies concluded with a celebration of School of Education, Health and Human Behavior graduates. During the ceremony, Cobb conferred a doctor of humane letters on Henry L. Roediger III, PhD, an honor bestowed upon individuals who have made a profound impact on SIUE. He serves as the James S. McDonnell Distinguished Professor of psychology at Washington University. Roediger, a world-renowned cognitive scientist, has studied human learning and memory for the past 50 years. Carmen Cornejo, who is earning a bachelors in elementary education, served as the student speaker. Now, Cornejo will begin teaching fifth grade at Maplewood Richmond Heights Elementary in St. Louis while pursuing a masters in education at SIUE. All ceremonies were streamed live on siue.edu/tv. For the first time since the South Pacific island inked a security treaty with China, Australia's foreign minister spoke with her Solomon Islands colleague, raising worries about Beijing's advance on Australia's border. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said she met Solomon Islands Development Planning and Aid Coordination Minister Jeremiah Manele in Brisbane, Australia's east coast capital, on Friday night when he was transiting through the airport. China-Australia Tension Over Solomon Islands According to Payne's office, the two agreed that Australia would remain the Solomon Islands' preferred security partner and that no foreign military facility would be located within 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) of Australia's northeast coast. Should the Solomon Islands' pact with China constitutes a danger to US or partner interests, the US has threatened to take unspecified measures against them. Manasseh Sogavare, the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, told Parliament this week that opponents of the China security deal had threatened his country with invasion. In accordance with Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said the two ministers had a very good session. According to Tehan, a Chinese station in the Solomon Islands is not in the region's best interests. In the May 25 elections, Morrison's coalition is seeking a remarkable fourth three-year term. Morrison hailed the conference as a vindication of Australia's regional leadership, as per Washington Post. Morrison and his ministers have been attempting to portray Labor opponents as soft on China since early this year. According to the Straits Times, Morrison's Liberal-National administration said that the opposition party was unable to protect Australia's interests in the acrimonious disputes that have erupted between Canberra and Beijing over the previous five years. The Australian Foreign Minister met with her Solomon Islands colleague and expressed grave concerns about China's security agreement with the island nation. In a statement, Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne stated, "Australia has been consistent and clear in expressing our support for the Solomon Islands' sovereign decision-making, but we have reaffirmed our significant concerns about the security deal with China, notably the lack of transparency." Read Also: Italy Reportedly Freezes Putin's $700M Yacht as Ukraine Destroys Another Russian Ship Australia Prepares For Federal Election Following the publication of the proposed pact's terms, Australian Minister for International Development and the Pacific Zed Seselja traveled to Honiara, Solomon Islands' capital, on April 12 to unsuccessfully request that the government withdraw it. Despite China's repeated denials of ambitions to militarize the Solomon Islands, security analysts remain suspicious of Beijing's motives, as per Big News Network. Meanwhile, Jac, a Chinese-Australian accountant, considered recent election advertisements with the tagline CCP urges Vote Labor being pushed by trucks throughout Australia to be exceedingly foolish. The massive advertisements depict Chinese President Xi Jinping voting and refer to the Communist Party of China. They were intended at the Australian government's adversary, the Labor party, for being soft on Beijing, and were funded by lobbying organizations Advance Australia. In contrast, as Australia prepares to vote in a federal election on May 21, the government has made being strong on China a campaign slogan. According to Jac, the advertisement was more about the shallowness of Australian politicians and lobby organizations than about "threats" from China, such as war. He also bemoaned the government's failure to protect Australia's interests through diplomacy and collaboration with regional partners as he put it. Many Chinese-Australians laughed when they saw the advertisement, according to Jac. "What's more, it sent voters mixed messages," according to the report, which also "reflected poorly on Australian officials," who "were blindly following the US's anti-China approach," South China Morning Post via MSN reported. Related Article: China: Xi Jinping Issues Strong Warning to Doubters, Haters of Strict COVID-19 Policy @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) The Mississippi Department of Human Services on Monday sued retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre and three former pro wrestlers along with several other people and businesses to try to recover millions of misspent welfare dollars that were intended to help some of the poorest people in the U.S. The lawsuit says the defendants squandered" more than $20 million in money from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families anti-poverty program. The suit was filed less than two weeks after a mother and son who ran a nonprofit group and an education company in Mississippi pleaded guilty to state criminal charges tied to the misspending. Nancy New, 69, and Zachary New, 39, agreed to testify against others in what state Auditor Shad White has called Mississippis largest public corruption case in the past two decades. In early 2020, Nancy New, Zachary New, former Mississippi Department of Human Services executive director John Davis and three other people were charged in state court, with prosecutors saying welfare money had been misspent on items such as drug rehabilitation in Malibu, California, for former pro wrestler Brett DiBiase. DiBiase is a defendant in the lawsuit filed Monday in Hinds County Circuit Court, as are his father and brother who were also pro wrestlers, Ted DiBiase Sr. and Ted Teddy DiBiase Jr. Ted DiBiase Sr. was known as the The Million Dollar Man while wrestling. He is a Christian evangelist and motivational speaker, and he ran Heart of David Ministries Inc., which received $1.7 million in welfare grant money in 2017 and 2018 for mentorship, marketing and other services, according to the lawsuit. White last year demanded repayment of $77 million of misspent welfare funds from several people and groups, including $1.1 million paid to Favre, who lives in Mississippi. Favre has not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing. White said Favre was paid for speeches but did not show up. Favre has repaid the money, but White said in October that Favre still owed $228,000 in interest. In a Facebook post when he repaid the first $500,000, Favre said he did not know the money he received came from welfare funds. He also said his charity had provided millions of dollars to poor children in Mississippi and Wisconsin. Months ago, the auditor's office turned over the demands for repayment of misspent welfare money to the Mississippi attorney general's office for enforcement. White said in a statement Monday that he knew the attorney general's office eventually would file suit. I applaud the team filing this suit and am grateful the state is taking another step toward justice for the taxpayers, White said. "We will continue to work alongside our federal partners who have been given access to all our evidence for more than two years to make sure the case is fully investigated. The lawsuit filed Monday said Favre at one time was the largest individual outside investor and stockholder of Prevacus, a Florida-based company that was trying to develop a concussion drug. The suit said that in December 2018, Favre urged Prevacus CEO Jake VanLandingham to ask Nancy New to use welfare grant money to invest in the company. The suit also said Favre hosted a Prevacus stock sales presentation at his home in January 2019, attended by VanLandingham, Davis, Nancy New, Zach New and Ted DiBiase Jr., and that an agreement was reached to spend substantial welfare grant money in Prevacus and later in its corporate affiliate PreSolMD Inc. The suit said the stock was in the names of Nancy New and Zach New but was also for the financial benefit of Favre, VanLandingham and the two companies. The lawsuit demands repayment of $2.1 million in welfare grant money that was improperly paid to the two companies in 2019. The Associated Press on Monday called a number once listed for Favre Enterprises and a recording said it was no longer in service. Attorney General Lynn Fitch and Gov. Tate Reeves said in a joint statement Monday: Our purpose with this suit is to seek justice for the broken trust of the people of Mississippi and recover funds that were misspent. Davis was chosen to lead the Department of Human Services in 2016 by then-Gov. Phil Bryant who, like Reeves, Fitch and White, is a Republican. Davis retired in July 2019 and is awaiting trial on criminal charges in the misspending. Brett DiBiase pleaded guilty in December 2020 to one count of making a false statement. He said in court documents that he had submitted documents and received full payment for work he did not complete. He agreed to pay $48,000 in restitution and his sentencing was deferred. NELIGH, Neb. (AP) State law enforcement officials are investigating a police shooting in northeastern Nebraska that police said occurred as an officer was being dragged by a car he had pulled over. The shooting happened Sunday afternoon following reports of a road rage incident on U.S. Highway 275 that led to a disturbance involving people in those vehicles in a Neligh convenience store parking lot, the Nebraska State Patrol said in a news release. BANGKOK (AP) Police in northeastern Thailand have arrested a forest-dwelling self-proclaimed holy man whose followers allegedly worshipped corpses and consumed bodily fluids as a cure for sickness, officials said Monday. There were chaotic scenes as officers raided the thatched house of 75-year-old Thawee Nanra on Sunday deep in a jungle in Chaiyaphum province. Supporters screamed and jostled with police as the bearded, shirtless white-haired man was led to a police vehicle. Police said they found 11 corpses on the premises and local media said they were believed to be the bodies of his followers. Provincial Gov. Kraisorn Kongchalad said Thawee had at least a dozen followers living with him. Coffins containing bodies were scattered around the house. Devotees reportedly told authorities that the leaders urine and phlegm were believed to be cures for diseases. Kraisorn said he was shocked to discover such practices still went on in the modern age. Its quite disturbing to see that there are people who believe in such superstition. But this is not only about a personal belief anymore. We have dead bodies, and we will have to work with all agencies to establish facts surrounding these individuals," he said by phone. Thailands population is overwhelming Buddhist, but many people hold beliefs outside the religion, such as the worship of local spirits and fear of ghosts. The authorities believe the group existed for more than four years without anyone noticing because the location of the leaders house was in a remote forest area, away from other communities. But their anonymity ended after a daughter of one of the followers complained to a social media celebrity whose specialty is exposing unscrupulous religious figures. Thawee was initially charged with encroaching on a forest area -- his house was said to be on public land -- and illegal gatherings prohibited under disease control laws that have been used in the past two years to battle the coronavirus. Local media reported that he was denied bail on Monday. Police say they are looking into other charges, including unlawful disposal of bodies. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WARSAW, Poland (AP) Russia's ambassador to Poland was splattered with red paint thrown at him by protesters opposed to the war in Ukraine, preventing him from paying respects on Monday at a Warsaw cemetery to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the attack, saying that we wont be scared while the people of Europe should be scared to see their reflection in a mirror. Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau described the incident as highly deplorable. Diplomats enjoy special protection, regardless of the policies pursued by the governments that they represent, he said. Ambassador Sergey Andreev arrived at the Soviet soldiers' cemetery to lay flowers on Victory Day, which marks the defeat of Nazi Germany by the Allies. The major Russian patriotic holiday was celebrated with pomp in a parade at Red Square in Moscow. As he arrived at the Soviet Military Cemetery in the Polish capital, Andreev was met by hundreds of activists opposed to Russias war in Ukraine. Red paint was thrown from behind at him before a protester standing beside him threw a big blob of it in his face. The protesters carried Ukrainian flags and chanted "fascists and murderers at him, while some were dressed in white sheets smeared with red, symbolizing the Ukrainian victims of Russias war. Other people in his entourage were also seen splattered with what appeared to be red paint. Zakharova said that admirers of the neo-Nazis have once again shown their face. She said that along with the removal of monuments to Soviet army World War II heroes, the attack reflected the course for the reincarnation of fascism. Some Russian commentators suggested that the attack on the ambassador could prompt Moscow to recall him and ask the Polish ambassador to leave Russia. The Polish government faced some criticism for not providing the ambassador with more security, allowing for an incident to occur that Russia could use to depict Poland as hostile to Moscow. Among the critics was a former interior minister, Bartlomiej Sienkiewicz, who said he couldn't understand why there wasn't more protection for the ambassador when for weeks you could feel how May 9 could end in Warsaw. Polands current interior minister, however, said Polands government opposed the ambassador against laying a wreath at the cemetery, and noted that police helped him to safely leave the scene. The ambassador had originally hoped to hold a Victory Day march in Warsaw, but national and city authorities opposed that and some viewed his appearance at the cemetery as provocative. The gathering of opponents of Russian aggression against Ukraine, where the crime of genocide takes place every day, was legal, Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski added. The emotions of Ukrainian women taking part in the demonstration, whose husbands are fighting bravely in defense of their homeland, are understandable. Protesters also marched in Warsaw on Sunday evening to protest the war, bringing a tank on a tractor and parking it in front of the Russian Embassy. Since the war began on Feb. 24, images of Ukrainian tractors hauling off Russian tanks have been symbols of Ukrainian resistance. The Soviet cemetery is set amid a vast park on the route linking the downtown to the international airport. It is the final resting place of more than 20,000 Red Army soldiers who perished on Polish soil fighting while helping to defeat Nazi Germany. While Poland has removed some monuments to the Red Army in the decades since it threw off Moscow-backed communist rule, it has allowed the cemetery to remain undisturbed. Though Soviet soldiers defeated the Nazis, earlier in the war the Soviet forces had invaded Poland following a secret agreement with the German Nazi government, and carried out atrocities against Poles, including mass executions and deportations to Siberia. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. announced Monday that it is sanctioning five people accused of fundraising for the Islamic State group and using the funds to help traffic children to serve as fighters for the organization. U.S. Treasury says the actors are pivotal to helping extremists travel to Syria and other regions where IS operates. Dwi Dahlia Susanti and her accomplices are accused of facilitating money transfers from Indonesia, Turkey, and Syria, where the Treasury Department says Sustani used the funds to help smuggle teenage children out of the camps to the desert, where they were received by (IS) foreign fighters, likely as child recruits" for IS. The sanctions, imposed by the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control, block any property or other assets the individuals have in the U.S. and those who engage in business with the sanctioned people could receive secondary sanctions. The announcement comes just two days ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers from the global anti-IS coalition that is happening in Morocco on Wednesday. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had to cancel his plan to attend because he tested positive for COVID-19, but the U.S. will be represented by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, who is the third highest-ranking U.S. diplomat. Treasury says several of the individuals allegedly conducted a large portion of transfers through Syria-based refugee camps by collecting funds in Indonesia and Turkey, where some the funds were used to pay for smuggling children out of the camps and delivering them to (IS) foreign fighters as potential recruits, according to Treasury. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson said Treasury intends to expose and disrupt an international facilitation network that has supported (IS) recruitment, including the recruitment of vulnerable children in Syria. Of the roughly 40,000 foreign IS members identified in Iraq and Syria, 12 percent were children under the age of 18, according to a 2019 United Nations report. The United States, as part of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, is committed to denying (IS) the ability to raise and move funds across multiple jurisdictions," Nelson said in a news release. The U.S. government refers to the group as ISIS, which stands for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. __ Associated Press writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report. Ariana Garcia Residents of a southwest Houston neighborhood are looking for answers following a series of dumpings involving decapitated animals at an intersection in their area. Callie Markantonis told KPRC 2 said the incidents began several years ago and tend to occur every three or four months. Markantonis made the neighborhood's latest gruesome discovery at the intersection of Tanglewilde Street and Fairdale Lane Thursday evening. "It was 8 o'clock, and we were walking, and there's a box in the street," Markantonis told KPRC 2. "I go over to look in the box, there is newspaper. I spread the newspaper and I see fur. It was a goat and chicken in the box and both of them were headless." Tetra Images/Getty Images/Tetra images RF SPRING, Texas (AP) A 51-year-old Texas woman has been arrested on a murder charge after telling authorities that she shot her husband after he told her he was in love with another woman, a sheriff's office said. When deputies arrived Saturday morning at the home in Spring, just north of Houston, a man was inside with multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Harris County sheriff's office. At just 19-years-old, Hayley Taylor Schlitz is set to become the youngest law school graduate at Southern Methodist University and the youngest Black woman to graduate from law school in the nation. Three years ago, Schlitz who hails from Keller, Texas was accepted to nine law schools, according to an SMU news release. However, she chose to attend the university's Dedman School of Law in Dallas, and ultimately announced the decision on Good Morning America at the time. She told the hosts it was her school of choice because it was close to home and offered her a "nice" scholarship. While at Dedman, Schlitz flourished as an author, public speaker and advocate for "the issues students of color face in navigating gifted and talented programs in public schools," according to the university. Before college, Schlitz attended public school until the fifth grade when her parents decided to home school her. They were disappointed with the public school system as Schlitz struggled to be recognized as a gifted student. Racism Schlitz faced while in school also played a role in their decision, she told Essence. At the age of 13, Schlitz graduated from high school and attended Tarrant County College. She later transferred to Texas Woman's University where she graduated at the age of 16, becoming the youngest graduate on record from the university, according to her website. Schlitz told SMU that many girls and students of color are left out of gifted and talented programs. "Society will lose out on the potential scientist who cures a major disease, the entrepreneur who starts the next Amazon and so much more," Schlitz said, per SMU. "All because of their gender and/or skin color." Hailey stated that being homeschooled gave her more time to pursue the things she wanted to accomplish and inspired her to co-publish a book with mother, Dr. Myiesha Taylor, titled "The Homeschool Alternative: Incorporating a Homeschool Mindset for the Benefit of Black Children in America." The book details the mother and daughter's experience as a homeschooling family and provides resources to Black families. After she graduates on May 13, Schlitz plans to work on education policy issues with the goal of increasing opportunities for gifted and talented girls and students of color. She told Essence she would also like to become a law professor one day. "I really want to help students realize their potential even if they can't home-school," Schlitz told the Dallas Morning News in 2019. "I want to help families open their eyes to the opportunities that they don't even realize are there." The father of recently repatriated ex-Marine Trevor Reed has a bone to pick with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) following Reed's release from Russian custody last month. According to The Dallas Morning News' Emily Caldwell, in the course of praising other Texas politicians who Trevor's father Joey Reed says helped the family and worked for the release of their son during his detention in Russia, he recently made of point of condemning Cruz for not stepping up, publicly or otherwise. Trevor Reed was accused of drunkenly assaulting a Russian police officer in 2019, for which he spent two years in prison before being released in late April as part of a prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia. Joey Reed, a Granbury, Texas resident, recently thanked a number of state politicians including Sen. John Cornynwho notably pushed Biden's administration to have Trevor freed and sponsored a Senate resolution to that effect, which passed unanimously last yearas well as Reps. August Pfluger and Michael McCaul. But the frustrated father saved a a few choice barbs for Cruz, whom he said snubbed the family when it reached out for help shortly after their son's arrest. "[Cruz] didn't do anything," Joey Reed said. "He's an embarrassment to the state of Texas, let me just say that. I don't care what or who runs against him, I will work for their campaign to defeat that son of a b-tch." Per Caldwell, Cruz partially confirmed the Reed family's allegations in a statement claiming he was instructed not to speak publicly on Trevor's detention. "We were repeatedly advised by Administration officials that my taking a public role in this specific case would be counterproductive," Cruz said in a statement, "and that because of my role fighting to stop the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, leaders in Russia may well have linked the two issues." Cruz mechanically praised Trevor Reed's release on Twitter following the prisoner exchange, posting "Im relieved that Trevor Reed has been freed from his wrongful detention by Russia. This Marine will now be reunited with his family and get the medical treatment that he needs." Joey Reed maintains that the senator and his office ducked their pleas for public support and only reached out privately by phone once their son was freed. "I told [Cruz] right on the phone, I said, 'Where have you been for the last two and a half years?'" Joey Reed said. "I hit him point-blank: 'We are not appreciative.' He said, 'Well, anything I can do,' and I said 'We said we needed your help two and a half years ago, not now.'" Cruz's alleged hesitance to appeal publicly for Trevor Reed's release mirrors similar sentiments recently relayed to the friends and family of WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was detained by Russian authorities in February after allegedly carrying vape cartridges containing hashish oil with her through airport security in Moscow. The seven-time All-Star remains in custody awaiting a May 19 court date, and those close to her have said they've been instructed to not be too vocal concerning her arrest for fears of making the 31-year-old athlete a political pawnan appeal some advocacy groups claim only provides cover for inaction. Ramiro Rodriguez Jr. was reelected mayor of Palmhurst, Texas over the weekend. There's just one problem: Rodriguez Jr. has been dead for more than a month. The incumbent candidate defeated his opponent Israel Silva after receiving 329 votes to his challenger's 234 on Saturday, according to Valley Central. Rodriguez Jr. had previously held the position for 23 years until his death on April 5 at the age of 68. Having died after the deadline to remove candidates from the race, Rodriguez Jr.'s name remained on the ballot for voters' consideration, per Valley Cental. Texas election code states that if a deceased candidate's name has been certified by the secretary of state for placement on the ballot, then it cannot be removed without authorization. Following his death last month, Rodriguez Jr. was remembered for his service to the community of Palmhurst. The town of about 2,700 residents received numerous business advancements under his leadership, Valley Central reports. House Rep. Henry Cuellar announced Rodriguez Jr.'s death in an April 6 Facebook post. "Mayor Rodriguez served South Texas with pride and dignity during his many years of service as Mayor of Palmhurst," Cuellar wrote. "He was known as a passionate public servant and was a pillar of the community." Hidalgo County Republicans said in an April 7 Twitter post that Rodriguez Jr. will be missed. "Thank you for your unforgettable service to your community and your exceptional leadership within the grassroots," the post read. "The #RGV [Rio Grande Valley] has lost one of the greatest conservative leaders of our time." Silva, who left his seat on the council to run for mayor, called Rodriguez Jr. a "good person and a good human being" following his death. "He served his community proudly for many years," Silva told My RGV News. "I did learn a lot from him over the last 12 years being on the city council." Palmhurst officials will call a special election to elect a new mayor, Valley Central reports. Severe coronavirus could result in cognitive impairment that is equivalent to 20 years of aging or the loss of 10 IQ points, a recent study suggests. University of Cambridge and Imperial College London researchers published their findings in the journal eClinicalMedicine last week. The data they observed from 46 individuals who received care at a hospital for COVID-19 between March and July 2020 and compared them to a match control group. Cognitive Impairment of COVID-19 The researchers invited the patients and the control group six months after their stay in the hospital to undergo a computerized test to measure their memory, attention, and reasoning. They found that when comparing the two groups, the former, who had been hospitalized with COVID-19, were less accurate and displayed slower response times in the test. Dr. David Menon of the University of Cambridge, who is the senior author of the study, said in a news release published last Tuesday that cognitive impairment is common in a wide range of neurological disorders. This includes dementia and routine aging. However, he noted that the cognitive "fingerprint" of COVID-19 was unique, as per CTVNews. The individuals who previously got infected with the coronavirus infection scored especially poorly on verbal analogical reasoning. Furthermore, those who had severe cases of COVID-19 were found to be more likely to do poorly on such tests. Read Also: COVID-19 Deaths in the US Breach 1 Million Mark After Just 27 Months The study comes with mounting evidence that shows COVID-19 infection can cause long-term cognitive and mental health issues. This includes effects on recovered patients that reported symptoms of fatigue, "brain fog," difficulty recalling words, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) months after infection. According to SciTechDaily, in a separate study in the United Kingdom, researchers found that one in every seven people surveyed reported experiencing symptoms such as cognitive difficulties after 12 weeks from a positive COVID-19 test. Rigorous Study The recent study marks the first time that such a rigorous type of assessment and comparison has been carried out in relation to the long-term effects of severe coronavirus. The researchers compared the results of the patients to 66,008 members of the general public and estimated that the magnitude of cognitive loss was on average similar to what is experienced when aging from 50 to 70 years old. While the scores and reactions of the patients involved in the study began to improve over time, the researchers found that any recovery in cognitive faculties observed was at best gradual and likely to be influenced by a number of factors. This includes illness severity and its neurological or psychological impacts. Menon noted that it was highly probable that the effects on the individuals' cognitive functions may never fully recover. There are a number of factors that play a role in the observed effects of severe COVID-19, including bleeding, low oxygen or blood flow to the brain, clotting, and the body's own immune system. Despite the results of the study, there are still many questions left unanswered regarding the overall effects of the coronavirus infection on patients. Another study previously found that roughly 30% of COVID-19 patients were suffering from the effects of long-COVID, the Jerusalem Post reported. Related Article: COVID-19 Cases in US: Dr. Anthony Fauci Confirms 'Pandemic Phase' Is Over, But There's No End in Sight @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. When you hear the word "mansion," "bargain" isn't usually the next word that springs to mindjust think of places like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and the Hamptons, where 6,000-square-foot properties and multimillion-dollar price tags go hand and hand. But if you live on a budget and still harbor dreams of living large, fear not: Weve scoured the country for five mansions that look like a million bucksbut are all priced under seven figures. You might even have money left over to pop a bottle of Champagne. These listings are large, grand, and mostly over 100 years old. They're old-school lookers that might also require a touch-up here and there. But at these prices, you can budget for a face-lift and then reap the rewards of living in a huge home. Should we say less? If you're looking to go big on a budget, just look at these beautiful bargain mansions: Price: $799,900 Vibrant Victorian: Built in 1920, this grande dame offers period details across a whopping 10,596 square feet of living space. Original elements include handcrafted staircases, stained glass, wood carvings, gas fireplaces, and hardwood floors. You'll have space to entertain with formal dining and living rooms. Modern touches include a chef's kitchen with granite counters, two dishwashers, and a pantry. There's even a glassed-in swimming pool. Plus, with 11 bedrooms, theres plenty of space for a gym, office, or guests. Rossville, IN Realtor.com Price: $875,000 Elegant estate: This turn-of-the-century, 7,600-square-foot residence showcases original built-ins, wainscoting, beams, railing, and trim. The remodeled kitchen features stainless-steel appliances, granite counters, and double refrigerators. Along with six bedrooms and two bathrooms, theres room to expand in the attic and basement. The lovely grounds offer mature landscaping, a two-car garage, and an adjacent, buildable lot. Aberdeen, WA Realtor.com Price: $725,000 Maine masterpiece: This historic Southard House is priced to sell," according to the listing. Built around 1870, the 7,508-square-foot mansion has been restored multiple times over the decades. Most recently, it was converted into the Southard House Museum, complete with an observation room in the top-level turret. That spot affords you views of the Kennebec Bridge, Swan Island, Kennebec River, and downtown Main Street. It could be used as a multifamily home, a vacation rental, or a bed-and-breakfast. The carriage house on the property offers flexible space for an office, gym, storage space, or garage. There are a total of nine bedrooms and six bathrooms in the mansion and a half-bath in the carriage house. In addition, you'll find four kitchens, paved parking, and a studio apartment. Richmond, ME Realtor.com Price: $740,000 Bed-and-breakfast and beyond: This rare find from 1905 offers a step back in time. Most period details are still intact in this eight-bedroom mansion. Measuring over 7,800 square feet, this residence was once a private home and is currently operating as a bed-and-breakfast. The listing suggests it could be used as a rental property or wedding venue. Though, a buyer could convert it back into a dream home. The price tag should allow room in your budget to explore those opportunities and renovate where needed. Morgantown, WV Realtor.com Price: $700,000 Saint Paul sensation: We cant get enough of this Beaux Arts brick double home. Designed by local architect Clarence Johnston at the turn of the 20th century, it offers 6,000 square feet of living space with glorious woodwork, built-ins, and an open stairway. The front porch and second-floor balcony overlook the street, and the third floor features an apartment in the original ballroom with a private entrance. It's also ready for renovations. The main kitchen has been gutted, and areas on the second and third floors will need updates. Saint Paul, MN Realtor.com The post Big Bargains: 5 Mansions Priced Under a Million Bucks appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. WFO SAN DIEGO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, May 8, 2022 _____ DUST STORM WARNING BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED Dust Storm Warning National Weather Service San Diego CA 409 PM PDT Sun May 8 2022 The National Weather Service in San Diego has issued a * Dust Storm Warning for... Riverside County in southern California... * Until 600 PM PDT. * At 405 PM PDT, blowing sand was severely impacting visibility on Interstate 10 between North Palm Springs and Thousand Palms. Other roadways between these areas will be impacted. HAZARD...Less than a quarter mile visibility with strong wind in excess of 50 mph. SOURCE...CalTrans. IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel. Locations impacted include... Northeastern Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, North Palm Springs, Whitewater, Sky Valley and Thousand Palms. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Dust storms lead to dangerous driving conditions with visibility reduced to near zero. If driving, avoid dust storms if possible. If caught in one, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your foot off the brake. Motorists should not drive into a dust storm. PULL ASIDE STAY ALIVE! _____ 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 Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York, tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and said that she will isolate and work remotely this week. Her comment comes only three days after the state recorded 13,902 new cases, the greatest number since January's spike, which was mostly caused by the Omicron strain. However, since mid-February, fewer than 3,000 people have been hospitalized in hospitals across the state, down 90% from January. NY Gov.Kathy Hochul Is Asymptomatic The Democratic governor posted a photo from the Olana State Historic Site in Hudson, New York, where she had gone to thank park personnel the day before. According to the Associated Press, Hochul is at least the 18th governor of the United States to test positive for COVID-19. Ned Lamont of Connecticut and Janet Mills of Maine both tested positive in April while New York City Mayor Eric Adams tested positive on his 100th day in office on April 10. Hochul's positive test comes as the number of cases in New York continues to rise. Much of upstate New York has been in the high-alert orange zone for weeks, a classification from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that indicates widespread disease. Last Monday, New York City exceeded the the'medium risk' threshold, signifying the expanding spread of the BA.2 subvariant that has swept the state's northern reaches. According to the most recent data, nearly 9,900 New Yorkers tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, As stated in New York State government website. Since the end of January, the state has seen the largest number of COVID-positive residents, with over 13,902 positive findings recorded. The seven-day average positivity rate in all of New York state was 7.2 percent on Sunday, up 7% over the previous week. In accordance with state data, 82 percent of New York's entire population has been vaccinated at least once since the outbreak began with 74.2 percent having received both shots, the needed criterion to be classified as completely vaccinated. Hochul's positive test occurred one month after Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont did, according to WNBC-TV. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy tested positive a week before Lamont. On April 10, after attending a dinner at the Gridiron Club in Washington, New York City Mayor Eric Adams tested positive for COVID-19. At least 67 persons tested positive after attending the event, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Daily Mail reported. Read Also: German Outlet Censors Video of Ukrainian Evacuee From Azovstal Plant Criticizing Azov Nazis, Kiev US Should Prepare For COVID-19 Surge in Summer Former White House Coronavirus Response Task Force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx stated the US should be prepared for a probable summer surge of COVID-19 infections throughout Southern states. Summer surges are now expected in the South, while winter surges are expected in the North, especially around the holidays, according to Birx. She said she pays close attention to statistics coming out of South Africa, where new COVID-19 cases have lately increased. Public health officials must make it apparent to the public that protection against the virus wears off over time and that weak or compromised persons should be treated with caution, according to Birx. COVID-19 home testing kits and booster injections, she added, are vital tools for Americans to deal with surges. Birx's warning comes as another Omicron strain, the BA.2 subvariant, is spreading in the United States. The seven-day average of new cases in the United States was about 54,000 on Saturday, up from around 49,000 a week ago and nearly 31,000 a month ago. According to recent statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 60% of adults and 75% of children have antibodies suggesting that they have been infected with COVID-19. Health experts say it's unknown what this implies for future infection protection so the CDC says it's still vital to have Covid-19 shots and boosters. Last week, Dr. Anthony Fauci, President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser and director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, caused a stir when he said, "We are certainly, right now, in this country, out of the pandemic phase." He later clarified that he didn't mean the pandemic was over, but that the country was in a transition phase, as per CNN. Related Article: Roe v. Wade Reversal: Justice Thomas Tells Pro-Abortion Protesters US Supreme Court Can't Be Bullied @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Canadas unemployment rate falls to all-time low of 5.2% Canada's labour market remains very strong for Canadian-born and immigrant workers alike. Canadas unemployment rate falls to all-time low of 5.2% Canada's labour market remains very strong for Canadian-born and immigrant workers alike. Canadas unemployment rate falls to all-time low of 5.2% Canada's labour market remains very strong for Canadian-born and immigrant workers alike. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Canadas unemployment rate has fallen to a new all-time low once again. Statistics Canada reports it fell to 5.2 per cent in April, down from the previous record of 5.3 per cent that was set in March. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration The unemployment rate for people aged 25 to 54 is even lower, as it stands at 4.3 per cent, which is also the lowest recorded rate ever since comparable data became available in 1976. The unemployment rate among immigrants fell to 5.5 per cent in April, compared to 5.8 per cent in March. It fell across the three immigrant cohorts reported by Statistics Canada. It fell to 7.8 per cent among immigrants who gained permanent residence within the last five years, compared to 8.3 per cent in April. Among immigrants that gained permanent residence between 5 to 10 years ago, it fell to 5.8 per cent compared to 6.3 per cent in March. Among immigrants that gained permanent residence 10 years ago or more, it stood at 4.6 per cent in April compared to 4.8 per cent in March. Overall Canada has a historically high job vacancy rate with over 800,000 unfilled jobs. This is resulting in the federal government and provinces across Canada seeking to ease their Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) rules. For instance, Alberta announced earlier this week it was lifting all occupations from a previous refusal to process list it operated to forbid employers from seeking to recruit foreign workers in occupations that had labour surpluses. In April, the federal government eased its TFWP rules in response to Canadas historically low unemployment rate and historically high job vacancy rate. Canada is also looking to welcome more immigrants to address its labour force needs. Under the Immigration Levels Plan 2022-2024, Canada is looking to welcome over 430,000 immigrants per year, most of whom will arrive under the economic class. The main way the Canadian government looks to welcome economic class immigrants is through Express Entry. Following a temporary pause in invitations to the two main Express Entry programs, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced the news it will resume Express Entry invitations to all candidates beginning in early July. It will also look to bring the permanent residence processing time for Express Entry applicants to six months beginning in July. One of the reasons this is major news is Express Entry will re-emerge as Canadas main economic class immigration pathway. Express Entry will account for one-quarter of Canadas immigrant admissions come 2024, a total of over 110,000 immigrants who will be welcomed by Canada on their basis to contribute to the labour market. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. Bono and The Edge of the legendary rock band U2 held a 40-minute concert in a subway station in Ukraine's capital of Kyiv on Sunday to show support for Ukrainians fighting for their country's freedom. In a tweet, Bono and The Edge said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky invited them to perform in Kyiv. "President @ZelenskyyUa invited us to perform in Kyiv as a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people and so that's what we've come to do," U2s frontman and lead guitarist posted. President @ZelenskyyUa invited us to perform in Kyiv as a show of solidarity with the Ukrainian people and so thats what weve come to do. -- Bono and The Edge #StandWithUkraine U2 (@U2) May 8, 2022 "Your president leads the world in the cause of freedom right now ... The people of Ukraine are not just fighting for your own freedom, you're fighting for all of us who love freedom," Bono told around 100 people inside the Khreshchatyk metro station for the intimate concert, per Reuters. Russia launched its attack on Ukraine on February 24, pushing its way into Kyiv before pulling its forces from the city at the end of March to focus its firepower on the country's eastern region. In a video address, Zelensky thanked U2 for their support "and drawing even more attention" to Ukrainian's "need for help." Russia continues to launch missile strikes across Ukraine, which it refers to as a "special military operation" to "denazify" Ukraine. The Power Of Music Between songs, Bono encouraged the crowd to endure the dire situation in their war-torn country. "This evening, 8th of May, shots will ring out in the Ukraine sky, but you'll be free at last. They can take your lives, but they can never take your pride," said Bono, which a rendition of a line of U2's hit Pride (In the Name of Love). The music of Sunday Bloody Sunday exploded from a subway station in central Kyiv, Ukraine, when Bono and The Edge played some of their classic songs against a background of air-raid alarms and warfare, The Irish Times reported. Bono (U2) and Antytela band in Kyiv metro #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/C89h2gehZD Kristina Berdynskykh (@berdynskykh_k) May 8, 2022 With or Without You, Desire, Angel of Harlem, and Vertigo were among the songs on the setlist. The best part of the mini-concert, though, was when Bono invited a Ukrainian soldier to sing along to Ben E King's Stand By Me as an appeal to the world to support Ukraine's resistance. Read Also: US Assumes North Korea May Start Underground Missile Test This Month; Biden Administration Aims To Discuss Pyongyang at US-ROK Summit According to Rolling Stone, the U2 duo was joined on stage by Ukrainian musicians forced into military service as a result of Russia's invasion; vocalist Taras Topolya of the Ukrainian band Antytila was among those performing alongside Bono. Bono and the Edge previously performed a cover of Walk On during Global Citizen's "Stand Up for Ukraine" live stream, in which they condemned Moscow's aggression toward Kyiv. Celebrities Rally Behind Ukraine Aside from Bono and The Edge, other celebrities also have demonstrated their support for Ukraine. According to Hollywood Life, Angelina Jolie was also recently spotted in the Eastern European country. She strolled into a coffee shop in Lviv after schools, hospitals, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to assist those affected by the Russian invasion. Another celebrity who visited Ukraine after the invasion is Sean Penn. For his upcoming documentary, VICE, he spoke with President Zelensky and attended government news conferences. Related Article: Italy Reportedly Freezes Putin's $700M Yacht as Ukraine Destroys Another Russian Ship @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. According to the Chandler Police Department, a former sheriff's officer in Arizona reportedly crashed 11 weddings and stole thousands of dollars in presents from newlywed couples. Landon Earl Rankin, 54, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of burglary in connection with thefts at two weddings in the Phoenix region last month. Chandler police claimed he is also facing additional drug charges after investigators discovered amphetamine and fentanyl in his possession. Ex-Deputy Dressed as Wedding Guest, Stole From Newlyweds Rankin reportedly pretended to be a wedding guest and stole boxes of wedding cards. Both wedding boxes in the Phoenix region held between $3,000 and $6,000. During the inquiry, police discovered at least 11 recent occurrences of similar wedding thefts in Arizona's East Valley, which they believe Rankin is responsible for. Per Fox News, the Chandler Police Department published surveillance photographs of Rankin wearing a button-down shirt and pants jogging with what seems to be wedding card boxes in a plastic bag. After 21 years on the police, Rankin retired from the Pinal County Sheriff's Office in 2015. According to a probable-cause statement, he informed officers after his arrest that he went to the weddings to hear the vows "because he was going through a divorce." Rankin was caught on film removing a card box from one of the weddings before fleeing the scene in his car, according to a probable-cause statement. Rankin was tied to other wedding thefts in the Chandler region, according to authorities. "Police linked Rankin to eleven occurrences of wedding card box thefts in the east valley after his arrest," police added, as per Insider. Rankin left the Pinal County Sheriff's Office in 2015, but remained on the force as a reserve officer for two years until 2017. According to police, Rankin, who was previously a peace officer for an undisclosed Arizona agency, is a suspect in other similar crimes in Mesa and Gilbert. Chandler police are requesting anybody with information or who may have been a victim to call 480-782-4130. Read Also: Lily Peters' Teen Cousin Charged for Her Death; Killer Reportedly Returned to Crime Scene To "Hide Her Better" Another Recent Arizona Crime Meanwhile, a man has been detained on suspicion of robbing a Chinese restaurant twice in Tucson, Arizona, earlier this year. The 45-year-old stole the Golden Dragon eatery at 4704 E. Sunrise Dr. near Swan Road was originally reported missing on Feb. 17 at 7:46 p.m., according to officials. The suspect entered the establishment and glanced over the menu, according to Pima County Sheriff's Department officials. He pulled out his gun and instructed the cashier to take money from the register, as per Yahoo News. The second theft occurred at 7:26 p.m. on March 10, just a month after the first. After noticing a gun in the suspect's front pocket, the cashier was able to phone 911, causing him to run. The unnamed suspect was described as a 6-foot-tall Caucasian male in his 50s to early 60s with an average build, spectacles, a gray hoodie, and blue trousers by the authorities. During both occasions, he was alleged to be brandishing a green handgun. Carlson is currently being jailed on two charges of armed robbery at the Pima County Jail. As of Wednesday, no bond had been formed. Related Article: Viral Video Shows Exact Moment Vicki White Helped Murder Suspect Casey White Escape From Alabama Prison [WATCH] @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Concurs prelungit de selectare a unui expert/experta sau grup de experti in consolidarea capacitatilor centrelor regionale de suport in afaceri ale intreprinderilor sociale (Hub-uri) The challenges brought since the pandemic hit over two years ago have been well documented. But what issues remain for charities, and what lessons have been learned about the importance of customer relationship management (CRM) systems? Phil Hunt, senior manager, demand marketing at Blackbaud Europe, says that the fundraisers his organisation speaks to identify their biggest challenges as the general UK economic situation, and adapting to new ways of fundraising driven in part by a move to online or digital-first methods. He cites statistics from Blackbauds annual Status of UK Fundraising survey, which finds that 64% of respondents say that in-person events contribute less now than before the pandemic. However, organisations with the right tech perform better, with 43% of organisations with a CRM saying that their income increased year-over-year compared to a third without, Hunt says. And organisations using CRM software are more likely to be gaining supporters 43% compared to 38%. Keith Collins, principal consultant at Adapta Consulting, says that as well as trying to plug gaps in events fundraising income, many charities embraced digital innovation during the pandemic, either in terms of new ways of using digital for fundraising, or new ways of engaging with service users using digital tools. The challenges now are in retaining the best of these innovations, and making them work alongside the approaches they had taken to fundraising, service delivery and internal collaboration before the pandemic. For CRM, the key lesson learned is that solutions need to work alongside these various other technologies and help support modern, often digital, customer experiences. Many organisations are finding that the challenge of integrating ageing CRM systems with the wider digital, data and tech estate is where things fall down. Therefore, many are now starting their search for their next CRM system in earnest. Tom Ellis, managing director at Harlequin, explains that like most people, its clients worked from home during the lockdowns but in recent months this has morphed into hybrid working. People have become used to remotely accessing their systems using the cloud/web. With restrictions on traditional means of meeting up with supporters, such as at events or other gatherings, supporter relationships have had to be maintained at arms length. CRMs have been an invaluable resource to achieve this. Chris Houghton, CEO at Beacon, adds that the cloud is not an extra feature anymore; it is essential. And that applies to every tool from Microsoft Office to CRMs. Ivan Wainewright, independent CRM consultant, thinks that those who have on-premise databases are still struggling to provide simple and fast enough access for most staff who work from home, whereas cloud CRM systems provide such access automatically. Systems which enable better digital communications, and those which can quickly be configured for new requirements, are showing their benefits. Some organisations are still struggling with the non-centralised location of supporter services and income processing, but many have used technology well. Steve Cast, managing director at Redbourn, says that without doubt, those customers who were already based in the cloud had the advantage when lockdowns first started. That agility in the working environment has come with its own set of issues, security being perhaps one of the most noticeable. For example, charities should ensure that they are running an encrypted connection, using strong, secure password phrases, or better still, using multi-factor authentication as the preferred route. Strengthening security for a disparate workforce is a valuable lesson that customers have had to learn and adapt to in a short space of time. He continues: CRM has never been more important. With a distributed workforce, working from home, it is vital that up-to-date records are maintained. Every telephone call, every email received or sent, every letter scanned, should be logged as communications against the supporters record. That way, the entire team is aware of the ongoing discussion being had with the supporter. Accurate data has never been more important. We are seeing changes in the frequency of data cleaning. Ownership of data is shifting too, with a demand for online data to be captured direct into the CRM, and not captured (and eventually shared) by third-party services. Robin Fisk, founder and CEO at Donorfy, says that the pandemic emphasised the importance of CRM. Whether thats pivoting from in-person events, running emergency appeals or simply keeping the CRM updated so that everyone can trust it when they log in, the pandemic increased dependence not only on the CRM itself but also on the CRM supplier to guide and advise charities on the best way to use their CRM given the changing circumstances. All change? Proposed legislative changes to the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and to the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) in the wake of Brexit are generally aimed at reducing certain compliance burdens that the law places on organisations. There is a mixed level of knowledge among respondents to our survey about these proposed changes with 57% saying they are aware of them. Of those, however, over 80% feel that they will make no difference (see figures 8 and 9 in PDF at bottom of the article). So, what are the main things charities need to potentially be prepared for? Ellis thinks that in essence the proposed changes are advantageous to charities, which were previously tethered by the fear of breaching data regulations. He cites the proposed introduction of the soft opt-in policy, which will allow more freedom for a charity to contact previous supporters and send fundraising emails. For example, if a donor expresses interest in a fundraising campaign or makes a donation, a charity would no longer need to obtain explicit consent from the donor to send them related fundraising emails. I would assume, therefore, that charities will need to prepare for accelerated growth in their supporter database and, via research, run targeted campaigns. Hunt says that another significant proposed change would allow organisations to use analytics cookies tracking data such as the number of users on a site and duration of site visits, and similar technologies without obtaining the users consent, which would only be required for cookies that track users and create profiles, as in online advertising. He also raises a proposed reform to remove the record-keeping requirement under Article 30 of the UK GPDR, leaving it up to organisations to determine how best to demonstrate compliance. Under these proposed changes, organisations that can demonstrate a proactive approach to compliance and accountability would be able to provide the Information Commissioners Office (ICO) with a remedial action plan in the event of an infringement of the UK GPDR. The ICO could then accept this without taking any further action against the organisation. These changes would encourage charities to develop their own privacy and compliance programmes that fit their organisations needs and goals. Fisk adds that it will be important to check through vendors data processing agreements to make sure they have the standard contractual clauses needed to protect charities when their data is transferred outside the EU and UK. David Membrey, principal consultant at Adapta Consulting, thinks that most of the proposed changes are quite abstruse. The one most likely to trip up some charities is that you now need a partner within the EU to act as your agent if you have a significant number of data subjects based there. This could be an established partner charity with which you already work, or possibly the EU branch of a multinational law firm. His observation is that many charities seem to have taken their eye off the ball when it comes to data protection. Having been through the process of preparing for GDPR they have failed to take forward those elements of data protection that they had previously put to one side. Two very glaring omissions are that most charities have failed to keep their privacy notice up to date, or worse, make it very hard to find. And very few charities carry out a data protection impact assessment, which clearly meets the criteria, at the start of a large project. Cast thinks that while we will continue to see a strong degree of overlap and interoperability between the UK and EU GDPR, for smaller charities, the potential changes to limit the scope of subject access requests will be welcome. As will any change relating to a widening or clarification around legitimate interest. For now, charities should ensure that they continue to adhere to EU/UK GDPR, while setting aside time and resource for later in the year to carry out a review and adjustment to their data protection compliance model. There is, of course, a concern that this could be unsettling in a period of what feels like almost constant change. But as every good Scout would say: Be prepared. Maximising use A common theme in comments by survey respondents is one of getting the best out of their CRM system. One says: Staff do not use the CRM properly they find it cumbersome, although they concede that this is probably a training issue. Another bemoans the lack of time to upload historical data, and again, pinpoints a need for skills training and consultancy for improvements in the way we use the CRM as no one had any experience prior to its installation. In general, while CRM systems have a huge benefit, a lot of charities do not have the time and expertise to optimise their usage. As CRM systems become more functional there is always the risk that not all of the features are understood, or even used, says Cast. He picks up on the training issue, and what he calls a worrying trend, particularly through the pandemic, of a decline in training investment budgets. This is key to ensuring that charities make the most of their significant investment in systems and staff. It feels like a no-brainer to ensure that your team knows the full capabilities of the CRM system, and is taught how to use it effectively. However intuitive CRM systems are, there is still no substitute for investing in focused training, delivered by experts. Wainewright feels that contemporary CRM platforms have amazing capacity to offer more to charities. But I dont think that most charities are capitalising on such benefits. For example, very few I know of are creating automated, responsive supporter journeys, although they could do. Fisk agrees that there is always more that you can do. True scalability lies in knowing what works and doing more of it. The answer to what works, and what doesnt, is probably in your CRM. So charities could gain a lot by analysing their data, or asking their vendor to help if they dont have the skills or capacity in-house. Ellis has noticed a trend for more functionality to expand the use of a CRM system across all aspects of a charitys work. There are obvious advantages to be had when the CRM system is the hub around which everything flows. There is an ongoing onus on the CRM provider to create a channel of communication with clients to keep them updated on new features, and to take on board new ideas from them. Collins says that he genuinely thinks that charities are now expecting more from their CRM system, and are less willing to put up with something inadequate. For many, the problem actually is that their needs and requirements go beyond what their existing CRM system is capable of in particular in terms of integrating with data and other tools to provide an excellent experience for supporters, and efficient business tools and processes. For Hunt, organisations that make the most of their CRM understand the importance of a digital-first culture. They know that understanding data is vital at every level from the board down, and that their CRM solution is only as strong as the quality of data entered. The good news is that this means organisations of all sizes can be effective users of technology infrastructure, if they have a culture that supports this. You dont need to be a large organisation to get the most from a CRM. Houghton sums up by saying theres a risk of seeing a CRM project as finished once the fundraising processes are set up. Over time, things can grow stale and the system becomes less and less useful. Your CRM should grow and adapt with your charity over time, so its important to keep asking how your CRM can help you do things better. Looking ahead With regards to developments in CRM systems, Ellis says that automation and integration are often requested by clients. We are constantly developing new means of automating tasks, utilising API processes with third-party software, introducing payment portals and integrating with social media and fundraising platforms. In todays society, where information is king, the CRM system is the crown jewel. Fisk thinks that machine learning can offer charities with reasonably large databases real insights into supporters propensity to respond to the various kinds of outreach that charities do. Houghton says that without a doubt, CRMs will keep getting easier to use, and more automated. No one wants to use a product that looks like Windows 98 anymore. Charities want a system thats actually easy to use, where they dont have to spend hours a week on manual data entry. CRM systems that dont keep up will be left behind. Collins thinks that the future will see CRM systems being seen as just one of a number of solutions that need to combine with other tools, such as RPA (robotic process automation), customer data platforms, digital marketing solutions, and discrete tools to support campaigning or volunteering all supported by enhanced AI capabilities. To some extent the CRM system itself might become less mission critical, with less of a charitys activities, processes or engagement driven specifically from that technology solution. However, the selection of an appropriate CRM solution and implementation partner will still be vital the CRM system will continue to play an important role as part of a wider data/tech/digital ecosystem that will, together, provide that mission critical resource, and support improved experiences for supporters, beneficiaries, volunteers and staff. Cast says that the attention now needs to be on cyber security. With the increased threat level following on from events in Ukraine, we should all be vigilant and on the lookout for phishing attacks, denial of service attacks and the potential threat of loss of data and income due to ransomware. Ensure that your CRM is secured, that regular point-in-time backups are taken and that you have tested your security protocols and your business continuity model. Be vigilant, as it is a case of when you will be attacked, not if. Hoping that being a not-forprofit means you are immune to cyber crime is sadly misguided. Wainewright concludes that the move to a CRM platform from a fundraising database is still a huge cultural shift and a massive programme of change for many organisations. There needs to be a consideration of whether the history and reliance on direct marketing is still relevant compared to digital marketing, which it will be for some charities. But for others, it is the opportunity to embrace change and how CRM and technology can help improve communications, interactions, business processes and data analytics. Methodology and market share Fundraising Magazine, in partnership with Charity Finance, runs an annual survey of the UK charity CRM universe. The 2022 survey was completed by 610 charities, of which more than 450 identified as fundraising organisations, covering a wide range of incomes (see figure 1). Blackbaud continues to dominate the market, particularly for larger charities, with its long-established Raisers Edge product, and it has started to introduce Blackbaud CRM for larger organisations. Beacon remains popular for medium-sized and smaller charities, while Donorfy has consolidated its already strong presence by picking up lots of new clients across all ranges (see figure 3). Fundraising Magazine is a practical and inspiring magazine that provides fundraising professionals with the tools to unlock new revenue streams, yield better results from campaigns and boost donor income. Subscribe today to receive 10 issues per year and access to premium fundraising content on civilsociety.co.uk. Find more information here and subscribe today! is a practical and inspiring magazine that provides fundraising professionals with the tools to unlock new revenue streams, yield better results from campaigns and boost donor income. Subscribe today to receive 10 issues per year and access to premium fundraising content on civilsociety.co.uk. Last week, a pair of leaks to the press shined a fresh light on the extent of US assistance to Ukraine in its war against Russia. On Wednesday, Julian E. Barnes, Helene Cooper, and Eric Schmitt, of the New York Times, reported, citing senior American officials, that the US has provided Ukrainian officials with locational details of Russian movements that they have subsequently combined with their own information and used to target and kill Russian generalsa flow of intelligence, the Times wrote, that has few precedents. Then, on Thursday, NBCs Ken Dilanian, Courtney Kube, and Carol E. Lee reported, citing US officials, that US intelligence helped Ukrainian officials to locate the Moskva, Russias flagship in the Black Sea, which they subsequently sank. There was speculation, in national-security circles, that the Biden administration planted the pair of stories deliberately in order to humiliate, or otherwise send a message to, Russia, but Politicos Alexander Ward (who had a busy week) and Paul McLeary reported that this was not the case; on the contrary, the leaks sparked an internal freakout at the White House. Various officials publicly pushed back on the stories, decrying the Times headlineUS Intelligence Is Helping Ukraine Kill Russian Generals, Officials Sayas misleading and irresponsible, while insisting more broadly that intelligence shared by the US has not been directly actionable and that what the Ukrainians do with it is their business. On Friday morning, John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, told CNN that leaks like this and stories like this, theyre unhelpful to the effort to help Ukraine defend itself. The same day, according to Dilanian, Kube, and Lee, Biden personally called Lloyd Austin, his defense secretary; Avril Haines, his director of national intelligence; and William Burns, his CIA director, and told them that the leaks should stop. ICYMI: The coverage of Rodney King and unrest in LA, thirty years on Tom Friedman, the high-profile Times columnist, had more details of the call, reporting that Biden was livid about the leaks and used the strongest and most colorful language to make clear that this kind of loose talk is reckless. With his opinion hat back on, Friedman zoomed out to put Bidens anger in context, noting fears, as some of the other stories did, that the leaks could provoke Russian president Vladimir Putin into a dangerous escalation of the war beyond Ukraines borders, before arguing that they should be taken seriously. If you just followed news reports on Ukraine, you might think that the war has settled into a long, grinding and somewhat boring slog. You would be wrong. Things are actually getting more dangerous by the day, Friedman wrote. The staggering takeaway from these leaks is that they suggest we are no longer in an indirect war with Russia but rather are edging toward a direct warand no one has prepared the American people or Congress for that. Theres a lot to unpack here. To the extent that the administration scolded the press for conveying the leaks, this was unfair. If the Times reporting was accurateand officials have not appeared to dispute itthen so was its headline; if the US is providing Ukraine with intelligence that the latter then uses to kill Russian generals, then the US logically is helping Ukraine to kill Russian generals, even if it isnt identifying individuals or advising Ukraine to target them. The Times story notes that the intelligence-sharing has been considered to be a safe form of help, as far as not escalating the war goes, because it is invisible, or, at least, deniable. Last weeks reporting obviously made it visible; indeed, the administrations pushback seems to have been an attempt to reassert deniability, even if it hasnt been thoroughly convincing on such terms. If the media has changed the landscape here, it has only done so by reporting on a US policy that is clearly of immense public interest. The risk of the policy becoming public is a problem for policymakers, not for the press. Assumptions of invisibility are dangerous. Before the war, the Biden administration, along with the government of the UK, in particular, was remarkably open with the press about its intelligence assessments, sharing details of Russias troop movements and alleged plans to fabricate a pretext for the invasionan effort to preemptively expose Putins disinformation tactics that was widely praised in national-security circles. Its tempting to see the present moment, with the war well underway, as the result of a pivot, with administration officials now more inclined toward secrecy than radical transparency. But thats too neat. The administrations prewar disclosures were often presented without evidence, causing friction with reporters who pressed for more details. They were also selective; the Washington Post reported Saturday, for instance, that while the US publicized its assessment that Russia was about to invade, it did not share its assessment that Ukraine would quickly collapse, which in any case was wrong. And when other, public predictions did not come to pass, it was hard to say if the disclosure forced Putin to change tack, or if they were wrong, too. The US information war was already messy for the press to cover, even if it is doubly so now. Sign up for CJR 's daily email What of the Russian side of the information war? It has always been multifaceted and hard to read, and that remains the case. Putin remains inscrutable and unpredictable, a fact, Friedman noted, that has made Biden administration officials doubly wary of publicly bragging about his military embarrassments. Analysts have long watched Russian state media for indications as to the Kremlin line, and have recently seen therealongside the standard-issue atrocity denialism and lies about the course of the war (What sinking of the Moskva? Nothing to see here!)some alarmingly apocalyptic saber-rattling about the onset of World War III and the threat of nuclear apocalypse, with Vladimir Solovyov, a top state-TV propagandist, telling his audience that Russian patriots would at least go to heaven in such an eventuality. In his recent public remarks, Putin has also invoked Russias nuclear capabilities, though not to the same degree. Per Friedman, US officials were particularly worried about what Putin might do or say on Victory Day, the Russian holiday marking the Soviet defeat of the Nazis in World War II, which fell today. Ahead of time, the Western news media was itself rife with speculation, and no little alarm, that Putin might use the celebrations to open a new phase of the actual warchanneling predictions, from officials and outside commentators alike, that he could formally declare war on Ukraine (so far, he has called it a special military operation), allowing him to declare a population-wide mobilization, or to gesture again at the threat of nuclear war, including via a flyover of a special doomsday plane designed to protect Russias leaders. In the end, Putins Victory Day speech mostly comprised reheated bombast about Ukraine being run by Nazis and the West being terribleThe Guardians Shaun Walker summarized it as revanchist historical grievance + sprinkle of Jordan Petersonand the planned flyover was canceled due to bad weather, even though the weather looked fine. (We can add the sky to the list of information-war indicators to watch, apparently.) The address was quickly characterized, in various leading US outlets, as not having announced the escalation many feared. Once again, it wasnt clear if such fears were misplaced or if Putin feinted to avoid becoming predictable. World leaders, CNNs Angela Dewan noted this morning, will have to keep guessing as to his intentions for now. Guessing, of course, is a horrible mode for the press, and one we should generally avoid. We have plenty of factual ground to stand on: Russian atrocities in Ukraine continue (yesterday, they bombed a school in the Luhansk region, killing around sixty people who were sheltering there); in the US, more details of Western assistance to Ukraine could very well leak out, no matter how much Biden might want to plug them. But we are still in the thick of an information war, and thats still a very fraught place to be. As with the war itself, the information war does not have neat phases. Our reaction should be the same as ever: humility, and vigilance. Below, more on the war: Other notable stories: ICYMI: Karyn Pugliese on small, mighty newsrooms and Indigenous climate solutions Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. A Chicago man who was pardoned after spending more than seven years in prison for an armed robbery he didnt commit has reached a $7.5 million settlement with a northern Indiana city and former police officers, his attorney said last week. Keith Coopers attorney, Elliot Slosar, said it is the largest wrongful conviction settlement in Indiana history and that the lawsuit exposed the systemic pattern of police and prosecutorial misconduct that exists in Elkhart, Indiana. Mr. Coopers wrongful conviction did not happen by accident nor was it an aberration. Through this case, he has paved the way for other wrongfully convicted people from Elkhart to get a fair chance at justice, Slosar said in a news release. Lawyers for the plaintiffs and defendants filed notice of the settlement Tuesday in a South Bend federal court. They didnt disclose the terms of the deal but said the lawsuit would be dismissed with prejudice, meaning it couldnt be refiled, if payment is made within 45 days. Corinne Straight, Elkharts director of communications, said city officials were aware that there had been a settlement involving Coopers lawsuit but that they wouldnt discuss it publicly until later Wednesday. Cooper, 54, was pardoned in February 2017 by Gov. Eric Holcomb, who said he believed Cooper had been wrongly convicted in a 1996 armed robbery in Elkhart during which a teenager was shot and wounded. Holcomb cited the state parole boards support for the pardon, along with the backing of the prosecutor and witnesses in the case. Cooper was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the robbery, but advances in DNA testing and a nationwide offender database excluded him as the attacker and identified another person. The Indiana Court of Appeals overturned his co-defendants conviction in 2005, and Cooper was given the choice of being released with a felony record or facing a new trial before the same judge who convicted him. He elected to be released in 2006 to go home to his wife and three children, who at times were homeless during his incarceration. Coopers pardon by Holcomb was followed in March 2017 by a judges approval of the expungement of his armed robbery conviction. Cooper had sought a pardon since 2009 and the deputy prosecutor who handled his trial asked then-Gov. Mike Pence in 2015 to approve the pardon to remove the felony conviction. But Pences general counsel notified Slosar in September 2016, two months after Pence became Donald Trumps vice presidential running mate, that he believed Cooper needed to first exhaust all his options in court for having the conviction overturned before a pardon would be considered. Cooper sued Elkhart, its police chief and three officers in November 2017, alleging that the officers framed him for the crime and nearly destroyed his life. At the time of his arrest, Cooper had no criminal convictions, was a married father of three and was gainfully employed and providing for his family, according to his lawsuit. But after he was wrongfully incarcerated, the suit said his wife was forced to sell the familys belongings and had to live in shelters to survive. Coopers lawsuit accused the Elkhart Police Department of employing a routine practice of pursuing wrongful convictions through reckless and profoundly flawed investigations that included false evidence and reports and coerced evidence. It also contended that supervising officers knew of this misconduct but failed to properly supervise those officers. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Americans wondering whether a nearby dam could be dangerous can look up the condition and hazard ratings of tens of thousands of dams nationwide using an online database run by the federal government. But they wont find the condition of Hoover Dam, which impounds one the nations largest reservoirs on the border of Nevada and Arizona. Nor is there any condition listed for Californias Oroville Dam, the countrys tallest, which underwent a $1 billion makeover after its spillway failed. Details about the conditions of these and other prominent dams are kept secret from the public, listed as not available in the National Inventory of Dams. The lack of publicly available data about potentially hazardous dams has raised concern among some experts. These structures impact people, and this is what were obviously most worried about. So it is important to share this information, said Del Shannon, a Colorado-based engineer who has assessed hundreds of dams and is president of the U.S. Society on Dams. For much of the past couple of decades, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers declined to reveal the conditions of dams in the National Inventory of Dams which it maintains citing security concerns stemming from the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. But in a move toward greater transparency, the Corps launched an updated website late last year that includes hazard ratings and condition assessments for more than one-quarter of the roughly 92,000 structures. Yet the status of many dams remains a mystery. Thats because some federal agencies failed to update their data. The Corps also allowed federal agencies and states to restrict the release of information about the dams they oversee, and some continue to do so citing terrorism concerns. The Associated Press used information obtained by public records requests to states to supplement data in the National Inventory of Dams, tallying over 2,200 high-hazard dams that are in poor or unsatisfactory condition in 48 states and Puerto Rico. But the conditions remain unknown for more than 4,600 high-hazard dams that could cause a loss of life if they fail. Dam conditions typically are categorized as satisfactory, fair, poor or unsatisfactory. In the Corps database, nearly two-thirds of the 18 federal entities that own or oversee dams provided no condition assessments. That includes the largest federal regulator of dams, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which oversees more than 1,750 dams in 42 states. A FERC spokeswoman said the agency is overhauling its assessment process and intends to have conditions available this summer. The Corps also declined to include condition assessments for the roughly 740 dams it owns, which include some of the largest in the nation. Instead, the agency posted its own risk assessments, ranging from very low to very high. Garrison Dam, which constrains the Missouri River in North Dakota to form one of the nations largest reservoirs, is described in the database as safe but high risk. The Corps says the dams failure could trigger a cascading failure of downstream dams resulting in swift, deep, and life-threatening flooding in numerous communities. No other entity uses the Corps risk-rating system, making it hard to compare the Corps dams to others. The Corps said it uses the risk categories to make repairs in the most effective manner within a constrained budget. The risk assessment information that were sharing is actually better information to help people be prepared for a potential issue at a dam, said Rebecca Ragon, the Corps National Inventory of Dams manager. The APs review also found that some federal departments lack consistent policies for releasing dam data. The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service both part of the U.S. Department of Interior disclosed hazard and condition details for their dams. But the departments Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees 430 dams in the West, denied the APs public records request for dam conditions, citing a legal exemption for information compiled for law enforcement purposes. The bureau said in an email that disclosing dam conditions would compromise the protection of our facilities and allow targeted attacks of critical infrastructure. Data from some states is also limited or missing. Alabama has no agency to regulate dams, so there are no condition or hazard ratings for its roughly 2,200 dams. Illinois doesnt assign condition ratings, because lumping dams into categories is terribly subjective and doesnt have enough value to justify the resources that it takes to do it, said state dam safety engineer Paul Mauer Jr. However, the state works with dam owners to make needed repairs. New Jersey and Texas provided AP a total number of poor or unsatisfactory high-hazard dams but did not identify them by name. New Jersey has not released dam conditions but plans to do so by the end of May under a recent policy change. Texas declined to release hazard classifications, citing a state law that keeps confidential the technical details of critical infrastructure thats vulnerable to terrorism. The National Inventory of Dams contains neither the hazard classification nor a condition for the Rockwall-Forney Dam, which impounds Lake Ray Hubbard to supply water to more than 1 million people in the Dallas area. A 2021 inspection document provided to the AP by Dallas shows the dam is classified as high hazard and has several issues, including a fractured floodgate and a large void in the rocks lining the left side. A more in-depth inspection report isnt complete. Though an overall condition assessment is not available, none of these things are of immediate concern, said Sally U. Mills-Wright, assistant director for water production at Dallas Water Utilities. Without access to information, its hard for the public to verify that. Because dam failures carry big consequences, the public should be made aware of a dams hazard rating and what lies in its downstream flood zone, said Travis Attanasio, a former dam inspector who is president-elect of the Texas section of the American Society of Civil Engineers. You may not necessarily be in flood plain, but if a dam were to break, you could still be facing a lot of water, he said. Photo: Hoover Dam and Lake Mead viewed from the bypass bridge. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. U.S. agricultural equipment maker AGCO Corp. said on Friday a ransomware attack was affecting operations at some of its production facilities, and dealers said tractor sales had been stalled during the crucial planting season. Georgia-based AGCO said in a statement it expects operations at some facilities to be affected for several days and potentially longer. The ransomware attack comes at a time U.S. agricultural equipment makers were already facing persistent supply chain disruptions and labor strikes that left them unable to meet equipment demand from farmers. AGCO did not disclose the names of the facilities or if any data was stolen, but said it was still probing the extent of the attack that occurred on Thursday and working to repair its systems. Tim Brannon, president and owner of B&G Equipment Inc. in Tennessee, told Reuters he has not been able to access AGCOs website for ordering and looking up parts since Thursday morning. We just have to trust that it will be over as soon as possible because we are coming into our busiest time of the year and it will be very damaging to our business and customers, Brannon said. AGCO, which competes with larger rival Deere & Co., sells tractors and combines, manufactures and assembles products in 42 locations worldwide with 1,810 dealerships in North America. Dealers are now struggling to keep up with orders that were already backlogged. The company told dealers that it was prioritizing the most business critical systems in an e-mail read to Reuters by a dealer who declined to be identified. Ive got about nine orders that I need to place right now, said the dealer. He said AGCO told him digital systems had been impacted worldwide. AGCO did not respond to requests for additional comment. AGCOs shares were down 6% at $125.55 in late afternoon trading. Ransomware attacks have targeted food and fuel companies in the United States in recent years, including the Colonial Pipelines oil network and meat processing company JBS. Last autumn, at least three grain handlers in the Midwest were hit with ransomware attacks. (Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru, Bianca Flowers and P.J. Huffstutter in Chicago; Editing by Rashmi Aich, Shounak Dasgupta and Marguerita Choy) The Walgreens pharmacy company has reached a $683 million settlement with the state of Florida, halting a trial over state claims that the company improperly dispensed millions of painkillers that contributed to the opioid crisis, state and company officials said Thursday. State Attorney General Ashley Moody said the deal was struck after government evidence was presented at trial in Florida. Walgreens was the 12th and final defendant to settle with Florida, which will bring in more than $3 billion for the state to tackle opioid addiction and overdoses, according to the Associated Press and Florida news reports. We now go into battle armed and ready to fight back hard against this manmade crisis, Moody said at a news conference in Tampa. I am glad that we have been able to end this monumental litigation and move past the courtroom. Walgreens, based in Deerfield, Illinois, said in a statement the company did not admit wrongdoing in the deal, during which $620 million will be paid to the state over 18 years and a one-time sum of $63 million for attorney fees. Walgreens operates more than 9,000 stores in all 50 states, according to the company website. About 820 of those locations are in Florida. As the largest pharmacy chain in the state, we remain focused on and committed to being part of the solution, and believe this resolution is in the best interest of all parties involved and the communities we serve across Florida, Danielle Gray, executive vice president and global chief legal officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, said in a statement. Our pharmacists are dedicated healthcare professionals who live and work in the communities they serve, and play a critical role in providing education and resources to help combat opioid misuse and abuse. The company said the settlement funds will be used by the state of Florida to support efforts to combat and treat opioid addiction. Prior to the Walgreens trial, Florida had reached a $65 million settlement with Endo and $860 million in agreements with CVS, Teva and Allergan. CVS agreed to pay the state $484 million. The husband of a Black woman who died hours after childbirth in 2016 sued Cedars-Sinai Medical hospital last Wednesday, saying she bled to death because of a culture of racism at the renowned Los Angeles medical center. Charles Johnson IV said he discovered the disparity in care women of color receive at Cedars compared to white women during depositions in his wrongful death lawsuit that is scheduled to go to trial next week in Los Angeles Superior Court. Theres no doubt in my mind that my wife would be here today and be here Sunday celebrating Mothers Day with her boys if she was a Caucasian woman, Johnson said at a news conference outside the hospital. The reality is that on April 12, 2016, when we walked into Cedars-Sinai hospital for what we expected to be the happiest day of our lives, the greatest risk factor that Kira Dixon Johnson faced was racism. Johnson died about 12 hours after having a scheduled cesarean section that was performed in 17 minutes to deliver the couples second son, Langston. Despite signs she was bleeding internally, she languished for hours without being readmitted to the operating room until it was too late, the lawsuit said. This is sloppy. It was butchery, attorney Nick Rowley said. It shocked everybody that we deposed, all the health care providers, even the head of (obstetrics) here, the head of labor and delivery, looked at it and said `No, Ive never seen one done that fast. The surgeon who performed the C-section had cut into Kira Johnsons bladder and she hadnt been sutured properly, Rowley said. When she was finally brought back into the operating room, nearly 90% of her blood was found in her stomach. The hospital, which has fought the malpractice lawsuit, said in a statement that it was founded on principles of diversity and health care for all and it rejected any mischaracterization of our culture and values. We are actively working to eradicate unconscious bias in health care and advance equity in health care more broadly, the statement said. We commend Mr. Johnson for the attention he has brought to the important issue of racial disparities in maternal outcomes. Kira Johnsons death led her husband on a crusade to advocate for reducing maternal mortality, which is especially high for Black women. Before the pandemic, which increased deaths of women of color during childbirth, Black women died at 2.5 times the rate of white women, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Charles Johnson has testified before Congress and at the state Capitol in Sacramento in support of a variety of bills, including a 2019 state law that requires doctors and nurses to identify implicit bias at work, and a recent bill that would lift the cap on medical malpractice awards. Johnson would not benefit from a change in the malpractice law that currently caps awards at $250,000. The case is scheduled to go to trial May 11, though recent court filings indicated the two sides were close to reaching a settlement. The civil rights case would give Johnson another avenue to collect damages and hold Cedars-Sinai accountable. Hes also seeking an injunction that would require the hospital to make changes to protect mothers and women of color. Johnson said his malpractice lawsuit had revealed rampant racism, with witnesses saying his wife was improperly treated because of her race. Dr. Kimberly Gregory, an obstetrician and gynecologist at the hospital, testified that she lives with structural racism every day and it prevents Black patients from receiving the same care as whites, according to court papers. She also said Kira Johnson should have gone back to the operating room sooner. Dr. Sarah Kilpatrick, chair of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, testified that she told Charles Johnson: Im sorry. We failed your family. This shouldnt have happened. Angelique Washington, a Black surgical technologist working in the operating room, said patient safety was out the door when Kira Johnson came in. Washington, who has more than 30 years of experience, said she routinely witnessed different treatment of Black women but was afraid to speak up. When I see my Black patients come in, I say an extra prayer, Washington said. I say a silent prayer that all goes well. Because you do have racism very much so in the operating room. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. South Africa: Operation Vulindlela growing SA economy President Cyril Ramaphosa says the achievements by Operation Vulindlela demonstrates the commitment of government to implementing reforms that are necessary to inject growth into the economy and gain investor confidence. The President said this in his weekly newsletter to the country as government is today set to release an update report on the work of Operation Vulindlela for the first quarter of 2022. The report will outline the progress made by Operation Vulindlela and the departments responsible for these reforms. The President encouraged those who continue to raise concerns about the slow pace of reform to read the latest report. What has been achieved by Operation Vulindlela and the respective departments in a relatively short space of time should demonstrate the commitment of government to implementing reforms that are necessary to inject growth into our economy and inspire confidence in the business and investor community, he said. President Ramaphosa further called on business and investors to take advantage of the changes that are underway and turn their pledges and commitments into tangible, job creating investments. The reform agenda is moving and its momentum is unstoppable. Together, let us build on this progress and translate economic reform into growth, opportunity and employment, he said. President Ramaphosa emphasised that the South African economy, like any other economy, cannot function, let alone grow, without efficient and competitive network industries. He said that these industries which include electricity, water, transport and telecommunications are the arteries through which the oxygen of the economy runs. The statesman said that structural problems in these areas have long been cited as some of the main constraints on the countrys economic growth adding that inefficiency and the high cost of network services are an impediment to doing business in the country. To address and overcome these challenges, government set up Operation Vulindlela in October 2020 as an initiative of the Presidency and National Treasury to accelerate structural reforms in these network industries. Reforms While the responsible government departments and entities drive these reforms, Operation Vulindlela monitors and identifies challenges and blockages and where needed, it facilitates technical support to departments. Across government, our focus is on reforms that are fundamental and transformative; that reshape the way our economy works. This includes the auction of high-demand spectrum for mobile telecommunications, which was delayed for more than 10 years and finally completed in March. The release of new spectrum will improve connectivity and bring down broadband costs, the President said. The President said that the establishment of the National Ports Authority as a separate subsidiary of Transnet last year which has been delayed for more than 15 years, was the necessary first step towards enabling private sector participation and increasing the efficiency of our port terminals. We have also reinstated the Blue Drop, Green Drop and No Drop system for the first time since 2014 to ensure better monitoring of water and wastewater treatment quality. We have published an updated Critical Skills List, also for the first time since 2014, he said. He said that these are just some examples where, by focusing effort and attention on a limited number of priority reforms, this administration has been able to drive progress. Through Operation Vulindlela, he said this administration have also been able to take a more focused and holistic approach to reforms, ensuring better coordination where multiple departments and entities are involved. He said that the best example of this is in the energy sector, where a number of important, interconnected reforms are underway to change the way that the country generates and consumes electricity. Milestones include the raising of the licensing threshold for new generation projects to 100MW, allowing these projects to connect to the grid and sell power to customers. We have revived the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme through the opening of new bid windows, he said. Changes to the regulations on new generation capacity have also allowed municipalities to procure power independently for the first time. The President said legislative reforms will ultimately give birth to a new competitive electricity market, supported by the publication of the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill and the work underway to amend the Electricity Pricing Policy. The process of unbundling Eskom is on track, with the entity meeting its December 2021 deadline for the establishment of a National Transmission Company. By December this year we hope to complete the unbundling of Eskoms generation and distribution divisions. He said that the quarterly report highlights a number of other important achievements, as well as areas where intensive work is underway. Water Sector In the water sector, Operation Vulindlela has been providing technical support to the Department of Water and Sanitation to implement a turnaround plan for the granting of water use licences, with a target to process 80% of all applications within 90 days. He said work is also underway to establish a National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency that will ensure better management of our national water resources. Transport sector In the transport sector, he said inefficiencies in port and rail have severely affected the countrys ability to export goods. Work is underway to establish partnerships with private sector operators to invest in port infrastructure and improve the management of container terminals at the ports of Durban and Ngqura, he said. The President said that the White Paper on National Rail Policy, which was approved by Cabinet in March, outlines plans to revitalise rail infrastructure and enables thirdparty access to the freight rail network. He said that Transnet Freight Rail is already in the process of making slots available for private rail operators on the network. e-Visa system A fully operational e-Visa system has been launched in 14 countries, including some of the countrys largest tourist markets. A comprehensive review of the work visa system is also underway to enable us to attract the skills that our economy needs, he said. The President said that these reforms have been made possible due to better collaboration across government behind a shared reform agenda. Many of these reforms are complex, involving new ways of working and even the establishment of new institutions. In some cases, it will take time for us to see their full impact. Yet they are the only way to shift our economy from stagnation to dynamism, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-05-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Mobile hospitals deliver medical services to doorsteps of rural residents in E Chinas Zhejiang People's Daily Online) 11:25, May 09, 2022 It took about one hour for the medical vehicle, which was dispatched by a hospital in Songyang county, Lishui city, east Chinas Zhejiang Province, to get to Xiecun village, a mountainous village located in the same county. Many local villagers had been waiting for the vehicles arrival at the entrance of the village. A mobile hostpital visits Songzhuang village in Songyang county. (Photo/zj.zjol.com.cn) The vehicle, though not big, was equipped with a complete set of medical equipment, including an electrocardiograph, a mobile B-ultrasound device and a blood sampling machine, as well as more than 50 different kinds of medicine, being able to provide various medical services to residents in the localities it visits. Xiecun village is one of the remotest villages in Songyang county, being 39 kilometers from the county seat. Half of the villages permanent residents are elderly people who have encountered inconveniences in seeking medical treatment. Therefore, we established a medical service team to deliver services to the doorsteps of the rural residents, said Liu Yuhua, deputy head of Gushi Hospital. In the past, going to the hospital was difficult, with several transfers on the way, said Li Guangfu, a local villager, who was taking his medications as prescribed by the doctor. Nowadays, I can access medical services without having to leave the village. The doctors also established health records for us. How convenient it is for us to seek medical treatment nowadays! In November 2021, the medical team launched an online health record system that contains a host of information about patients, such as their medical history and medication logs, being very helpful in assisting doctors to perform diagnoses and provide treatment plans. There are five such mobile hospitals in Songyang county, which are able to serve rural residents in 203 villages of 19 townships in the county. Last year, the mobile medical vehicles made a total of 2,489 visits, during which 5,046 medical workers provided medical services for 155,200 rural patients. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Approximately 67 million registered voters in the Philippines march to polling precincts to cast their ballots to elect the country's next president amid the various issues that emerged on election day. Aside from the presidency, the elections will see over 18,000 government positions up for grabs, including half of the 24-member Senate, over 300 seats in the House of Representatives, and provincial and local offices across the archipelago of over 109 million Filipinos. The top two contenders vying for the Philippine presidency are Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, the 64-year-old son of the late dictator, a former provincial governor, congressman, and senator; and Vice President Leni Robredo, a human rights advocate, former congress representative. She defeated Marcos Jr. in the 2016 vice presidential race. Thousands of counting equipment across the country will send unofficial results to be tallied after voting centers close. A preliminary, unofficial count could reveal a clear winner in a matter of hours, but a close race could take longer. According to AP News, it could take weeks for Congress to complete an official count and canvass. Malfunctioning Voting Machines However, there were reports of voting machines having technical problems, power outages, and other issues during the nationwide elections, as per ABS-CBN News. During the countrywide polls, however, there were allegations of voting machines experiencing technical problems, power outages, and other challenges. Atty. Barry Gutierrez, the spokesman for Vice President Leni Robredo, has been in line to vote at a precinct on the UP Campus since 5:30 a.m. Yet, due to malfunctioning machines, they were unable to vote immediately. Polls in a precinct in Bauan Technical Highschool in the town of Bauan, Batangas, were also delayed for two hours due to a malfunctioning VCM in the province of Batangas. Due to problems with electricity in multiple polling places and tardy poll watchers, polls in Sagonsongan, Marawi, did not open on time. The voting process for the people affected by the 2017 Marawi siege, which was supposed to begin at 6 a.m., was over an hour late. Other locations with reported broken voting machines include the province of Pangasinan and the city of Malabon. Read Also: Jill Biden Makes Surprise Visit to Ukraine in Show of Solidarity, Meets With First Lady Olena Zelenska Commission on Elections Commissioner George Garcia reported that Some 1,867 vote-counting machines experienced technical problems during the early voting hours. The incidents occurred despite the majority of the machines hurdling the final testing and sealing. As of 11 a.m., Garcia said 51 defective VCMs and 102 SD cards were replaced. There were some 896 calls for VCM issues, but these were not confirmed defective, he added. According to the commission, there is a one-hour extension designed to compensate for longer lines caused by social distance and other coronavirus measures. Gun Attack Leaves 3 Dead Meanwhile, the Philippine military reported Monday that three individuals were killed in a gun shooting incident in Buluan, Maguindanao, during the holding of the 2022 national and local elections, per a GMA News report. According to an initial report received by the 16th Military Intelligence Company, the incident occurred at about 7:25 a.m. when members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) on duty at the Pilot Elementary School were strafed by occupants of two white vans. The attack killed BPAT members Misuary Dimapalao, Sajid Kamama, and Tata Bulilo. One BPAT member, on the other hand, was wounded in the incident. He was identified as Jadid Ulangkaya. The culprits fled the crime scene, according to the army, and all of their victims were supporters of Buluan Mayoral contender Babydats Mangudadatu. Given the long-standing threats presented by communist and Muslim insurgents, as well as a history of frequently brutal family and political disputes in rural areas, tens of thousands of police and military men have been deployed. In a horrific attack on an election caravan in 2009, gunmen sent by the family of southern Maguindanao province's then-governor slaughtered 58 people, including 32 journalists. Related Article: Manny Pacquiao as President of the Philippines? Legendary Boxer Vows to Knock Out Abusive Government @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. LAS VEGAS, N.M. With the worst of the thick wildfire smoke having blown out of town, residents of this small northern New Mexico city tried to recapture a sense of normalcy Saturday as their rural neighbors hunkered down amid predictions of extreme fire conditions. Shops and restaurants reopened, the historic center was no longer just populated by firefighters, but there was a widely felt sense of anxiety, loss, and wariness of what lay ahead. Its literally like living under a dark cloud, said Liz Birmingham, whose daughter had persistent headaches from the smoke. Its unnerving. While the city for now seemed spared of danger, rural areas were still threatened as the fire was driven by winds so fierce all firefighting aircraft had to be grounded. And the worst could be yet to come. A combination of strong winds, high temperatures and low humidity were forecast by the National Weather Service to create an exceptionally dangerous and likely historic stretch of critical to extreme fire weather conditions for several days. Some 1,400 firefighters worked feverishly to contain the largest fire burning in the U.S. The blaze, now more than a month old, has blackened more than 269 square miles (696 square kilometers) an area larger than the city of Chicago. Part of the fire was started by Forest Service workers who lost control of a prescribed burn meant to reduce fire risk. State leaders have called on the federal government for accountability, including reparations. Nationwide, close to 2,000 square miles (5,180 square kilometers) have burned so far this year, with 2018 being the last time this much fire had been reported at this point, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. And predictions for the rest of the spring do not bode well for the West, where long-term drought and warmer temperatures brought on by climate change have combined to worsen the threat of wildfire. Thousands of residents have evacuated due to flames that have charred large swaths of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northeastern New Mexico. The fires main threat was now to the north, where flames burning vegetation clogging the forest floor threatened several small rural communities, fire spokesman Ryan Berlin said. Firefighters, who typically rely on calmer winders and lower temperatures to make progress in the evening, have been hindered by unexpectedly strong winds at night. The threat to Las Vegas, a city of 13,000, was reduced after vegetation was cleared to create containment lines. Local officials on Saturday allowed residents of several areas on the citys northwestern outskirts to return to their homes, Berlin said. The city looked like a ghost town earlier in the week, with businesses shuttered, schools closed and the tourist district empty but for resting firefighters. By Saturday, it was in a partial state of recovery. National Guard troops carried cases of water, people lined up to sign up for relief from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., met with local officials and toured the shelter housing some of the displaced. We dont know if our houses are getting burned, or if its gonna stop, said Domingo Martinez, an evacuee from rural Manuelitas northwest of Las Vegas. I hope it dies down so we can go home. Martinez, who is staying with his son on the east side of town, visited an old friend and neighbor who had been living in the middle school shelter for 15 days. Outside the school, Martinez got a free haircut from Jessica Aragon, a local hairdresser who volunteered her time. I love that everyone is coming together, Aragon said. I think a smile is worth a thousand words. Birmingham was one of four dog owners leading German shepherds and a black Labrador through an obedience course in a park next to a library. All had been touched in some way by the fire. One was a construction worker whose work sites had all been reduced to ash. Fire officials warned Las Vegas residents that they should still be ready to leave and not to let their guards down because winds will pick up. High winds and increasing smoke will also make it difficult or impossible to fly water-dropping choppers and planes dumping fire retardant. On a mountain ridgeline outside of town, a sloppy line of red retardant could be seen on the trees. Residents were praying that the line and the wall of rock would hold. ___ Melley reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press writers Susan Montoya Bryan, Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona, and Paul Davenport and Michelle A. Monroe in Phoenix contributed to this report. Photo: The Calf Canyon Fire burns north of Las Vegas near the San Miguel and Mora County line Monday April 25, 2022. (Eddie Moore//The Albuquerque Journal via AP) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A former attorney for Casey White believes Vicky White, the woman who escaped with capital murder suspect on April 29, is the likely mastermind behind the pair's well-publicized escape from the Lauderdale County Jail in Alabama. Dale Bryant of Limestone County, Alabama, defended Casey White during the appeals process for convictions he received in 2019 for a string of earlier crimes in Alabama and Tennessee. Vicky White Possibly Plans for Casey White's Escape Casey White responds to situations rather than making plans, according to Bryant. Officials claimed the pair, who are not related, fled the jail that morning under the premise of being sent for a mental health assessment and went unseen for hours. Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said Vicky White breached procedure by carrying a prisoner alone that night, and detectives would be investigating into their encounters. According to media reports, they've discovered proof that the escape was a well-planned occurrence. Vicky White sold her property for $95,000 and withdrew monies from multiple banks nine days after their absence. Casey White's fellow prisoners said he and Vicky White had a "special relationship," Newsweek via MSN reported. Read Also: Former Arizona Sheriff's Deputy Burglarizes At Least 11 Weddings, Steals Newlywed Gifts Worth $3,000 From Each Couple Witness Speaks Out About Abandoned Car Used by Fugitive Last week, the lady who discovered the abandoned getaway car of fugitive prison guard Vicky White and convicted killer Casey White outside her Tennessee house expressed her concern after discovering the vehicle only hours after the pair fled an Alabama jail. Adams, 41, a school bus driver in the remote town, said she was driving home from one of her other jobs when she observed the former correctional officer White's unidentifiable SUV with tinted windows and no tags. The vehicle, which carried Whites' jail radio, handcuffs, and keys, was towed later that day, with sheriffs apparently oblivious of the car's relation to the manhunt, Daily Mail reported. The automobile had been parked at a Tennessee tow yard for the past week. Authorities believe the couple is romantically linked, and they've been on the run ever since, avoiding hundreds of law enforcement officers. Vicky White, a former correctional officer, is shown on CCTV checking out of a motel at about 5:21 a.m. on Sunday. Authorities believe she went on to bust prisoner Casey White out of jail on that day. Vicky White reportedly stayed at the hotel the night before fleeing with Casey White, who was facing a capital murder trial for allegedly stabbing Connie Ridgeway to death in 2015. The Alabama jail guard is seen approaching the hotel's front desk, bending over it and obviously looking for something in the 14-second clip. Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton told WAFF-TV that the motel isn't far from where their getaway car was parked. On April 29, she picked him up from jail for a court mental health examination that didn't exist, and they continued on their way, according to authorities. Per NY Daily News, Vicky White was scheduled to retire the next day. The 56-year-old widow, who worked as the deputy director of prisons for Lauderdale County, now faces a first-degree charge of enabling or assisting escape. Casey White, 38, is most likely off his mental-illness medicines, according to his attorney, and the two are regarded as armed and dangerous. Vicky White, as a result, may be at risk, according to Singleton, who also confirmed that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, FBI, and US Marshals are cooperating in the investigation. Related Article: Viral Video Shows Exact Moment Vicki White Helped Murder Suspect Casey White Escape From Alabama Prison [WATCH] @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tesla CEO Elon Musk answers the warning of the head of Russia's space agency that threatened him for his ambitions to give internet connection to Ukraine The 50 year-old multi-billionaire has been beaming internet connections to dishes all around the world using Starlink, a constellation of 2,000 satellites in low Earth orbit. The service has a huge presence in Ukraine, where it was launched with the sole goal of keeping the country connected during Russia's continuing invasion. Back in April, the billionaire said they had resisted Russian hacking and jamming attempts' and was focussing SpaceX's efforts on countermeasures - at the cost of other projects. Musk Shall Be Held Accountable Musk tweeted information supplied to Russian media by Dmitry Rogozin, the chairman of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, on Sunday night. Rogozin directly remarked on Telegram. Musk is accused by Rogozin of supplying Starlink equipment to the so-called "Nazi Azov Battalion" as well as Ukrainian military groups. Musk's post appears to be in response to a perceived Russian threat stemming from his intention to bring a SpaceX-run satellite internet service to Ukraine. Musk's move seemed to irritate Rogozin, who reportedly told Russian official media that Musk "shall be held accountable" like an adult, as per a report from News.com. The Russian official claimed that Starlink equipment "was carried out by the Pentagon." "Elon Musk, thus, is involved in supplying the fascist forces in Ukraine with military communication equipment. And for this, Elon, you will be held accountable like an adult - no matter how much you'll play the fool," Rogozin said. Read Also: Roscosmos Chief Warns Russia's Nuclear Power Can Destroy NATO Countries in 30 Minutes The billionaire answered back, as he often does, in an ironic manner. "The word 'Nazi' doesn't mean what he seems to think it does," Musk tweeted, and added, "If I die under mysterious circumstances, it's been nice knowin' ya." The word Nazi doesnt mean what he seems to think it does pic.twitter.com/pk9SQhBOsG Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2022 Many Musks followers reacted to his message, as per a report from Daily Mail, taking it as a cryptic warning. Among them is his mother Maye Musk. "That's not funny," Musk's mother tweeted, adding a few angry emojis But Elon Musk replied, "Sorry! I will do my best to stay alive." Space X Benefits Thousands Of Ukrainian Amid Russian Invasion With over 10,000 dish antennas in service and more on the way, the SpaceX-run satellite internet service that CEO Elon Musk promised at the start of the war has emerged as a lifeline for many sections of the nation. Dmytro Zinchuk, the chief of network operations for Freenet, which primarily covers the Kyiv region as well as western and northern Ukraine, described the service as "not an ideal internet." He said that Starlink serves "more than a lifeline" for people who have had no internet service for weeks. Zinchuk said his company has so far integrated five government-donated Starlink terminals in its furious energy to get as many customers back online as possible in areas that faced heavy Russian bombardment. Per NBC News, that can mean wiring hundreds of people to a terminal meant for a single household. A 23-inch-wide receiver dish that must be put outdoors, as well as a cord that connects to a modest router that projects a Wi-Fi internet signal, are included in most of the basic Starlink kits dispatched to Ukraine. Related Article: Italy Reportedly Freezes Putin's $700M Yacht as Ukraine Destroys Another Russian Ship @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Meghan Markle has taken down any references to her canceled Netflix project from the Royal couple's official website. The streaming giant has canceled several projects, including her animated series Pearl, as it tries to combat a fall in the number of subscribers. The project, which also included Elton John's husband, David Furnish, had the Duchess of Sussex named as an executive producer. All the project's information, however, has been removed from Meghan and Harry's websites, as reported by GB News. Pearl tells the story of a little girl who was inspired by powerful women throughout history. When Meghan announced the animated show last summer, she said that it was about the heroine Pearl's "journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life's daily challenges." In autumn 2020, Meghan and Harry launched Archewell Productions at Netflix to produce original documentaries and children's programs, with Pearl slated to be their debut animated series. Netflix Subscription Woes In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed a deal worth up to 112 million ($137 million) with the streaming behemoth. Meghan and Harry's plans to launch their shows have been hampered by Netflix's recent troubles. Across all age categories, 28% of those aged 35 to 44 want to cancel, far more than the second biggest group, those aged 55 and older, who want to cancel with 21 %. When questioned why they might consider canceling their paid television subscription, the most common response is the price. The majority of people feel a paid TV subscription is too expensive (54%) and that they don't want to pay for content they never watch (28%). Netflix announced in April that it had lost 200,000 customers in the previous quarter. Its shares dropped 35% after the company announced it projected to lose another 2 million customers in the coming quarter, per The Express. Read Also: U2's Bono, Edge Hold Surprise Concert in Kyiv To Express Support for Ukrainians Fighting for Freedom Meghan Won't Give Up On Pearl Despite the bad news, Meghan Markle is determined to seek a new platform to launch her cartoon series project, according to a report from The Sun. LA insiders say that Meghan, 40, and her team at production company Archewell do not see the Netflix dump as the end of the road. Meghan and Furnish "are reviewing the project to see where else it could find a home", according to sources. They will pitch the show to other TV networks and streaming services, such as Apple and Amazon, since The Duke And Duchess Of Sussex's contract with Netflix allow the couple to sell any products that the streaming platform turns down. A source told the media outlet, "Meghan and Harry will not give up on taking Pearl to the screen," and the couple is "determined" not to waste "all the work and creative endeavors" they invested in the project. It added that their standard deal with Netflix allows them "to pitch projects rejected by them to other outlets." Possible target platforms for Pearl are Apple and Disney Plus, which Harry and Meghan had worked with, respectively. Furnish also has established ties within the film and television industries. After the decommissioning, the team is having a second look at the show concept to see what can be altered, according to a source, and there was a lot of excitement about Pearl and the optimism that its journey has not yet ended. Related Article: Meghan Markle Net Worth 2022: How Wealthy Is the Duchess of Sussex? @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Since January 2020, Googles parent company Alphabet has spent nearly $100M on expanding its U.S. commercial real estate portfolio, including a $28.5 million office it bought in Sunnyvale, CA. at the height of the pandemic. More recently, Alphabet announced in January it would spend $1 billion for a campus-like office setting in London. We'll be introducing new types of collaboration spaces for in-person teamwork, as well as creating more overall space to improve wellbeing, Ronan Harris, managing director of Google UK wrote in a blog post. Well introduce team pods, which are flexible new space types that can be reconfigured in multiple ways, supporting focused work, collaboration or both, based on team needs. The new refurbishment will also feature outdoor covered working spaces to enable work in the fresh air. The goal, said Harris is to offer employees flexible space with amenities to lure them back to the office, while recognizing many of them still want to work from home a couple of days a week." BDG Architects 2021 Google plans to offer a quiet zone in its UK office for individual focused work and an interactive art installation to support employee wellness. The office expansion trend goes well beyond Google. In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, US organizations purchased 60,346 commercial properties, according to Altus Group, a commercial real estate firm. That figure dropped to 57,174 in 2020, but rebounded last year to 78,354 properties. And in the first quarter of 2022, organizations have already purchased 22,423 commercial properties. If that trend continues, the number of office buildings bought this year would surpass those snapped up in 2021. The numbers match Google's increase in accruing office space, so it seems The Great Resignation is not taking a toll on companies valuing office space, said Ray Wong, vice president of Data Operations for Altus Group. Weve seen a lot of activity among tech firms taking on more space, not just buying, but leasing it. The Amazons, and the Facebooks, theyre all adopting the expansion strategy. Robin Powered, Inc. On average, employees booking time at their company desk has grown over the past three months. The US initially shed 138.4 million square feet (MSF) of office space in the year and a half after COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic. Data showed more businesses began subleasing their space as the workforce became more agile. Given the uncertainty about how hybrid workforces will look, property owners and occupiers began offering shorter lease and sublease terms, according to a 2021 report from real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield. The shorter lease terms turned out to be the right move as companies are now moving to reclaim that space. Office sublease inventory has declined for the second straight quarter, according to Cushman & Wakefields latest report. There is no one standard for the future," Cushman & Wakefield said in their latest report. "Most organizations believe the office is now the place for building culture and for inspiring creativity and innovation." Based on the 90 US markets tracked by Cushman & Wakefield, total leasing in Q1 2022 was up 19% from Q1 2021, and four-quarter rolling leasing activity is up 41% from a year ago. Class A office space leasing has accelerated even faster; it's up 47% year-over-year. With 349 million square feet of total leasing over the past four quarters, the US is back above its pre-pandemic historical average by 1.4%, according to the firm. One thing Id say is, one size does not fit all. If someone is telling you everyone is shrinking space in the wake of the pandemic, thats not true, said David Smith, head of occupier research at Cushman & Wakefield. Companies are rethinking how that space is oriented. Theyre focused on collaborative space and different sized spaces. We are seeing companies that are looking to expand their portfolios. This an opportune time to do that. Weve seen this with other recessions lock in space for the long term with better rates or concessions. Robin Powered, Inc. As COVID cases dropped, office utilization rates climbed. As organizations are beginning to figure out what a hybrid workforce will look like, many are expanding their square footage to create safer and more attractive workspaces that allow more area between desks, hot desking" (sharing desks), large lounge or break areas, and larger outdoor spaces. Theyre also hedging their bets that workforces will continue to grow over time as their businesses expand. Over time, compared to a year ago, theres more of an openness to get back into the office and Google and real estate owners are looking at what kinds of amenities will attract people back, Wong said. With tech companies, theyre going to grow and theyre anticipating what that growth is. Theyve determined they need potential real estate down the road to meet their strategic objectives. "The bottom line is, organizations are focused on flexibility. The tech industry remained the dominant leasing driver through the end of 2021, representing 21% of Q4 activity, according to Jones Lang LaSalle IP (JLL), a commercial real estate and investment management services firm. High-tech firms added about 3.3 million square feet of leased office space in the last three months of 2021. Its not just tech firms," said Wong. "Some firms are expanding in anticipation of growth or re-aligning their space requirements to what they may need in three to five years from now." Last month, the average occupancy rate on Kastle Systems Back to Work Barometer rose to 40.5%, up from 39% in November 2021. That's the highest rate since March 2020, and every city on the Back to Work Barometer saw occupancy gains. (The barometer measures occupancy rates in 10 metropolitan areas, including New York City, Chicago, Houston, and Washington D.C.) Kastle Systems is a managed security provider to more than 10,000 companies globally; it uses employee badge-swipe data to determine workplace occupancy. In a new wrinkle, organizations are now choosing to lease new or renovated buildings over older stock, which is more likely to be converted into residential space or senior living or assisted living facilities, according to Peter Miscovich, managing director of JLL. Corporations are also adopting more of a collaborative space or "hot-desking" model, where desks are shared, depending on scheduled office workdays, said Phil Ryan, US research director at JLL. Office usage is slowly climbing, primarily because employees' COVID-19 fears are easing and global companies are mandating some level of office attendance, according to Robin Powered Inc., a vendor of software that enables employees to book desk time. US employees worked from the office an average of 4.9 days per month, up from 3.7 days as recently as December 2021, according to a new report from Robin. "...Its good to see a slow and steady build, even as the Omicron variant slowed growth in this category in January, said Eric Lani, Robins manager of product analytics. Both the US and Europe saw an 18% increase in the total number of employees working from the office in Q1 2022 compared to the final three months of 2021, according to Robin. These numbers dont tell the whole story, Lani said in a blog post. "Despite consistent growth rates, the average daily occupancy rates for the two regions are very different. US businesses experience 25% office capacity while Europe sits at 35%, which indicates EU team members work from the office more frequently." Bounce rate the percentage of people coming into the office only once during a 30-day period dropped to 18% in Q1 2022, the lowest since the spring of 2021, indicating that people are coming back to the office more consistently, according to Lani. Office traffic isnt just limited to employees. The average company welcomes roughly five guests per month. The most common guest types are corporate event attendees (20%) and customers (15%), according to Lani. Companies that want people in their cubicles should focus on carrots, not sticks, according to David Lewis, CEO of OperationsInc, an HR consulting firm in Connecticut. In other words, let employees themselves discover the benefits of being in the office instead of forcing them to be there. While office attendance remains below pre-pandemic levels, it continued to rebound through March, according to Cushman & Wakefield, with reimagined workspaces likely to drive additional demand throughout 2022. Employees who had a positive experience during their first office visit came in 10% more often than those that had a negative experience, according to the study by Robin Powered. The in-office recovery will be differentiated by building quality, class, and submarket type. To date, suburban submarkets have been recovering slightly more quickly, and Class A office space continues to be in higher demand. Class A offices are the most prestigious buildings competing for premier office users with rents above average for a given area. BDG Architects 2021 A planned space for Googlers to pause for a coffee break or have a quick one-to-one visit in sound-protected booths in the company's UK office. Workers want a quality of experience in the office, Cushman & Wakefields Smith said. They want better air quality and access to outdoors, and they want to be in the best locations. All those things are more important in an agile work environment, and to make the office worthwhile and productive for the worker. Augmented reality can impede the optimisation of production Production workers instructed with augmented reality glasses can work much faster than colleagues instructed with analogue methods. However, an international study claims that they are less capable of internalising their tasks and of making suggestions to improve production processes. These insights may help companies when adapting AR applications to their needs and balancing productivity gains against process optimisation priorities. Companies are increasingly using augmented reality (AR) in production in the hope of improving productivity as well as production processes. In AR, the real world is enhanced with a computer-generated version of reality. For example, AR glasses provide employees with step-by-step guidance when assembling an electrical device by recognising the individual components and indicating the next move. However, information has so far been lacking on whether it is worthwhile for companies to invest in AR equipment and what the strengths and weaknesses of this technology are in production. To close this gap, a team of researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Landeskrankenhaus Mainz conducted field experiments at a technology company as a test of how quickly workers can perform new tasks with and without AR support, how this is influenced by the difficulty of a task, and how the use of AR affects their ability to suggest process improvements. Fifty test subjects were instructed in two new tasks of varying difficulty involved in the production of electronic devices. Half received paper-based instructions and the others were taught using AR glasses. The two groups then had to master the tasks first with and then without instructions. In a second step, all participants were asked to suggest improvements to the related production processes. The suggestions were then evaluated by company experts. Productivity can be increased The study shows that productivity in manufacturing can be significantly improved through the use of augmented reality. Workers learning a difficult task with AR glasses required almost 44% less time to master the job as compared with the control group. With a simple task, the difference was still close to 15%. It was also evident, however, that the test subjects in the AR group internalised the task less than their colleagues who received analogue instructions. When repeating the complex task without instructions, they were 23 percent slower than the other group. Those who are over-reliant on the technology do not internalise the information to the same extent and dont achieve the same learning effects, said study leader David Wuttke, a professor of supply chain management at TUM. With AR devices, it is quite similar to GPS navigation in your car. Those who use GPS to get around in a new city will struggle to find their way on a future visit without this technology. The second part of the analysis shows that the use of AR glasses has a negative impact on innovation potential. The suggestions for improvement made by production workers who used printed instructions were significantly more useful than those from the AR group. The results seem to indicate that the AR device served as a crutch that did not lead to a deeper insight into the task among workers. As a result, they were less capable of helping to optimise the process, said Wuttke. It won't take long before we finally lay our eyes on the latest Motorola Razr 2022 or the Motorola Razr 3 as reliable leaker Evan Blass gave us the first glimpse of the new gadget. With two upgraded cameras on its back, a 50MP f / 1.8 main sensor and a 13MP sensor for macro and ultra-wide shots, the foldable phone codenamed Maven is a unit to watch for. What Are the Specs of 'Maven'? The new Motorola unit with the codename Maven has an outer display larger than the previous Motorola Models. The Motorola 2020 unit and original Razr 2019 have 2.7 inches outer display attached. 91mobiles pointed out that Motorola Razr 3 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. It will also be available with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and with 256GB or 512GB of built-in storage. According to Blass, the Razr 3 comes with an FHD+ interior folding display and a hole-punch 32MP selfie camera. More excitingly, The Verge reported that Motorola is rumored to release a a "Plus" variant, presumably with an upgraded, but as-yet-unknown, chip. Maven is said to be available in Quartz Black and Tranquil Blue. As 91mobiles said, Razr 3 promises to deliver the same significant generation-to-generation changes that we've seen other early units to the foldable category. But this will come along with the premium pricing. Motorola is expected to launch Maven in the next few months. It will first ship to China in late July or early August. A global rollout will follow later. Read Also: Motorola Moto Edge X30 Powerful Specs, Features: Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Chipset, 1 Billion Colors, and MORE Is Razr 3 Any Better than Motorola 2019 and 2020? We can make so much judgment before a phone actually comes out, but on paper at least, Motorola Razr 3 seems promising. For once it has a top specs, second: it has a better camera, and of course we can't ignore the classic flip foldable form factor. Motorola Razr 3 will be up against the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, which is expected to arrive in August. However, we can expect Motorola owner Lenovo to find ways for Razr to attract potential buyers. After all Razr's name is quite popular. It appears as though Motorola Razr can satisfy what phone buyers want in a new phone, better specs, better photos from their devices, and more options to choose from. This makes the absence of Motorola 2021 quite acceptable. Motorola canceled the release of Razr 2021. This suggested that the company might skip a year for it to work on the perfect foldable. Subsequent leaks have suggested the rumor to be true Motorola is building the perfect Razr 3 with a top-end more powerful that the Razr 2019 and 2020. According to a report from TechRadar, the leak also pointed to a redesigned phone with a smaller notch, a 50MP main camera with 32MP front-facing and 13MP ultra-wide companions, a 120Hz AMOLED screen and up to 512GB storage. This new leak from Blass supports previous rumors about the Motorola Razr 3. Related Article: Motorola Defy: Water Resistance Early On Roots of violence Violent civilization is not without achievements. It has deep attractions of its own, which have not been so manifest in earlier civilizations. It provides man with an unprecedented world of consumerism while fueling man's attitudes like greed, hatred, revenge, domination, thrill, adventure etc. It has the expertise that even the oppressed and victim consider themselves to be natural members of violent civilization. They would have hoped that one day they too would dominate/destroy others, and would attain the state of complete consumerism. Capitalism, the leader of violent civilization, descends in the most backward alleyways of the far-flung world in order to cater its public. The roots of modern violent civilization are deep and widespread. Its story is infinite and immense. Perhaps this is the reason that any thinking related to non-violent civilization in the modern or pre-modern eras, does not find fertile ground to grow. Such thinking, as Gandhi said, is one in which economics regulates ethics and ethics regulates economics. Viable alternative There are ample sources of thinking inspired by the creation of non-violent civilizations all over the world. Gandhi's thinking presents a serious and coherent alternative to modern violent civilization among them. Along with presenting the philosophy of a just human civilization, he has also provided the mode of action to achieve it. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia has described Gandhi's civil disobedience method of resistance to injustice as the greatest revolution in human history so far. Many activists/leaders of the world have used Gandhi's methodology in their struggles. It is Gandhi's strength, and at the same time weakness, that he was born in a colonized part of the world. Strength, because, despite being born in the colonized country, he could nurture an original thinking opposing colonialism, an initial stage of modern violent civilization. Weakness, because, being a thinker of the colonized land, he could not get the same recognition and importance as the thinkers born in the colonialist countries got. Along with economic exploitation at the core of colonialism was the belief that it was a divine duty to bring the enslaved populations out of the pit of ignorance. Therefore, Gandhi, a resident of a slave country, could not be accepted as a provider of a perfect alternative civilization. However, several ordinary and prominent people from the colonialist countries accepted Gandhi as an alternative thinker and leader. Many of them also got involved with Gandhi's struggle for independence. Gandhi took his sources of thinking from all available sources. The bibliography of 'Hind Swaraj' mentions two Indian authors Dadabhai Naoroji and RC Dutta. The rest of the authors -- Tolstoy, Sherard, Carpenter, Taylor, Blount, Thoreau, Ruskin, Mazzini, Plato, Max Nordau -- are from outside India. After Gandhi, many important scholars have contemplated towards building a non-violent civilization. There are many neo-Marxists among them. Nandkishore Acharya has written: Now even the new Marxist thinkers like Meszaros, Leibovitz and Terry Eagleton have started talking about decentralized technology and production system, which is neither controlled by the corporate, nor by the state. Meszaros explains globalization as globalization of unemployment. Its solution can be found only in the choice of the productive forces, which together with production have also contained solutions to the problem of distribution. In fact, due to indigenous technology and non-violent production relations resulting from it, exploitative centralization of capital is not possible and the ideal of equitable distribution of profits, that is, economic equality, is also automatically implemented to a large extent. Truth and non-violence, according to Gandhi, should not only be considered as personal virtues, but their socio-economic return should be reflected not only in the aims but also in the process, that is, not only as an end, but also as a means. 'Gandhi Hai Vikalp (Gandhi Is The Alternative), Prakrit Bharati Academy, Jaipur, 2021, pp 49-50). Therefore, an outline of non-violent civilization can be delineated easily from the thinking of Gandhi's contemporary and later thinkers. But it is a pity that in all the debate about the Russia-Ukraine war, no attention has been given to that crucial task. India's position in this context is very bad. No modern leader in India believed in Gandhi's critique of modern industrial civilization and his vision of its alternative. They wanted to make India like colonial countries. Even today the situation is more or less the same. A considerable amount of the post-critique of capitalism and socialism has been established by adopting capitalist means and processes, as well as the present-day corporate capitalism. But in spite of that the gaping black hole of violent civilization consumes all objects relentlessly.Violent civilization is not without achievements. It has deep attractions of its own, which have not been so manifest in earlier civilizations. It provides man with an unprecedented world of consumerism while fueling man's attitudes like greed, hatred, revenge, domination, thrill, adventure etc. It has the expertise that even the oppressed and victim consider themselves to be natural members of violent civilization.They would have hoped that one day they too would dominate/destroy others, and would attain the state of complete consumerism. Capitalism, the leader of violent civilization, descends in the most backward alleyways of the far-flung world in order to cater its public.The roots of modern violent civilization are deep and widespread. Its story is infinite and immense. Perhaps this is the reason that any thinking related to non-violent civilization in the modern or pre-modern eras, does not find fertile ground to grow. Such thinking, as Gandhi said, is one in which economics regulates ethics and ethics regulates economics.There are ample sources of thinking inspired by the creation of non-violent civilizations all over the world. Gandhi's thinking presents a serious and coherent alternative to modern violent civilization among them. Along with presenting the philosophy of a just human civilization, he has also provided the mode of action to achieve it. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia has described Gandhi's civil disobedience method of resistance to injustice as the greatest revolution in human history so far. Many activists/leaders of the world have used Gandhi's methodology in their struggles.It is Gandhi's strength, and at the same time weakness, that he was born in a colonized part of the world. Strength, because, despite being born in the colonized country, he could nurture an original thinking opposing colonialism, an initial stage of modern violent civilization. Weakness, because, being a thinker of the colonized land, he could not get the same recognition and importance as the thinkers born in the colonialist countries got.Along with economic exploitation at the core of colonialism was the belief that it was a divine duty to bring the enslaved populations out of the pit of ignorance. Therefore, Gandhi, a resident of a slave country, could not be accepted as a provider of a perfect alternative civilization. However, several ordinary and prominent people from the colonialist countries accepted Gandhi as an alternative thinker and leader. Many of them also got involved with Gandhi's struggle for independence.Gandhi took his sources of thinking from all available sources. The bibliography of 'Hind Swaraj' mentions two Indian authors Dadabhai Naoroji and RC Dutta. The rest of the authors -- Tolstoy, Sherard, Carpenter, Taylor, Blount, Thoreau, Ruskin, Mazzini, Plato, Max Nordau -- are from outside India. After Gandhi, many important scholars have contemplated towards building a non-violent civilization. There are many neo-Marxists among them. Nandkishore Acharya has written:'Gandhi Hai Vikalp (Gandhi Is The Alternative), Prakrit Bharati Academy, Jaipur, 2021, pp 49-50).Therefore, an outline of non-violent civilization can be delineated easily from the thinking of Gandhi's contemporary and later thinkers. But it is a pity that in all the debate about the Russia-Ukraine war, no attention has been given to that crucial task.India's position in this context is very bad. No modern leader in India believed in Gandhi's critique of modern industrial civilization and his vision of its alternative. They wanted to make India like colonial countries. Even today the situation is more or less the same. Rather, under the rule of the present government, not only blind leaps are being taken in the direction of violent civilization, an entire narrative is being fabricated and spread to justify Gandhi's assassination. Some people take the strange pleasure of killing Gandhi again and again by firing bullets at his photo. There are many such people in the country today who say that had Gandhi been alive today, they would have shot him. Obviously, all this does not make any difference to the dead Gandhi. However, it remains to be seen that 'Gandhi's India' remains an arena of multi-level violence. Dr Lohia wrote, The first half of the twentieth century produced two novel phenomena, atomic bomb and Mahatma Gandhi, and the century's second half will struggle and suffer to make its choice between the two" (Collected Works of Dr Rammanohar Lohia, volume 3, Anamika Prakashan, Delhi, 2011, p 246). Now two decades of the twenty-first century have passed. Has modern man decided to suffer by choosing the atomic bomb? Or is the resolve to establish a non-violent human civilization in one corner of his mind as active as before? If this is so, then there will definitely be victory of life instinct over the death instinct related to violent civilization. --- *Associated with the socialist movement, former teacher of Delhi University and fellow of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla Celebrities from different fields like film, sports, fashion, music, dance, literature etc. may also be included in this category. Most celebrities, knowingly or unknowingly, are evolving into the ambassadors of today's violent civilization. The life of modern man would not have been so intensely surrounded from all sides by the competition to produce, sell and use all types of weapons.In this civilization not only the body but also humankind's soul is strapped with various types of metals and explosives. And unfortunately, we are led to believe it's the best stage of human civilization ever! The parts of the world that are left behind in this race, at whose cost this violent civilization is established, are expected and encouraged to continue racing in the direction of achieving that very stage.Yet the desire for peace of the inhabitants of this modern violent civilization, which runs on two strong wheels of arms and market, is not all that faltering. People affected by external discord are found to take various measures with the aim of achieving inner peace. It has become a big business, which is thriving in this violent civilization.It is claimed in this peace-business that inner peace will bring outer peace. Inner peace is possible only when you keep yourself unaffected by the outside world. (That is, enjoy it to the fullest, but there is no need to challenge or change it.) In this business, the words of many so-called spiritualists and tele-evangelists, philosophers-writers and even some scientists as well are quoted frequently. Along with this, activities like Peace Day, Peace Prize, Peace Conference, Peace Ambassador are organized under the auspices of global organizations, non-governmental organizations and governments.The strings of operation of these activities are mainly associated with America, whose foundation, not only existence, is based on violence. In the midst of this whole business of peace, wars, civil wars, guerrilla wars, racial wars, terrorist wars go on in different corners of the world. Needless to say, the violent civilization has spread all this business in its defense. People do not understand that lasting peace cannot be an intrinsic attribute of a violent civilization.It is not that the question of violence has not been contemplated under violent civilization. It has done a lot. In addition to violence related to war, many other types of structural violence have been considered and analyzed by several important thinkers. But as there is no concrete thought of non-violent civilization, violent civilization continues to spread despite serious contemplation on the issue of violence. Lenny Bruce. You knew hed be here. Bruce was a trailblazer for free speech in comedy, as he was arrested several times over the years for obscene language. Bruce was arrested in San Francisco in 1961, arrested again in Chicago the next year for the same reason, deported from the UK the next year, and arrested twice in New York the year after that. 10 Ablikim Kalkun Ablikim Kalkun, a popular comedian and singer in Xinjiang China, was sentenced to 18 years in prison by the Chinese government for his disseminating his radical ideas of separatism, religious extremism, and discriminating against national education. Continue Reading Below Advertisement When did China get so strict? This horrible film, about the worlds worst poster, originally wasnt going to be so horrible Martin Scorcese was its original director. But it probably still couldve managed being a bit okay, if they ever finished it; after Scorcese dropped out, the next director wasnt given enough time to finish filming, ending up with the film having about 15% fewer scenes than it should. 1 Se7en Se7en is the mournful tale of how Brad Pitt is actually a pretty good actor when given the right material. The film follows the Seven Sins Serial Killer as he, uh, does that. At one point, the detectives break into his house and find mounds of journals, all hand-written by the killer but actually all hand-written by John Sable. The designer spent 15k on journals, ripped them up, sewed them back together, baked them, and then started finding as many pictures of "mutilated limbs, decapitated people, people whose fingers had been sawn off" as he could -- and then the fun began. He covered the books in his manic insane writing, the writing of a killer -- thousands of pages, most of which are either visible briefly in the background, or not at all. Tara Marie writes words at places like here, Panel X Panel, and the Hard Times. She's also done words at a comic in Trailer Park Boys: Bagged and Boarded. Shes probably not a serial killer but she did once go to the Jury Room so who knows! She's reachable @TaraMarieWords or by screaming into a cove at the bottom of a lake in the dead of night. Thumbnail: Lionsgate Films, Orion Pictures The puritanical opposition to the PG-13 rating is also not a recent development by any stretch of the imagination; obviously its happened in the past with movies like Batman Returns, but people were literally complaining about the content of PG-13 movies in the first month they existed, back in 1984. The New York Times Religious groups immediately protested that the PG-13 rating wasnt restrictive enough and to be totally fair, the very first PG-13 movie was Red Dawn, a paranoid right wing fantasy engineered by Alexander Haig, Reagans Secretary of State which is an assuredly terrible thing to show small children. But most of the vocal criticisms seemingly had more to do with Hollywoods penchant for sex and violence. And these groups didnt just want a change to the ratings system, some wanted local censorship. Continue Reading Below Advertisement But ultimately, it seems as though these complaints have always been more about ceding parental responsibility. One Catholic film critic claimed in 84 that: This new rating will make parents' jobs harder. And sure, the PG-13 rating is ultimately kind of meaningless since kids dont carry ID and arent really prevented from seeing these movies. But thats just another reason why parents need to exercise a modicum of effort instead of letting a small handful of anonymous strangers determine what their children should watch no questions asked. You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter! Top Image: Marvel Studios The global chip shortage is still causing issues for automakers, with some vehicles being shipped without all of their advertised features. Among these brands is BMW which is releasing some of its new cars without Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. 9to5Google noted that almost every BMW model has complete support for Android Auto starting in 2019 and growing in 2020. The missing feature is due to an ongoing chip scarcity that has impacted practically every business that uses electronics. BMW said it switched suppliers and began utilizing a chip that does not yet have adequate software for Android Auto or CarPlay use in order to get the cars to their destinations on time. How Can You Tell Whether Your Brand-New BMW Is Affected? According to 9to5Google, citing the Automotive News Europe report, you can check the production code for "6P1" to see if your newly purchased BMW is affected. The models in question were built between January and April of this year and have been delivered to the U.S., France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Fortunately, the affected car owners will only be inconvenienced for a short time, as BMW has confirmed to Automotive News Europe that these vehicles will receive an over-the-air (OTA) upgrade "by the end of June at the latest," bringing full Android Auto and CarPlay features. What Is the Reason Behind BMW's Decision? The problem is said to be the result of BMW switching chip suppliers in order to cope with the shortfall as quickly as possible. In other words, Digital Trends explained that switching suppliers avoided the company from pausing shipments while waiting for the chips to arrive. Instead, it was able to install the new supplier's chips and ship the cars, with the main stumbling block being the requirement to send out updated software to enable certain features. Read More: Tesla Joins Citigroup and Yelp in Covering Transportation Costs for Employees Seeking Out-of-State Abortions The chip scarcity isn't anticipated to ease anytime soon because of pandemic-related supply chain issues and other factors, with Intel's CEO noting last month that it could take several years for his company to recover. Digital Trends pointed out that while the problem is an irritant for customers, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle if BMW follows through on its commitment to fixing the problem by the end of next month. It's apparently preferable for the automaker to keep the vehicle till the functionality is available. This Is Not the First Time BMW Delivered Cars With Missing Features Engadget mentioned that this isn't the first time BMW has supplied automobiles that are missing non-essential components to avoid shipment delays. Due to a global chip scarcity, the carmaker removed touchscreen functions from several vehicles last fall. BMW is far from the only automaker to use this approach. Tesla chose to send some cars without USB ports last fall, at the same time BMW was dealing with the touchscreen issue. Ford then supplied certain Explorer SUVs without rear temperature controls earlier this year. Related Article: 2022 BMW 230i Beginner Sports Car: Price, Engine, and Design Since at least the early 1990s, computer scientists have warned that quantum computing, despite its potential to provide exponentially more powerful computing capabilities, can break traditional encryption methods and expose digital assets to prying eyes and malicious actors. As the era of quantum computing comes into view, the Biden administration announced it is taking steps to advance the field of quantum computing while mitigating the risks quantum computers pose to national and economic security. Last week the White House issued two directives on quantum information science (QIS). The first is an executive order (EO) to ensure continued American leadership in quantum information science and its technology applications. The second is a national security memorandum that spells out key steps needed to maintain the nations competitive advantage in quantum information science (QIS) while mitigating the risks of quantum computers to the nations cyber, economic, and national security. The EO and the memo represent a third line of effort beyond the administrations already existing efforts to modernize cybersecurity efforts and improve American competitiveness, an administration official said. Enhancing the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee The first directive, the executive order, seeks to advance QIS by placing the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee, the federal governments main independent expert advisory body for quantum information science and technology, under the authority of the White House. The National Quantum Initiative, established by a law known as the NQI Act, encompasses activities by executive departments and agencies (agencies) with membership on either the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science (SCQIS) or the NSTC Subcommittee on Economic and Security Implications of Quantum Science (ESIX). Under the new executive order, the NQI Advisory Committee, consisting of up to 26 members, will advise the president, the SCQIS, and the ESIX on the NQI Program. The committee will have two co-chairs and meet twice a year. The White House plans to announce the members of the committee over the coming weeks. Promoting U.S. quantum computing leadership and mitigating risk The national security memorandum (NSM) plans to tackle the risks posed to encryption by quantum computing. It establishes a national policy to promote U.S. leadership in quantum computing and initiates collaboration among the federal government, industry, and academia as the nation begins migrating to new quantum-resistant cryptographic standards developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The NSA is also separately developing technical standards for quantumresistant cryptography. The first sets of these standards are expected to be released publicly by 2024. The NSM provides a detailed roadmap for agencies to inventory their IT systems for quantum-vulnerable cryptography and sets requirements to establish and meet specific milestones for cryptographic migration, including the following list of deadlines: By August 2, 2022, agencies that fund research in, develop, or acquire quantum computers must coordinate with the director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to ensure a coherent national strategy for QIS promotion and technology protection, including for workforce issues. By August 2, 2022, the director of NIST must establish a Migration to Post-Quantum Cryptography Project at the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence to work with the private sector to address cybersecurity challenges posed by the transition to quantum-resistant cryptography. By October 31, 2022, and annually after that, the secretary of Homeland Security, through the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and in coordination with sector risk management agencies, must engage with critical infrastructure and state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) partners regarding the risks posed by quantum computers. The head of Homeland Security must also provide an annual report to the director of OMB, the APNSA assistant to the president for national security affairs (APNSA), and the national cyber director that includes recommendations for accelerating those entities migration to quantum-resistant cryptography. By October 31, 2022, and on an ongoing basis after that, the director of OMB, in consultation with the director of CISA, the director of NIST, the national cyber director, and the director of NSA, must establish requirements for inventorying all currently deployed cryptographic systems, excluding national security systems (NSS). These requirements must include a list of key information technology (IT) assets to prioritize, interim benchmarks, and a common (and preferably automated) assessment process for evaluating progress on quantum-resistant cryptographic migration in IT systems. By May 4, 2023, and on an annual basis after that, the heads of all Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies must deliver to the director of CISA and the national cyber director an inventory of their IT systems that remain vulnerable to CRQCs, with a particular focus on high-value assets and high-impact systems By October 18, 2023, and on an annual basis after that, the national cyber director, based on the vulnerable inventories and in coordination with the director of CISA and the director of NIST, must deliver a status report to the APNSA and the director of OMB on progress made by FCEB agencies on their migration of non-NSS IT systems to quantum-resistant cryptography. Within 90 days of the release of the first set of NIST standards for quantum-resistant cryptography, and on an annual basis after that, as needed, the secretary of commerce, through the director of NIST, must release a proposed timeline for the deprecation of quantum-vulnerable cryptography in standards. The timeline aims to move the maximum number of systems off quantum-vulnerable cryptography within a decade of publishing the initial set of standards. Within one year of the release of the NIST standards, the director of OMB, in coordination with the director of CISA and the director of NIST, must issue a policy memorandum requiring FCEB agencies to develop a plan to upgrade their non-NSS IT systems to quantum-resistant cryptography. By May 4, 2023, and annually after that, the director of NSA, serving as the national manager, in consultation with the secretary of defense and the director of national intelligence, must provide guidance on quantum-resistant cryptography migration, implementation, and implementation, and oversight for NSS. By May 4, 2023, and on an ongoing basis, the heads of agencies operating NSS must identify and document all instances where quantum-vulnerable cryptography is used by NSS and must provide this information to the national manager. By October 31, 2023, and annually after that, the NSA must release an official timeline for depreciating vulnerable cryptography in NSS until the migration to quantum-resistant cryptography is completed. Within one year of the NSA releasing its quantum-resistant cryptography and annually after that, the heads of agencies operating or maintaining NSS must submit to the national manager and, as appropriate, the Department of Defense CIO or the Intelligence Community CIO, depending on their respective jurisdictions, an initial plan to transition to quantum-resistant cryptography in all NSS. By December 31, 2023, agencies maintaining NSS must implement symmetric-key protections (such as High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor (HAIPE) exclusion keys or VPN symmetric key solutions) to provide additional protection for quantum-vulnerable key exchange. By December 31, 2023, the secretary of defense shall deliver to the APNSA and the director of OMB an assessment of the risks of quantum computing to the defense industrial base and defense supply chains, along with a plan to engage with crucial commercial entities to upgrade their IT systems to achieve quantum resistance. Protecting U.S. quantum computing IP The NSM also spells out provisions to secure U.S. intellectual property on quantum computing. It notes that some protective mechanisms may include counterintelligence measures, well-targeted export controls, and campaigns to educate industry and academia on the threat of cybercrime and IP theft. It encourages agencies to understand the security implications of adversarial use and consider those security implications when implementing new policies, programs, and projects. Consistent with this goal, the memo says that by December 31, 2022, the heads of agencies that fund research in, develop, or acquire quantum computers or related QIS technologies must develop comprehensive technology protection plans to safeguard QIS R&D, acquisition, and user access. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FAIRFIELD State education officials are pressing Fairfield Public Schools to address the racial imbalance at McKinley Elementary School. Fairfield school officials said the plans to tackle the problem were sidelined by the pandemic and the fallout that arose after schools returned to normal, but that progress is going to be made under the plan it is operating with now. But, in a state Board of Education meeting on April 4, members pushed back on Fairfields plan. Youre not going to get out of this without understanding whats underneath it in terms of what has to be done, Robert Trefry, a state BOE member and Fairfield resident, said. I think what youre trying to do is really in the best interest of each kid as you see it. Its just not going to get you out of this racial imbalance problem by the direction youre going in. The state labels schools as racially imbalanced when the proportion of minority students for any school exceeds 25 percentage points more than the comparable proportion for the school district. At McKinley Elementary School in Fairfield, 2020-21 school year statistics show the minority population at 56.65 percent, higher than the entire districts minority population of 26.4 percent by approximately 30 percentage points. McKinley was tagged as imbalanced back in April 2007, but has made little progress on closing the imbalance since then. Past strategies have opt-in and magnet programs, but neither have been successful. Officials said McKinley has only fallen below the 25-percent threshold once since being designated at racially imbalanced in 2012. In 2017, the school board submitted a plan to solve the issue by redistricting. That idea received conditional approval from the state board. This is not something Fairfield would do lightly, especially given the opposition the idea has encountered from McKinley parents. Fairfield Public Schools hired a consultant, Milone and MacBroom, to come up with options on how to address the racial imbalance via redistricting. Its report, presented in February of 2020, presented four options. The first redistricting option involved using Jennings Elementary School as a district-wide early childhood center and pre-kindergarten facility. The second scenario would see pocket redistricting to reduce racial imbalance at McKinley while keeping pre-kindergarten at Stratfield Elementary School and Fairfield Warde High School. The third called for five pre-kindergarten classes, each moved to Holland Hill and North Stratford elementary schools. The fourth option would create six pre-kindergarten classrooms at Warde, two at Holland Hill and two at North Stratfield. In November of 2021, Fairfield presented an updated racial imbalance plan to the state Board of Education. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fairfield school board chair Christine Vitale said, the board had the goal of addressing a number of facilitys challenges, including the racial imbalance, and were moving forward with plans to address them. She said the board does not view McKinley as a problem. Youve heard it before and I will say it again, it is our most diverse school, but its something that we celebrate, and is something that we are incredibly proud of, she said, adding the boards goal is to create diversity at the other 10 elementary schools in town without having to tear apart its system. Vitale said schools shutting down, and later going hybrid, during the pandemic changed the landscape. Since returning to normal school, she said, it has been a struggle for the district to return to pre-COVID issues. Our focus is on getting our kids back in school and then finding where they are, both from an academic perspective, a social-emotional perspective and meeting those needs, she said. Moving forward on the racial imbalance plan was not a top priority. Vitale said that is where the district stands, and it struggles with wanting to keep the community together while also bringing diversity throughout the district. She noted that Fairfield recently hired a diversity, equity and inclusion director in part to tackle an achievement gap between Black and Hispanic students and white and Asian students. Vitale also pointed out that two elementary schools in town Holland Hill and Mill Hill needed to be renovated, which delayed the district moving forward with redistricting. Summed up, the board does not have the bandwidth to address the issue this year, but Vitale said it has created a facilities committee to look into how it utilizes its schools. Trefry pointed out that, because of how racial imbalances are calculated, diversifying other elementary schools will not help them much. Vitale said she understood that, and noted that redistricting, while a last step, is not off the table. It may happen for other reasons, but we are also very sensitive of moving students (that are happy and supported where they are), she said. Trefry suggest Fairfields school board meet with state officials to go over the districts plans and how it might play out. I think you need to spend some time kind of really understanding the problem or understanding the need to comply with the regulations, he said. What youre doing may not get you there. State board member Malia Sieve said the racial imbalance is a full-district issue, and is not just about McKinley. You cant solve this problem without impacting the rest of your community, she said. Theres not really anything new to whats being told to us that hasnt already been said and used as excuses previously. Speaking to an earlier point from Vitale, Sieve said the district is not wanting to move students at McKinley who are happy and supported where they are is a problem because the students are under-performing in their academics. By not making some very hard decisions Im not underestimating the difficulty of those decisions we continue to be here year after year, she said. My concern about the timeline youve provided is that it gets us to where we were the last time. We were here before. I have little if not zero faith that decisions are going to be made to make the changes that actually address this problem. joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BOSTON (AP) Mario Batalis sexual misconduct trial opened Monday in a Boston court with his accuser recounting how shed been shocked, surprised and alarmed as the celebrity chef aggressively kissed and groped her while taking selfies at a restaurant in 2017. The 32-year-old Boston-area software company worker said she felt confused and powerless to do anything to stop Batali. It was all happening so quickly and it was happening essentially the whole time, the woman testified in the trial, which resumes Tuesday in Boston Municipal Court. Just a lot of touching. She said she felt embarrassed until she saw other women step forward to share similar encounters with Batali. This happened to me and this is my life, the woman responded when prosecutors asked why she'd come forward. I want to be able to take control of what happened, say my piece and have everyone be accountable for their actions. But Batalis lawyer, Anthony Fuller, sought to discredit her, arguing that the assault never happened. He said the accuser has a financial incentive to lie as she's seeking more than $50,000 in damages from Batali in a separate civil lawsuit pending in Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston. Shes not being truthful, Fuller said. This is being fabricated for money and for fun. During cross examination, he produced financial statements showing the woman ate at Eataly, the Italian marketplace Batali once had an ownership stake in, weeks after the encounter and continued to patronize the Boston bar where the alleged assault took place. You go to the restaurant of the guy who you claimed brutally assaulted you?" he said. That doesnt make sense. The woman said she didnt recall going to Eataly and maintained she isnt speaking out for financial gain. She also strongly pushed back at Fuller for questioning why none of the many photos taken with Batali that night showed the alleged assault. The woman said the photos were all taken relatively close up and didnt show how Batali, who she said was visibly drunk, was grabbing her private areas, touching her face and even sticking his tongue in her ear. She said he also invited her up to his hotel room afterward, which she declined. I have never been touched before like that, the woman said. Squeezing my vagina to pull me closer to him, as if thats a normal way to grab someone. But Fuller argued the accuser isnt a credible witness. He honed in on her recent admission of attempting to avoid jury service by claiming to be clairvoyant. She was also accused in that case of violating the judges orders to keep an open mind and not discuss the case with others. In court on Monday, however, she maintained that she can predict major events before they happen to a certain extent. Monday's trial opened after Batali in a surprise move waived his right to a jury trial and opted instead to have a judge decide his fate. Batali, who pleaded not guilty to indecent assault and battery in 2019, could face up to 2 1/2 years in jail and be required to register as a sex offender if convicted. Batali is among a number of high-profile men who have faced a public reckoning during the #MeToo social movement against sexual abuse and harassment in recent years. The 61-year-old was once a Food Network fixture on shows like Molto Mario and Iron Chef America. But the ponytail-and-orange Croc-wearing personality's high-flying career crumbled amid sexual misconduct allegations. Four women accused him of inappropriate touching in 2017, after which he stepped down from day-to-day operations at his restaurant empire and left the since-discontinued ABC cooking show The Chew. Batali has offered an apology, acknowledging the allegations match up with ways he has acted. I have made many mistakes, he said in an email newsletter at the time. My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility. Last year, Batali, his business partner and their New York City restaurant company agreed to pay $600,000 to resolve a four-year investigation by the New York attorney generals office into allegations that Batali and other staff sexually harassed employees. In Boston, he opened the downtown Eataly location and Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca in the citys Seaport District. Batali has since been bought out of his stake in Eataly and the Babbo restaurant has closed. Connecticut has many thousands of doses of free COVID antivirals available. But few patients are being prescribed the drugs. Approved earlier this year under an emergency-use authorization, Pfizers Paxlovid and molnupiravir, developed by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics and Merck, are the first outpatient therapeutics available to fight COVID, according to state Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani. So far, all the treatments that we've had, and that have evolved over the last two years have been things that you need to be in the hospital to receive, she said. This is the first advance that we have, that is an oral medication, that people can go to a pharmacy and can pick it up. The medications, Juthani said, represent a shift in how the state is fighting the pandemic. While prevention remains critical, Juthani said its also important to keep hospitalizations down. The real impact is, how is it going to influence our health care delivery and our health care systems, she said. The endpoint of that is how many people are in the hospital. When they were first approved, the antivirals were difficult to obtain. More recently, federal officials have set up so-called test-to-treat sites where a patient can get tested for COVID and, if positive, be prescribed a therapeutic at the same location. As of last week, federal authorities have sent 12,700 doses of Paxlovid and 20,612 doses of molnupiravir to Connecticut health care providers, including hospitals, pharmacies and urgent care centers. Paid for by the federal government, the drugs are free of charge to patients. The problem is, few people are taking them. Doctors are hesitant to prescribe them, and patients, hearing about side effects, are reluctant to take them. Both drugs are more effective if theyre administered early in the course of the illness. Molnupiravir, Juthani said, has no interactions with other drugs, but is less effective. Paxlovid is more effective, but has a significant number of interactions with other drugs. This has made doctors, especially those in urgent care settings, reluctant to prescribe them. The drugs are life-savers, according to Dr. Julian Nieves III, a practicing physician and assistant professor at the University of Connecticuts School of Medicine. It could be a life-saving therapy, especially with high-risk individuals, he said, though he understands the reluctance. Things are happening so fast that it does take a little bit of time for physicians and the public to become comfortable with any new therapeutic regimen. Sheltons Robert Wood, for example, began experiencing cold symptoms on Good Friday. A home test was positive and his doctors office was closed, so he decided to get an antiviral at a local walk-in clinic. The walk-in did a PCR test that was positive, Wood said. The clinician said that she could not prescribe an antiviral, and if my symptoms worsened, I should go to a hospital ER. I did have symptoms and am 76 years old. The clinician handed me a sheet about the antiviral to educate me should I go to the ER. Wood said he felt like the visit to the walk-in was a wasted trip. One doctors perspective John Iannarone used to be in private practice, but hes semi-retired now, working part-time at an urgent care center. When it comes to COVID antivirals like Pfizers Paxlovid, the Monroe resident said hes cautious to prescribe them. Hesitant isnt the word. Just very cautious, he said. I think a lot of physicians are cautious, especially folks in the urgent-care setting. The issue, he said, is drug interactions. The antivirals tend to negatively interact with many drugs 50 percent of commonly prescribed medications, by one estimation. Doctors in walk-in clinics dont have previous relationships with their patients, and those in the throes of a COVID infection might not remember all of their prescribed medications. The interaction issue is the big deal, he said. The interaction list is immense. Another concern is side effects. While the vast majority of people tolerate the antivirals pretty well, there are a few who experience nausea and diarrhea. Iannarone said hes heard of a few patients who, because of the vomiting and the diarrhea, had to end up in the hospital for IV fluids because of the medicine. A doctor cant really anticipate which patient will experience significant side effects. Some just experience a bit of dry mouth. If you dont really know the patient, you certainly dont want the treatment to be worse than the disease, Iannarone said. All this hit home when his 95-year-old mother, Eleanore Iannarone, began to experience COVID symptoms. She had mild symptoms throughout, is feeling well now, just a little tired, he said. Shes fully vaccinated and double-boosted, but her doctor son wanted to be safe, so after a positive home test, the Iannarones went to an urgent care. In the end, the elder Iannarone did not take the antivirals. She is on medications, which would have interacted with Paxlovid, and of course, there was concern for nausea, vomiting and diarrhea side effects, John Iannarone said. My mom received IV monoclonal antibodies in the St. Vincents ED. How Paxlovid works Xiaobo Zhong, a professor of pharmacology and toxicology at UConns School of Pharmacy, and three of his doctoral students Roxanna Monshi, Julia Migliorati and Jing Jin explained that Paxlovid is actually a combination of two things. Paxlovid has two components, Jin said. One is ritonavir and another one is nirmatrelvir. Nirmatrelvir is what actually fights the coronavirus. Ritonavir allows the body to better process the drug. The goal is for nirmatrelvir to reach the lung cells, where it fights viral replication. But your liver gets in the way, metabolizing the nirmatrelvir and flushing it out of the system. Thats where the ritonavir comes in. That drug is designed to inhibit the metabolism of the liver so the nirmatrelvir can get into the lung cell to help prevent the virus infection, Jin said. But ritonavir affects an enzyme in the liver that many other drugs rely on, meaning, basically people have a reduced capability to metabolize a lot of other drugs that commonly people use, Zhong said. If, for example, you are on a medication to keep your blood sugar down, the ritonavir can make it less effective. Or, the opposite might happen. Some drugs can decrease the efficacy of Paxlovids antiviral activity by decreasing its blood serum concentrations, Monshi said. A doctor might suggest that you stop taking a drug during the five days while on Paxlovid. But Zhong said some drugs you cannot stop. Some drugs, when you immediately stop, then they cause withdrawal syndrome, and they will make people also feel very sick. Migliorati advised that patients not only talk to their doctors, but speak with their pharmacists. There's healthy levels of skepticism. With many Americans on many different types of drugs, it can make prescribing very complex and it can most likely require a specialist in many cases, she said. So I understand that hesitancy. Sick, then sick again Kate Gianelli, of Trumbull, got COVID, was prescribed Paxlovid, felt better and then started getting sick again. After feeling slightly better each day, I was exhausted all day Friday and just chalked it up to getting back into the groove, but took an antigen test Friday night, she said. I was shocked when my COVID line appeared before the solution had even reached the control line. Juthani said patients in Gianellis case represent a small subset of people whose symptoms go away. When they stop the medication, the symptoms come back. That reaction getting a COVID relapse after the five-day antiviral course was seen in the clinical trials, but wasn't initially published. Juthani said its one reason patients are reluctant to take the drug. There's some people I've heard say, Well, if that's gonna happen, why bother taking it anyway? Gianelli, though, said she is glad for the prescription, even though her symptoms returned. Im still turning tests positive immediately and have resumed isolation, she said. Its super frustrating, but Im still glad I took Paxlovid. The value of education Not all of the antivirals are being left on shelves. We're seeing that 55 percent of allocated Paxlovid to hospitals is getting used, Juthani said. The difference is comfort level. The drugs used in Paxlovid have been known to HIV specialists for decades, and Juthani said it will take time for the rest of the medical establishment to get comfortable. Some of it is people getting comfort and being like, OK, I can prescribe this. They get comfort with knowing how to do it, she said. The stories of side effects may be overstated. Zhong said the drug is well tolerated, and Juthani argued its hard to know whats caused by the drug and whats caused by the virus. It's a balance, right? Because people are throwing up from COVID. That happens from COVID, she said. We don't know that it's the medication that's doing that, but people associate it that way. But we don't know that for sure, is that just the natural history of what was going to happen to you anyway? Thats why, Juthani said, its important for the state to educate doctors and patients about the risks and the benefits of COVID therapeutics. In the end, she said, its a question of risk versus reward. I don't think people should prescribe things that they don't feel comfort prescribing, because their license is on the line, their name is on the line, and they should be entitled to say, I'm not going to prescribe that because I don't feel comfortable doing that, Juthani said. Now, what I would argue in this situation is, you can get comfort, you can get educated. That's what we're trying to do. We're trying to educate people. We're trying to show them it's not as scary. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) As Mattea Roach, Amy Schneider and Matt Amodio can attest, it's cool to be smart again. Jeopardy! is on an unusual run of super champs. In the past seven months, each of those contestants has landed in the television game show's historical list of top five winning streaks. Roach's run of victories ended on her 24th game Friday. The timing couldn't be better for Jeopardy! and the show's fans know all about timing. The show had been reeling last summer after it bungled the process of replacing late host Alex Trebek. Mike Richards was fired as both host and executive producer of the show after insensitive statements he had made on a podcast surfaced. It has really let people fall in love with Jeopardy! again and forget about what happened to focus on all of these amazing contestants, said Andy Saunders, who runs thejeopardyfan.com website. Amodio, a doctoral candidate at Yale University, ran off 38 straight wins before he was beaten last October. He soon gave way to Schneider, the engineering manager from Oakland who was a fixture on TV over the holidays before her streak ended at 40. Roach, a 23-year-old tutor from Toronto, was the show's youngest major champion. They joined Ken Jennings, whose 74-game streak in 2004 has never seriously been challenged and high-stakes gambler James Holzhauer, who won 32 in 2019, in the Jeopardy! top five. The show, which has aired regularly since 1984, changed its rules in 2003 to allow people to stay on until they lose. Prior to that, winners were capped at five games. Ask Michael Davies, the show's executive producer, why the sudden run of big winners, and you get a verbal shrug. I don't have a simple answer, he said. The price for such long runs can be a string of dull games because the players are so dominant. Yet the winning streaks create strong characters in ways that are unusual for game shows. People tune in to root for or against them like they do for sports teams, said Saunders, who has worked in game show production. That's reflected in the ratings. The Jeopardy!" audience is up 400,000 this year in an era most shows are shrinking, Davies said. The game averaged 9.4 million viewers a night during the third week in April, more than any program that week on prime-time television, the Nielsen company said. The people that win are the people who make the most attempts, the ones who are able to unscramble what it is that theyre asking faster than anybody else, Davies said. Schneider and Roach were notable for their impressive breadth of knowledge, and they were rarely wrong. Amodio was particularly adept at harder questions with a big monetary value and he sought them out first, pinning hopes on a shock and awe strategy that demoralized opponents. Since he's been producer, Davies said Jeopardy! has been trying broaden out the subject matter that contestants face. We're trying to test excellence, said Davies, who was producer of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire during Regis Philbin's heyday. We're trying to test people on how much they really know. We don't want it to be for people who know trivia. We want it to be for people who spend a lifetime reading books, acquiring knowledge. We celebrate facts, he said. We celebrate people who know things. Not all television viewers know this, but Jeopardy! usually tapes a week's worth of episodes in a single day. That can help a champion who gets on a roll. But after they lost, both Schneider and Roach pointed to fatigue as a factor. I do think that my last two games, I was maybe just out of it, said Roach, who had to come from behind for her last win. I was really, really tired. I remember yawning uncontrollably before playing my second-to-last game. From what I recall, I believe I was slower on the buzzer, I was not able to come up with responses. She'll be back for the yearly Tournament of Champions, competing with Amodio and Schneider. Davies, a sports fan, wants to put more emphasis on the event that brings together each year's best contestants, and to make sure it is held each year at the same time, in the fall. I think it's pretty clear that this has been good for the franchise, he said. ___ Television Writer Lynn Elber contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SHERMAN When Kristen Vogt got pregnant at the age of 16, she said she was fortunate. I was lucky I had the support system that allowed me to continue to thrive. I had a mom who supported me and I was able to get through high school. I was never on my own, said Vogt, a Sherman resident who is now 39. Yet, when she read about the possibility of the overturn of Roe v. Wade the 1973 decision that legalized abortion in the United States, it hit like a ton of bricks, she said. It took her back in time more than two decades to when she was pregnant while in her junior year at New Milford High School. I left high school halfway through my junior year. I would work during the day, said Vogt, who grew up in New Milford. She chose to keep her baby because her mother assured her that she would help and doesnt regret it. She took a job as a bank teller at the First National Bank of Litchfield and was given the chance to earn her high school diploma at night through the New Milford Adult Education program. My daughter would go to child care at the high school while I went to my classes, she said. It took about two years for me to complete the program. She said she knew of other girls at the time, however, who got pregnant and did not have it as easy as she did. Girls that were in my high school didn't have the same advantages I had, and having a child was just not an option for them, said Vogt, who is now a mother of five children ages 2 to 22. Those girls would not have survived literally. They couldn't afford to. Infertility The impact of Roe v. Wade came up a second time in Vogts life when, in her late 20s and early 30s, she and her husband Matt were unable to get pregnant and used in vitro fertilization, or IVF. We went through four years of infertility treatments, she said. I had done everything under the sun and our first IVF failed. On her second IVF attempt, four embryos were able to be transferred. As a last ditch effort, my doctor agreed to transfer all four of them, she said. Two of the embryos took and Vogt ended up carrying twins. She said she would have considered using selective reduction the practice of reducing the number of fetuses in a multiple pregnancy if her pregnancy was in jeopardy and she was at risk of losing all the fetuses. We were grateful that we only had twins because had it been more than twins, it would have put the entire pregnancy at risk, she said. We had spent so many years trying to lose them all is just a heartbreaking thought. Access to IVF could be restricted if Roe v. Wade is overturned since the anti-abortion movement has maintained that life begins at conception, experts say. Vogt, who said shes pro-choice, said to put a woman in the position where she's left with no choice ... is outrageous. We're going backwards. I don't understand why you would take away basic health care from women. She said one never knows another persons story or struggles unless that person has lived in the others shoes. While in Connecticut, state laws protect womens right to an abortion, Vogt said if abortion is made illegal in other states in the United States, it could set a precedent to become illegal closer to home. I'm still speechless, Vogt said. I can't believe that in 2022, this is what we're dealing with. In her first six months as first selectwoman, Jen Tooker steered the town budget to approval. She moved forward with downtown development plans, refereed a dispute between residents and Aquarion, and cut ribbons at new stores and restaurants. On Sunday she participated in her first international event. (Okay, the hands across the water were clasped via Zoom. But still) Our chief executive joined Mayor Fabrice Lemazurier - her counterpart in Marigny, France - in a ceremony honoring a Westport teacher nearly everyone here has forgotten. Just as theyve forgotten that Marigny is Westports sister city. Our ties to the village of 2,700 near the Normandy beaches date back three-quarters of a century. A pair of Westport soldiers - gun sergeant Bob Loomis and heavy machine gunner Clay Chalfant - were there, right after D-Day. Staples High School French department head Charlotte MacLear heard the story. She spearheaded a drive for Westport to officially adopt Marigny, and help it recover from the devastation of war. Westporters sold toys and buckets (with designs by local artists). The money went to clothes and Christmas gifts. Grateful Marigny citizens created a Westport School Canteen. They renamed the towns largest square Place Westport. Miss MacLear visited three times, and was treated like royalty. Gradually, memories faded - well, ours did. Growing up in the 1960s and 70s, I knew nothing of our sister town. But the French folks never forgot. In 1994, as part of the 50th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy, town officials invited three Westport middle school students and two Westport veterans (Loomis and Chalfant, of course) to stay in the homes of residents. The next year, we hosted guests from Marigny. Families involved in the exchange remember it still. It was especially meaningful for Ian Freeman. He has no idea how why he was chosen in eighth grade to travel abroad. But the next summer he brought his family there. The year after that, they hosted a boy theyd stayed with on that visit. Ian returned again, for a college semester abroad. He met a woman. Several years later, they got married - in Normandy. The family Ian had stayed with was there. Yet for most Westpoters, Marigny faded again. When French officials reached out to Tooker days after her election last November, she - like nearly all her constituents - had no idea we even had a sister city. The reason for the renewed connection was intriguing: Marigny was naming the town hall room where the council meets Salle Charlotte MacLear. They planned a ceremony honoring her. Would Madame Tooker take part? Bien s u r! So early Sunday morning - Mothers Day in Westport, Charlotte MacLear Day in Marigny - Tooker Zoomed with the French mayor, vice mayor, local Parliament representative, a man in his 70s who remembers the Americans coming through, other dignitaries, a translator and a trumpeter. They paid tribute to a Westport woman by only a few, but never forgotten, thousands of miles away. The ceremony was both formal and folksy. It included frequent references to the bonds between Marigny and Westport, and between France and the U.S. Tributes were paid to French assistance in our Revolutionary War; Charlotte MacLear was mentioned in the same breath as Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower and George Patton. But this was not just a nod to the past. Lemazurier said, War once again on European soil certainly reminds us of the darkest hours of our history. It is our duty today to do everything to restore and preserve peace. I believe that in a certain way this is what we are doing today - to remember and never forget. He urged people on both sides of the Atlantic to come to the aid of the Ukrainian people in their moment of need, as we were over 75 years ago. Tooker - who began and ended her speech with flawless French - represented Westport well. She said that Westporters understand our connection to the world. Calling the event a remarkable and heartwarming honor, she said that we share brotherhood and neighborliness in this volatile world. The trumpeter - who played The Star-Spangled Banner at the outset of the ceremony - ended with Auld Lang Syne. Its not really goodbye, Lemazurier said. Well meet again. Perhaps the ceremony will rekindle the Westport-Marigny connection, on this side of the ocean. World War II is ancient history for most residents; so too is the 1990s exchange. Wouldnt it be exciting though for anyone heading to Europe - families this summer, students on semesters abroad, anyone on a business trip - to plan a detour to the beautiful Normandy village? They can visit the shops in Place Westport. They can tell everyone they meet, with pride, exactly where theyre from. And they can certainly stop for a moment at town hall, to see Salle Charlotte MacLean. Dan Woog is a Westport writer, and his Woog's World appears each Friday. He can be reached at dwoog@optonline.net. His personal blog is danwoog06880.com. Ford plans to sell millions of shares of the electric vehicle (EV) maker, Rivian. It is in time with the expiration of the post-IPO lockup period of the R1T EV pickup manufacturer. It is worth noting that the American automaker, Ford, has recently started shipping its own electric pickup truck, in the flesh of its all-new F-150 Lightning. Meanwhile, the EV maker Rivian also recently debuted its all-electric mid-size pickup that goes by the name R1T. Ford to Sell Millions of Rivian Shares Despite that, Ford still owns roughly around a whopping 102 million shares of the American EV manufacturer, Rivian, as per a news story by CNBC. However, according to the unnamed sources of the giant media outlet, Ford is now planning to sell millions of the Rivian shares that it owns. It comes as the lockup period for the shares of Rivian is already expiring, which essentially means that investors and company insiders could start selling it. CNBC explained in its report that the lockup is in place to avoid flooding the market with additional shares early on. Not to mention that it is also there to ensure that the IPO of a company will not turn into chaos. However, Ford has yet to confirm reports saying that it plans to sell millions of its Rivian shares. It is to note as well that the automaker declined to provide any statement when the news outlet tried to reach out to them. The anonymous source further revealed that Ford also plans to sell its Rivian shares to the investment firm Goldman Sachs. JPMorgan Chase and Rivian Shares On top of that, another giant investment bank, JPMorgan Chase, reportedly plans to sell millions of Rivian shares as well, sources claimed. To be more specific about it, JPMorgan Chase is looking to sell a staggering 13 million to 15 million shares of the EV maker to an unnamed seller. Read Also: 10 Things to Know About the Ford Model T, the World's First Affordable Car Rivian Shares Although Rivian has begun rolling out its electric truck, the share price of the EV maker has plunged dramatically in recent months. In fact, according to a recent report by Fox Business, the share price of Rivian has recently closed to $28.79. To provide more context, the current price is down by 84% from its all-time-high performance. What's more, CNBC noted in its news story that the shares of the EV maker have dropped by over 50% in the first quarter of 2022. As such, Ford already reported a net loss to the tune of $3.1 billion in the first three months of the year, blaming its stake at Rivian. Related Article: Apple Hires a Ford Veteran As It Aims To Launch a Self-Driving EV by 2025 CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (AP) A west central Indiana man was sentenced to 50 years in prison after pleading guilty to killing his wife, whose severed head was found buried in the basement of the couple's home. A Montgomery County judge sentenced Michael D. Parks, 46, on Friday after accepting his guilty plea to one count of murder in Hope Parks' August 2020 fatal shooting. The Crawfordsville man had been scheduled to stand trial Monday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TRUMBULL Patrick Fahys first job was at the The Grille & Bar Restaurant, 942 White Plains Road. The longtime Trumbull resident remembers the job, and the restaurant, fondly. It was a place where people would gather, Fahy said. The restaurant has long-since closed, and been replaced with a string of other eateries. Most recently, it was Bianco Rosso, an Italian restaurant and wine bar, which closed late last year. Fahy owns several restaurants in the area, including Fatty Patty, at 2 Daniels Farm Road and parker. Steaks & Scotch at 921White Plains Road. He recently leased the space at 942 White Plains Road and plans to open a new restaurant that has the same kind of community gathering place feel as the old Grille. My plan is to get that kind of town (gathering) spot, the way it used to be, he said. He has a name picked out that hes not yet ready to share, and he hopes to have his new restaurant open by the end of summer. But Fahy said hes not just looking to open a new restaurant. He said he also wants to change the narrative around Trumbull Center as a whole. The Trumbull Center corridor includes two major business plazas on either side of White Plains Road. One contains a CVS and a Starbucks with a drive-thru. The other, at 900 White Plains Road, is where the former Bianco Rosso space is and features multiple unoccupied storefronts, including one previously occupied by Starbucks, and another once occupied by the grocery store Porricellis Food Mart, which closed in 2012. Over the past few years, the property has gained a reputation as an eyesore and a blight on the downtown area a reputation that Fahy believes is unearned. The current narrative is that its rundown and the spaces are empty, he said. First of all, thats false. He said, despite vacancies such as that of the 40,000-square-foot former Porcellis site, theres a lot of good news at the 900 White Plains Road Plaza. Several new businesses have recently opened there, including Next Chapter Books and Pure Skin MedSpa. There also has been a lot of discussion on how to renovate the plaza, including a plan to remove two buildings an old professional building, and the building that used to house Starbucks and other businesses at 900 White Plains Road, and replace them with a five-story mixed use property. Trumbull economic and community development director Rina Bakalar shares Fahys hope for rehabilitating Trumbull center, though she admits there are obstacles. She said one of the problems with getting a vendor into the Poricellis space is that it doesnt face the street, which has deterred many businesses. Theres just not enough street frontage for it to be an attractive space right now, Bakalar said. She said the property was an older area. It was built in a different era. Indeed, three of the six buildings that make up the 900 White Plains Road property are more than 60 years old, two are 35 years old and the oldest is more than 90 years old. Bakalar and Fahy both said that, in the past, the plaza has frequently been home to businesses considered obsolete now, such as tanning salons and video stores. But, like Fahy, Bakalar cheered the recent influx of new businesses. She said she has high hopes in particular for Fahys new restaurant. Hes got a great concept, she said. Hes a experienced restaurant person. He knows what hes doing. Bakalar said she understand the frustration around the plaza, but shes still bullish on the area. I think its just that people want to see the place hoppin and poppin and they dont see it and they get upset, she said. KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. (AP) A woman was killed and a man was injured after they were struck by a car in a North Carolina town, police said. Kings Mountain police said officers went to an intersection around 8:05 p.m. on Sunday, where they found a man and a woman lying in the street, The Star of Shelby reported. Minnie Lee Clinton, 76, was pronounced dead at the hospital, while Rodney Jemal Clinton, 45, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released, police said. Steven Senne / Associated Press The trial of Mario Batali, who opened several restaurants in Connecticut, began Monday with the celebrity chef waiving his right to a jury trial and instead choosing a trial before a judge, the Associated Press reported. Batali, 61, is accused of kissing and groping a woman when she took a selfie with him at a Boston restaurant in 2017. He pleaded not guilty to indecent assault and battery in 2019, the Associated Press reported. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WESTPORT Elected officials and residents gathered downtown on Mothers Day to protest the recently leaked draft opinion regarding abortion rights. Gov. Ned Lamont was among those gathered at the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge on Sunday. The protest was organized by DefenDemocracy, an activist group based in Westport. Darcy Hicks, the groups founder said she decided to organize the protest Wednesday a day after learning about the leaked draft Supreme Court opinion, reported by Politico this week, to overturn Roe v. Wade and the right to choose. Rallies and protests have sprung up across the country and state following the news. This isnt the first time people have gathered at the bridge in downtown Westport to support abortion rights and call out restrictions elsewhere. In 2019, Hicks organized another protest when Alabama passed a controversial abortion bill. Politicians from both parties have said womens rights would be protected in Connecticut if Roe v. Wade is overturned with the state set to be a safe harbor for those in other states seeking one. However, 13 states are expected to ban abortion immediately or very quickly if Roe is overturned, with officials prediction up to 28 states further restricting it, according to The New York Times. Uber CEO, Dara Khosrowshasi, tells employees that hiring will be considered a "privilege" as the company plans to cut down on spending. The Uber top exec also disclosed that the ride-hailing firm plans to focus on making it a leaner business. Uber CEO Khosrowshahi on Hiring As per a news story by CNBC, the CEO of the delivery and ride-hailing app, Khosrowshahi, sent an email to its employees about the massive shift that Uber is planning to implement. Thankfully, the news outlet obtained a copy of the internal memo to its employees, saying that Uber plans to cut its spending. The Uber CEO said that the tech giant is taking steps to address the recent shift in the overall economic sentiment, wherein stocks of tech firms started to plunge dramatically. The sharp decline comes after these companies experienced staggering high during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced millions of folks to stay in the confines of their homes. It is to note that the delivery service of Uber highly benefited from the safety measures that were implemented when the cases of coronavirus infection were still consistently on the rise. Uber Cost Cutting But this time around, it appears that the tech firms have generally reached their peak. The Uber boss said that the giant ride-hailing app now plans to cut down on its marketing and incentive spending. Not to mention that the tech exec stated that hiring should now be considered a "privilege." The Uber exec wrote in an internal memo that both "least efficient" incentives and marketing expenses will be cut down. On top of that, Khosrowshahi also told its workforce that Uber will treat hiring as a privilege." The Uber boss also shared that he now wants to be more deliberate about adding more employees to his tech firm. The Uber CEO justified his plans in the internal email, saying that investors are currently looking for safety. Therefore, the giant ride-hailing platform should start showing them that the firm is making money. Read Also: Uber Introduces Uber Explore: Which Cities Can Book Restaurants, Live Events Tickets Via the App? Tech Giants and Hiring Slow Down According to a recent report by Business Insider, it is not the first instance that the tech firm is scaling down its hiring. In fact, the parent firm of Facebook, Meta, also announced that it is slowing down on hiring new employees as part of its solution for its dismal revenue growth. On the other hand, another tech firm, the stock trading platform Robinhood, also revealed that it has already decided to let go of about 9% of its overall workforce. It turns out that Uber is the latest tech giant to slow down on hiring, dubbing it now a "privilege." Related Article: Uber, Lyft to Drop Mask Requirement - Will It be for Both Drivers and Passengers? Trigger warnings: essential or excessive? Some see trigger warnings in the classroom as an essential issue of accessibility , while others worry they stifle discussion . The truth may be more complex . Lynette Slape/Daily Emerald When UO freshman Addie Kosterman registered for her spring classes, she was excited to take a philosophy course on love and sexuality. Yet even as the term began and class kicked off, Kosterman had no idea the course would eventually include explicit discussions of sexual assault and rape. I think there should have been a much clearer trigger warning presented during that first week, Kosterman said. Its just such a touchy subject, and a lot of people come to the table bringing their own different experiences. But now its like week four, week five, and its not like you can go and drop the course. Kosterman isnt alone in her concerns. In recent years, students have increasingly requested that trigger warnings become a staple of their curriculum; a 2016 NPR Survey found that just over half of professors nationwide had obliged. Defined by Scientific American as statements that warn of a negative emotional response to potentially distressing stimuli, trigger warnings were initially introduced to the classroom as an accommodation for students experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. However, they eventually became a major source of controversy and academic discussion, particularly in response to a 2013 Oberlin College policy that encouraged instructors to avoid potentially triggering content. Part of the challenge with talking about content and trigger warnings is that the research is relatively mixed, Laurel Bastian, a faculty consultant with UOs Teaching Engagement Program, said. Some of the research says that there might even be a slight increase in anxiety levels when students see trigger warnings. The data on trigger warnings is not without its share of caveats. Bastian said researchers are still learning about their effects on the students they were originally intended for, such as those with mental health disorders like PTSD. Although the evidence on trigger warnings is inconclusive, they are increasing in popularity with a growing number of students saying they need them. Laurel Bastain, a faculty consultant with the UO Teaching Engagement Program, speaks about the mixed views on the idea of trigger warnings in the classroom. She touches on misconceptions about trigger warnings and the role they play, as she believes that discomfort is a part of learning. Students and faculty at the University of Oregon share their thoughts on trigger warnings in the classroom and its impact on how content can be taught and learned. (Mary Grosswendt/Emerald) The pros and cons of trigger warnings While some professors advocate for the universal use of trigger warnings as a means of ensuring accessibility, others warn of their potential to stifle uncomfortable, but important, academic conversations. For Betsy Wheeler, a UO professor of English and disability studies, trigger warnings are unquestionably linked to promoting accessibility in the classroom. I find them to be an essential feature of universal design in learning, Wheeler said. I feel they are commonly misunderstood as coddling students, or treating students as if they are breakable or little snowflakes or something. Wheeler noted that trigger warnings are designed to make classes more accessible for students who experience trauma responses, including PTSD or flashbacks. Likewise, students with marginalized identities including women, students of color, trans and non-binary students, low-income students and disabled students are more likely to be triggered as a result of the systemic oppression they face. UO English and disability studies professor Betsy Wheeler believes that trigger warnings in the classroom are beneficial and necessary. She says they are an essential feature of universal design in learning. Students and faculty at the University of Oregon share their thoughts on trigger warnings in the classroom and its impact on how content can be taught and learned. (Mary Grosswendt/Emerald) Kosterman, the freshman student, said trigger warnings and trauma-informed accommodations should be a right for students at the university, regardless of their use in other spaces. I understand the argument oh, the real worlds not like that, you dont get a trigger warning, Kosterman said. But this is a class youre taking at a school you pay for. You should know what youre walking in for and how to be prepared for it. Bastian said, in addition to students, faculty can be triggered or disrupted by certain material and might need additional support. I think that most of us students, faculty, everyone have experienced in some way over the last two years what kind of toll on us, from health, emotional, financial, what kind of toll that can take on our ability to learn, our ability to be productive and present with our colleagues, Bastian said. Other professors expressed concerns that when applied broadly trigger warnings might stifle discussion on certain important topics. Anita Chari, a UO professor of political science, said that while calling attention to sensitive or triggering content is important, it shouldnt come at the expense of grappling with uncomfortable material. The fact of the matter is, we are always dealing with content thats activating and difficult especially in the social sciences, but not exclusively, Chari said. If our goal is to have transformative conversations, what would we be talking about that has any relevance, if not the pressing issues of our time? Even if those issues might be disturbing? Some instructors are wary of trigger warnings and their potential relation to safe spaces, defined by Merriam-Webster as environments intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism, or potentially threatening actions, ideas, or conversations. Jose Cortez, a UO professor of English and Latinx studies, said he believes safe spaces are not suitable for classroom learning, though they may have a place in other campus environments. I see safe spaces as places where we agree to disagree, try not to take things personally, and theres the option to opt out of challenges that make us uncomfortable, Cortez said. I encourage my students to think about the classroom as a brave space, where we can have difficult conversations and yes, learn through materials that can be triggering in a kind of classroom environment built on trust and vulnerability. Bastian said there are many common misconceptions about trigger warnings, including what purpose they serve and to what extent they ask professors to regulate their content. Her characterization of trigger warnings and their ideal purpose was much narrower. Its not something that would necessarily change what someone would teach. Its not trying to avoid discomfort for students discomfort is a part of learning, Bastian said. Were talking about being able to flag particular types of content that particularly relate to the experiences of violence or subjugation that different people, like those with PTSD, might experience. The use of trigger warnings How faculty view the purpose of trigger warnings and trauma-informed teaching approaches influences their overall approach to potential traumatic responses and experiences in the classroom. Chari said calling attention to sensitive material via trigger warnings should be only one part of a broader educational response to trauma and difficult conversations. My approach is really not just about warning people, but about giving them the tools to expand their bandwidth for what we in trauma-informed work call the window of tolerance, Chari said. For being able to sit with the discomfort that arises in being with that material. Anita Chari, UO professor of political science, talks to students during her Zoom office hours. She thinks trigger warnings are important in the classroom, especially in her field. Students and faculty at the University of Oregon share their thoughts on trigger warnings in the classroom and its impact on how content can be taught and learned. (Mary Grosswendt/Emerald) Cortez said he always tells his students ahead of time that he generally does not provide content-based accommodations like allowing students to opt out of certain materials. Instead, he hopes to promote debate and diversity of opinion in his classroom in respectful ways. Its difficult to have conversations with people you disagree with, but I think thats the beauty of having a university education, Cortez said. And, you know, if you do choose to opt out of specific conversations, ask questions about that. There is something to be learned about that kind of hesitation, if you interrogate that. It can be rich with information. Cortez said students can always talk to him about course content and if his course is right for them. In the syllabus for her disability studies class, Wheeler has a trigger warning entitled Responding Productively to Discomfort, which provides an opportunity to reflect on why material might be found disturbing or triggering. It talks about trigger warnings and self-care when experiencing a disturbance, Wheeler said. But then it gets into, what did you learn from this thing that troubled you? What is your social position in relationship to it? Are you a principal target, an ally, a bystander? Are you complicit? And how can you synthesize all these things? Wheeler also offers detailed trigger warnings on her syllabi, with options to opt out of certain triggering content. She typically provides overarching warnings for certain themes in readings and discussions, as well as specific page numbers in many cases. For Bastian, the question of trigger warnings is ultimately about giving students agency to make their own informed decisions. Ill be frank: part of what comes up on this issue that makes me uncomfortable is saying that its not necessarily good for our students to avoid this thing, they should get used to certain triggers, Bastian said. Thats not our business as instructors. We want to simply give them a little more information so that they can do what they know is most useful to their learning. UO professor of English and Latinx studies Jose Cortez celebrates his birthday with his students in an English class. He believes introducing trigger warnings into a classroom will give the implication that it is a safe space. Instead, wants to create a brave space in his classroom to allow students to sometimes have uncomfortable conversations. Students and faculty at the University of Oregon share their thoughts on trigger warnings in the classroom and its impact on how content can be taught and learned. (Mary Grosswendt/Emerald) Toward a trauma-informed pedagogy In response to conversations like these, some faculty are seeking to establish a trauma-informed pedagogy; a set of teaching and learning methods that are sensitive to difficult material and students lived experiences, while also providing space for open dialogue and honest conversation. Chari is a co-founder of Embodying Your Curriculum, a faculty training program that emphasizes the importance of trauma-informed pedagogy in the classroom. Among other things, the program hopes to cultivate a learning environment where students feel safe and heard. Chari said programs like these are essential in a polarized and divided political environment, where professors are often called upon to facilitate intense conversations. Wheeler said the best approach to difficult material in the classroom is to work in collaboration with students. She said she asks them what makes a good learning environment for them and discloses her own disabilities and accommodations, which help create an environment of trust and respect. I have fibromyalgia. I have a hard time moving physical things, and I use a high chair in class so I can see everybodys face while not having to stand, Wheeler said. And almost every time, a student has moved that chair up to the front of the class before I get there. That feeling that I can do this for them, and they can do this for me, has opened up the conversation. Bastian said there are a wide variety of trauma-informed, wellness-centered approaches to learning that instructors can take, including making time for students to talk to each other in small groups, checking in with students who seem to be struggling and normalizing asking for help. For Chari, conversations like these are essential to ensuring best educational practices, now more than ever. I dont think theres a discipline right now that doesnt have some relationship to questions of how we create space for discomfort and accountability, and productive, transformative conflict, Chari said. I think its central to what it means to do education. Chari said there doesnt have to be a tension between trigger warnings and expanded dialogue in the classroom. We have a lot of debates about free and open speech on campuses these days, because they come into conflict with the idea of holding safe space, ostensibly. I absolutely disagree with that, Chari said. No space is absolutely safe, right, but if you pay attention and learn the tools of regulation and teaching people to notice their own discomfort and how it arises in these certain ways, then what you do is create a space with more diversity of opinion, and more safety of expression. I think one of the biggest misconceptions about trauma-informed pedagogy, student well-being, is somehow akin to asking faculty to provide therapy, or do something outside of the role of an educator, Bastian said. But actually its all about what design choices we can make that will help students do that kind of self-regulation for themselves. As part of her work with the Teaching Engagement Program, Bastian created a set of best practices for faculty practicing trauma-informed pedagogy via the Student Wellbeing Toolkit. Notably, the toolkit says nothing on the subject of trigger warnings. The Conti ransomware launched cyberattacks on Costa Rica's government bodies, prompting President Rodrigo Chaves to declare a state of emergency. It was on Sunday, May 8, that Chaves signed the declaration into law. On the same day, he became the country's 49th and current president. Chaves is an economist and was the country's Minister of Finance before that. Cyberattacks in Costa Rica The Conti ransomware cyberattacks made enough breaches into the public agencies of Costa Rica that prompted President Oscar Chaves to sign a national emergency declaration on Sunday, May 8. According to BleepingComputer, Costa Rica's President, accompanied by Minister of Presidency Natalia Daz and Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology, and Telecommunications (MICITT) Carlos Alvarado, declared a national emergency, stating that: "The attack that Costa Rica is suffering from cybercriminals and cyberterrorists is declared a national emergency and we are signing this decree, precisely, to declare a state of national emergency in the entire public sector of the Costa Rican State and allow our society to respond to these attacks as criminal acts." President Chaves added that the state of emergency declaration is for the country to be able to defend itself against the criminal attack that cybercriminals are waging against them. The Ministry of Finance was the first public entity to incur damage as a result of Conti's cyberattack, and it has yet to properly assess the scale of the security incident or the extent to which taxpayers' information, payments, and customs systems have been damaged. The cyberattacks also got into the Costa Rican Finance Ministry, Ministerio de Hacienda, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, the Social Development and Family Allowances Fund, and the Interuniversity Headquarters of Alajuela, SIUA. Conti had previously requested a $10 million ransom from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, which the government refused to meet. The Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), the country's public health institution, has previously said that a perimeter security review is being carried out on the Conti Ransomware, in order to check and prevent possible attacks at the CCSS level. Read Also: New Ransomware Gang 'Black Basta' Emerges - Here's How To Fight Them Conti Ransomware Conti is a Russia-based transnational organized ransomware group, which is also popularly known as Gold Ulrick and is one of the most active ransomware actors. It has continued to attack businesses around the world while also growing its empire by taking over TrickBot and running data-extortion side businesses. Conti has reportedly backed the Russian government's aggression toward Ukraine. As of January 2022, it has been reported that Conti has affected more than 1,000 organizations and paid out more than $150 million to his victims. As reported by The Hacker News, due to the intensity of damage that the Russian hackers have caused internationally, the U.S. State Department recently announced that those who provide information that leads to the identification of key members of the Conti ransomware group will be eligible for prizes of up to $10 million. A further $5 million has been offered for intelligence information that could lead to the arrest or conviction of anyone who is collaborating with or seeking to link themselves with the organization in a ransomware attack. By far, the Russian cyber group has become one of the most expensive strains of ransomware ever seen. Related Article: Newly Discovered Malware NetDooka Infects Users Through Search Results A month before the celebrations of the monarch's Platinum Jubilee, is the United Kingdom on the verge of disintegration? To judge from some headlines after last week's local elections, which included those for the Stormont Assembly in Northern Ireland, the answer would be yes. In that province, Sinn Fein for the first time won the largest share of the popular vote: so the leader of the party ineradicably linked to the violent nationalist struggle to unify with the Republic of Ireland will become First Minister at Stormont. And in the Scottish council elections, the SNP got their highest ever number of councillors, marking their eleventh successive overall victory. Not surprisingly, the leaders of both these secessionist parties linked the results to referendums on independence. Sinn Fein's president, Mary Lou McDonald, said a referendum to reunify Ireland would be possible 'within a five-year timeframe'. Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon, the leader of the SNP, congratulated Sinn Fein on what she called a 'truly historic result' and declared: 'We're going to see some fundamental changes in UK governance, and I'm certain one of those changes will be Scottish independence.' She added that 'work is under way' for so-called IndyRef 2 'in 2023' though the decision to hold one is not hers. Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald (left) arrived with Vice-President Michelle O'Neill (right) at the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast as counting took place for the Northern Ireland Assembly on Friday Ms McDonald (pictured) has said a referendum to reunify Ireland would be possible 'within a five-year timeframe' Foreboding Equally unsurprisingly, there has been a deal of foreboding by some prominent defenders of the Union. In yesterday's Mail on Sunday, the former Conservative Northern Ireland Secretary, Julian Smith, wrote: 'We now have two parts of the UK where political parties avowedly dedicated to its break-up hold the whip hand Our cherished Union has never been under greater threat.' Well, possibly although the time Northern Ireland was most likely to be 'lost' was July 1940, when Winston Churchill offered the province to the Irish president Eamon de Valera if only Dublin agreed to drop its stance of neutrality in World War II. In the current situation, however, the 'whip hand' is not held by political parties, or prime ministers, but by the people as a whole. That is the benefit of making the process subject to referendums. And there is no sign that a sufficient number of either the Scots or Northern Irish are keen on such a referendum. An opinion poll conducted a week ago by Survation showed that just 29 per cent of adult Scots wanted another referendum 'in the near future'. Such a deduction can also be drawn from the full results last week. In Scotland, while the SNP were indeed the victors, when you tot up the votes won by parties dedicated to the preservation of the Union notably the Conservatives and Labour you find they won 55 per cent of the total. A similar calculation can be made on the basis of the outcome in Northern Ireland. Overall, parties against the idea of a border poll had a solid majority. And when you aggregate the votes of the two parties committed to unification with the South (Sinn Fein and the SDLP) you find that they got 39.6 per cent of the votes cast. First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon with the SNP's new councillors outside the V&A Dundee on Saturday following the local government elections Counting during the second day of the Northern Ireland Assembly elections at the Titanic Exhibition Centre in Belfast on Saturday This is almost exactly the same as their total in 2017 (40 per cent), or indeed in 1998 (39 per cent) the year of the Good Friday Agreement. So no real movement. It was under that accord that the British Government committed to holding a unification referendum 'if it appears likely that a majority of those voting would express a wish that Northern Ireland should cease to be part of the United Kingdom'. The Tory Party chairman, Oliver Dowden, at the weekend reiterated this point: 'If there is a sustained majority opinion in favour of a United Ireland, that would have to be put forward in a referendum but I don't think we are at that stage yet.' Indeed not. Last month, a poll conducted for the Irish Studies Department of the University of Liverpool and Irish News, found that only 30 per cent of those eligible to vote in such a referendum would back reunification now, with 45.3 per cent saying they were against. Abandon That showed a large number of undecideds, admittedly. But if it did come to such a vote, there is one factor which would tend to push the undecided against leaving the United Kingdom: it is called the National Health Service. In the Republic, unlike the UK, there is no free access to GPs. And the difficulty of convincing a sufficient number of Northern Irish voters to abandon this central pillar of the British welfare state even among those attracted in principle to a United Ireland came out strongly at a meeting organised a few months ago by a group called Ireland's Future. The leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Colum Eastwood, told the meeting that while he believed that 'the UK is coming to an end', if he were in charge of the referendum campaign for the other side, 'I'd just be running ads about how much it costs to go to the doctor'. In the Republic you have to pay 60 euros (51) for a visit to your local doctor, and even if you are just going back to get a repeat prescription, you are charged another 60 euros. Leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party Colum Eastwood (pictured) said he believed that 'the UK is coming to an end' Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald pictured delivering a speech at its party conference in October last year The SDLP leader admitted: 'My own mother would have some difficult conversations about that. 'The idea we could run a campaign going into it saying, 'You're going to have to pay 60 euros to see a doctor', we will lose the campaign on that alone. And that's talking to ordinary nationalists, never mind Unionists.' On the same panel, the Sinn Fein national chairman Declan Kearney agreed that 'health is pivotal'. This sort of argument would weigh even more heavily in Northern Ireland than it might in England, in the sense that the population in the province is more, not less, reliant on the welfare state. A similar, financially based argument also vexes the chances of the Scottish nationalists in any future referendum on leaving the UK. It's not so much that the Scots currently receive a net transfer of about 12 billion a year from the Exchequer, but the fact that the SNP has still not come up with any coherent argument for its policy of leaving the pound and taking up the euro, following or so they propose a short period with a Scottish currency, possibly to be called the Groat. Zero The currency question dogged its campaign in 2014, and it has not gone away. A survey last month by the Scottish based pro-Union think tank, These Islands, showed that 73 per cent of Scots said they were not clear about what the SNP's currency policy even was, and 77 per cent were unclear about who would pay their state pension after independence (which SNP leaders had tried, dishonestly, to claim would still be funded for decades to come by English and Welsh taxpayers). That poll also showed something very interesting about the sensitivity of the wording of any future referendum. When, in April, they asked Scots the question 'Should Scotland be an independent country?', the outcome was 47 per cent Yes versus 53 per cent No. But when the question was 'Should Scotland remain inside or leave the United Kingdom?', the outcome was 59 per cent in favour of remaining, with 41 per cent for leaving. It is up to the Westminster parliament whether to grant Scotland a second independence referendum and I imagine it would, if it came to that, want the question to be framed in terms of 'leave or remain': just as it was in the UK as a whole in the 2016 referendum on EU membership. You can be sure the British Government will always do what it can to persuade the Scots to remain inside the Union. The Conservatives, whatever they say publicly, have no such commitment in respect of the Northern Irish; and people in the province know it. But even so, the real chances of an Irish reunification referendum this side of the next general election are as close to zero as makes no difference. To adapt the words attributed to Mark Twain: reports of the imminent death of the Union have been greatly exaggerated. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and the government's hysterical pro-lockdown response, I gave Keir Starmer the moniker the Leader of No Opposition. Not only did the big bore with an even bigger quiff insist his Labour party nod through every liberty-sapping restriction without demanding any evidence the policies would actually work, he would almost always insist publicly that Boris Johnson needed to go faster, longer and harder. In front of the cameras, Starmer was such a Covid extremist he would wear masks and maintain social distancing outside and he even disappeared from public view altogether to undergo a farcical six stints in isolation. Following the lead of other left-wing Covid hysterics internationally like Justin Trudeau, Jacinda Ardern and Nicola Sturgeon, appearing to go further than what the rules required became part of his virtue signalling, be kind, take the knee persona. The evil Tories were being reckless and putting lives at risk for wanting to return life to any semblance of normality, he would have you believe. But now we know, just like the partygoers at Number 10, Starmer was never scared; his Covid hysteria was nothing more than performance art designed for political gain. When the cameras were off, the masks were ditched, the rules were ignored, social distancing went out the window, curries were consumed and bottles of beer were downed with drunken staffers. Sir Keir Starmer today vowed to quit if he is handed a fixed penalty notice for breaking Covid regulations Now don't get me wrong, I'm not being pious about that sort of behaviour. By April last year, the UK's vaccine rollout was advancing at pace, a large proportion of folk had natural immunity, and anyone sane who looked at the statistics was able to assess their own risk profile when it came to surviving Covid. I was publicly railing against the nonsensical, inhumane and economy-destroying rules, which, at times, I proudly refused to follow. The problem for Starmer is that he has presented himself as a Covid paragon of virtue, the antithesis of footloose Boris, who he described as a 'man without shame' for overseeing an apparent culture of rule breaking at Downing Street. He gruesomely invoked the heartbreaking stories of grieving relatives, whose loved ones had passed away from Covid, to further put pressure on the Prime Minister, even though he knew he'd not followed the rules himself. Today, in an unconvincing bid to regain the moral high ground, Starmer reluctantly pledged to resign if he's issued a fine. But that is an absolute cop out because he knows full-well that Durham Police have a policy of not issuing fixed-penalty notices retrospectively. They didn't even issue one for Dominic Cummings after his fanciful trip to Barnard Castle. When robotic Starmer was asked if he would resign if police find him in breach of the rules but don't fine him, he refused to answer the question. The man who so regularly boasts about how he used to hold others to account for lawbreaking clearly believes he is above the law himself. In fact, if Starmer was prepared to practice what he preached, he would have already resigned in disgrace. DAN WOOTTON: The cover-up over what went on that night in Durham would make Richard Nixon proud On January 31, before Boris had been issued with any form of fixed penalty notice, a holier-than-thou Starmer took to Twitter to demand: 'Honesty and decency matter. 'After months of denials the Prime Minister is now under criminal investigations for breaking his own lockdown laws. He needs to do the decent thing and resign.' Again today there were more holes in Starmer's story than a Gulab Jamun Indian soaked donut. He said he 'simply had something to eat'. But what about the beer you were downing, Mr Starmer? Was that necessary for work? Then there's the inappropriate position Starmer has now put the Durham Police, whose investigation will determine his political future. We have an enterprising student 'angry' at the 'injustice' of Starmer breaking the rules he had voted through to thank for blowing his Covid cover and exposing Beergate to the wider world. As the scholar told The Times: 'I couldn't care less, effectively, that they were having beers and curry, I think that was completely fine. It's just the fact that at the same time, they were exhibiting the most rank hypocrisy in pushing for more restrictions and calling out Boris Johnson for almost the same thing as they were doing.' If Labour's leader hadn't been filmed, beer in hand, by this moral passer-by at 10.04pm in the City of Durham MP Mary Foy's office, we would still be none the wiser. Still from a video taken of Sir Keir drinking a beer after campaigning in Durham in April 2021 But the growing mountain of evidence shows to me the Labour leader is bang to rights and I find it hard to believe this was the only occasion he threw caution to the wind and ignored the restrictions he had enforced on us mere mortals. That's only the start of the story, however. So much of Starmer's pitch to be Prime Minister is based on his apparent sense of morality, decency and honour; the upstanding former Director of Public Prosecutions who would operate in stark contrast to Boris, the fibbing philanderer. Beergate has smashed such a persona into smithereens. The cover-up over what went on that night in Durham would make Richard Nixon proud. There have been blatant lies from Labour about whether their Deputy Leader Angela Rayner was in attendance (she was, but for months they said she wasn't, which they claimed was a 'genuine mistake'). Blatant lies about whether the curry night was pre-planned (it was, the publication of a bombshell memo in this weekend's Mail on Sunday confirmed). Blatant lies about the purpose of the gathering (Politico reported today some attendees 'were p*ssed and obviously weren't working'). Blatant lies about whether Starmer went back to work after the curry and beers party (he said he did, sources there on the night insist he didn't). Blatant lies about needing to order the curry because all restaurants and pubs were closed in Durham that night (many were open, but you had to eat outside, based on the ludicrous rules in place at the time). Blatant lies about whether Starmer could have eaten in his nearby hotel room to stick to the clear rules in place at the time about socialising and campaigning. What's even more damning to Starmer's crumbling credibility is that he launched his all-out assault on Boris and Rishi Sunak to resign for being presented with a birthday cake between meetings knowing full well he had committed this far more egregious breach of the lockdown laws. But the hypocrisy over Beergate is not limited to Starmer and the Labour party alone. They have gotten away with their deception this past year because the mainstream media with the honourable exception of the Mail and GB News have been largely prepared to turn a blind eye. While Partygate, which implicated Boris, led the BBC, ITV News and Sky News for literally months on end, there has only been a grudging reluctance that Beergate is a legitimate story in the past week and it certainly hasn't been leading the news agenda. All I've been asking for is consistency. If the media were prepared to hyperventilate over every miniscule development in the Partygate saga, and relegate the cost-of-living crisis and war in Ukraine to minor stories by comparison, then why the reluctance to do the same with a scandal that could well bring down Starmer?Sadly, we know the answer to this. The media's obsession with Partygate was based on their ingrained bias and desire to bring down Boris. That's not to say Partygate was not a legitimate story it was but the media lost all sense of perspective, and it became an unhinged campaign by the media and political class to unseat a Prime Minister democratically elected in a landslide. The lack of equality in the coverage shows just how stacked the British broadcast media is against anyone who backs Brexit. If Starmer was a man of his word, he would resign now because he's under police investigation, following what he unequivocally called on Boris to do. He's not so he won't. But at least we finally have proof his Covid hysteria was pure politics and never about keeping us safe. Starmer was never scared! That's why he was prepared to down booze and scoff on curry with up to 30 'drunk' staff members, while the rest of the country were expected to cower in our homes or eat outside in the freezing cold. This Beergate farce is the final nail in the coffin of the elite trying to terrify us so they can impose rules dictating how we live our lives, while believing they were above the rules. It is also the final nail in the coffin of Starmer's pretence of being an honourable politician. It took a while, but korma karma has finally caught up with Keir. They're holding a wake down at The Winchester tonight, raising a large VAT to Terry McCann. Scotch Harry will be there, if he's not still banned. So will Self Inflicted, Confident Clive, Maltese Tony, The Syrup, Cheerful Charlie Chisholm and the rest of the motley crew. Propping up the bar, in spirit at least, will be Arthur Daley. Better make it a double-double, Dave. For ten years, Dennis Waterman, who died at the weekend, starred as Terry, Arthur's long-suffering sidekick in Minder. Conceived as a vehicle for Dennis, the show soon developed into one of television's most enduring double acts. Terry was the perfect foil for the late George Cole's West London wide boy the slimline tonic to Arthur's ubiquitous large vodka. Minder was Waterman's second smash hit series in succession, following on from The Sweeney, in which he played Detective Sergeant George Carter to John Thaw's D.I. Jack Regan. These two seminal slices of classic British television captured the zeitgeist of the 1970s and 1980s the first set in a shabby, litter-strewn London, capital of what was then widely considered to be a corrupt, crumbling, crime-ridden society in terminal decline. Minder was Waterman's second smash hit series in succession, following on from The Sweeney, in which he played Detective Sergeant George Carter to John Thaw's D.I. Jack Regan Minder was born on the threshold of the Thatcher revolution, although it was a difficult birth. As a young hack on London's Evening Standard in 1979, I went to the Press launch of the show on a boat moored next to the Victoria Embankment on the Thames. I was only invited because as an industrial correspondent I'd been covering the nine-week walk-out by ITV technicians, which delayed broadcast of the first episode and just about summed up late-Seventies Britain, where strikes were a daily torment. After a shaky start, Minder never looked back. Arthur, like Del Boy in the BBC's subsequently commissioned Only Fools And Horses, embodied the optimism of the 1980s, which held that anyone, with a bit of judicious ducking and diving, could cash in on the 'entrepreneurial' spirit and, this time next year, become a millionaire. Anyone, that is, except the Terry McCanns of this world, permanently potless and condemned to surviving on Arthur's less-than-largesse. Dennis was a far more accomplished and versatile actor than his tough-guy persona was given credit for Dennis played him to perfection. Yes, McCann was an ex-jailbird useful with his fists, but he employed them sparingly and reluctantly. He was the conscience of the programme, always suspicious of Arthur's more dubious scams and ready to walk away rather than break the law and risk re-imprisonment. So, too, Waterman's George Carter in The Sweeney, which I would argue was his greatest role. Carter was forever pulling Regan's chestnuts out of the fire, often physically stopping him kicking seven sacks out of suspects. Don't do it, guv, he's not worth it. The Sweeney is even credited with changing the way police officers behaved and spoke. During the 1980s, when the pubs closed after lunch until knocking-off time at five, I spent many a happy afternoon in private members' clubs just like the Winchester. In the West End, there was the Ratkeller, aka the Rathbone Arts Club off Charlotte Street, underneath the kind of Greek restaurant run by Diane Keen in an early episode of Minder. Mostly, I frequented the Victoria Club, run by an exiled Iranian Christian called Sam, equidistant from the Palace of Westminster and Scotland Yard. It was also popular with certain associates of South London's notorious Richardson gang. After a couple of sherbets, it was difficult to tell who was who. The cops looked and sounded like the villains and vice versa. Waterman pictured in character as Terry McCann on location during filming of the television series Minder in London in October 1979 And they all looked as if they'd just walked off the set of The Sweeney or Minder. Dennis Waterman was rumoured to be no stranger to such establishments. Certainly, he was a thirsty man, unlike his alter ego McCann, who generally stuck to halves of lager. He was a big drinking buddy of the late Michael Elphick (Boon), who appeared in a terrific episode of The Sweeney, called One Of Your Own. (I bumped into Mike in Gerry's Club in Soho one night. He was the only man I'd ever seen carried in.) Years later, when I was doing a bit of TV, I was with the same management agency as Dennis. It was run by Deke Arlon and his wife Jill Arlon, one of the creators of Minder. We were invited to spend a weekend with Dennis and his wife Pam at Deke and Jill's house in the South of France. Waterman (pictured far right) poses for a photograph with John Thaw (left) and comedic legends Ernie Wise and Eric Morecambe (centre) in 1978 After a long career in Fleet Street, I thought I could drink. That was before I met Dennis and we started on the local rose. Not to put too fine a point on it, we managed to fit A Year In Provence into 48 hours. He could also smoke for Britain, too. On Saturday lunchtime, we repaired to a Bar Tabac, where he bought 100 Gitanes. On the way to Nice airport on Sunday morning, he asked Deke to stop at the nearest convenience store so he could buy some more cigarettes. He'd run out overnight. The beer and fags did for him in the end, aged just 74, but not before he had enjoyed a stellar career, dating back six decades to his childhood role starring in the BBC adaptation of Richmal Crompton's Just William books. Dennis was a far more accomplished and versatile actor than his tough-guy persona was given credit for. He starred on stage in Windy City, the musical adaptation of Ben Hecht's fabulous Chicago newspaper drama The Front Page. And he played the title role in Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell, written by the great Keith Waterhouse, formerly of this parish. Waterman (left) and George Cole at the Theatre Royal in London in 1982. Waterman's extensive career also included numerous stints on the stage Some might pigeonhole Dennis as Best Supporting Actor at best, but that would do him a disservice. Neither Arthur Daley nor Jack Regan would have been half the characters they turned out to be without Terry McCann and George Carter, to my mind his tour de force as John Thaw recognised early in the first series when he asked the producers to write the young DS Carter a bigger role. Dennis didn't disappoint. The Sweeney was what's now called 'appointment to view' TV, in the days before you could buy a genuine Bulgarian-made video recorder from Daley Into Europe. When I worked on a local rag, I remember covering council committee meetings which were cut short by the chairman so we could all rush home in time for our latest fix. Has there ever been a better theme tune? And speaking of theme tunes, Deke Arlon once told me that Dennis was sorely aggrieved at Little Britain portraying him as a joke figure who couldn't get parts any more because he always insisted on 'singing the theeme toon'. I said Dennis should get himself in on the joke, then he'd own it. Deke called the Little Britain team and they booked Dennis for their live show. Among the tributes yesterday, Little Britain's Matt Lucas said Dennis's guest appearance 'remains the absolute highlight of my career'. The Little Britain boys loved him. We all did. Dennis Waterman pictured leaving Reading Crematorium for the funeral of Minder co-star George Cole in 2015 Waterman with New Tricks co-star Amanda Redman arriving for the Galaxy British Book Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel in March 2007 One of my most prized possessions is an original London Underground poster promoting Minder On The Orient Express. It's on the wall of my office as I'm writing this and never fails to cheer me up. The BBC is currently planning to spend 50 million finding out what most licence-payers like to watch. I can save them the time and money. Not the new Dr Who, for a start. Heaven knows what Dennis would have made of the latest ludicrous successor to William Hartnell and Tom Baker. Words fail even me. Instead of chasing woke millennials who watch everything on their phone and don't pay the licence fee anyway, the BBC bigwigs should tune into ITV4 late afternoons any weekday. There they will find the answer staring them in the face Dennis Waterman starring in The Sweeney or Minder. As we say down The Winchester, call it a monkey for cash. While she no doubt has the world's best facialists and beauty advisors on speed dial, the Duchess of Cambridge has discovered a fuss-free way to rock more youthful appearance - with a simple change of hairstyle. Kate's bouncy blow dry has been her signature look, ever since she first joined the royal family a decade ago, but on recent engagements, she's been sporting a sleeker style with her hair elegantly tucked behind her ears. The style was first spotted on the Duchess during her royal tour of the Caribbean and at the time, it seemed like a clever way to beat the frizz in humid temperatures. However, she's carried on the look at home, most recently while presenting the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design at the Design Museum in Kensington last week. Speaking to FEMAIL, Lily Jeffreys, Senior Stylist and Colour Technician at Taylor Taylor London explained that Kate wearing her hair tucked behind her ears is a subtle way to open up her facial features. 'Tucking the hair behind the ears also helps to make her cheekbones and jawline pop, showing off her luminous skin and bringing attention to her eyes, which really elevates her face and gives her a youthful glow,' she explained. The Duchess of Cambridge was pictured with her sleek brunette hair elegantly tucked behind her ears when she presented The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design at the Design Museum in Kensington last week Similarly, Master Stylist Nick Willis at Charles Worthington Salons has also noticed Kate wearing her hair straighter, longer and with a centre parting. For example when she visited Belize last month she kept her brunette locks straightened in a classic middle parting as she toured the ancient Mayan archaeological site of Caracol, learned survival skills in the jungle and joined William, 39, at a glitzy engagement. Nick said: 'She is effortlessly tucking her hair behind the ear for a sophisticated yet casual look. 'This Seventies longer hair vibe is massively on trend for summer, its easy to maintain and looks classy for any occasion and on Kate is sheer elegance. Speaking to FEMAIL, Lily Jeffreys, Senior Stylist and Colour Technician at Taylor Taylor London explained that Kate wearing her hair tucked behind her ears is a subtle way to open up her facial features. Pictured attending a reception hosted by the Governor of the Bahamas When the Duchess visited Belize last month she kept her brunette locks straightened in a classic middle parting as she attended a reception at the Mayan ruins at Cahal Pech in San Ignacio 'This is a contrast from her old style; her bouncy blowout had volume and movement whereas these days she is seen wearing her hair more sleek and smooth.' The stylist continued: 'By tucking her hair behind the ear, Kate is revealing her strong bone structure. This is a great trick to show off your eyes and cheekbones and in turn is a fabulous anti ageing tip.' What's more, it's a lower maintenance style for anyone with a busy schedule like the Duchess. 'Its a quick and easy way to make her plain, straight hair look more sleek and sophisticated, 'Lily said. Lily Jeffreys, Senior Stylist and Colour Technician at Taylor Taylor London: 'Tucking the hair behind the ears also helps to make her cheekbones and jawline pop, showing off her luminous skin and bringing attention to her eyes, which really elevates her face and gives her a youthful glow'. Pictured: Kate on her official visit to Hopkins, Belize in March 2022 The stylist continued: 'By tucking her hair behind the ear, Kate is revealing her strong bone structure, this is a great trick to show off your eyes and cheekbones and in turn is a fabulous anti ageing tip.' 'Its also easy for her to adjust and keep it looking polished all day without her hair stylist constantly needing to be on-hand.' Martin Palmer, Salon Manager at Nicky Clarke's Birmingham salon commented that this hairstyle is an up and coming trend He observed: 'The Duchess has moved away from her bouncy blow dry with side parting and gone for a more sleek style with centre parting, it really opens up her face without having to put her hair up. It also means that she could show off her earrings.' 'She is no longer hiding behind a sweeping fringe but is now allowing her hair to show off her natural beauty and gives her an open, fresh look.' Similar to the other stylists Nick emphasised how well this hairstyle lends itself to playful accessorizing, saying: 'Kate makes a dramatic statement with her earrings.' Pictured during a trip to Trench Town in Kingston. Master Stylist Nick Willis said: 'She is effortlessly tucking her hair behind the ear for a sophisticated yet casual look' Australian professional dancer Dianne Buswell, 33, joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2017. The following year she reached the final with YouTuber Joe Sugg, who is now her partner. I can be quite an anxious person and the older Ive got and the more success Ive had on Strictly, the more that pressure has grown. Dianne Buswell, 33, (pictured) says starting a new life in the UK boosted her confidence. The Australian professional dancer admitted to breaking down during filming Emigrating from Australia and leaving my family, my parents, two sisters and brother behind was a big deal for me as were a close-knit bunch and when I arrived in Britain I literally knew no one. Making that decision to start a new life here was tough, but it also helped boost my confidence. Strictly became my new support network and my partner Joes family welcomed me with open arms. Facing more of my worries on current BBC drama Wim Hofs Freeze The Fear was liberating. Even now, months after filming, Im still using some of the techniques Wim Hof taught us, including the three-minute daily freezing showers and the extended breathing exercises. The Strictly Come Dancing star (Dianne pictured left) found a support network within the show and her partner Joe Sugg's (pictured right) family welcomed her with open arms When we were filming the breathing exercise, I broke down, as I was basically releasing a past trauma. I could feel all my anxiety and fear pouring out in my tears. It was an emotional day. Now, if Im feeling nervous or anxious, I repeat the exercise. Its incredibly effective. I tend to be a positive person, but I do have my fair share of self-doubt and negativity. If I feel that negativity creeping in, I try to focus on the things I have. For example, last year it was disappointing to leave Strictly so early because of my partner Robert Webbs health, but I reminded myself that I was lucky to have a partner. And it makes me more determined to win this years series. Dianne (pictured here with Wim Hof doing cold water exposure) says that she has her fair share of self doubt but when she feels negativity creeping in she focuses on the things that she does have Its easy to get caught up in negativity in this industry. Luckily, I have my own cheerleader in Joe. Im away rehearsing for the Strictly tour right now but we talk ten times a day. Hes my absolute rock. Do we still dance together? You bet. His favourite is ballroom, so every now and then, with some old-school jazz playing in the background, hell just put his arms into a ballroom crane and we have a little whizz around the kitchen. Despite a moderate recovery, the Korean economy faces increasing downside risks as worsening external conditions hamstring investments and exports, a state think tank said Monday. Asia's fourth-largest economy has been gathering recovery momentum on robust growth in the services sector, but business sentiment has been hit by policy uncertainties in major economies and continued global supply chain disruptions, the Korea Development Institute (KDI) said in its monthly economic report. "The economy remains on a recovery path following the easing of COVID-19 social distancing measures, but downside risks are expanding as growth of exports and investments slows due to deteriorating external conditions," the report said. In mid-April, Korea lifted most of its social distancing restrictions, including gathering limits and business hour curfews, as part of the country's efforts to return to pre-pandemic normalcy. The report said worsening global supply chain bottlenecks and high international materials costs have put a dent in Korea's construction and corporate facility investments, with China's COVID-19 lockdowns further deteriorating external conditions. Korea's exports, especially those to China, have thus been growing at a slower rate, with the auto and some other industries suffering output disruptions and the country's business sentiment remaining low. Seoul's overseas shipments rose 12.6 percent in April from a year earlier, slowing from an 18.2 percent year-on-year surge a month earlier. But spiking energy costs sent its imports up 18.6 percent year-on-year last month, resulting in a trade deficit of $2.66 billion. Dubai crude, Korea's benchmark, rose to $102.82 per barrel in April on average from $62.92 a year earlier. Korea depends mainly on imports for its energy needs. According to the Bank of Korea, its business survey index came to 86 for May, up three points from the previous month but remaining below the benchmark 100 that separates optimism from pessimism. The report also said increased financial market volatility stemming from the U.S. Fed's acceleration in rate hikes have been building up downside risks on the Korean economy. Early last week, the U.S. central bank hiked its key rate by the widely expected 0.5 percentage points and is widely expected to carry more rate increases down the road. (Yonhap) How many people who have a personality disorder do you know? Chances are your answer is no one. But in reality these conditions are incredibly common theyre just not talked about. In fact, personality disorders are so hidden that many people do not even know they exist. However, one in 20 people in the UK has one. Over the past few years, mental health has received increasing coverage and public awareness but, for some reason, personality disorders still lurk in the shadows. Unlike other mental health conditions, such as depression or bipolar disorder, it seems that celebrities dont want to admit to personality disorders and the stigma surrounding them is very much alive and kicking. They are shrouded in secrecy and shame, yet they deserve our understanding and compassion just as much as any other mental health problem. For a few days last week, though, they were right in the spotlight after it was claimed actress Amber Heard has two of them. Sadly, I fear this wont have helped people battling these conditions. Dr Max Pemberton says that personality disorders are shrouded in secrecy and shame. For a few days last week, though, they were right in the spotlight after it was claimed actress Amber Heard (pictured) has two of them. However, he worries that this won't have helped people battling with these conditions Its worth dwelling for a minute on how this came up in court. As part of the defamation case Johnny Depp has brought against his ex-wife Amber in the U.S., an expert witness diagnosed Ms Heard with two types of personality disorder emotionally unstable (sometimes called borderline) personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder. The expert explained how sufferers can show a lot of cruelty, are very concerned with their image and play a victim or princess role. As well as being full of rage, they can demonstrate extreme discomfort with not being the centre of attention and will make up stories. The implications are clear. Ms Heards mental health problems are being used to undermine her credibility as a witness. I am horrified that mental health issues can be used against a person like this in a trial. It also gives a distorted view of what a personality disorder is. Ive spent years working with people who have personality disorders, including 12 months in a specialist unit. My experience is that such patients are desperately unwell and in need of care, love and support. We know they are vulnerable and at increased risk of being victims of crime particularly sexual assault but too often Ive seen them dismissed by professionals as dramatic or fantasists when theyve been attacked, even raped. This is what stigma around mental illness looks like. Dr Max Pemberton (pictured) says over the past few years mental health has received more coverage but personality disorders are still not spoken about So what is a personality disorder and how are they treated? There are ten recognised types but, broadly speaking, they are defined as a deeply ingrained, inflexible pattern of relating, perceiving and thinking, serious enough to cause distress or impaired functioning. People who have a personality disorder might self-harm or use alcohol or drugs to manage their emotions and feelings. The isolation and distress they may feel as a result of their disorder makes them more susceptible to other mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and eating disorders. They fall into three broad clusters based on the type of underlying emotional problem: A) odd or eccentric; B) dramatic, emotional or erratic (where Ms Heards diagnoses fall); C) anxious or fearful. These terms arent always helpful and can further the stigma attached to these conditions. Long-standing difficulties interacting and relating to people are often initial red flags that someone might have such a disorder. A key characteristic is that the symptoms are recurring and ingrained, and the disorder has a serious effect on the persons life. Lots of people will have aspects of a personality disorder, but unless its causing serious problems its often said they have traits, but not the full-blown disorder itself. Personality disorders are usually diagnosed by a psychiatrist. The part of the brain responsible for our personality is called the prefrontal cortex. It keeps growing until were in our mid-20s. Because of this, a personality disorder cant really be diagnosed in a child, and most doctors try to avoid diagnosing it in people until they are at least in their 20s. People who have a personality disorder are often dismissed as being strange, annoying or overly emotional. Yet psychiatrists like me see many people with personality disorders and know the pain and distress they can cause. While it used to be thought that those with a personality disorder had it for life and there was little that could be done to help them, we now know this isnt the case. Research has shown that longterm specialist psychotherapy can help address the imbalance in personality traits and aid sufferers in achieving balance and, crucially, improving. It is time-consuming and costly, but most NHS trusts will have special personality disorder services which offer intensive treatment. Many of us working in mental health fear that the way Ms Heards personality disorders have been used in court will further stigmatise this common but incredibly misunderstood condition. What a tragedy that would be. Its important, therefore, that we raise awareness of it and start to talk about it openly. Its nothing to be ashamed of and its not the persons fault that they have it. With the right treatment, they can and do get better. Tory MPs and peers have said bans on visiting loved ones in hospitals and care homes are illegal. Thank goodness were finally standing up to the apparatchiks in institutions who have insisted against all evidence and reason it is in patients best interests to cut them off from the outside world. Shame on those lazy lecturers He says that the way students have been treated is a scandal. They are paying astronomical fees to sit in their bedrooms and stare at a screen ultimately having a diminished university experience Ministers have warned universities that they could face fines if they dont return to in-person teaching soon. Good. The way students have been treated is a scandal. They are paying astronomical fees to sit in their bedrooms and stare at a screen. What an unfair and diminished experience. It makes even less sense when you consider that students are at such low risk from Covid. Lecturers should be ashamed. The pandemic has shown the true colours of some people. Rather than wanting to help students make up for the past two years, many in universities have selfishly retreated behind their screens, preferring the convenience of teaching from the comfort of their homes. The students are the ones who suffer. NHS bosses are begging older doctors not to retire amid a staffing crisis. There has been an exodus in recent years thanks to the hoops through which they must jump to maintain a licence to practise. Doctors face a yearly appraisal and a five-yearly revalidation, introduced in the wake of the Harold Shipman scandal. The process involves extraordinary amounts of form-filling. I went through it a few years ago and had to take four days annual leave to submit 30,000 words. From what Ive seen, the worst doctors excel at the exercises because theyre quite happy to neglect patients to do so. Id favour doctors being observed by assessors as they work instead. It would save older doctors from throwing in the towel after being overwhelmed by bureaucracy. DR MAX PRESCRIBES... SPINACH According to new research, spinach can help stave off dementia thanks to its particularly high levels of two key antioxidants: lutein and zeaxanthin It turns out Popeye had the right idea all along! According to new research, spinach can help stave off dementia thanks to its particularly high levels of two key antioxidants: lutein and zeaxanthin. I try to eat it several times a week, either gently steamed with black pepper or raw from the bag as a snack. My family are no longer just doing Wordle, the five-letter daily word puzzle that has to be guessed in six attempts. We also like Worldle, a geographic version, where you must identify a country. And there might well still be other options to explore. I like the background story of Wordle a Welsh software engineer, Josh Wardle, living in New York, invented it as a lockdown game for his partner, who loves word quizzes. After playing it obsessively, then sharing it with friends and family, Wardle released it to the world in October 2021. By Christmas it had become an international phenomenon. In January, The New York Times bought Wordle for an undisclosed sevenfigure sum, but so far it has remained free and fully accessible. British author Patricia Nicol has rounded up a selection of the best books on puzzles including Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl and SJ Watson's twisty thriller Before I Go To Sleep Sudoku I can take or leave, but I absolutely love Wordle, crosswords, spelling bees and competitive word games such as Scrabble and Bananagrams. Quizzes, too. There is a puzzle element to much fiction. Detective novels, in particular, hinge on uncovering clues and following leads. One writer who enjoys scattering breadcrumbs to misdirect her reader is Gillian Flynn. Her bestseller Gone Girl is told by two unreliable narrators. One of them, Amy, is obsessed by quizzes. She used to write them for a living and created elaborate treasure hunts for her husband, Nick. But when she suddenly disappears, is it a treasure hunt or a trap that has been left behind? Another super-twisty thriller is Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson. Its protagonist suffers from anterograde amnesia. She wakes every day with no memory of who she is and tries to rediscover her identity via her journal. But is she sometimes being misdirected? Mr Penumbras 24-Hour Bookstore is the story of a laid-off tech nerd who takes a job in an eccentric book repository only to discover that its dusty tomes contain closelyguarded knowledge, leading him to a centuries-old secret society. This week, take some time out for yourself to enjoy a satisfyingly knotty puzzle. An Australian doctor has listed the many positive changes she's noticed after quitting alcohol for a month. Dr Deb Cohen-Jones, a GP from Perth, Western Australia, went without booze in April after she noticed it had become a coping mechanism for stress. After going sober for four weeks, she woke up early feeling refreshed, craved greasy foods less frequently and was more likely to exercise in the morning. Dr Cohen-Jones also noticed a drastic decrease in feeling anxious and overall felt more in control. Dr Deb Cohen-Jones, a GP from Perth, Western Australia, (pictured) went without booze in April and noticed drastic improvements By going sober for four weeks, she woke up early feeling refreshed, craved greasy foods less frequently and was more likely to exercise in the morning Sharing her experience on Instagram, she admitted two weeks of the month involved isolating at home due to being sick with Covid, which made things slightly easier. 'Interestingly I had absolutely no desire to drink at any point when at home, particularly when I was feeling unwell I simply don't drink at home and so don't even think about it,' she wrote. 'The few times we did go out for a meal or with friends I felt a little 'fomo' (left out) initially, however this settled quickly and I found I actually enjoyed and savoured my food more.' The most notable changes occurred in the morning and she also felt less bloated after eating. Research shows the body starts the detoxification process 12 hours after your last beverage and after four weeks blood sugar levels stabilise What to expect when you stop drinking Within 12-24 hours: Detoxification begins and blood sugar normalises. During this period you may experience withdrawal symptoms including sweating, anxiety, depression and insomnia. Within one week: Quality of sleep should improve and you should start to feel more energised and hydrated. Within two weeks: Weight loss may begin thanks to cutting out the hidden calories in alcohol. Within three to four weeks: Blood pressure stabilises. Source: Dry July Advertisement 'Since the month has ended I am definitely thinking twice before having a drink and limiting myself to two drinks if I do,' she wrote. 'I definitely believe that the month off was a great opportunity to reset and plan to do this several times a year.' Doctors say abstaining from alcohol for as little as one month enhances concentration and decision-making, while also reducing the risk of mental health issues including anxiety and depression. Research shows the body starts the detoxification process 12 hours after your last beverage and after four weeks blood sugar levels stabilise. Revealed: Long-term effects of regular heavy drinking Brain: Drinking too much can affect your concentration, judgement, mood and memory. It increases your risk of having a stroke and developing dementia. Heart: Heavy drinking increases your blood pressure and can lead to heart damage and heart attacks. Liver: Drinking three to four standard drinks a day increases your risk of developing liver cancer. Long-term heavy drinking also puts you at increased risk of liver cirrhosis (scarring) and death. Stomach: Drinking even one to two standard drinks a day increases your risk of stomach and bowel cancer, as well as stomach ulcers. Fertility: Regular heavy drinking reduces men's testosterone levels, sperm count and fertility. For women, drinking too much can affect their periods. Source: Health Direct Advertisement It follows after Dr Cohen-Jones and skin clinic owner Dr Clara Hurst joined forces to innovate the online skincare brand The Secret - and revealed their own secrets for a radiant, healthy complexion. Astounding before and after photos have flooded in ever since, with medical strength ingredients like Tretinoin and Hydroquinone responsible for noticeable results in a matter of weeks. The pair are constantly complimented on their own skin, and while they use their products daily, they combine them with a few other favourites and key lifestyle habits. Skin clinic owner Dr Clara Hurst (right) and GP Dr Deb Cohen-Jones (left) met in 2019 and saw a gap in the market for 'highly effective solutions' for cosmetic skin conditions like acne, rosacea, fine lines, skin laxity and pigmentation Astounding before and after photos have flooded in ever since, with medical strength ingredients like Tretinoin and Hydroquinone responsible for noticeable results in a matter of weeks Dr Cohen-Jones told FEMAIL in addition to a regular skincare routine she makes sure she is always well hydrated and tries to avoid too much alcohol. She is also lactose and dairy-free, eats minimal sugar and is an advocate for wholegrains, whole goods, greens, collagen and Vitamin D supplements. Every morning Dr Deb starts off with a Tatcha Cleansing Oil followed by The Secret Serum, Eye Serum and Day Brightening Elixir (alternating between sensitive and regular). Dr Deb told FEMAIL in addition to a regular skincare routine she makes sure she is always well hydrated and tries to avoid too much alcohol Dr Deb is also is also lactose and dairy-free and eats minimal sugar She also uses the Rationale 50+ Tinted Serum and Ultra Violette suncreen as well as the Aspect Fruit Enzyme Mask two to three days per week. At night she uses the Medik8 Lipid Balancing Cleanser, The Secret Cellular Repair Night Cream and the Cellular Repair Night Eye Cream. Every third night she uses a Tatcha Face Oil and every second night she uses an Omnilux LED mask before her Cellular Repair. In summer she uses an extra pump of serum, reapplies sunscreen if needed and uses Cellular Repair more often due to increased pigmentation 'The goal when creating The Secret has always been a flawless complexion without any makeup,' she said. 'My skin has never looked better than it does with my current regime and my regime literally takes three minutes.' The co-founder of global swimwear brand Triangl is preparing to sell an $8million apartment overlooking Bondi Beach after revealing how all of the fame, fortune and success associated with running the multi million-dollar brand with her ex-fiance led her into a spiral of depression. On Instagram Erin Deering's life running one of the hottest Australian fashion exports with the father of two of her children, Craig Ellis, was enviable: Holidays in the Maldives and Italy, a home base in Monaco, $300million deals on the table with venture capitalists and walls adorned with original Andy Warhol art. But behind the glamorous pictures Erin, who was then in her early 30s, was feeling more alone than ever before and was 'embarrassed' to tell her family and friends back home in Melbourne that things were not as them seemed. On Instagram Erin Deering's (pictured today aged 37) life running one of the hottest Australian fashion exports with the father of two of her children Craig Ellis was enviable On Monday it was revealed an apartment the pair bought in the exclusive suburb of North Bondi will go up for auction on May 28 with an asking price of $8 to $8.5million On Monday it was revealed an apartment the pair bought in the exclusive suburb of North Bondi will go up for auction on May 28 with an asking price of $8 to $8.5million. The four-bedroom abode in the luxury Coast development of film producer Rebel Penfold-Russell was purchased by Erin and Craig in 2013 for $5.15 million, but since their split the apartment was changed to Erin's name alone, Domain reported. It had been a rental up until recent years for $3,500 a week but now Erin is preparing to sell it for an enormous profit. Speaking on the Peaches podcast with hosts Tori Clapham and Bec Chidiac, Erin detailed the personal cost of her success, saying goodbye to her business partner and ex-fiance and exiting from the label itself in 2018. The four-bedroom abode in the luxury Coast development of film producer Rebel Penfold-Russell was purchased by Erin and Craig in 2013 for $5.15 million, but since their split the apartment was changed to Erin's name alone, Domain reported It had been a rental up until recent years for $3,500 a week but now Erin is preparing to sell it for an enormous profit Originally from Melbourne the 37-year-old started Triangl alongside her ex-fiance and father of her two children, Craig Ellis, in 2012 (both pictured) The now 37-year-old started Triangl alongside Craig in 2012, developing the idea on their second date, which was at the beach. Erin struggled to find a swimsuit for the all-important date that was reasonably priced, stylish and well made without spending a fortune. After spending three hours on the shoreline talking about the inconvenient lack of two pieces the pair decided to sell their belongings and move to Hong Kong to launch a swimwear company. 'It was tough at the start,' Craig told FEMAIL in 2016. 'We had to sell all our stuff and borrow money from some friends to get by.' Eating tinned food on the floor of their tiny flat and trying to sell one bikini a day, they eventually stumbled on a style that was selling: the black binded neoprene number. Neoprene naturally curves around a human shape with ease, which Craig suspected is why it was so revolutionary at the time (pictured is one of their winning designs) The early days: It was at this point when sales increased dramatically and Triangl was selling 2,000 pairs of bikinis and making a $150,000USD/$197,000AUD a day profit 'We used social media to get the message out there because we couldn't afford billboards, PR agents and advertising. Similarly we went with neoprene instead of nylon or prints, which we also experimented with, because it seemed to be selling,' he said. Neoprene naturally curves around a human shape with ease, which Craig suspected is why it was so revolutionary at the time. It became so popular that model Kendall Jenner caught wind of the brand, asked for some samples, and before long was posting pictures of the designs on Twitter. 'The celeb endorsement really helped,' Craig said. 'But I think people can tell when that comes about organically and naturally, rather than us just pushing our product on people who we want to wear it. The couple at the time where living in Monaco and appeared to constantly be on vacation 'It doesn't mind what's going on in your physical outside world, if the inside is chaos nothing will matter,' she told the podcast hosts 'Plus the price point, which is under $150AUD, is the sweet spot. It's reasonable, but expensive enough to be good quality.' It was at this point when sales increased dramatically and Triangl was selling 2,000 pairs of bikinis and making a $150,000USD/$197,000AUD a day profit. But with great financial security came great discomfort for Erin. 'It doesn't mind what's going on in your physical outside world, if the inside is chaos nothing will matter,' she told the podcast hosts. 'I still feel quite detached from that period of time because I lost so much of me.' Erin's relationship with Craig fell apart and they parted ways. This coincided with her leaving the business. On March 15 Erin celebrated Triangl's 10 year anniversary with an Instagram post Eventually she went and saw a therapist, met her current partner Zachary Keane (pictured) - who has she two other children with - and began looking forward to a brighter future Eventually she went and saw a therapist, met her current partner Zachary Keane - who has she two other children with - and began looking forward to a brighter future. On March 15, Erin celebrated Triangl's 10 year anniversary with an Instagram post. 'A whole decade ago, Craig and I officially started Triangl. If you have listened to any of my podcasts, you'd know how much I struggled with my identity, self worth, and overarching mental health during those years,' she wrote. 'I have shared my most vulnerable moments during those times (and continue to do so), in the hope of helping others feel better about their struggles, internal battles, and life in general.' For confidential 24-hour support in Australia call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Prince Harry will make a major announcement tonight about his new project being launched out of New Zealand. Details of the new project will be revealed during an exclusive interview with Te Ao with Moana on Maori Television in New Zealand. In a preview of the interview, Prince Harry said he will be sharing details of a 'new kaupapa'. Kaupapa is the Maori word for work. Presenter Moana Maniapoto said she hopes Prince Harry's message will 'spark a discussion' among viewers. Prince Harry will make a major announcement tonight about a project being launched out of New Zealand Maori Television presenter Moana Maniapoto says Prince Harry's message will spark a discussion when it airs tonight in New Zealand She says the prince's new project has been inspired by Maori values around Kaitiakitanga, which translates to 'guardianship and protection'. 'It's interesting to hear someone who's a royal speak about Maori values, given our history but also given the current debates about having Maori values at the forefront of decision making and relationships,' she said. The Prince's popularity in New Zealand exploded after he visited in 2015, learning the Haka in 20 minutes and reciting a speech in Maori. Prince Harry, who served in the British military, joined fellow soldiers during his 2015 trip to the country, and learned the army's Haka Prince Harry returned to New Zealand with Meghan Markle in 2018, and loved it so much they discussed moving there The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit Te Papaiouru Marae on October 31, 2018 in Rotorua, New Zealand In 2018, the Prince returned to New Zealand with Meghan Markle. The pair discussed moving to there according to the Queen's representative in the country. That was more than a year before they stepped back from royal duties and moved to the US. Former governor-general Dame Patsy Reddy recalled the couple saying they 'could imagine living in a place like this' and questioned whether it would be 'theoretically possible'. She told Associated Press in an interview: 'They were looking at how they might raise their family. 'And obviously they've made some decisions since.' Harry and Meghan, shocked the world when in January 2020 they announced their intent to step back from senior royal roles, become financially independent and spend more time in North America. Recalling the couple's trip to New Zealand, and how they appeared tired, Dame Patsy, 67, said: 'I remember they'd just been down to the Abel Tasman National Park when we sat down and had a drink. 'They said that they could imagine living in a place like this and wondered whether we thought it would be theoretically possible. Even possible for them to have a place in New Zealand. 'Of course, we said, "Sure. It would be fine". There are lots of opportunities to live in New Zealand, but that would be something that they'd have to explore.' The discussion suggests the couple were considering options outside Britain less than six months after they married and well before their eventual move to the US. Dame Patsy said she did not view it as a formal request for assistance but more of an informal discussion about the couple's hopes for the future. She said they seemed impressed with access to the outdoors and their interactions with New Zealanders. During a widely watched interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, Harry and Meghan said they had offered to take a step back from royal life in a Commonwealth country such as South Africa or New Zealand. Dame Patsy said she watched the interview but did not want to comment on internal royal family business. 'I thought they were a lovely couple and I hope they've got a great future where they are,' she said. As she took home the prestigious award for Leading Actress at last night's BAFTA awards, Jodie Comer firmly cemented her place among the most coveted actress' in the business. And despite her massive success, the star has never forgotten who helped her on her journey to superstardom - constantly crediting fellow Liverpudlian actor Stephen Graham for kickstarting her career. In fact, after taking to the stage to accept her award for her outstanding performance their pandemic drama, Help, Comer, 29, said she would continue to thank him 'for the rest of her life'. Graham, 48, had recognised her talent back in 2012, when they shared a very brief scene together in BBC miniseries Good Cop and swiftly persuaded his agent to take a chance on the young actress. After winning a slew of roles in much-loved television series like My Mad Fat Diary and Doctor Foster, Comer would find global success as the glamorous assassin Villanelle in acclaimed TV series Killing Eve. Now, with a string of rave reviews behind her following her West End debut in one-woman show Prima Facie, plus roles in Hollywood blockbusters like Free Guy - it seems that Graham's continued guidance has helped the actress become one of Britain's most in-demand stars. As she took home the prestigious award for Leading Actress at last night's BAFTA awards, Jodie Comer said she would continue to thank fellow Liverpudlian actor Stephen Graham for kickstarting her career Last year, Stephen and Comer got the chance to work together again for first time in nearly ten years as they co-starred in Channel 4 television film Help Jodie and Stephen's friendship dates back to 2012, when they filmed a brief scene together on the set of British police Good Cop, which only ran for one series before being cancelled. The actress, who was in her early teens, played a waitress who was harassed and nearly sexually assaulted by Graham's character before the protagonist intervenes. And while their scene was only brief, Stephen was so impressed with Comer's performance that he instantly reached out, offering to put the aspiring star in touch with his agent, Jane Epstein. Speaking ahead of their Channel 4 film Help, Jodie explained: 'I met Stephen for the first time ten years ago. Stephen very kindly introduced me to his agent who then became my agent. Graham, 48, had recognised her talent back in 2012, when they shared a very brief scene together in BBC miniseries Good Cop 'He made that introduction out of pure kindness in order to help me get more opportunities.' It was during their first meeting that Graham imparted advice to Jodie which has lasted throughout her career, including telling the actress never to lose her Scouse accent. Speaking with Lauren Laverne on Radio 6, she said: '[I was] just like chatting to him throughout the day, picking his brains, asking him lots of questions.' 'I remember at that time feeling like I needed to take elocution lessons,' she said. 'I don't know where I got that from but he was like, "You're kidding me, don't you dare ever lose this accent!".' She went on: 'He's so true to himself and it was so good to have someone exactly like him, who is from where I'm from, and celebrates how they are in an industry where there are probably less working class actors. To have someone like him is amazing.' Before meeting Jane the young actress had already bagged smaller TV roles in programmes like Holby City and Waterloo Road, but was far from becoming a household name. The duo are pictured posing together after arriving at Cineworld Leicester Square for the premiere of Free Guy, where Comer starred alongside Hollywood A-lister Ryan Reynolds The agent has previously explained how she had a 'gut feeling' about Comer, revealing that despite her young age it was obvious she 'had the energy and spirit that would translate on to the screen' She told The Guardian: 'Stephen called me from the set of a series he was doing back in 2012 called Good Cop and passionately described a scene he had just shot with a young actress who he thought was one of the most exciting talents he had worked with to date. 'He was so impressed by her and asked if I would meet her. I did, and he was right.' In the years after she was signed by Jane, Jodie landed a host of impressive roles - with one of her first standout performances as Chloe Gemell in the popular E4 series My Mad Fat Diary. In 2015 Comer gave an incredible performance alongside Suranne Jones as Kate Parks, the mistress of a married man in BBC One drama series Doctor Foster. In 2015 Comer gave an incredible performance alongside Suranne Jones as Kate Parks, the forbidding mistress of a married man in BBC One drama series Doctor Foster Jodie landed a host of impressive roles after being signed - with one of her first standout performances as Chloe Gemell in the popular E4 series My Mad Fat Diary (left). Her first starring role came in 2016, when she played Ivy Moxam in the BBC Three series Thirteen (right) Her first starring role came in 2016, when she played Ivy Moxam in the BBC Three series Thirteen, which earned her a nomination for the BAFTA award for Best Actress. But worldwide fame came in 2018, when Comer stole the show as psychopathic Russian assassin Villanelle, who develops a mutual obsession with MI6 agent Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh). Killing Eve was initially met with huge success, with the first two series viewed 105 million times online in one year and the programme and it's actors receiving several accolades. In 2019, Jodie thanked Stephen for his continued support after taking home the prize for Leading Actress for her performance in Killing Eve. Speaking as she collected her award, Jodie said: 'I want to take this moment to thank Stephen Graham. If I didn't owe you a pint before then, I do now. Thank you for the generosity you showed me all those years ago.' Worldwide fame came for Comer in 2018, when Comer stole the show as psychopathic Russian assassin Villanelle, who develops a mutual obsession with MI6 agent Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) Last year, Stephen and Comer got the chance to work together again for first time in nearly ten years as they co-starred in television film Help. The Covid drama was set in a fictional Liverpool care home and told the moving story of young care home worker Sarah and a challenging patient during the onset of the pandemic. When Channel 4 first announced the drama, Stephen said: 'I've wanted to work with Jodie for ages, and together we're hugely passionate about shining a light on one of the biggest tragedies of our time and the people at the heart of it.' Jodie added: 'For us to be able to explore such a relevant and emotive story through the eyes of such beautifully real characters, and in our home city of Liverpool, is a real honour.' Queen Letizia looked regal as she chaired the first session for the Shooting In Spain program in Madrid on Monday. The mother-of-two, 49, met with officials for a round table meeting organised by the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures, ICEX-Invest in Spain and the Spain Film Commission to discuss the competitive advantages of filming in the country. She cut an elegant figure in a Carolina Herrera dress previously worn for a meeting with the Spanish Olympic team, paired with nude court heels and a snake skin clutch bag. Queen Letizia (pictured) chaired the first session for the Shooting In Spain program in Madrid on Monday The 49-year-old looked regal in a red dress by Carolina Herrera coordinated with a clutch bag and nude heels Queen Letizia was greeted by by Industry, Trade and Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto (both pictured), who was equally trendy in a white trouser suit The royal opted for understated glamour by styling her beautiful brunette hair with a centre parting, tucked behind her ears to reveal drop earrings. She kept her makeup minimal but bought attention to her eyes with simple black eyeliner and mascara. Queen Letizia looked in good spirits as she was greeted by Industry, Trade and Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto, who was equally trendy in a white trouser suit and pointy low heels. The meeting provided an opportunity for the royal to learn more about plans to make Spain the main audiovisual Hub in Europe by promoting production and attracting investment that will strengthen the sector. Queen Letizia joined US Ambassador in Spain Julissa Reynoso and Minister Reyes Maroto in posing for a picture for the Spain Film Commission Forum in Madrid Queen Letizia opted for subtle makeup with a light pink lipstick and black mascara to bring attention to her eyes Queen Letizia joined officials in learning about plans for making Spain the main audiovisual Hub in Europe Executives involved are set to visit future filming locations in Seville and have meetings with technicians, talents and entrepreneurs between today and 14th May, in addition to today's round table chaired by Letizia. The programme will end with a visit to the Canary Island to tour possible filming scenarios as well as to become familiar with the audiovisual business sector of the Autonomous Community and its special tax regime. The event has been planned to reinforce knowledge of the audiovisual industry including cinema, series, shorts, advertising, video games and animation, while introducing the main operators involved in shooting in Spain. The programme has been arranged to discuss future filming locations and to reinforce knowledge of those involved in Spain's audiovisual business sector Queen Letizia, US Ambassador in Spain Julissa Reynoso and Industry, Trade and Turism Minister Reyes Maroto heard about plans to increase Spain's audiovisual production Queen Letizia has previously shown an interest in the audiovisual sector by attending film festivals and award shows The mother-of-two appeared impassioned as she discussed the benefits of filming in Spain with Industry, Trade and Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto They hope to achieve a public investment of 1,603 million euros between 2021-2025 and increase audiovisual production made in Spain by 30 per cent at the end of the period. Queen Letizia's attendance today is unsurprising as the royal has frequently been spotted attending film festivals and has delivered awards to those whose talents benefit the industry. She has a busy week of engagements ahead with the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day taking place and a visit to the town of Pinofranqueado alongside husband King Felipe. Advertisement Prince Harry has shared a glimpse into the $14M Montecito home he shares with wife Meghan Markle in a new video promoting his new eco-travel project in New Zealand. The royal, 37, sits in front of a very beige back drop in the new clip where he speaks Maori and praises New Zealand as a country of 'sustainability pioneers'. The video offers a new look at his home in California, where he is raising children Archie, three, and Lilibet, 11 months. Despite pleading for privacy, Harry and Meghan, 40, have previously shown their home on many occasions including the Duchess showing a insight to her study during a video message shared for her 40th birthday. The couple also filmed inside their chicken coop during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey last year. But the new clip shows Harry's study filled with California style soft furnishings, including statement candle holders, a stack of green books which appear to have a regal insignia, and a trendy white wash wall. Prince Harry has shared a glimpse into the $14M Montecito home he shares with wife Meghan Markle in a new video promoting his new eco-travel project in New Zealand The new clip shows Harry's study filled with California style soft furnishings, including statement candle holders (left), and a stack of green books (right) which appear to have a regal insignia, and a trendy white wash wall There's also a single desk in grey and black behind Harry, who is sitting on a cream arm chair. The corner of the shot also appears to show a large houseplant, perhaps a nod to the Duke's green credentials ahead of his eco-initiative. Speaking to FEMAIL, interior design expert Benji Lewis said the look showed 'laid back West Coast casual accessibility' and that it wasn't 'standing on ceremony'. 'The tones in the backdrop are similarly calm to those used for the famous Oprah interview, filmed of course in the Californian sunshine, suggesting that the message being conveyed is one to be viewed in a sympathetic light,' he said. 'There's a clear comfort with natural nude tan shades and containing your colour palette to these, going from soft pink into a richer taupe, that always stays on the warm side of things, allowing for the understated charcoal jacket with white shirt to stand gently out. 'Picking up on the organic suggestion provided by the colours, and in tune with the eco message, the trio of mismatched timber candlesticks - with used white candles - and the distressed painted panel leaning against the wall, provide textural interest as well as proposing a kind of laid back West Coast casual accessibility, there's nothing standing on ceremony about it 'Of course it stands to reason that if the topic you're talking about is the environment then you'd get the colour green in somewhere, so the small neatly stacked pile of books with differing shades of green on their covers demonstrates a sense of curation and that you're in tune with your message, so they're a logical inclusion; the shades of green also of course providing a splash of colour. There's also a single desk in grey and black (left) behind Harry, who is sitting on a cream arm chair. Harry is seen right in front of the statement wall 'Whilst the artificial light on Prince Harry is warm, the non-inclusion of any type of natural light through a window with views to the great Californian outdoors, keeps things professional - this could have been filmed in a boardroom with some "quick win" props to convey a relaxed feel The video was published ahead of a bizarre five-minute clip shared on the YouTube page of the duke's non-profit company Travalyst today, which shows the Queen's grandson going for a jog through 'New Zealand woodland' - but which is actually in California. He is then ambushed by 'rating agent' Rhys Darby, who accuses him of dropping a lolly wrapper four years earlier on a trip to New Zealand. The video, which also features Kiwi actors David Fane and Rena Owen, launches the first-ever initiative launched in New Zealand for the British prince's non-profit Travalyst organisation, founded in 2019, in which holidaymakers, rather than holidays, are rated for how sustainable they are. Kiwis now have access to a rating tool on the Travalyst website as part of a pilot initiative encouraging travellers to consider sustainable options during planning for their next trip. The couple previously shared a look inside their mansion during a 'special message' shared on Meghan's 40th birthday. Chatting via Zoom to actress Melissa McCarthy from her dark grey Apple Macbook computer, the glossy clip was filmed in the same room in which she appeared briefly during her husband and Oprah Winfrey 's recent Apple TV mental health series. Harry is known to love New Zealand and seriously considered moving there with Meghan when they quit as frontline royals, before opting for LA instead. The couple previously shared a look inside their mansion during a 'special message' shared on Meghan's 40th birthday. Chatting via Zoom to actress Melissa McCarthy from her dark grey Apple Macbook computer, the glossy clip was filmed in the same room in which she appeared briefly during her husband and Oprah Winfrey's recent Apple TV mental health series. This time viewers were given a more substantial view of the study, which boasted a grand oak desk with a pile of strategically placed copies of Meghan's children's book The Bench, along with elegant white file in-trays and decorative glass bottles. The couple also filmed inside their chicken coop during their bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey last year (pictured) The Duchess was also joined by her beloved beagle Guy, who looked perfectly at home on a luxurious grey striped dog cushion, while a chic 1,240 Hermes throw blanket (perhaps a nod to Harry given it features the letter H) was strewn over one of the two cream cushioned chairs. Perched on the edge of her expansive desk is a tall glass swing top bottle and two his and hers glasses. Almost taking centre-stage on the desk, between two stylish white in-trays, is an elegant gold vase housing a bunch of large white roses. Placed beside her stack of copies of The Bench was a large white crystal, traditionally considered to be a 'master healer' Their home was also previously listed on rental website Giggster to be used for photo shoots and videos. The listing was first posted before the royals bought the home in 2020. The mansion is listed as an 'Italian Villa' and photos show a close up of its stunning exterior, with ivy growing up the facade and blue shutters. Sophie, Countess of Wessex, showed off her best moves as she danced with Judge Rob Rinder during a visit to the Channel Islands today. The Earl and Countess of Wessex arrived in the Channel Islands, on Sunday, and earlier today they watched the march to celebrate Guernsey and Jersey's national day. They went on to visit to take part in a Liberation Tea Dance at Beau Sejour with the islands Occupation Generation and special guests. During the appearance, Sophie could be seen dancing enthusiastically with Rob Rinder, while her husband Prince Edward also took to the dance floor. The Countess is known for her love of dance, and was spotted with daughter Lady Louise in the audience for Strictly Come Dancing in 2018. Sophie, Countess of Wessex , showed off her best moves as she danced with Judge Rob Rinder during a visit to the Channel Islands today The Countess, who appeared in high spirits today, was snapped giggling as she chatted to one resident during the engagement And it wasn't just Sophie who was dancing! Prince Edward also swept one woman onto the dancefloor For the engagement this afternoon, the Countess opted for a stunning emerald green midi dress, sweeping her blonde locks into a neat up-do for the occasion. During the outing, she could be seen giggling as she chatted with other attendees fo the event. Earlier in the day, Sophie, donned her favourite Erdem flower dress paired with an 'Indiana' Jacket from Altuzarra, while Edward wore a grey suit and a purple shirt as they laughed and smiled while waving to the crowds as they stood on the hotel balcony. The march today marked the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II. The Channel Islands were the only United Kingdom territories to be occupied by the German Forces. Elsewhere the couple waved to crowds who had gathered outside the Guernsey Yacht Club to watch the Liberation Cavalcade Making friends! The Countess appeared utterly charmed by one toddler whom she met during her visit earlier today A very appropriate dress! One little girl had opted for a special Union flag dress for the outing in the Channel islands earlier today The Countwess, who opted for a forest green midi dress for the outing today, could be seen dancing enthusiastically with Rob today The royal, who is known for her love of dancing and Strictly Come Dancing, appeared overjoyed as she waltzed with Rob The duo could be seen dancing enthusiastically together at Beau Sejour Leisure Centre for the Liberation Day Tea Dance Fun evening! The pair seemed to be in great spirits as they took to the dance floor hand in hand Work it! Sophie oozed confidence as she showed off her dance moves with Rob and the pair tore up the dance floor Rob took the lead and wrapped his arm around Sophie for the intimate number as the crowd watched on The royals also entered the Pomme d'Or Hotel to meet senior citizens who gave living accounts of the Occupation, as well as meeting residents waiting outside to greet the pair. Edward and Sophie have also arrived to bring the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations to the 170,499 people living on the seven inhabited islands. The trip comes just a couple of weeks after the pair finished their official tour of the Caribbean. They started their tour on Sunday by visiting Government House, where they unveiled a sundial. The structure is made of bronze and was designed by local artist Nicholas Romeril to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year. Prince Edward delighted one women as they slow danced on the dance floor and chatted to each other Edward beamed as he spoke to the lady, who donned a chic white blazer jacket and black trousers Sophie swept her blonde locks into a neat updo for the occasion today, opting for neutral makeup The couple appeared relaxed as they chatted with residents of the island during the visit earlier today (pictured left and right) The Earl and Countess of Wessex arrived in the Channel Islands, on Sunday, and earlier today they watched the march to celebrate Guernsey and Jersey's national day Both the Earl (left) and the Countess (right) leant close to attendees of the tea dance earlier today as they chatted Sophie opted for a pretty green midi dress for the occasion which she paired with nude accessories Many attendees donned Union flag hats (left and right) while others opted to wear red, white and blue for the outing The prince showed off his dancing skills and looked confident as he waltzed with a women in front of the crowd The pair were then taken to the Royal Jersey Showground, and met Ajax the Shire Horse at Government House in Jersey. Prince Edward is an Honorary Liveryman of an organisation called the The Worship Company of Coopers. The march today also marked the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany during World War II. The Channel Islands were the only United Kingdom territories to be occupied by the German Forces. Due to the pandemic, Jersey and Guernsey were unable to hold celebrations for the 75th anniversary of Liberation. So this year, although it has been 77 years since the occupation ended, the celebrations go ahead which were due to take place in 2020. The visit comes as the Queen announced she will use her Platinum Jubilee to emphasise national unity, sending members of her family to all four corners of the realm. The Countess was elegant in a forest green midi dress, which she paired with nude accessories and delicate gold jewellery The monarch has agreed for senior members of the Royal Family to visit the nations of the United Kingdom over the extended bank holiday weekend in June. They will be led by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who will visit Wales. Meanwhile the Earl and Countess of Wessex will visit Northern Ireland, while Princess Anne will go to Scotland given her particularly affinity with the country. Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall will remain in London with the Queen. There will, of course, be no roles for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Duke of York, both of whom have now stepped down a working royals. Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex unveil a plaque at Glacis Field, in Jersey Sophie and Prince Edward, wave to the crowds at the Pomme d'Or Hotel, in Jersey, to watch the Liberation Day March, Liberty Square The pair are in giggles while watching a Liberation Day Service, which is a bank holiday day in Jersey Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex at the Pomme d'Or Hotel to meet senior citizens who gave living accounts of the Occupation Sophie, Countess of Wessex at the Pomme d'Or Hotel to meet senior citizens who gave living accounts of the Occupation Both Sophie and Edward, outside the Pomme d'Or Hotel to meet senior citizens who lived through the Nazi occupation during World War II On June 2 Jubilee beacons will also be lit in 2,000 towns, villages and cities throughout the UK, Channel Islands Isle of Man, and UK Overseas Territories, as well as each of the capital cities across the Commonwealth. But each of the four main events Trooping the Colour, the service of thanksgiving, the Party at the Palace and the Platinum Jubilee Pageant are in London. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: Over the course of the Central Weekend, Members of the Royal Family will visit the Nations of the United Kingdom to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. Members of the Royal Family will attend engagements in each nation, including public events marking the occasion. Further details of the visits will be revealed in the coming weeks. Last week Buckingham Palace confirmed further details of the Platinum Jubilee weekend from June 2-5. And they revealed that the Queen had personally decided, after careful consideration, that only members of the royal family who are currently undertaking official public duties on her behalf will be eligible to join her on the balcony at Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour, the first major public event of the celebrations. The royal pair unveil a plaque at Glacis Field in Jersey, with Sophie wearing her favourite Erdem flower dress Sophie giggles while sitting next to her husband, Edward while watching a Liberation Day Service at Liberation Square Edward and Sophie pose to mark the unveiling of a plaque at Glacis Field in Jersey Sophie speak with Islanders dressed in historic costume at Glacis Field She has also given special permission for the Cambridges three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to attend, as well as Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn, Edward and Sophies son and daughter. Princess Annes husband, Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, will also be among the 18 attendees as he regularly accompanies his 70-year-old wife on official duties and tours. Her decision made clear in light of fevered public debate as to whether Harry, Meghan and Andrew could join her in a show of family unity, that they would not be welcome. But she has extended an invitation to join her in a personal capacity at other events over the extended bank holiday weekend including a service of thanksgiving at St Pauls Cathedral and the Platinum Jubilee Pageant. Sophie beams as she arrives in Jersey with husband Prince Edward to mark the island's Liberation day, two years after their planned big 75th year of celebrations Sophie arrives wearing her Emilia Wickstead dress that she wore for the 2019 Royal Ascot Princess Charlene of Monaco made her second public appearance with her family since November over the weekend - and donned another outfit in a 'muted' colour. The 44-year-old sported a navy midi dress when attending the Sainte Devote Rugby Tournament with her husband Prince Albert of Monaco and their seven-year-old twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques on Saturday. For her first public appearance last week, the former Olympic swimmer opted for a similarly 'muted' ensemble, wearing a grey suit as she joined her family at the Monaco E-Prix 2022. Lancashire-based colour psychologist Lee Chambers told FEMAIL that Charlene's decision to distance herself from vibrant colours recently could be to help her feel more 'grounded and settled' while she 'searches for equilibrium'. Zimbabwean-born Charlene and her husband have rarely been seen together since she 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 - and after returning to the principality last November, the mother-of-two almost immediately left and went to Switzerland to receive treatment for 'exhaustion'. Princess Charlene of Monaco made her second public appearance with her family since November over the weekend - and donned another outfit in a 'muted' colour (pictured) For her first public appearance last week, the former Olympic swimmer (left) opted for a similarly 'muted' ensemble, wearing a grey suit as she joined her family at the Monaco E-Prix 2022 Lee said: 'Wearing darker, muted colours, especially for someone who is known for a vibrant and expressive wardrobe, is usually a sign that they are searching for stability and safety, and are currently navigating a challenging period in their life. 'These muted colours can make us feel more grounded and settled, promoting a more restful energy that can be beneficial when we are looking to heal or find some peace and serenity when we are facing adversity. 'By wearing these tones, we also communicate to the world around us that we are taking things more slowly and need some space to breathe, and with these colours being symbolic of trust and control, convey that she is currently working towards where she wants to be. 'And with both grey and navy being aligned to neutrality and balance, there is certainly a case to be said that she is currently searching for equilibrium at this moment in her life.' In one of her last public appearances before her long absence from Monaco, Charlene sported a bright, patterned ensemble on December 16, 2020 Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II attend the Tour de France 2020 from Nice 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 On Saturday, the royal was pictured wearing a navy midi dress, with an open button collar and a matching belt. She paired the chic dress with simple, black sling back kitten heels, and wore her platinum blonde hair swept back, while opting for simple make-up and dainty, silver earrings. Throughout the outing - a rugby tournament for under 12s - Charlene doted on her two children, and was pictured with Gabriella sat on her lap for part of the event. Charlene has faced a variety of health problems in recent months, including what the palace has previously referred to as a 'state of profound general fatigue', 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 noted 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. 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.' Distinguished U.S. media gala turns into COVID-19 super-spreader event 14:13, May 09, 2022 By Sun Ding ( Xinhua WASHINGTON, May 8 (Xinhua) -- The White House Correspondents' Dinner has been described as a super-spreader event, as COVID-19 infections among its guests are on the rise. The famed media party, which returned in late April after two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, was attended by 2,600 journalists and senior government officials, most of whom did not wear face masks in a crowded ballroom. SURGING INFECTIONS High-profile COVID-19 cases following the dinner included U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, CBS President and CEO George Cheeks, ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, and VOA's Chief National Correspondent Steve Herman. Reporters and staffers of CNN, NBC News, POLITICO, and The Washington Post also tested positive for the novel coronavirus, according to social media posts, texts, emails, and news accounts. Jada Yuan, who covered the event held at the Washington Hilton here for The Post, also revealed that she caught the virus afterwards, while warning against an "everybody's going to get it eventually" attitude around the disease. "It's not just like a cold or the flu. It can mess with your brain, heart, lungs, GI tract in scary ways, even in a mild case like mine," Yuan tweeted on Sunday. "Recommend trying to avoid this experience." White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) President and CBS News White House Correspondent Steven Portnoy said in a statement that the dinner "implemented protocols that went beyond any guidance or regulation" issued by federal and municipal health authorities. Guests of the black-tie annual gathering, the main source of the WHCA's revenue, were asked to provide proof of vaccination and a same-day negative COVID-19 rapid test before entry. "We wish anyone who may not be feeling well a speedy recovery," Portnoy added in the statement. U.S. President Joe Biden also made an appearance at the event, gave remarks, and cracked jokes in a decades-old tradition. He sat next to Cheeks and shook hands with Karl but skipped the eating portion. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Friday that Biden "is regularly tested" and that he tested negative for COVID-19 as recently as on Tuesday. "He went to the Correspondents' Dinner to honor the work of all of you and your colleagues and made a decision -- a risk assessment, like we all do every day, that that was important for him to do," Psaki said. The WHCA came several weeks after the "super-spreading" Gridiron Club and Foundation dinner -- more than 10 percent of the attendees were infected with the virus soon after the high-profile event. Comedian and "The Daily Show" host Trevor Noah, speaking at the WHCA dinner, mocked that, "It is my great honor to be speaking at the nation's most distinguished super-spreader event." "For real, what are we doing here? Did none of you learn anything from the Gridiron dinner? Nothing?" Noah asked rhetorically. "WRONG PUBLIC HEALTH MESSAGE" White House Chief Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci privately criticized the decision to hold the WHCA dinner, singling it out as a troubling sign that many Americans no longer see COVID-19 as a serious threat, according to POLITICO, citing several people who heard his remarks during a call with public health experts on Thursday afternoon. Fauci, also director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, reportedly expressed frustration with the growing perception that the pandemic is effectively over. He said he feared people are losing sight of the need to continue protecting the nation's most vulnerable. "We are still in the middle of a pandemic, to be sure -- there's no confusion about that," the senior health official told American news publication Foreign Policy during a recent interview. Fauci, 81, also explained why he chose not to attend the media gala, saying that "as long as there is virus that is circulating, people need to evaluate either themselves or with the help of their physician or their health care provider what the level of risk would be if they get infected." "I have a number of very important commitments that are coming up in the next week or so, and if I wound up getting infected, even if I didn't get terribly ill, I'd have to cancel all of those commitments," he continued. "So I made a personal decision based on my own evaluation of my risk, and that decision was not to take the chance." COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are on the rise in the United States, according to the latest weekly review published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Although virus-related deaths continue to decrease, the United States is expected to reach 1 million deaths soon, the CDC also wrote. Jonathan Reiner, professor of medicine with the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, tweeted on Friday that he believes those who attended the WHCA fundraiser "maskless propagated the myth that the pandemic is over," which "was the wrong public health message." "I don't believe we're going to emerge from this pandemic without a lot more pain unless we try to take care of each other. 'You do you' doesn't work for me," Reiner wrote in another tweet on Saturday. The White House is reportedly preparing for as many as 100 million Americans to get infected with COVID-19 during a wave this fall and winter if Congress does not provide new funding for vaccines and tests. A senior administration official told a small group of reporters on Friday that the estimate is the median of a range of models from outside experts that the administration consults, suggesting that it is also possible that significantly more Americans catch the coronavirus, especially if there is a major new variant. The Biden administration argued the new wave is not a cause for panic given that there have been treatments and vaccinations and pointed out that the number of infections could be lower if there is funding for sufficient tests and vaccines. A compromise bill worth 10 billion U.S. dollars aimed at buttressing the administration's next-phase response to COVID-19 has stalled in the divided Senate. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) EU alliances with Japan and South Korea have been highlighted amid the protracted war in Ukraine, as they are among the few Asian nations to have slapped sanctions on Russia. gettyimagesbank EU seeks to bolster relations with economies in Indo-Pacific By Kim Bo-eun HONG KONG The European Union (EU) appears to be increasingly reaching out to economies in Asia, as the world's largest trading bloc reassesses its economic ties with China and seeks greater engagement with the Indo-Pacific region. The EU Council, composed of government ministers from each EU country, endorsed its Indo-Pacific strategy in October and has been accelerating moves to bolster ties with economies there. In a time of escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing, Brussels is weighing the risks of relying so heavily on China in its supply chains. EU alliances with Japan and South Korea have also been highlighted amid the protracted war in Ukraine, as they are among the few Asian nations to have slapped sanctions on Russia. Late last month, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Japan, rather than top trading partner China, during his first official trip to the Asia-Pacific region. Without explicitly referring to China, Scholz has flagged the risks of supply chains being concentrated in a single country. The EU also has concerns about China's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine Beijing has refused to condemn Moscow's aggression. President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, also issued a joint statement in February saying there was "no limit" to the friendship between their two countries. This subsequently set off alarms in the West following Russia's invasion, as some feared it could result in China providing military aid to Russia, or might perhaps help it evade sanctions. Beijing could face secondary sanctions if those situations came to fruition, but this would be equally damaging for its key trading partners, including the EU. European Council President Charles Michel and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to visit Tokyo this week for an EU-Japan summit, and this would mark their first trip to East Asia since they assumed leadership of the EU before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Japan is the EU's second-largest trading partner in Asia after China. South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol presides over a meeting with his transition committee in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap A high school student made her own prom dress out of pages from the Harry Potter books - after she said the series helped get her through her parents' divorce. Hailey Skoch, 18, from Prairie Grove, Arkansas, revealed that she created her own gown out of the pages from her favorite book series, which she artfully folded and fanned out in a beautiful design. The teen spent four days putting together the stunning number, ripping, folding, sewing, and gluing for hours on end, and sometimes working long into the night. Hailey explained that she was inspired by a dress that she saw on TikTok, but decided that she could 'do it better.' A high school student made her own prom dress out of pages from the Harry Potter books - after she said the series helped get her through her parents' divorce Hailey Skoch, 18, from Arkansas, revealed that she created her own gown out of the pages from her favorite book series The teen spent four daysputting together the stunning number, ripping, folding, sewing, and gluing for hours on end, and sometimes working long into the night 'I really wanted to do something more unconventional, and Ive been obsessed with Harry Potter forever,' she explained to ArkTimes. 'I love to read. So I threw some stuff together and decided to make it a ballgown.' Hailey credits her mom Valerie, who works as a costume maker, with really helping the design come together. 'She just completely helped me put it all together with the corset and gave me some great ideas for the bodice,' she gushed. The Harry Potter books have a special meaning to the high schooler, who explained to Fox23 that that they were the 'books of her childhood' and that they 'brought her peace' after her parents got divorced. Hailey explained that she was inspired by a dress that she saw on TikTok, but decided that she could 'do it better' The Harry Potter books have a special meaning to the high schooler, who explained to Fox23 that that they were the 'books of her childhood' She said they 'brought her peace' after her parents got divorced And although it took a long time to create, Hailey said keeping the magical film series on in the background while she worked on it helped keep her going And although the dress took a long time to create, Hailey said keeping the magical film series on in the background while she worked helped keep her going. 'I was binge watching the whole Harry potter series so you cant just get half way through and wait a week and watch the rest,' she told Fox23. 'You start on a project like that, you just have to get it done as fast as possible.' Hailey, who has plans to study psychology at University of Arkansas at Fayetteville next year, said her classmates were completely in awe of the intricate gown. She said everyone's heads turned as she walked into the party, calling it 'the craziest feeling she's ever had.' 'It was completely insane because I just kind of entered [prom] and everyone was kind a doing their own thing. One person saw me, and then another,' she recalled to ArkTimes. 'It was almost creepy in sync, everyones heads just turned. It was the craziest feeling Ive ever had.' Although she originally dreamed of being a therapist, she is now considering other career choices - like fashion design. Hailey, who has plans to study psychology at University of Arkansas at Fayetteville next year, said her classmates were completely in awe of the intricate gown She said everyone's heads turned as she walked into the party, calling it 'the craziest feeling she's ever had' Although she originally dreamed of being a therapist, she is now considering other career choices - like fashion design Hailey posted some snaps of her breathtaking dress online, and they quickly went viral, gaining thousands of likes and comments in a matter of days 'Its not every day that someone tells you that you could pursue your hobby,' she added to Fox23. Hailey posted some snaps of her breathtaking dress online, and they quickly went viral, gaining thousands of likes and comments in a matter of days. 'I made my dress! I wore it to prom pictures and wow, I was not expecting all the support and compliments,' she wrote on Instagram, alongside a few photos of herself in the gown. 'Thanks for all the love guys. Im obsessed with this look and it was made from the books of my childhood, Harry Potter. 'For me this is a piece of art about growth and transition into my adult self as I wear the words that brought me so much peace in my youth.' Social media commenters gushed over Hailey's creation. Many commenters couldn't stop gushing over Hailey's creation After receiving a lot of traction online, the 18-year-old said designers and photographers have reached out to her, as well as two libraries - who asked if they could put the dress on display 'That's amazing,' wrote one person, while another added, 'Just here to say this is absolutely amazing and beautiful!' 'That's so pretty and cool,' someone else said, and a fourth person agreed, 'This is outstanding! I hope you consider design in the future.' 'Omg you are so talented,' read a different comment. After receiving a lot of traction online, the 18-year-old said designers and photographers have also reached out to her, as well as two different libraries in Arkansas, who asked her if they could put the dress on display. 'I was this shy, nerdy, geeky kid that was looking for some magic in my life,' she said. '[These books were] just such an inspiration at a time when I was so vulnerable and needed it most... I have such a great love for these books.' A mother-of-two has gone viral on social media after writing a memoir about leaving her husband of 14 years to pursue a stranger who she thought could be her 'soulmate'. Amanda Trenfield, from Sydney, explained that she spent 20 years building a 'somewhat predictable life' with a career in the financial services alongside caring for two young children and her marriage. In an extract from her new book, published by The Sydney Morning Herald, Amanda said that she was hoping to reconnect with her husband during a three-day conference in Margaret River but found herself drawn to another man, Jason, at the event due to the 'strong and raw' electricity between them. 'It travelled to my core,' she said. 'It was so intense I needed to break eye contact. He. We. The energy. It was electric. My body was completely charged. I was completely on.' Convinced he was her soulmate, despite nothing physical happening between them, Amanda left her husband a month later, even though she'd had no communication with Jason, who ultimately rejected her. Amanda's decisions sparked a viral discussion on Twitter among commenters who were shocked by the way she 'blew up' her life, with one writing: 'Never in my life have I encountered someone romanticizing a one night stand that *didn't even happen*.' Amanda Trenfield (pictured), who lives in Australia, has gone viral on Twitter after revealing she left her husband of 14 for a stranger who she believed was her 'soulmate' Amanda said there was an 'instant familiarity' with Jason and she enjoyed having banter with him after he encouraged her to take a sip of his wine during a group meal. She claimed that all of her senses were on 'high alert' as he took an opportunity to feed her dessert across the table and her instincts made her feel that their exchange was more than just lust. The mother-of-two explained that once the group returned back to the hotel where they were staying, she shared a glass of rose with Jason at the bar and felt 'strong and raw' electricity between them when they clinked glasses. Amanda admits that she had to force herself to not stay close to Jason as the event continued but found herself gaining a deeper connection whenever they locked eyes. Amanda (pictured) said she had hoped to reconnect with her husband during the three-day conference but found herself drawn a man called Jason 'I loved talking with him. I felt warm, relaxed and safe in his presence. I felt I could truly be myself, at a level I wasnt familiar with. I realised that it was a feeling I hadnt enjoyed in a long, long time perhaps ever,' Amanda said. Amanda has penned a memoir revealing what happened after she left her husband for Jason and was rejected The mother-of-two claimed that her reaction to Jason was 'uncharacteristic' and she whispered to him that she wanted to see him again. She admits that the days after meeting Jason were a blur because meeting her 'soulmate' had made everything else in her life seem unimportant. Amanda added: 'Id just met my soulmate. What could possibly be more important than that?' Amanda said it was less than a month after that she chose to end her marriage, despite not having had any communication with Jason. However, as the title of her book When A Soulmate Says no reveals, Jason rejected her and she was left single. One commented: 'She was convinced they had a connection but I see no evidence they did. She just projected onto a random dude because she was unhappy. Which we've all been there but we don't uproot our lives for it.' A third added: 'Yeah, the 'I ditched my husband kids of 14 years to live my life with you after meeting you once because you're my soulmate' might have been coming on a bit strong, no wonder he said um, no.' A stream of commenters admitted they were shocked that Amanda had romanticized her interaction with Jason A commenter argued Amanda's children may need therapy after reading her book when they get older, writing: 'I want to read the POV of the 'two young children' when they grow up. 'Especially the part when mum is becoming a 'self-actualized superstar' through energy therapies and endless Diana Ross songs.' Another commented: 'Therapist: so why are you here today. Kid: *SLAMS this book down on the table*' However, others defended Amanda's decision to leave her marriage. 'I don't really find this embarrassing. She obviously hated her life and the emotional zing of a crush was all she needed to end it all,' one wrote. Another said: 'This seems normal and fine, maybe I'm missing something? Like, I get that it's embarrassing to fall into limerence and get rejected, but is that worse than staying in an unhappy marriage?' An 83-year-old woman proved that age is only a number when she trekked through mud, climbed over walls, and crawled under barbed wire while competing in her third Tough Mudder race. Mildred Wilson, from Sikeston, Missouri, was the oldest person to ever finish the grueling 5K obstacle course when she crossed the finish line at the endurance event held in her home state on May 1. 'Theres a lot of people who think as they get older that they just have to sit down and quit. Its not so,' Wilson told KAIT last month ahead of the competition. Mildred Wilson, 83, from Sikeston, Missouri, competed in her third Tough Mudder race in her home state on May 1 The octogenarian was the oldest person to ever finish the 5K obstacle course when she crossed the finish line Wilson trained for the grueling three-mile race by playing pickleball and walking The Tough Mudder 5K boasts 13 treacherous obstacles, and the octogenarian trained for the three-mile race by playing pickleball and walking. 'I just enjoy them,' she said. 'Ive always enjoyed competition.' Wilson was inspired to compete in her first Tough Mudder race in 2019, at age 80, after watching her son Danny Wilson take on the World's Toughest Mudder obstacle course challenge in Las Vegas. She explained to KFVS that when Danny asked her if she wanted to try a race, she said: 'Yes, but, if I do it, I want to be able to really do it. Not just be out there.' The Tough Mudder 5K boasts 13 treacherous obstacles, including a towering cargo net participants have to climb 'Theres a lot of people who think as they get older that they just have to sit down and quit. Its not so,' Wilson told KAIT last month ahead of the competition Wilson completed her first Tough Mudder race with her son Danny Wilson in 2019, at age 80. He was also by her side at this month's event (pictured) Wilson joined the YMCA and spent several months getting in shape for the event after getting cleared by her doctor to compete. 'I wanted to make sure that he felt that I was tough enough to do it,' she said at the time. 'He gave me the thumbs up to do it.' Wilson's son was by her side when they completed her first Tough Mudder together, and she had her family and friends to cheer her on, including her husband, Farrell Wilson. 'He is my best supporter,' she said of Farrell. 'Anything I decide to do, he pretty much lets me do it.' Wilson was covered in mud as she used a rope to climb over one of the walls on the obstacle course When the going got tough, she got a boost from some other competitors Wilson used her third race to raise money for her son Danny's youth group to build a fresh water well in Africa In 2020, Wilson took part in a Conquer the Gauntlet event in Arkansas and raised $12,000 for Danny's youth group to build a fresh water well in Africa. She ran in honor of her husband, Farrell, who died of a heart attack while being treated for COVID-19, the Standard Democrat reported. Ahead of her third Tough Mudder race, she and her son a youth pastor at Bethel Assembly of God in Cape Girardeau launched a GoFundMe to raise money to build a fresh water well in another African village. 'I will get muddy so others can drink clean water,' she wrote. 'I would love for you to help me make the vision a reality!!! ' Wilson was cheered on by her husband when she competed in her first race in 2019 'He is my best supporter,' she told KFVS of her husband in 2019. 'Anything I decide to do, he pretty much lets me do it.' The couple is pictured on their wedding day in May 1963 In 2020, Wilson competed in her second Tough Mudder race in honor of her late husband, who died of a heart attack while being treated for COVID-19 that year So far, Wilson has raised $1,750 raised of her $5,000 goal. 'A well costs $65,000 but the company that is building it gives it a lifetime guarantee,' she told the Standard Democrat. 'For $25, one person can drink clean water for a lifetime.' Wilson also had another special reason for competing in her third Tough Mudder. 'Im not only doing this in memory of my husband, Im doing it to honor my daughter-in-law Tanya Wilson, who is battling pancreatic cancer,' she said. The even has become a tradition for her and her son, who helps her through the obstacles when she needs it. 'He runs the 10-mile [Tough Mudder] on Saturday and then he does the shorter one with me on Sunday,' Wilson explained. 'He keeps an eye on me.' A Florida college valedictorian with nonverbal autism delivered a moving graduation address through a text-to-speech computer program. Elizabeth Bonker, 24, originally from New Jersey, was able to talk until she was 15 months old, when she suddenly lost her ability to speak and was diagnosed with autism. But that didn't stop her from standing in front of the 2022 class at Rollins College's graduation ceremony on Sunday and delivering a powerful speech. The graduate - who was one of five valedictorians to achieve a perfect 4.0 GPA and was the first student with nonspeaking autism to achieve the honor - used a text-to-speech program to address the crowd, which was made up of more than 500 students and their family and friends. A Florida college valedictorian with nonverbal autism delivered a moving graduation address through a text-to-speech computer program Elizabeth Bonker, 24, originally from New Jersey,used a text-to-speech program to deliver an address at Rollins College 'I am one of the lucky few non-speaking autistics who have been taught to type,' she said during the ceremony. 'That one critical intervention unlocked my mind from its silent cage enabling to communicate and to be educated. 'God gave you a voice. Use it. And know, the irony of a nonspeaking autistic encouraging you to use your voice is not lost on me. 'Because if you can see the worth in me, then you can see the worth in everyone you meet.' After Elizabeth lost her ability to speak, her mom, Virginia Breen, sought other ways for her to communicate. 'Elizabeth spoke until she was 15 months old, and then suddenly her words were gone within hours,' she recalled, while chatting with ClickOrlando. 'She first started to point to a letter board, and now she has moved on to a wireless keyboard and an iPad because she has the motor control to be able to do those devices.' The graduate was one of five valedictorians to achieve a perfect 4.0 GPA and was the first student with nonspeaking autism to achieve the honor 'I am one of the lucky few non-speaking autistics who have been taught to type,' she said during the ceremony. 'That one critical intervention unlocked my mind from its silent cage' She used a text-to-speech program to speak to the crowd, which was made up of more than 500 students and their family and friends In an essay for Rollins, Elizabeth wrote, 'Despite what the doctors said, my parents never gave up on me. They recognized that I was a thinking person trapped in a silent cage.' She worked with acclaimed educator Soma Mukhopadhyay, after her grandmother saw her featured in an episode of 60 Minutes. And although she was eventually able to learn how to type, it wasn't easy for her. 'People with non-speaking autism often have difficulty initiating movements, so learning to type is tedious,' Elizabeth explained. 'With months of practice, I made progress, and the world began to open up to me. I started writing poetry because it allowed me to say more in fewer words.' Elizabeth said deciding to attend Rollins was an 'easy' decision for her, since they 'supported her life mission.' Elizabeth (pictured as a baby) was able to speak until she was 15 months old but then lost the ability After Elizabeth lost her ability to speak, her mom, Virginia Breen, sought other ways for her to communicate. She is pictured as a kid She worked with acclaimed educator Soma Mukhopadhyay (pictured with Elizabeth), after her grandmother saw her featured in an episode of 60 Minutes She first started to point to a letter board, and she eventually moved on to a wireless keyboard and an iPad, learning to type out what she wants to say Elizabeth said deciding to attend Rollins was an 'easy' decision for her because the colleges 'focus on community engagement and social innovation supported her life mission' 'Deciding to attend Rollins was easy because the colleges focus on community engagement and social innovation supported my life mission,' she added. 'Rollins had also shown great kindness to my older brother, Charles, who is affected by autism and graduated in 2019 with honors.' Her professor and mentor at Rollins, Dr. Rachel Newcomb, described Elizabeth as 'brilliant.' 'Shes teaching us all a new way to communicate and that were going to be more open to seeing it and helping people to use it in the future,' she gushed to ClickOrlando. 'I think that her future is limitless so Im really excited to see where she goes.' Elizabeth is now determined to make communication accessible to others who suffer from nonverbal autism through her nonprofit organization, Communication 4 All. 'All non-speakers with autism can be taught to type,' she explained. 'I hope all parents of children with nonspeaking autism will believe their child is in there and visit our website for help. Elizabeth is now determined to make communication accessible to others who suffer from nonverbal autism through her nonprofit organization, Communication 4 All 'All non-speakers with autism can be taught to type,' she said. 'I hope all parents of children with nonspeaking autism will believe their child is in there and visit our website for help' 'My life will be dedicated to relieving them from suffering in silence and to giving them voices to choose their own way.' Elizabeth has published her own book of poems, called I am In Here, and has now been an advocate for nonverbal people for more than a decade. But while speaking to WESH 2, the 24-year-old added that she 'is not special.' She shared, 'I am not special. All non-speaking students with autism can be taught to type. 'That is my mission. We need to change the way the world sees autism. Just because someone cannot speak doesn't mean they can't feel and think.' Elizabeth also has a passion for music, and is currently gearing up to release her own album. 'All 10 songs for the album are advocacy songs, and they also cross over to speak to anyone who doesnt feel seen and heard,' she told The Sand Spur. Elizabeth has published her own book of poems, called I am In Here, and has now been an advocate for nonverbal people for more than a decade Elizabeth (pictured as a kid) also has a passion for music, and is currently gearing up to release her own album And although her journey 'hasn't always been easy,' Elizabeth said that she is 'celebrating the small victories along the way.' She is pictured as a kid Additionally, Elizabeth has written lyrics for the band The Bleeding Hearts, and was featured in the documentary In Our Own Hands: How Patients are Reinventing Medicine. 'My years at Rollins have been truly amazing. My professors and fellow students have been so supportive,' she gushed, adding that she is honored to have the chance to prove 'that non-speakers are capable students.' And although her journey 'hasn't always been easy,' Elizabeth said that she is 'celebrating the small victories along the way' as she 'works to give a voice to her brothers and sisters who suffer in silence.' 'Non-speaking autism is so poorly understood - its not a cognitive disorder - and I believe every non-speaker with autism can learn to communicate as I do,' she wrote in her essay. Advertisement BBC podcast host Deborah James, who has incurable bowel cancer, has shared a heartbreaking 'goodbye' message after moving to hospice care with her family. The former deputy head teacher turned cancer campaigner, 40, from London, has been living with stage four bowel cancer since she was diagnosed in December 2016, and was told early on that she might not live beyond five years - a milestone that passed in the autumn of 2021. At the start of the year, the mother-of-two, who shares her children Hugo, 14, and Eloise, 12, with her husband Sebastien, announced she had 'nearly died' in hospital, calling it the 'hardest' part of her 5-year cancer battle, and was admitted as an in-patient earlier this month. She shared an Instagram post earlier this evening saying 'nobody knows how long she has left', writing: 'The message I never wanted to write. We have tried everything, but my body simply isnt playing ball. 'My active care has stopped and I am now moved to hospice at home care, with my incredible family all around me and the focus is on making sure Im not in pain and spending time with them.' BBC podcast host Deborah James, who has incurable bowel cancer, has said she has stopped active treatment for her disease and moved to hospice care at home In an emotional post shared to Instagram earlier tonight, Deborah said her body 'was not playing ball' and she was spending 'most of the day sleeping' The mother-of-two, who has been battling cancer for five years, said she was surrounded by her 'incredible' family at home (pictured with her children) Deborah and her husband Sebastien Bowen in April 2019. The mother-of-two said she had left 'no stone unturned' when it came to her treatment She continued: 'Nobody knows how long Ive got left but Im not able to walk, Im sleeping most of the days, and most things I took for granted are pipe dreams. I know we have left no stone unturned. 'But even with all the innovative cancer drugs in the world or some magic new breakthrough, my body just cant continue anymore.' 'In over 5 years of writing about how I thought it would be my final Christmas, how I wouldnt see my 40th birthday nor see my kids go to secondary school - I never envisaged writing the one where I would actually say goodbye. 'I think its been the rebellious hope in me. The mother-of-two, who has faced a challenging six months with her cancer treatment, said she felt 'heartbroken' HOW DEPUTY HEAD TURNED SOCIAL MEDIA STAR HAS TRANSFORMED BOWEL CANCER AWARENESS In 2018, Deborah (left) joined Lauren Mahon (front) and Rachael Bland (right) to present the award-winning podcast You, Me and the Big C on Radio 5 Live. Bland tragically died of breast cancer on September 5th that year; her husband Steve Bland now co-presents the show In December 2016, the West London mother-of-two, a deputy head, was diagnosed 'late' with incurable bowel cancer After sharing her experiences on living with the disease on social media, Deborah became known as the 'Bowel Babe' In 2018, she became one of three presenters on Radio 5 Live's You, Me and the Big C, which was conceived by her late co-host Rachael Bland On September 5th 2018, Welsh journalist and presenter Bland, diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, died at the age of 40 Deborah and her co-host Lauren Mahon continue to present the show, with Steve Bland, Rachael's husband, joining the duo On social media and in her column for the Sun newspaper, Deborah has documented the many chemo, radiotherapy sessions and surgery she's had since During her treatment, Deborah told followers on Instagram 'By my general lack of being on here (dancing!), that Things have moved (in the wrong direction) very quickly cancer wise.' Pictured: Deborah James undergoing a scan at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London In 2019, she had a procedure known as CyberKnife, a highly targeted form of radiotherapy to attack an inoperable lymph node close to her liver The pandemic's impact on cancer services saw her campaign for care to continue as normal and, earlier this year, she launched the ITV's Lorraine's 'No Butts' campaign, raising awareness on bowel cancer symptoms Since last year, she has been taking new experimental drugs as part of a trial after her oncology team gave her the green light to do so August, Deborah revealed that scans she's had in recent days have revealed her cancer has gone in the 'wrong direction very quickly' She told followers she would be taking a break on social media over the weekend to 'snuggle' with her family ahead of more scans The mother-of-two said a new 'rapidly-growing' tumour near her liver had wrapped itself around her bowel On October 1, Deborah celebrates her 40th birthday By October 18, the mother-of-two told her followers her chemotherapy is working Days later, she was rushed to A&E with 'spiking 40 degree temperatures' In November, she reveals she is unable to walk for more than 20 minutes and remains 'very weak' By December, Deborah said she was 'not sure what her options were' after her liver stent 'stopped working' In January, she had five operations in 10 days after nearly dying in an acute medical emergency January 25, Deborah returns home from hospital after three weeks March 14, the mother-of-two is back in hospital as an in-patient after suffering from septic infection In April, she concerned fans with snaps after suffering 'a rough few days' April 14, the mother-of-two tells fans she has been discharged from hospital but calls the situation 'very tough' April 27, she tells Lorraine that she has spent '80 per cent' of the year in hospital May 9 - Deborah announces she has moved to hospice care Advertisement 'But I dont think anyone can say the last 6 months has exactly been kind! Its all heartbreaking to be going through but Im surrounded by so much love that if anything can help me through I hope that will.' She went on to share news of a 'Bowelbabe fund' which is being set up in her name, writing: 'I always knew there was one thing I always wanted to do before I died. 'I have always over the years raised as much awareness and money for the charities that are closest to me. @cr_uk @royalmarsden @bowelcanceruk. 'As a result, the @bowelbabefund is being established and Id love nothing more than for you to help it flourish. Please visit bowelbabe.org for all the info and to donate (link in Bio).' The mother-of-two also announced the news she was launching a fund in her name in order to help others who were suffering from similar diseases Deborah continued: 'All I ask if you ever read a column, followed my Instagram, listened to the podcast or saw me dressed as a poo for no reason. 'Please buy me a drink to see me out this world, by donating the cost to @bowelbabefund which will enable us to raise funds for further life saving research into cancer. To give more Deborahs more time!' As she finished the post, she wrote: 'Right now for me its all about taking it a day at a time, step by step and being grateful for another sunrise. 'My whole family are around me and we will dance through this together, sunbathing and laughing (Ill cry!!) at every possible moment! 'You are all incredible, thank you for playing your part in my journey. No regrets. Enjoy life. Deborah.' The mother-of-two has spent months recovering after she almost died in January due to a medical emergency BBC podcast host Deborah James, who has incurable bowel cancer, revealed in April after she was discharged after more than a month in hospital. Pictured, leaving the Royal Marsden Hospital It's been a difficult year so far for the mother-of-two, who spent much of the last six months receiving in-patient treatment in hospital. She has spent months recovering after she almost died in January due to a medical emergency. In January, she said the 'trauma' of nearly dying was still 'very raw and real' as she returned home after three weeks in hospital. Posting on Instagram earlier this year, the mother-of-two spoke of enduring the 'hardest, most heartbreaking and scariest' period of her cancer battle in the last week, which has involved three operations and 'a lot more procedures' to come. She told how her husband watched as doctors fought to save her life after she 'crashed' in resuscitation. Deborah, who has incurable bowel cancer, revealed how she 'nearly died' in January in an 'acute medical emergency'. She shared this photo from hospital 'A week ago at this time in the evening I nearly died in what was an acute medical emergency,' she wrote. 'I'm not ready to discuss what happened yet as the trauma of it all has been incredibly intense - but it's thanks to an unbelievable team of NHS specialists who worked all through the night and the next day to save me. 'I cannot be more grateful. I'm still not out of danger and I have a lot more procedures to deal with. But I'm now out of intensive care. And for the first time felt able to briefly update you.' Sharing a photo of her giving a thumbs up from a hospital bed, she continued: 'This is me yesterday having just come round from my 3rd operation this week. I have another operation tomorrow. Posting on Instagram, the mother-of-two spoke of enduring the 'hardest, most heartbreaking and scariest' period of her cancer battle in the last week, which has involved three operations and 'a lot more procedures' to come BOWEL CANCER: THE SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULDN'T IGNORE Bowel, or colorectal, cancer affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum. Such tumours usually develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps. Symptoms include: Bleeding from the bottom Blood in stools A change in bowel habits lasting at least three weeks Unexplained weight loss Extreme, unexplained tiredness Abdominal pain Most cases have no clear cause, however, people are more at risk if they: Are over 50 Have a family history of the condition Have a personal history of polyps in their bowel Suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease Lead an unhealthy lifestyle Treatment usually involves surgery, and chemo- and radiotherapy. More than nine out of 10 people with stage one bowel cancer survive five years or more after their diagnosis. This drops significantly if it is diagnosed in later stages. According to Bowel Cancer UK figures, more than 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK. It affects around 40 per 100,000 adults per year in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute. Advertisement 'In 5 years of having stage 4 Cancer - this has been the hardest, most heartbreaking and scariest of them all. I'd always prepared for my death, but I wasn't prepared for something so blindsiding and traumatic to happen. 'I can't quite believe I'm here to write this. A week ago my whole family was praying I'd pull through the night. I'm getting a lot of help and support to come to terms with the trauma I've been through. 'My family have been incredible. I don't know how my husband held it together seeing me crash as an army of doctors stabilised me in resus.' After thanking followers for their support, she added: 'Do me a favour and go tell your loved ones how much you love them. To realise in a sudden split moment that you are unlikely to see the next day is utterly heartbreaking. Have no regrets.' Discussing how difficult the last six months have been, James said while she was really happy that the 'big gun chemo' she endured has slowed her cancer's growth, which had been 'on the march', it had been an exhausting time. In the summer, James was told she had an aggressive new tumour that had wrapped itself around her bile duct - requiring a life-saving stay in hospital - and a stent fitted to stop her liver from failing. The stent fitted to stop her liver failing 'stopped working' in December. She explained to her followers at the time how hopes at having a 'quick replacement operation' had turned into a 'nightmare'. She said: 'I'm now at the mercy of hopefully some super 'magic medicine miracle' - but then I always have been, and any chance is a chance right? 'All I ever say Is all I want is hope and options.' Last year, James shared that her cancer, which has been kept at bay by pioneering treatment, was back again and she was forced to endure a 12th operation. The West London mother-of-two, a deputy head, was diagnosed 'late' with incurable bowel cancer in 2016. She has frequently said that as a vegetarian runner, she was the last person doctors expected to get the disease. After sharing her experiences on living with the disease on social media, Deborah became known as the 'Bowel Babe' and began writing a column for the Sun. In 2018, Deborah joined Lauren Mahon and Rachael Bland to present the award-winning podcast You, Me and the Big C on Radio 5 Live. Bland tragically died of breast cancer on September 5th that year; her husband Steve Bland now co-presents the show. A woman has sparked outrage on social media after she joked about secretly slipping supplements into her boyfriend's drink in an attempt to make him last longer in bed. A TikToker who often reposts popular videos named DJ Chose shared a clip earlier this week - although it's unclear where it originally came from - that showed a woman pouring what appears to be a sexual enhancement supplement into her man's alcoholic beverage without him knowing. The controversial clip quickly went viral, earning more than 225,000 views in a matter of days, and leaving many viewers unhappy. A woman has sparked outrage after she joked about secretly slipping supplements into her boyfriend's drink in an attempt to make him last longer in bed A video was uploaded to TikTok which showed the woman pouring a sexual enhancement supplement into her man's beverage without him knowing 'When you need yo li'l minute man to go rounds tonight,' the overlay text on the TikTok reads, while the unnamed woman is seen dumping a packet of what appears to be Vital Honey into a bottle of vodka. Vital Honey contains a Malaysian herb called Eurycoma longifolia, which is used to treat erectile disfunction and can improve sexual performance, according to the product's website. It also contains caviar, which is one of 'richest natural sources of omega-3 and phosphorus, and a vast array of minerals, proteins, and amino acids needed for metabolism and cell metabolism.' 'These qualities caused it to earn the satisfaction of a large group of people who became interested in the vitality and health of their bodies, both sexually and physically,' Vital Honey's website states. '[Gonna] have diabetes but [gonna] be 10 rounds strong,' the TikToker captioned the video. It appeared that she dumped a packed of Vital Honey (pictured) into his drink, which contains Eurycoma longifolia - an herb used to treat erectile disfunction Many viewers were not amused by the clip and took to the comment section to share their thoughts. 'I don't think it's good to do something like that,' wrote one person. Another added: '[I don't care] if she made a joke or not, it's still weird as f**k to put something in somebody else's drink without them knowing. 'Did you just drug his drink?' asked a different user. 'Wow, how funny. Joking about drugging someone for sexual purposes,' said someone else sarcastically. 'This is literally not OK,' read a fifth comment. 'It's not cute or funny to put drugs in someone's drink without them consenting and knowing. This is just messed up.' Another disgruntled viewer wrote, 'Girl, delete this and reconsider your actions. 'Notice how no one finds this funny,' added someone else. A different user said, 'A woman drugging a man is just as bad as a man drugging a woman.' It quickly went viral, earning more than 225,000 views in a matter of days, and leaving many viewers unhappy 'When you need yo li'l minute man to go rounds tonight,' the overlay text on the TikTok reads, while the unnamed woman is seen putting Vital Honey into a bottle of vodka Last month, the Food and Drug Administration issued a public notice regarding the possible side effects of Vital Honey - warning that an ingredient used in it can interact with other medicine and lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. 'The Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers not to purchase or use Vital Honey, a product promoted and sold for sexual enhancement on various websites,' it stated. 'FDA laboratory analysis confirmed that Vital Honey contains tadalafil, the active ingredient in the FDA-approved prescription drug Cialis, used to treat erectile dysfunction. 'FDA approval of Cialis is restricted to use under the supervision of a licensed health care professional. 'This undeclared ingredient may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, such as nitroglycerin, and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels.' Four boxes of 12 sachets of Vital Honey sell of $188, while eight boxes cost $360, and 12 boxes are $450. Many viewers were not amused by the clip, and they took to the comment section to share their thoughts The only warning on Vital Honey's website states that renal failure patients, people with heart issues, and those with high blood pressure cannot use it, as well as children or pregnant women. 'You have one pack two hours before sexually performing, please drink a lot of water. It's better after meals,' it added. 'The pack is effective for at least 48 hours, so it is not advised to use it on a daily basis.' Under criminal law, administering a drug to a person without their consent is illegal, however, supplements are regulated by the FDA as food, not as drugs. WebMD reported, 'The makers of supplements dont have to show their products are safe or effective before selling them on the market. 'Manufacturers are required to follow "good manufacturing practices," which means their supplements have to meet certain quality standards. 'However, it has been found that some products may contain more or less of the ingredient than is stated on the label. 'Or, in some cases they may contain ingredients not listed on the label, including prescription drugs.' Food blogger Ayeh Manfre has taken her 2.3 million followers inside Dubai's McDonald's in a TikTok - and many were surprised by the impressive quality of cuisine. The Sydney-based foodie, better known as Cooking With Ayeh, posted a video of her trying the McArabia Chicken, McVeggie Burger, Chicken McTenders, and chips. 'This is so good,' she said as she took a bite of her veggie burger. 'Aussie Macca's, bring out a veggie burger!' Ayeh praised the Dubai Macca's veggie burger and wished Australia followed in their footsteps Poll What menu item do you wish Aussie Macca's offered? Veggie burger McArabia wrap Another - tell us in the comments! What menu item do you wish Aussie Macca's offered? Veggie burger 24 votes McArabia wrap 56 votes Another - tell us in the comments! 8 votes Now share your opinion Many more were shocked by the interesting shape of the McArabia wrap. 'The wrap looks so authentic to Middle Eastern cuisine,' said one woman. 'Not what I would expect fast food to look like at all!' 'Planning a trip to Dubai just for their Macca's,' wrote another. But dozens of commenters could not believe Australia did not offer vegetarian options. 'What do you mean there's no vegetarian option in Australia...' said one man. 'This makes no sense,' echoed another. 'Ireland has a veggie deluxe burger which is one of the best.' 'The UK has had veggie burgers for almost twenty years now - catch up!" The Sydney-based foodie, better known as Cooking With Ayeh, posted a video of her trying the McArabia Chicken, McVeggie Burger, Chicken McTenders, and chips But Ayeh was not the first Australian to venture out to a foreign Macca's. Australian TikToker and former Love Island star Jessie Wynter posted a viral TikTok of her Macca's trip in London which later sparked a heated debate over which is better. 'I've decided to step out of my comfort zone while I'm here and try something that isn't on the Aussie menu,' she said in her video. Jessie ordered a classic combination of fries, the Chicken Legend burger, and cheesy garlic bites. Scroll down for video Jessie ordered a classic combination of fries, the Chicken Legend burger, and cheesy garlic bites - and claimed the Chicken Legend was her favourite Macca's dish ever 'I've had a lot of Macca's in my life,' Jessie said, 'but the Chicken Legend burger is my favourite ever.' She added, 'The chicken and the bun were absolutely amazing - I am so devastated we don't have these things on the Australian menu.' Jessie also sang praises of the garlic bites: 'Whoever thought to put cheesy garlic bites on the McDonald's menu - you deserve a medal! These were so good.' Hundreds of people from all around the world left comments on Jessie's video about Macca's specials in their countries. 'You need to try Irn Bru if you get to a McDonalds in Scotland,' one man said. 'Some places in England might sell it, but god it's so good over here.' 'The McDonald's in India has a Maharaja Mac and it's the best burger I've ever tasted,' shared another. Jessie also sang praises of the garlic bites: 'Whoever thought to put cheesy garlic bites on the McDonald's menu - you deserve a medal! These were so good' But some had some tips for the British Chicken Legend as well. 'If you get the BBQ Chicken Legend and add cheese and bacon to it - I swear it's unreal,' said one woman. 'I agree, adding cheese to the Chicken Legend was the best decision I've ever made.' A third added, 'Easily one of my favourite dishes.' An Australian TikToker and former Love Island star Jessie Wynter posted a viral TikTok of her Macca's trip in London - and shocked hundreds when she claimed it was better in the UK But others agreed that UK Macca's was simply the best. 'As an Aussie I was convinced we had it the best over here, but looking at that menu ... wow.' 'Okay, but why does that look SO MUCH BETTER?' asked another. A third added, 'I was raised on London McDonald's and trust me, it does not get better!' Sleep expert Dr Carmel Harrington has dedicated her career to researching Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) after her two-year-old son Damien died from the condition in 1991. And now 29 years on, research led by Dr Harrington made a world-first breakthrough that could potentially lead to the prevention of SIDS. Together with The Children's Hospital at Westmead in New South Wales, Dr Harrington and a team of researchers identified the first biochemical marker that indicates a baby's vulnerability to SIDS while they are still alive. The study published by The Lancet's eBioMedicine found levels of Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), an enzyme which plays a major role in the brain's arousal pathway, were significantly lower in babies who died of SIDS compared to living controls and other infant deaths. Dr Carmel Harrington (pictured), from Sydney, has devoted 29 years to raising awareness and finding answers about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) after her two-year-old son Damien died from the condition in 1991 BChE plays a major role in the brain's arousal pathway and researchers believe its deficiency likely indicates an arousal deficit, which reduces an infant's ability to wake or respond to the external environment, causing vulnerability to SIDS. Researchers believe the findings have the potential to be 'game-changing', opening up the possibility for intervention. This will also finally provide answers to parents who have lost their children to the tragic condition causing sudden death. 'Babies have a very powerful mechanism to let us know when they are not happy. Usually, if a baby is confronted with a life-threatening situation, such as difficulty breathing during sleep because they are on their tummies, they will arouse and cry out,' Dr Harrington told The Sydney Children's Hospital Network. 'What this research shows is that some babies don't have this same robust arousal response. 'This has long been thought to be the case, but up to now we didn't know what was causing the lack of arousal. 'Now that we know that BChE is involved we can begin to change the outcome for these babies and make SIDS a thing of the past.' Dr Harrington was a devoted mother-of-three when her world was shattered by the sudden death of Damien (both pictured in 1991) WHAT IS SIDS? Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is the sudden, unexplained death of a baby that doesn't have a known cause even after a complete investigation. Most deaths happen during the first three months of a baby's life. Infants born prematurely or with a low birth weight are at greater risk. SIDS is also more common in baby boys. Most unexpected deaths occur while the child is asleep in their cot at night. Source: Health Direct Advertisement In 1991 Dr Harrington, from Sydney, was practicing as a lawyer but quit her job in order to devote herself to raising awareness and finding answers about SIDS after losing her son. Now a renowned sleep expert, Dr Harrington is working with Sydney University and Children's Hospital Westmead to fund research to identify why some children are more vulnerable to SIDS. She previously shared her heartbreaking story with FEMAIL and discussed the passion she has found since losing her son. Of her three children, daughter Charlotte had the roughest start to life. 'My eldest child Alexander was always health; when I had the twins, Damien and Charlotte, Charlotte was quite sick - she was in intensive care for quite some time and had many surgeries. 'If there was anyone going to suffer with health issues we assumed it would be her, but Damien was fine.' 'He was absolutely perfect - I hate to say the word but to all intents and purposes he really was,' she said. But just days before her twins second birthday, Dr Harrington's world came crashing down around her when she found Damien lying face down and lifeless in his cot. 'Almost thirty years later, it still takes my breath away - he was laughing and giggling hours before. 'For months it's like a bad dream. You can't sleep, you can't eat, and I know sudden death of any kind brings these feelings up for everyone but when it's a tiny baby they are especially intense.' 'He was absolutely perfect - I hate to use the word but he really was,' Dr Harrington said 'My undergraduate degree is in biochemistry, but I went back and trained as a lawyer because it's quite hard to get adequate funding for scientific research in Australia. 'After Damien, I spent a lot of time doing my own research and speaking to experts and I realised no one could tell me why this had happened. There were no answers.' Taking inspiration from tragedy, Dr Harrington made it her mission to return to college to complete a PhD in child sleep so she could focus on SIDS. Working on research and awareness raising initiative about the condition has brought Damien's death to the front of Dr Harrington's mind once more, reminding her of how much she struggled to come to terms with his passing. After Damien died, Dr Harrington spoke to experts but could find no answers 'A few years after, when it was coming up to Charlotte's fourth birthday, it just hit me that he wasn't coming back. 'I know this might be hard to understand for others but I genuinely kept thinking something would happen to bring him back I don't think I had fully let go or accepted what had happened until that point. 'This research is not a solution to SIDS, but it is unearthing promising facts - it's so important. 'We're trying to figure out why some infants are more vulnerable than others, they haven't discovered this yet.' Dr Harrington's children Alexander (left), Damien (centre) and Charlotte (right) shortly before Damien passed away Her research, in collaboration with Sydney University and Children's Hospital Westmead, requires $100,000 in funding costs. 'We named it Damien's Legacy and our aim is to end the heartbreak of SIDS. 'We need $50,000 for stage one, and another $50,000 for the second stage. 'We've been crowd funding for a few weeks and it's already at $42,000 which is incredible, so we're focusing on that last push for the first round.' Despite her personal tragedy, Dr Harrington always carries a piece of her son close thanks to her medical research. 'Life is never the same after losing a child. I was smashed into a million pieces and I've had to put myself back together over time, but I've found a new piece to myself. 'Damien has given me the passion of my research, that's what he did for me.' Ending the heartbreak of sudden infant death syndrome could soon be within reach after scientists found a simple blood test could identify babies at risk. SIDS, also known as cot death, is the unexpected and unexplained death of a healthy baby in their sleep in the first year of life. Now a 'game changing' study in Australia could provide answers after finding babies who died of SIDS had lower levels of an enzyme that helps humans rouse from sleep. Lead researcher Dr Carmel Harrington, who became a child sleep expert after her own young son died before his 2nd birthday, hopes the find will make the condition 'a thing of the past'. 'Usually, if a baby is confronted with a life-threatening situation, such as difficulty breathing during sleep because they are on their tummies, they will arouse and cry out,' she said. 'What this research shows is that some babies dont have this same robust arousal response. 'Now that we know that butyrylcholinesterase is involved we can begin to change the outcome for these babies and make SIDS a thing of the past.' About four babies die of SIDS every week in the UK, and dozens of youngsters fall victim to the condition each week in the US. Dr Carmel Harrington has devoted 29 years to raising awareness and finding answers about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) following the death of her two-year-old son Damien Dr Harrington was a devoted mother-of-three when her world was shattered by the sudden death of Damien (both pictured in 1991) Dr Harrington's children Alexander (left), Damien (centre) and Charlotte (right) shortly before Damien passed away WHAT IS COT DEATH AND HOW CAN IT BE PREVENTED? Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or cot death, is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby. SIDS kills around 3,400 babies in the US and about 200 in the UK every year. It usually occurs within the first six months of an infant's life and is more common in those born prematurely or of a low birth weight. The exact cause of SIDS is unknown, however, it is associated with tobacco smoke, tangled bedding, co-sleeping with parents and breathing obstructions. Parents can help reduce the risk of SIDS by: Placing sleeping babies on their backs Keeping babies' heads uncovered Sleeping in the same room as babies for the first six months of their lives Using a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in babies' cribs Breastfeeding, if possible Do not: Smoke during pregnancy or in the same room as a baby Sleep on a bed or chair with an infant Allow babies to get too hot or cold. Temperatures between 16 and 20C should be comfortable Source: NHS Choices Advertisement The study was conducted by a team of researchers at the Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney. They analysed 722 blood samples from babies involved in the Newborn Screening Programme in New South Wales between 2016 and 2020. Twenty-six of the babies later died of SIDS and all of the victims had significantly lower levels of butyrylcholinesterase in their blood at birth compared to other infants. The enzyme was a point of interest due to its role in the body's cholinergic system, a name for various brain functions that regulate things like attention, sleeping, and waking. Dr Harrington said the next stage will be to make measuring levels of this enzyme a part of routine health checks of newborns. The team will also look at ways to boost the enzyme in babies. She said this process will take about five years but added further research is required. Currently all newborns are subject to routine blood tests but doctors do not typically look for differences in butyrylcholinesterase levels. 'An apparently healthy baby going to sleep and not waking up is every parents nightmare and until now there was absolutely no way of knowing which infant would succumb. But thats not the case anymore,' Dr Harrington said. She added that while the study could go on to help save babies in the future, it may also give closure to grieving parents. This distress of a lack of answers is something the former lawyer-turned-sleep expert knows all too well after the death of her one-year-old son Damien three decades ago. 'He was absolutely perfect - I hate to say the word but to all intents and purposes he really was,' she said. But, just days before Damien's second birthday, Dr Harrington found her son lying face down and dead in his cot. 'Almost thirty years later, it still takes my breath away - he was laughing and giggling hours before,' she said. Seeking answers on the tragedy she found no adequate explanation for SIDS and went back to university to become an expert in child sleep to help find possible treatments. Dr Harrington's study was published in The Lancet's eBioMedicine. Most SIDS deaths (86 per cent) occur within the first six months of a baby's life with boys, babies born prematurely or underweight, or whose mother's smoked in pregnancy, at greater risk. SIDS usually occurs when babies are asleep, but can also occasionally happen when they are awake. To reduce the risk of SIDS the NHS advises parents always place babies on their back when they sleep. Their feet should touch the end of their cot, basket or pram with their head uncovered and their blanket tucked in no higher than their shoulders. Parents are also advised to have their newborn sleep in the same room as them for the first six months to reduce the risk of SIDS. However, they should not sleep with their baby on a sofa or armchair, not smoke or allow people to smoke near the child and ensure the child does not get too hot or cold. Dr Narendra Kaushik, who runs a gender reassignment clinic in New Delhi, will attempt to transplant a womb into a trans woman who was born a man A surgeon in India will attempt to transplant a womb into a trans woman who was born a man with the view to making them pregnant. The risky procedure will involve taking the reproductive organs from a dead donor or a patient who has transitioned the other way and had theirs removed. There has only been one documented case of a womb being inserted into a trans woman in the past but she died from complications just months later. Impregnating a trans woman would be an even bigger feat, and would require the use of IVF and a C-section, because they do not have a fully functioning vagina. Dr Narendra Kaushik, who runs a gender reassignment clinic in New Delhi, has said he is 'very, very optimistic' he can make a success of the procedure. 'Every transgender woman wants to be as female as possible and that includes being a mother,' he is quoted as saying in The Mirror. 'The way towards this is with a uterine transplant, the same as a kidney or any other transplant. This is the future. We cannot predict exactly when this will happen but it will happen very soon.' The surgeon has not revealed the recipient or given a timetable for the surgery, but he added: 'We have our plans and we are very very optimistic about this.' How babies are conceived in biological females who have a womb transplant. In theory, the principles should be the same for man, using the eggs of a donor. But it has never been attempted because there has yet to be a successful womb transplant to a trans woman Dr Kaushik has said he is 'very, very optimistic' he can make a success of the procedure Womb transplants cost around 50,000 and just one cycle of IVF treatment can cost upwards of 5,000. Dr Kshuik's clinic, Olmec, is at the centre of a booming industry in New Delhi that is seeing the city rival Bangkok as the sex change capital of the world. He said around a fifth of his customers are from abroad, with many flying from the UK, where gender reassignment surgery is free on the NHS but subject to waiting times. WHY BIOLOGICAL MEN CAN'T GIVE BIRTH... YET Only people who are born female can make eggs, which means it is not possible for a male-to-female trans woman to get pregnant naturally. Scientists believe it is theoretically possible to impregnate a trans woman using IVF, when the eggs are fertilised outside the body and then inserted. But it would require a healthy womb for the child to grow in, and transplant operations are years if not decades away from making that a reality. There has only ever been one documented case of a womb being transplanted into a trans woman born male but she died from complications just months later. Female-to-male transgender people can still get pregnant. But only if they have not had a hysterectomy as part of their transition or have taken hormone-blocking drugs that stop them from producing eggs. There are no definitive figures when it comes to how many transgender people have given birth worldwide, or in Britain. Seventy-five people who identified as male gave birth in Australia in 2020, the most comparable country with data. Advertisement 'Many of our patients tell us that their sexual partners don't even notice that they weren't born with female sex organs,' Dr Kaushik told the paper. 'And that's our aim, to make it so that they live as normal a life as possible as a woman. We aim for an aesthetic ideal' But while gender reassignment surgery is well-established, the science behind womb transplants involving trans people is still murky. There have been more than 100 successful woman-to-woman uterus transplants since 2014 and scientists are now able to impregnate female recipients. But there are far more hurdles to scale when it comes to inserting a female's reproductive organs in a biological man. As far as medical records show, the procedure has only been attempted once in history, when Danish trans artist Lili Elbe had the operation in 1931. The 48-year-old, one of the earliest known gender reassignment patients, had the surgery in Germany with the hope of being able to have children with her fiance. But she developed a post-surgery infection and died from cardiac arrest three months later without being able to conceive. However, doctors say advances in medicine mean it's now theoretically possible for a trans woman to give birth after a womb transplant. The sticking point is that only people born female can make eggs, which means it is not possible for a woman to get pregnant naturally. So doctors who attempt it will need to use IVF, when the eggs are fertilised outside the body and then inserted. In 2017, Dr Paulson, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, said: 'There would be additional challenges, but I don't see any obvious problem that would preclude it. I think it would be possible.' Dr Kshuik's clinic, Olmec, is at the centre of a booming industry in New Dehli that is seeing the city rival Bangkok as the sex change capital of the world What appears to be 'before and after' photos are pinned on a wall in the clinic's lobby NHS urged to use terms 'chestfeeding' and 'frontal birth' instead of breast or vaginal Maternity services should use 'inclusive' terms like 'chestfeeding' so trans pregnant people aren't offended, a Government-funded report says. The report, from the LGBT Foundation, made the recommendation after surveying 121 trans Britons on their experience of pregnancy. Another example of a gender-loaded term is 'vaginal birth', recommending 'frontal' or 'lower birth' instead. The report said inclusive terms should be used across NHS services and people and national guidance should be introduced to ensure pregnant trans have the option of their preferred words. 'It is not possible to guess the language someone might use to describe themselves based on how they look or sound, or who they are in a relationship with,' the report reads. The charity also says some trans and non-binary people would benefit from having a private space in hospitals to give birth, so that they are not made uncomfortable by seeing women. It detailed the experience of one trans person, who said: 'I didnt have to go to a ward full of women after giving birth, I was actually provided with a private room for me and baby which was very helpful and accommodating for me and my gender identity.' NHS services are currently in a 'woke' storm of de-gendering language surrounding women and pregnancy. Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust is now referring to breastmilk as 'human milk' in official guidance. The report was commissioned by the Health & Wellbeing Alliance, a partnership between charities and the NHS, which is managed jointly by the Department of Health and Social Care and Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. Advertisement One problem doctors face is that the male pelvis would not allow a baby to pass through it because it is too narrow, so a man would have to give birth by caesarean section. But there is room inside a man to hold a womb, Dr Paulson claimed. He said hormones might have to be given to replicate the changes that go on while a woman is pregnant. Once the uterus has been transplanted, an IVF embryo would have to be implanted. Currently in the UK it would be illegal for an IVF clinic to create an embryo for the purpose of implanting it in a man under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008. Several transgender men those who were born women and then switched have already given birth in the UK. But in those circumstances it was a case of retaining female reproductive organs after they transitioned, rather than implanting female organs into a male body. Womb transplants, which cost 50,000 per operation, are still considered to be an experimental procedure. Major complications suffered by recipients include organ rejection, urinary tract infections, blood clots, and internal bruising. Adverse side effects of immunosuppressants, drugs used to reduce risk of the body rejecting the organ, may also lead to other complications. Womb transplants are predominantly performed with the use of a womb donated from a living woman, although modern organ-freezing techniques have made it possible for deceased donors' uteri to be used too. The first baby was born who had been carried to term in a womb transplanted from a dead donor in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2019. The womb and blood vessels were removed from a 45-year-old woman herself a mother who had died of a stroke. They were then implanted into a new mother, who was born without a womb of her own, in an almost 11-hour operation, and the blood vessels connected to her own. The women then began to menstruate 37 days after the operation and then had regular periods until she became pregnant seven months later. An embryo was implanted using eggs which had been taken from her ovaries before the womb transplant procedure and fertilised using IVF. The baby grew healthily and was born after 35 weeks and three days by caesarean section. During the caesarean section the woman's implanted womb was also removed and both mother and baby recovered normally. Asiana Airlines Airbus 380 / Courtesy of Asiana Airlines Asiana Airlines said Monday it will expand flights on its European routes later this month as eased virus restrictions unleash pent-up demand. The carrier will increase flights on routes from Incheon to Frankfurt and London beginning May 28 and May 30, respectively, it said in a statement. The company will resume flights from Incheon to Paris and Rome, June 18 and June 22 respectively, while planning to resume flights on routes from Incheon to Barcelona and Istanbul July 23, it said. With the planned flight resumption and expansion, Asiana said it will be able to offer half of the flights it used to serve on European routes before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the airline industry nearly two-and-a-half years ago. On non-European routes, Asiana reopened Incheon-India flights in late April and will expand the number of flights to Sydney, Los Angeles, Osaka, Fukuoka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Manila starting this month. Asiana currently operates 25 international routes, down from 71 before the pandemic, and seven domestic ones. (Yonhap) Advertisement Covid cases are on the rise once again in the United States, and top officials are warning that the virus is not going anywhere soon - with most-recent projections showing it could cause up to 100 million new infections during the latter stages of 2022. A senior official in the Biden administration told CNN that the White House is currently projecting around 100 million infections of the virus to occur during the upcoming fall and winter months - a time of the year where new case records have been set during both years of the pandemic. For comparison, according to Johns Hopkins University data, around 40 million Covid cases were reported in America from September 1 to February 28. While this is likely a severe undercount because of the highly infectious, yet mild, nature of the Omicron variant, it means the White House believes case figures could reach even further heights this year when compared to last. Experts have long speculated that the next major surge of the virus would occur during the cold weather months of fall and winter, and that America would dodge the type of summer surge that struck in both 2020 and 2021, because much of the population already has significant immunity to the virus due to the COVID-19 vaccines and previous infections during the record-breaking winter Omicron surge. Cases are starting to rise this spring, though, jumping 25 percent over the past week to 72,899 per day. Deaths have not kept pace with cases during the Omicron period of the pandemic, though, and the country is currently recording 551 Covid deaths every day, according to most recent data from Hopkins. The White House projections assume that there are no vaccine mitigation measures - like more lockdowns or mask mandates - put in place between now and then, no new variants that significantly change the complexion of the pandemic, or that the administration does not receive any new funding to keep some virus programs in place, CNN reports. President Biden has pushed Congress to approve more funding to allow the federal government to continue to purchase tests, therapeutics and continue other virus surveillance and prevention measures into the future. A massive $22.5 billion relief proposal suggested by the White House was stripped from a spending package. Many in Congress, and in the overall American population, are ready to move beyond the pandemic, though. Instead, there is clamoring to use the funds elsewhere and not in Covid prevention. As a result, some programs instituted by federal and state officials during the pandemic have been rolled back. Covid treatment in hospitals is no longer covered by the government. Free testing has been rolled back in much of the country as well. The biggest cut-back has been in data reporting, as many states have transitioned from reporting cases at least four or five times a week - if not daily - into only revealing numbers once a week. BNO News reports that Washington D.C. has not reported cases in nearly two weeks, as of Monday. Experts have previously warned against these types of cuts, saying that it would lead to Americans 'flying blind' into the next stages of the pandemic. 'Testing has always been a cornerstone of our pandemic response. Without this surveillance data, we are flying blind and are almost certainly going to repeat mistakes of the past,' Dr John Brownstein, an epidemiologist at Boston University, told ABC in March. 'When we close testing sites, we not only put individuals, their contacts and their communities at risk, we undermine critical public health infrastructure.' The contraction of Covid data reporting in America also comes as new threats being to arise from the pandemic. The BA 2.12.1 strain - a sub-lineage of the BA.2 'stealth' variant, which is in itself a sub-variant of Omicron - is making grounds in the U.S. According to most recent data revealed last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the strain now makes up 36.5 percent of sequenced cases in the U.S. It has erupted in the New York and New Jersey region in particular, making up 62 percent of cases and causing both states to experience a sharp increase in cases over the past two weeks. The original version of BA.2 remains dominant, making up 62 percent of cases, the CDC reports. The original BA.1 strain of Omicron - which caused a massive surge only months ago - now only makes up one percent of cases. The BA 2.12.1 variant now makes up 36.5% of sequenced cases, the CDC reports, with the strain becoming dominant in New York and New Jersey. The BA.2 'stealth' variant remains dominant, making up 62% of total U.S. cases There are also growing concerns about the BA.4 and BA.5, which are now making ground in South Africa, causing another surge in the nation. The country was also the first to suffer from the original version of Omicron in late November. Last month, the World Health Organization announced that it is officially tracking the two strains of the virus as potential concerns. A pre-print study out of South Africa also found that the two variants may have the ability to evade immunity to the virus provided by previous infection. That could be a grave concern for officials, as the massive spread of Omicron during the winter months - giving a vast portion of Americans immunity to the virus in the process - will no longer protect people going forward, opening the door for yet another large surge. The CNN report did not specify whether the Biden Administration believes the massive surge of Winter cases will be a result of BA.2, BA.4, BA.5 or another strain it expects to emerge. Up to ten million Americans may be suffering from an allergy to red meat triggered by tick bites, estimates suggest but many cases go undiagnosed because it can take up to 12 hours for symptoms to develop. Alpha-gal Syndrome is normally sparked by bites from the lone star tick identified by the white spot on its back which lives in wooded areas across the eastern United States. But bites from other ticks may also cause it. Dr Jonathan Oliver, a public health expert at the University of Minnesota, told DailyMail.com that the bug's saliva contains molecules that appear to be similar to those from red meat. It means that when the immune system attacks the saliva, it also develops cells that target molecules from red meat triggering the allergy. Most tick bites do not lead to the condition, Oliver said, but he warned that getting bitten more often raises the risk of developing the condition. Sufferers experience symptoms several hours after eating red meat including hives, severe stomach pain and swelling of the lips. In severe cases it can also trigger anaphylactic shock or a severe immune reaction, which can be fatal. Treatment focuses on avoiding being bitten by ticks and taking medication to manage allergic reactions. The AGS awareness campaign says that up to three percent of Americans or about ten million people in some areas may be sufferers, but that the vast majority are un-diagnosed. Scientists have linked many cases to the lone star tick (left), which lives in wooded areas across the east of the U.S. and is identified by the white spot on its back. They fear molecules in its saliva may look like those from red meat, triggering the allergy Other ticks may also cause the disease. Scientists are investigating whether the black-legged tick (left) could be behind some cases. It has a wider ranger than the lone star (right) Pictured above is the lone star tick (left), which is linked to most cases of AGS. Other tick species including the black-legged tick (right) may also trigger the condition, it has been suggested Alpha-gal Syndrome: The disease that makes you 'allergic' to red meat Alpa-gal Syndrome (AGS) is an allergy to a molecule found in red meats including beef, pork and venison. Up to three per cent of Americans have the condition, or 10million people, estimates suggest. What triggers AGS? The allergy has been linked to bites from the lone star Tick, identified by a white spot on its back, which lives in wooded areas on the East Coast. Other tick species are still under investigation. Its saliva contains molecules which can look similar to those from red meat. It means that when the immune system attacks the saliva, it may also develop cells that start attacking molecules from red meat. What are the symptoms? Sufferers experience the following about two to six hours after eating red meat, or in some cases being exposed to its fumes: Hives or itchy rash; Nausea or vomiting; Heartburn or indigestion; Diarrhea; Cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing; Drop in blood pressure; Swelling of the lips, throat, tongue or eyelids; Dizziness or faintness; Severe stomach pain; Is the condition fatal? The CDC says in some cases it can trigger anaphylaxis a severe allergic reaction which can be fatal if not treated quickly. How is AGS diagnosed? Doctors carry out blood tests to check for specific antibodies that attack the molecule from red meat. How is AGS treated? Patients are advised to avoid any products that contain the molecules that trigger the allergy. This includes red meats, and other foodstuffs using animal products including cow's milk and gelatin. Can I prevent the condition? Doctors say people should avoid grassy, bushy or wooded areas where ticks may be found. After coming inside they also recommend showering and performing a thorough 'tick check' to ensure they have not been bitten. Source: CDC Advertisement An article investigating AGS published last year in the Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology also says up to three percent of the population has the condition. Less than a million cases have been diagnosed in the U.S. to date. Oliver who studies tick-borne diseases said that more people with the allergy were being spotted every year as awareness around the allergy rose. 'Often there is a real delay between when you eat red meat and when you get sick, maybe eight to 12 hours,' he explained. 'So people often don't make the connection that they are reacting to red meat that they ate the night before or much earlier in the day.' He said the vast majority of cases appeared to be linked to the lone star tick, which lives in 'high densities' in woodland. But there are also clusters outside its natural range which may be down to a deer tick species called the black-legged tick. Other tick species are still under investigation, and in separate countries different species have been blamed for the allergy. Most bites do not trigger the allergy, Oliver said, although it is best to avoid being bitten if possible. 'There are certainly many many times more Lone Star tick bites every year, so the probability of getting it from any individual bite is pretty low,' he said. 'But the people at higher risk are those getting bitten by ticks more regularly.' Scientists are not yet sure what is causing the condition, although it appears to be linked to a reaction to molecules in tick saliva. Oliver explained they could look like those from red meat to the immune system, triggering the allergy, saying: 'it is not like many allergies where you are getting exposed to [what causes it]. 'Instead, it is like a whole class of compounds that are somehow triggering this.' People with the allergy can still eat fish and chicken. Symptoms of the condition include hives or an itchy rash, nausea and swelling of the lips, throat, tongue or eyelids. In rare cases it can also lead to anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal condition where a severe allergic reaction occurs. The CDC recommends people can avoid the condition by avoiding tick bites. This means steering clear of grassy, bushy or wooded areas where the insects may lurk, and thoroughly checking themselves for ticks after coming inside. Sufferers are advised to steer clear of red meats that could trigger their condition, and avoid animal products such as cow's milk and Haribo that could also spark an allergic reaction. Oliver said: 'There is so much that is unknown about this disease, really knowing what combination or proteins causes AGS knowing whether infection with other tickborne diseases is altering the allergy and so on. 'We also need to identify other tick species that are capable of inducing this and finding out under what conditions they do induce it. 'There is a ton of work that needs to be done.' The allergy was discovered in 2001 when Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills, a medicine professor at the University of Virginia, was working on a monoclonal antibody drug when he noticed it causing anaphylaxis in a few patients. After failing to treat a person with the drug, called Cetuximab, an investigation found the antibodies were being attacked by separate ones inside the body. Further investigation revealed the drug's antibodies had AGS in them because they were grown using animal cells. Perhaps the most famous person to publicly acknowledge suffering from AGS is mystery writer John Grisham, who caught it after a tick bite and no longer eats meat. For two years, Joseph Togher had been unable to walk for more than a few minutes without searing pain in his legs like electricity running down them which left the 72-year-old from Blackpool virtually housebound. After an MRI scan last March, it was clear he needed surgery to free a pinched nerve in his spine. This was when the NHS was in the midst of dealing with the Covid pandemic and millions of patients were facing long delays for treatment. But Joseph was told that rather than the year-long wait he faced in an NHS hospital, he could have the operation within weeks thanks to an arrangement with a local private hospital. Just ten weeks after seeing an NHS consultant in July 2021, he had the two-hour procedure which was not only a success but was carried out in five-star surroundings, says Joseph, a retired acupuncturist and ice cream van owner. Joseph was told that rather than the year-long wait he faced in an NHS hospital, he could have the operation within weeks thanks to an arrangement with a local private hospital. A file photo is used above I was so lucky to have the opportunity to go to the private hospital I cant praise them enough. More than six million people the equivalent of 10 per cent of the population of England are currently awaiting NHS treatment, thanks to the knock-on effects of the pandemic. Many thousands have endured a two-year delay in operations for hip or knee replacements, or cataract surgery. Yet there seems to be a simple solution. Good Health has been told that private hospitals in the UK have the capacity to do at least 30 per cent more than they did pre-pandemic equivalent to about 30,000 more procedures a month, giving tens of thousands of patients the treatment they need. The 30,000 figure is based on an analysis of NHS performance by the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), which represents private hospitals and clinics in the UK. One network of private cancer clinics even says that it could almost triple the number of NHS cancer treatments it provides overnight, if given the go-ahead. The NHS currently uses about 30 per cent of our capability, but we could boost the number of treatment sessions for NHS patients to above 80 per cent, offering many thousands of treatments for NHS patients, says Sean Sullivan, CEO of Rutherford Health, which has five private cancer centres across the UK. Latest figures show that more than 99,000 treatments were carried out on NHS patients in private hospitals in February 2022 still below pre-pandemic levels of roughly 105,000 procedures every month. A file photo is used above Crucially, the cost would be no greater than treating the patients on the NHS. NHS pricing rules state that independent providers are paid the NHS price for NHS work, which is invariably lower than private clinics would normally charge. These private sector offers seem like a no-brainer. They also mirror the NHS ambition, set out in the Delivery Plan for Tackling the Covid-19 Backlog of Elective Care, published in February, to be delivering about 30 per cent more routine procedures by 2024/25. According to private hospitals, there is plenty of spare capacity for the NHS to use. Latest figures show that more than 99,000 treatments were carried out on NHS patients in private hospitals in February 2022 still below pre-pandemic levels of roughly 105,000 procedures every month. Increasing this pre-pandemic level by 30 per cent would mean an extra 30,000 could be done a month. David Hare, chief executive of the IHPN, says: Given the scale of the backlog, its vital an all shoulders to the wheel approach is taken to tackle NHS waiting lists. The independent health sector is a vital tool in the NHS armoury to bring down waiting times. Last December, Rutherford Health offered NHS England a three-year not-for-profit deal to use more than 80 per cent of its capacity to help tackle the NHS cancer backlog. Currently, the NHS uses about 30 per cent. As it explained in a letter seen by Good Health, the increase to 80 per cent would amount to 13,500 chemotherapy sessions, 18,072 radiotherapy sessions, more than 6,000 proton beam sessions (a new more precise type of radiotherapy), 20,000 MRI, 18,000 CT and 24,000 ultrasound scans a year. We have fully staffed new units which could take patients from the NHS waiting list straight away, says Sean Sullivan. Its a win, win, win situation. The Government starts to get to grips with the NHS waiting list backlog right away, Rutherford could do with the income and NHS cancer patients get their treatment immediately. But some experts arent convinced that sharing the burden with the private sector is the solution, warning that not only do private clinics rely heavily on the same workforce as the NHS, but many of the treatments and specialities found in the NHS simply dont exist in private hospitals. And if things do go wrong, it is the NHS which has to pick up the pieces. While private providers claim to be able to increase their capacity to treat NHS patients, its not clear how they expect to do this without drawing more of the medical workforce away from the NHS, says David Rowland, director of the think-tank the Centre for Health and the Public Interest. Helen Buckingham, director of strategy at another think-tank, the Nuffield Trust, adds that private providers rely particularly on NHS surgeons and anaesthetists. Theres no point in expanding private operations if it simply means the local NHS trust cant find the staff to expand its own activity, she told Good Health. There is also the question of whether private hospitals have the facilities, for instance, to treat an acute NHS caseload safely. David Rowland points out: For example, many private hospitals dont have an intensive care unit, and if a patient has complications after surgery they may need to be transferred to an NHS hospital. The IHPN is adamant that there is more than enough staffing capacity in the private sector. However, greater use of the private sector by the NHS highlights concerns about previous such deals during the pandemic, which critics say seemed to have benefited private hospitals far more than the NHS. At the start of the pandemic, in March 2020, the Government bulk-bought private hospital services for a year while NHS hospitals were dealing with Covid. Almost all the private hospital beds in England 8,000 in total were allocated for NHS use. The deal is estimated to have been worth 400 million a month, regardless of how many NHS patients were actually treated. Private hospitals carried out 3.3 million NHS procedures during the year ending March 2021, according to a National Audit Office report, including about 100,000 inpatients. Yet this was only a fraction of the capacity the Government bulk bought. A report last year by the Centre for Health and the Public Interest said the 26 private hospital companies delivered 43 per cent less NHS-funded healthcare under the contract than they did in the 12 months before the pandemic. An investigation by the Health Service Journal found that two thirds of private sector capacity that was block-purchased by NHS England was left unused between June and September 2020. Indeed, the IHPN analysis shows that pre-pandemic, in January 2020, private hospitals were carrying out almost 115,000 procedures a month on NHS patients, this dropped to fewer than 20,000 at the height of the pandemic in May 2020 when the NHS had a bulk-buy contracts with the private sector. The reasons for the poor use of private beds are complex. During the pandemic, fewer patients came forward due to concerns about catching Covid in hospital, while strict hygiene measures meant that fewer patients could be seen than normal. Private hospitals were also treating more patients with complex health problems such as cancer, rather than high volumes of hip replacements, for example. Others claim confusion and poor communication over the contracts was to blame. Last year, the number of NHS patients treated in the private sector remained down, despite a separate 10 billion deal between the NHS and the sector. And yet the bulk-buy deals for beds between the NHS and the private sector were extended again in January 2022 for three months, until the end of March. Behind all this are the lives of millions of NHS patients who are waiting for the care they need. For Joseph Togher, a grandfather, the prompt surgery at the Spire Fylde Coast Hospital last September has been life-transforming. If Id had the operation at the NHS hospital, I would have had to wait nine months at least, he said. He might still be waiting now, and yet thanks to the private hospital care, hes enjoyed months without leg pain. A U.S. military veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan for two years is one of nearly 300,000 ex-servicemen suing an ear plugs manufacturer claiming the devices were faulty. Joseph Sigmon, 37, from North Carolina, was diagnosed with tinnitus a constant ringing in the ears after returning from the battlefield in 2013. The father-of-two claims the condition which can be sparked by prolonged exposure to loud sounds is due to manufacturing giant 3M's $7.63-a-pair plugs. But 3M argues that its ear plugs worked well, and that it is not liable for any damage as they were asked to make adjustments to the devices at the behest of military contractors, which are responsible for the product's failure to work. Court filings show the plugs were shortened by a quarter of an inch when they were supplied between 1999 and 2015, meaning they did not fit all soldiers correctly. 3M is currently facing one of the biggest multi-district litigations in U.S. history, and is already expected to pay out $220 million to 12 veterans who won their cases. The company is appealing the verdicts. Joseph Sigmon (pictured), 37, from North Carolina, claims ear plugs supplied to the U.S. military for $7.63-a-pair left him with tinnitus, which is a constant ringing in the ears Sigmon (pictured) has served both in Iraq and Afghanistan, and when he was discharged had reached the rank of staff sergeant in the military Pictured above are the earplugs supplied by 3M (left) and Sigmon on tour in Afghanistan (right) where he helped train Afghan soldiers how to use artillery Tinnitus is a condition where someone experiences a regular ringing, buzzing or hissing in their ears which is not triggered by sounds from the outside world. It occurs due to damage to the cochlear hair cells in the inner ear, which stretch and contract like with sound-induced vibrations, often due to very loud noises. The cause of the condition is not always clear, but it is often linked to hearing loss, regular exposure to loud noises and as a side-effect of some medications. Treatment focuses on counselling and therapies to help people find ways of coping with their condition and reducing any anxiety it causes. What is tinnitus? Tinnitus is the name for hearing noises, such as ringing, buzzing or hissing, that are not caused by an outside source, according to the NHS. It occurs due to damage to the cochlear hair cells in the inner ear, which stretch and contract in accordance with sound-induced vibrations. Very loud noises - at a nightclub or played over headphones can overload these cells, leaving them temporarily or permanently damages. The damage forces other parts of the ear to overwork to compensate for the loss of function, which leads to tinnitus and eventually chronic hearing loss. Treatment focuses on counselling and therapies to help people find ways of coping with their condition and reducing any anxiety it causes. Tinnitus retraining therapy uses sound therapy to retrain the brain to tune out and be less aware of ringing and buzzing noises. Deep breathing, yoga and joining support groups can also help. Advertisement Sigmon said he used the ear plugs 'religiously' while in action, but feared they were not working. He told NBC: 'I remember me and my buddies talking about how the earplugs arent working. 'When you would fire your rifle, you could still feel a pinprick in your ear. You could feel the percussion. You could feel that sharp pain the crack from it.' '[But] We wrote it off thinking these earplugs were protecting us that was what we were told.' He added: 'I was religious with [wearing] this, I was religious with every piece of my equipment because I wanted to come home, I wanted to see my family again.' Sigmon reached the rank of staff sergeant during his career in the military, serving in Iraq in 2006, and Afghanistan in 2013 where he helped train local soldiers how to use artillery. All soldiers are required to wear ear plugs by the U.S. military while in action or in training. But hearing problems are still the most common difficulty for army veterans to face, accounting for about one in ten disability claims, Vets Guardian reports. Scientists say this is due to the deafening sounds they are exposed to while on the battlefield which often exceed 150 decibels (dB). For comparison, doctors recommend no one should hear sounds above 70 dB equivalent to a loud vacuum cleaner for long periods of time. Manufacturer 3M supplied its ear plugs called CAEv2 to the military up to the year 2015. It said their spherical shape meant they gave soldiers both total hearing protection while also allowing them to hear conversations nearby. The ear plugs were invented by Aearo Technologies LLC, which was purchased by 3M in 2008. Court filings show that in 2000 it was asked by an un-named military contractor to shorten the ear plugs by a quarter of an inch, which it did. Tests at Aearo showed they were too short to fit all users and could loosen in place. But the company determined they were still a good fit. 3M said this concern was relayed to the military. But in 2018 it reached a $9.1 million settlement with the Department of Justice over the plugs. Mr Sigmon says he raised fears to colleagues that the ear plugs were ineffective while he was serving on the battlefield, saying he was feeling 'pinpricks' in his ear The ear plugs were supplied to the U.S. military between 1999 and 2015. They were alleged to both protect soldiers from sounds while allowing them to hear conversations nearby This alleged they had sold defective ear plugs to the military that were too short for proper insertion into all users ears, and could loosen in some people's ears. It added that this 'defect' was not disclosed to the military. Although 3M eventually reached a settlement over this, it did not accept any wrongdoing. However, the case has triggered an avalanche of lawsuits against the company from veterans claiming the ear plugs have damaged their hearing. Company 3M has lost 12 out of 18 cases so far, and is now expected to pay out $220 million to veterans. It is appealing cases that it lost. The manufacturer argues that its ear plugs were effective. A spokesman for the company told DailyMail.com: '3M has great respect for the brave men and women who protect us around the world, and their safety is our priority. 'Twenty military and civilian labs tested the CAEv2 product while it was sold to the military from 1999-2015, and not one found anything wrong with it. 'The CAEv2 product was safe and effective to use, and we will continue to defend ourselves and our product.' Ford has today revealed an electric version of the nation's best-selling vehicle - and it's not a car. The all-new E-Transit Custom van is due to be on sale by the end of next year and will offer businesses a greener commercial vehicle alternative to petrol and diesel with a battery range of 236 miles on a single charge. But it won't be cheap. It is expected to be priced from around 40,000 - a significant mark-up on the cheapest version on sale today, which starts from 26,145 excluding VAT. Britain's best-selling vehicle to go electric: Ford's Transit Custom has been the most-registered motor in the country since the pandemic hit. A new all-electric version is due late next year The E-Transit Custom is one of five all-electric vans with blue-oval badges on sale by 2024, according to 'Ford Pro' - the brand's new dedicated division to look after its commercial vehicle and services operations. It will be built at the Kocaeli factory in Turkey from the second half of 2023 alongside an electric version of the next-generation Volkswagen Transporter, following an agreement between the two major motor firms to share platforms for their commercial vehicles and electric cars. Ford expects the first E-Transit Customs to arrive in the UK before the end of next year, though a spokesperson says it could be early 2024. When it does hit the market, it will continue to be sold alongside combustion engine and hybrid versions of the supremely popular medium-size van, which has been the nation's best-selling motor ever since the pandemic sparked increased demand for delivery services. Some 53,394 Transit Customs were registered in the UK in 2021, which was 12,000 more than the best-selling car - the Vauxhall Corsa. Already this year (up to the end of April) some 17,190 new examples of the Ford van entered the road compared to 12,799 Corsas, which continues to be the nation's favourite passenger car. Ford says the new E-Transit Custom has a 'no-compromise all-electric architecture' suitable for businesses up and down the country to 'effortlessly make the change to electrified vehicles' Already this year (up to the end of April) some 17,190 new Ford Transit Customs have entered the road compared to 12,799 Vauxhall Corsas, which is Britain's most bought car of 2022 so far Yet, Ford could have a tough job on its hands trying to convince businesses to consider an all-electric Transit over a new combustion-engined variant, with the battery version likely to cost up to 14,000 more than the existing entry-spec oil burner - that's a 52 per cent increase in price. However, the brand defiantly says the new E-Transit Custom has a 'no-compromise all-electric architecture' suitable for companies, small business operators and workmen and women up and down the country to 'effortlessly make the change to electrified vehicles'. This claim is based on the van's 'targeted' full-charge driving range of up to 236 miles. Latest government data estimates that the average annual van mileage in Britain is around 13,000 miles, based on stats for April 2019 to March 2020. Divided by 52. that approximately 250 miles, meaning the average E-Transit Custom driver could - in theory - get by on one full charge and a quick battery top-up each week. However, the quoted 236-mile figure is likely with the van unladen, meaning the real-world range could be much shorter if the vehicle is full of heavy equipment. Slide me The all-new E-Transit Custom van is due to be on sale by the end of next year and will offer businesses a greener commercial vehicle alternative to petrol and diesel with a battery range of 236 miles on a single charge The E-Transit Custom won't be cheap. It is expected to be priced from around 40,000 - a significant mark-up on the cheapest version on sale today, which starts from 26,145 The battery will be capable of DC fast-charging, Ford says - though it hasn't yet confirmed the size of the battery unit or how quickly it charges. Though it has confirmed that the electric powertrain will allow for 'full towing capability' of up to two tonnes. One handy feature it has is Ford's 'Pro Power' system, which allows users to plug power tools - or a kettle for a mid-day tea break - into a 2.3kW socket in the back that supplies electricity directly from the battery. It will even alert the driver if they are getting dangerously close to reducing the battery's range lower than what's needed to get home without having to stop to charge - the last thing you want after a hard day's graft. The feature will sound the horn and flash the lights to raise the attention of the user, who might at the time be operating a circular saw on a noisy construction site and be completely unaware that they're draining the battery. One feature it boasts is Ford's 'Pro Power' system, which allows users to plug power tools into a 2.3kW socket in the back that supplies electricity directly from the battery It will even alert the driver if they are getting dangerously close to reducing the battery's range lower than what's needed to get home without having to stop to charge Speaking at the electric van's unveiling on Monday, Hans Schep, general manager for Ford Pro, said: 'This is a watershed moment for commercial vehicle operators in Europe, and another hugely significant realisation of our Ford Pro ambitions. 'Europes best-selling van just went all-electric and supported by our unique Ford Pro one-stop-shop of productivity-boosting services the operating benefits this will bring to business across Europe cannot be overstated.' Further details - likely including an on-sale date - will be released in September, Schep says. The new Transit Custom will fresh looks. The front-end shares the same hexagonal grille and slim headlights that are already used on the Fiesta and Focus Ford has promised five all-electric vans by 2024, including the larger E-Transit, which started production in March When it does arrive, it will join the larger E-Transit that began production in March will be priced from 47,700 (excl VAT). The bigger model provides a shorter full-charge driving range of up to 197 miles from a 68kWh battery, which is likely to be the same one used for the E-Transit Custom. Unlike the larger van, the E-Transit Custom will debut all-new looks. The front-end shares the same hexagonal grille and slim headlights that are already used on the Fiesta, Focus and Tourneo Connect passenger vehicles. The charging point has been integrated on the front right-hand side of the van to it can easily be connected to a device when the driven into a parking bay with charging facilities. The AGM is back with a vengeance. During the pandemic, most annual general meetings were held digitally, no doubt to the secret delight of many a chairman. So much easier to control the proceedings at a virtual gathering than having to deal in person with shareholders and their awkward questions. Even pre-Covid, some companies seemed reluctant to encounter a real, live investor. Put on the spot: The great thing about AGMs is that any investor - or member, in the case of a mutual - has an equal right to be heard Gambling giant Entain liked to hold its meeting in Gibraltar, making it far less accessible for small UK shareholders; a disgraceful stance for a FTSE 100 company. The AGM is a unique fixture in the corporate calendar and the current season has been full of fireworks. Results announcements are usually dry affairs. But the annual meeting is often a mix of student demo and village fete. Woke young protesters mingle with elderly private shareholders and all can have their say. At Barclays, activists barracked the chairman, and some glued their derrieres to the seats to make it harder to throw them out. There were pay rows at Ocado and GSK and drama at Just Eat, which announced the resignation of its chairman and a probe into an executive just before the meeting began. Big shareholders try to engage with boards behind the scenes, so it's quite rare for a large institutional investor to speak out. When it does happen as in 2018 when the then head of stewardship at Aberdeen Standard addressed the hall at the Persimmon meeting over former boss Jeff Fairburn's bloated pay it can have a potent effect. The great thing about AGMs is that any investor or member, in the case of a mutual has an equal right to be heard. Ordinary savers such as John Higgins, a long-term member of mutual insurer LV, can mount a challenge against the board. Mr Higgins has already garnered huge backing ahead of LV's meeting this year for a vote of no confidence in the chief executive for his chaotic attempt to flog the insurer to private equity. There is, of course, no excuse for violent or rude behaviour by shareholders. Protest at an investor meeting is, however, usually a sign of a company that has failed to listen. Confronting directors at the AGM is the theatre of last resort. It would pay boards to listen better. Investors who look ahead in their assessment of risks to the world economy frequently front-run concerns that have yet to permeate through to wider consciousness. Protests about pollution, climate change and, going back, apartheid, are now part of the mainstream, but had an early airing in boycotts and action to influence corporates. Many US firms see the positive power of AGMs to build their brand, and use the meetings as spectacular marketing events. One of the most memorable I attended was for Starbucks in Seattle in 2016. Shareholders were treated to a rock concert Alicia Keys gave a performance and a political rally, with founder Howard Schultz inveighing against Trump-ist politics. There is no British equivalent to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway AGM in Nebraska a weekend festival for investors, like Glastonbury with spreadsheets. Here, boards seem to view AGMs as, at best, a bit of a nuisance, where even if there are no protests, they have to make small talk with pensioners over the buffet. In fact, AGMs are an opportunity for boards to gain valuable insights. At M&S, the meetings are famous for small investors supplying critiques of the underwear and fashion. Private shareholders can pose penetrating questions that put City analysts to shame. Britain is to slap more sanctions on Russian goods as the Government moves to weaken Vladimir Putin's 'war machine'. A new package of measures will hit trade worth 1.7billion and include tariffs on imports of precious metals such as platinum and palladium the latter is used to make catalytic converters in cars. Russia is a leading producer of both, and the UK is one of its major markets. More sanctions: A new package of measures will hit trade worth 1.7billion in a bid to weaken weaken Vladimir Putin's 'war machine' The sanctions will also ban 250m in exports from the UK to Russia, targeting key materials such as chemicals, plastics, rubber, and machinery representing nearly 10 per cent of UK exports to Russia last year. They take the total value of British import and export sanctions to more than 4billion. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: 'Working closely with our allies we can and will thwart Putin's ambitions.' International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan insisted the UK was 'determined to bring to bear our economic might to persuade Putin to change course'. Morrisons has reportedly beaten Asda-owner EG Group in the race to buy collapsed convenience store chain McColl's. The supermarket giant has fended off competition from the petrol station operator with an offer that is expected to see McColl's stores and workforce preserved in their entirety, according to a report by Sky News. It comes as the two suitors lodged last-minute bids last night to take control of the collapsed corner shop chain. Uncertain future: McColl's, which has 16,000 staff and more than 1,100 shops, went into administration after it was unable to repay debts of nearly 100m Morrisons and Asda-owner EG Group, run by the billionaire Issa brothers, have been battling for the firm in a takeover tussle that could send shockwaves through the sector. McColl's lenders had rejected an offer from Morrisons on Friday that would have seen it take on the firm's debts and repay them over time. The bid from Morrisons the sole supplier to McColl's would have protected the 'vast majority' of staff and stores as well as its 141million pension plan. But Morrisons returned yesterday with an improved deal that would see the lenders repaid in full immediately, satisfying one of their key demands, Sky News reported, although the details are unclear. Now Morrisons seems to have won the race, with the deal set to be structured as a pre-pack administration, meaning Morrisons will buy McColl's immediately after it enters insolvency proceedings overseen by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), according to the report. Morrisons has been contacted for comment. Petrol station giant EG Group is thought to have followed that up with its own last-ditch bid including a commitment to honour McColl's pensions, according to sources. EG Group also declined to comment. It is thought that PwC, which is advising McColl's lenders, is preparing to set up a showdown between the rival bidders in which they will present their best offers for the group. McColl's, which has 16,000 staff and more than 1,100 shops, went into administration last week after it was unable to repay debts of nearly 100million. It sounded the alarm in November over shortages of key products, lorry drivers and distribution centre workers. The firm also issued a series of profit warnings and it emerged in February that it was on the brink of collapse. The decision to place the group into administration, a key condition of the offer from EG Group, was condemned by Morrisons as 'disappointing, damaging and unnecessary'. Trustees of the company's pension scheme wrote to the Issa brothers demanding EG Group support its pension commitments, telling them: 'Any company looking to acquire McColl's must do the decent thing and ensure that promises made to staff about their pensions are honoured.' The trustees also wrote to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng urging him to intervene to ensure the scheme's 2,200 members are protected. Labour work and pensions spokesman Jonathan Ashworth urged ministers not to 'stand by and do nothing', but to protect the pensions. Share buybacks by London's biggest listed firms are set to reach record levels in 2022, thanks largely to the oil and gas industry, new analysis has predicted. Online investment platform AJ Bell found that companies on the FTSE 100 Index are planning to acquire 37billion of their own shares this year, compared to a peak of 34.9billion four years ago. This would also be more than three times the amount of shares they repurchased in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic caused many of them to scrap or delay their buyback activity due to significant financial damage and uncertainty. About 9.5billion in share buybacks are expected to be done by energy supermajors BP and Shell, which have both seen their fortunes rebound significantly in the past year following a surge in oil and gas prices. Record: AJ Bell found that companies on the FTSE 100 Index are planning to acquire 37billion of their own shares this year, compared to a peak of 34.9billion four years ago Both businesses released first-quarter results last week, with the former declaring its highest replacement cost profit in a decade while the latter achieved its best quarterly earnings figure ever. The oil giants slipped back in today's trading but their stock is riding high. BP shares are up 29 per cent so far this year at 404.8p and Shell shares are up more than 41 per cent at 22.25. BP recently declared a new $2.5billion share buyback scheme that it intends to finish by August, having previously completed a $1.5billion programme by the end of April. Meanwhile, Shell intends to spend 6.3billion recouping its stock, the most of any blue-chip company, followed by insurer Aviva, which has received hefty pressure to return more money to investors, and British American Tobacco. Other firms that plan to acquire at least 2billion of their shares include banking giants NatWest Group and Lloyds Banking Group, as well as Guinness manufacturer Diageo and consumer goods producer Unilever. Recoup: Since 2000, BP and Shell have repurchased about 75billion of their own shares, which is just under a third of all share buybacks undertaken by FTSE 100 firms On top of this, analysts have estimated that shareholders will pocket 81.2billion in dividends from FTSE 100 businesses, though this does not count special dividends. AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould said the planned cash returns could 'persuade investors to stick with UK equities rather than look elsewhere, although the danger remains that buyback plans are revised and dividend forecasts prove over-optimistic, should a recession or other unexpected development strike. 'Buybacks are particularly subject to revision, as there is far less stigma when a management team quietly parks a programme compared to when a boardroom has to sanction a dividend cut.' Since the start of the century, BP and Shell have repurchased about 75billion of their own shares, just under a third of the total value of share buybacks that have been undertaken by the FTSE's largest companies. Oil giants: About 9.5billion in share buybacks planned this year are expected to be done by BP and Shell, which have both seen their fortunes rebound significantly in the past year Stock buybacks are a common method that firms use to boost their share price and return cash to investors, as they elevate the value of the remaining publicly-traded shares and potentially hand out larger dividends to remaining investors. They can also enhance a company's financial statements by reducing the volume of assets on their balance sheet and increasing the returns on assets or equity. However, they can worsen a balance sheet if they are funded with debt rather than spare cash and potentially reduce the amount of available money that could go towards investment. Russ Mould further notes that corporations have tended to acquire back their shares during a bull market, when they tend to be more expensive, instead of a bear market. He points to the United States, where buybacks had reached an apex in 2006/07 before diving to just 3billion during the global financial crisis in 2009, and rebounding to a new peak in 2018. Mould added: 'A similar pattern can be seen in the UK, and the higher share prices have gone, the more buybacks there seem to have been in 2021 and 2022 on both sides of the Atlantic.' A record $319billion worth of share repurchases had been sanctioned by US firms between the start of January and late March this year, against $267billion in the same period last year, according to recent data from Goldman Sachs. Aviva was engulfed in a sexism row at its annual general meeting yesterday after shareholders directed a number of derogatory comments at chief executive Amanda Blanc. One investor complained that Blanc was not the man for the job while another congratulated the insurer on its board diversity by saying women were so good at basic housekeeping activities. Chairman George Culmer said he was flabbergasted by the question-and-answer session. Sexist comments: Amanda Blanc (pictured) became the first woman to lead a major British insurer when she was appointed boss in 2020. Shares are up 47% since she arrived He said: Im not going to say thank you to everyone for your comments, because I think there were some comments in that session that were simply inappropriate and I do not expect and would [not] want to hear at any future AGM. Im flabbergasted, to be honest. Blanc became the first woman to lead a major British insurer when she was appointed boss in 2020. Shares are up 47 per cent since she took the reins. She was praised for her efficiency in the year following her appointment, as she began to streamline Aviva at pace by selling off a swathe of foreign units. But one shareholder at the AGM, Michael Mason-Mahon, mentioned her predecessors and questioned whether 55-year-old Blanc should be wearing trousers. Another, Ted OToole, seemed appreciative of the boards gender split, as almost half are women. But he added: They are so good at basic housekeeping activities, Im sure this will be reflected in the direction of the board in future. Another grumbled that Avivas share price had not risen enough, even though Blanc had pushed ahead with sales of businesses it no longer needed. This signifies shes not the man for the job, he added. The first-ever auction organized independently by the Galleries Association of Korea was held at the Westin Josun Seoul, Jan. 26. Courtesy of Galleries Association of Korea Total investments into small shares of blue-chip artwork in Korea amounted to nearly 100 billion won ($78.5 million) over the past three-and-a-half years, industry data showed Monday. Four local online art investment platforms, including industry leader ArtnGuide, allow consumers to invest in iconic artwork by buying small ownership stakes, attracting small-sum investors interested in diversifying their portfolios to a field that had been previously only available to the wealthy. According to the data compiled by the four companies, a combined 96.3 billion won worth of such art portfolio investments have been made since the platform was launched in November 2018. The yearly total has been on a sharp rise from 270 million won in the last two months of 2018 to 2.5 billion won in 2019, 5.1 billion won in 2020 and 54.4 billion won in 2021. For the first four months of 2022, investors have already poured 31 billion won into art pieces at a fraction of the traditional cost. Insiders expected that the industry's annual total will reach 90 billion won for 2022 on the back of rising demand for artwork from individual investors here. Local major auction house, K Auction, has also engaged in the new platform business. (Yonhap) My employer did not set up a pension scheme in the workplace. The date for implementation was 2015. I resigned in 2021 and still was not auto enrolled. I know they have set this up now for their employees. Can you advise on my position regarding getting my six years' pension payments made by them and whether they are liable for my contributions also. SCROLL DOWN TO FIND OUT HOW TO ASK STEVE YOUR PENSION QUESTION Lost contributions: My old employer failed to set up a pension scheme while I worked there, but has done now - can I still join? Steve Webb replies: Provided that you and your employer both fell within the scope of the legislation on automatic enrolment at the time, you have a legal right to a pension for the period concerned, so you should certainly take matters further if this did not happen. The first thing to check if possible is when your employer reached their 'staging date' for automatic enrolment. When automatic enrolment started in 2012 it applied initially only to the country's biggest private sector employers. The duty to enrol was then extended in a series of stages based on firm size until it applied to all employers from 2017 onwards. From your question I'm assuming that your employer had a 'staging date' of October 2015, though in some circumstances this could be put back by three months. But after that date they would have had a legal duty to enrol all 'eligible jobholders'. These were people who: - Were aged between 22 and state pension age (inclusive) AND - Earned above 10,000 per year AND - Were working in the UK. Provided that you satisfied all of these tests and that your (former) employer had passed its staging date, you should have been put into a pension. Steve Webb: Find out how to ask the former Pensions Minister a question about your retirement savings in the box below In terms of your options now, the first port of call would be to contact your former employer. You should point out that you had a legal duty to be enrolled and say that you expect them to set up a pension for you and to make the contributions that they should have made while you were employed by them. In theory you could also ask them to compensate you for the investment growth which you would have enjoyed on that money in the period since 2015, though that would probably be quite an involved calculation. If the firm fails to respond to your satisfaction you have a couple of options. One would be to make a complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman on the basis that the firm has failed to administer its pension duties properly. It has, of course, done more than this, but for your purposes a complaint of 'maladministration' may be an approach worth considering. The Ombudsman would look into your complaint (though there could be a delay of several months before it can take your case on) and would be likely to contact the employer. It may be that a more official communication from the employer could get them to respond even if they failed to respond directly to you. Ultimately, the Ombudsman could rule that you had lost out due to their maladministration and could order them to make good the losses that you have suffered. This could in principle include the loss of investment returns on the missing contributions, but this would be up to the Ombudsman to decide. An alternative approach would be to contact the Pensions Regulator, whose job is to oversee compliance with automatic enrolment regulations. TPR has a special 'whistleblowing' process whereby people can report their employers for non-compliance and you can find the relevant webpage here. My employer hasn't put me in a pension scheme and I'm worried to report it Steve Webb replies to a previous question from a reader who still worked for a rogue employer and was concerned they would lose their job if they turned whistleblower here. It is presumably slightly easier for you to do this as you no longer work for the firm, but TPR do say that they seek to maintain confidentiality so this is a route which people can consider even if they do still work for the firm in question. If you think that there were some of your fellow workers who may also have lost out, a report to the Pensions Regulator has the advantage that it may lead to corrective action being taken for all employees who had been affected, whereas an Ombudsman complaint would only benefit you personally. Where a firm is found guilty of non-compliance they can face a one-off fine of 400 plus an escalating daily penalty of anything from 50 to 10,000. TPR can also require your employer to pay the missing contributions. You *may* have to pay your share of the contributions that you would have paid, but in some cases TPR may require the employer to pay these as well as part of their enforcement action. You can read more about their approach here. It is better to make a complaint to either the Ombudsman or TPR, not pursue both forms of redress in parallel. However, should you not get anywhere with the Ombudsman you could follow up with TPR afterwards. Regrettably, your experiences are far from unique. Although the large majority of employers have complied with their duties, a significant number have not. According to the latest statistics from the Pension Regulator, as at December 2021 over 166,000 fixed penalty notices had been issued as well as more than 93,000 unpaid contributions notices. Given that the vast majority of employers do take on this legal duty to enrol their workers into a pension it is important that others do not gain a commercial advantage by seeking to avoid their responsibilities. I hope that you will follow up in one or more of the ways I have suggested and I look forward to hearing the outcome. Sen. Lindsey Graham said on Sunday that the Supreme Court created a 'constitutional right that doesn't exist' when it made the right to an abortion the law of the land with Roe v. Wade in 1973. Graham's comment comes nearly a week after the nation was plunged into an abortion-rights debate when a Supreme Court draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked on Monday. 'Roe v. Wade created a constitutional right that doesn't exist in the written constitution,' Graham said to Bret Baier on Fox News Sunday, 'It's created division from the first day it was decided until now.' Speaking to Brett Baier on Fox News Sunday, Senator Lindsey Graham said that Roe v. Wade created a 'constitutional right that doesn't exist,' and expressed 'hope' for a repeal The overturning of Roe v. Wade would strip women of a nationwide right to an abortion - instead leaving it to individual states to rule on its legality. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, it is expected that at least 18 states could rule to fully ban abortion, and another eight could institute partial bans. The leaked decision, written by Justice Samuel Alito, called Roe v. Wade 'egregiously wrong from the start.' 'Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division,' Alito wrote, also citing the 1994 case Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which upheld Roe v. Wade. Pro-abortion protestors target homes of Justices Kavanaugh and Roberts after White House failed to deter them Protesters remained outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, May 7, 2022 after a massive un-scalable fence was erected to keep demonstrators clear of the building and its justices 'The inescapable conclusion is that a right to abortion is not deeply rooted in the Nation's history and traditions,' wrote Alito. Graham spoke in favor of Alito's decision in the interview on Sunday, expressing 'hope' for a repeal of abortion rights. 'If it does get repealed, which I hope it will, the issue will go back to the states,' said Graham on Sunday, 'The abortion debate will not go away in the country, it will be decided by the people, not a handful of judges.' In the week since the Supreme Court leak, protests for and against abortion rights have raged across the country, blindsided democrats have been slinging blame at one another over the decision, and republicans have begun rubbing their hands together over the prospect of a nation-wide abortion ban. Leading democratic strategist and former advisor to the Clintons, James Carville, said on Thursday that conservatives struck down Roe v. Wade while democrats were busy arguing over 'veganism and pronouns.' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out at her California colleague Governor Gavin Newsom Sunday after he criticized the Democratic Party for not doing enough in the abortion fight Newsom (pictured) said on Wednesday: 'Democrats have failed to target Republicans Where is the Democratic Party? Why aren't we calling this out? This is a concerted, coordinated effort.' 'Today they [Republicans] have no fear of Democrats, that's why they do this,' Carville told CNN OutFront's Erin Burnett, 'You gotta' understand what a huge event this is in American politics ... Roe v. Wade is is over two-to-one in approval.' 'And Alito and them said we don't care. We're not fair, and we don't care and all the Democrats are going to do is sit around talking about veganism and pronouns.' House speaker Nancy Pelosi and California governor Gavin Newsom got into a spat this weekend after Newsom called out fellow democrats for failing to retaliate against republicans on Wednesday. Protesters in San Francisco, which falls in Pelosi's California district, march for abortion rights on Saturday, May 7, 2022 Protesters also descended on the home of Supreme Court Justices in Maryland and Virginia on Saturday. Pictured: Those pro-abortion protesters gathered outside Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house scream: 'We will not go back!' 'Where is the Democratic Party where's the party?' Newsom said speaking to the public, 'Why aren't we calling this out? This is a concerted, coordinated effort and, yes, they're winning. We need to stand up. Where is the counter offensive?' Pelosi, who has represented the district encompassing San Francisco since 1987, pushed back on the California Democratic governor during an interview with CBS Face the Nation on Sunday. 'I have no idea why anybody would make that statement unless they were unaware of the fight that has been going on,' she said of Newsom. Appearing on CNN's OutFront, James Carville slammed his own party for getting caught in promoting woke policies while the GOP seizes on the opportunity to push its agenda Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured at the Capitol on Tuesday) says a federal abortion ban is 'possible' if the Supreme Court rules to overturn Roe v. Wade 'The fact is that we have been fighting for a woman's right to choose and that is to choose. We have been fighting against the Republicans in the Congress constantly,' she insisted in a pushback on her California colleague's comment. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Thursday that a federal abortion ban is 'possible' if the Supreme Court rules to overturn Roe v. Wade. 'If the leaked opinion became the final opinion, legislative bodies - not only at the state level but at the federal level - certainly could legislate in that area,' McConnell, of Kentucky, told USA Today. 'And if this were the final decision, that was the point that it should be resolved one way or another in the legislative process. So yeah, it's possible.' Students graduating from a historically Black college in Texas celebrated at their commencement ceremony when they were told that an anonymous donor had paid their balances. More than 100 ecstatic graduates at Wiley College in Marshall cheered and chanted when they were told that the estimated $300,000 total for the balances owed to the college had been paid off. 'You are debt-free! You do not own the college a penny. If you have a balance, you [now] had a balance. You no longer have a balance,' the college president, Herman Felton Jr, said to the group of seniors on Saturday. The generous donation not only helped students get a head-start in their career, but it allowed the entire Class of 2022 to go on stage to receive their diplomas. More than 100 ecstatic graduates at Wiley College in Marshall cheered and chanted when they were told that the estimated $300,000 total for the balances owed to the college had been paid off The generous donation not only helped students get a head-start in their career, but it allowed the entire Class of 2022 to go on stage to receive their diplomas Senior Dominique Payton, who obtained her Criminal Justice Bachelors this weekend, says that although she did not have an outstanding debt thanks to scholarships she received, she was flabbergasted by the news 'If you do not have a zero balance - I think it's the week of commencement - you will not walk that stage to get your degree, and you will not get your degree until you have a zero balance,' senior Dominique Payton told DailyMail.com. Payton, who obtained her Criminal Justice Bachelors this weekend, says that although she did not have an outstanding debt thanks to scholarships she received, she was flabbergasted by the news. 'I thank God that my classmates are able to walk away without that burden on them. It helps us to go out into the world and we don't have this debt hanging over our heads,' Payton said. 'It is one less thing that they have to worry about. I'm hoping it throws them a little further, knowing that this is something you don't have to worry about and [they can] put [their] mind and attention elsewhere.' It is unclear if such a donation had been given before to the historically black college 'You are debt-free! You do not own the college a penny. If you have a balance, you [now] had a balance. You no longer have a balance,' the college president, Herman Felton Jr, said to the group of seniors on Saturday 'We are constantly communicating with donors to assist students in these ways so that they can begin their after-college experience with less debt,' Herman J. Felton Jr., Wiley's President, and CEO, said in the news release. The 2007 movie 'The Great Debaters' starring Denzel Washington was inspired by a debate in 1935 in which Wiley prevailed over the University of Southern California's nationally-known, powerhouse team at a time when the nation was heavily segregated. It is unclear if such a donation had been given before to the historically black college. Pictured: Ahmed Banat The man gunned-down gangster Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad was visiting the night he was shot dead has fled to Dubai. Underworld figure Ahmed Banat, 43, is understood to have left the country for the Middle East just four days after the brazen April 27 assassination. Sydney's 'Mr Big' - who had a $1million bounty was placed on his head - bled to death on a suburban street in Greenacre after pulling up outside Banat's home. Police at this stage do not believe Banat had any involvement in the gangland hit, but suspect he now fears for his life. A source revealed not only does he fear he could be killed in a hail of bullets by the same crime group that shot Ahmad, he is also wary those loyal to the slain underworld boss may blame his for the shooting. 'He probably thought it would just be better to get out,' an unnamed source told the Daily Telegraph. Mahmoud 'Brownie' Ahmad, 39, (pictured) was gunned down while visiting associate Ahmed Banat in a suburban street in Greenacre on April 27 A harrowing picture shows Sydney underworld kingpin 'Mr Big' fighting for life after he was brazenly executed in a hail of bullets in Sydney It is not suggested that Banat had any role in Brownie's shooting. The exiled criminal identity first grabbed headlines back in 2000, when he and his pregnant girlfriend Anita Vrzina, 20, were shot in Punchbowl with their two-year old son in the car. Ms Vrzina and her unborn baby tragically died in the callous attack however Banat miraculously survived after being critically wounded. Banat at the time of the shooting was a key witness in the murder trial of Edward Lee - a teenager who was stabbed at a party. He pointed the finger at a former associate for the shooting, but later recanted his statements and then fled to Dubai. Banat also ran into trouble in Syria in 2010 and spent ten months in prison there before being sent back to Australia where he was found guilting of giving false evidence in committal hearings during 2001 and 2003. The man Banat claimed was behind the killing of his Ms Vrzina eventually had his murder conviction overturned on appeal. Multiple police vehicles attend the scene at Greenacre, Sydney (pictured) after Ahmad was shot dead Ahmad had repeatedly been warned of the bounty on his head when he walked free from jail six months ago after serving a five-year sentence for killing a gangland rival. Pictured: The Sydney street in Greenacre were he was gunned down Meanwhile, the hunt for Ahmad's killers continues with those responsible for the 'meticulous assassination' still on the run. The list of suspects is long with friends and detectives saying they weren't shocked by his gruesome death. He had repeatedly been warned of the bounty on his head when he walked free from jail six months ago after serving a five-year sentence for killing a gangland rival. During his time behind bars, Ahmad had extorted fellow underworld figures both in the prison and outside, demanding at least one inmate pay $250,000 to ensure his safety. '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 Danny Doherty said. Last October, Ahmad dodged another attempt when he was tipped off by police about a planned hit on him in broad daylight at a park at Rushcutters Bay. A white councilwoman from Michigan has been forced to apologize after she branded the actions of the black chairwoman as 'ghetto' during a six-hour meeting. Eva Worthing, who sits on the Flint City Council, was heard making the remark during Wednesday's meeting, which then quickly descended into chaos. The argument began around the four-hour mark, as council members discussed the technicalities of whether a resolution could be amended. Some council members suggested that making an amendment to the meeting would put the agenda out of order, but Worthing said that 'a motion is always in order.' The black chairwoman, Jerri Winfrey-Carter, the asked 'Why are we amending this motion?' 'Because we can,' Worthing responded immediately. Flint, Michigan Councilwoman Eva Worthing got into an argument with the chair of the city council meeting calling her 'ghetto' Worthing used word after become frustrated with chair Jerri Winfrey-Carter, who is black The exchange occurred about four hours into a lengthy six hour city council meeting The remark and general tone then generated further heated responses, some of which were out of the range of the microphone. 'You know what, don't get funny up in here, because I'll turn this out,' Winfrey-Carter said. Worthing is said to have made a comment that although not picked up by the microphones was then repeated by fellow Council member Tonya Burns who responded: 'Really? That's a racist term. Don't say 'ghetto.''' A number of council members then voiced their offense at Worthing's remark. Fellow Council member Tonya Burns then criticized Worthing saying her use of the word 'ghetto' was racist 'Point of information, madam chair. I think it is a personal attack to say 'getting ghetto,' Burns said. Worthing was then given a warning by Winfrey-Carter, which she then attempted to appeal. 'I don't know what's going on, but I'm not here to play. I am here to be fair. I want to hear from all of my colleagues.... Everybody is going to have a chance to speak.' Winfrey-Carter chastised 'all of the ad libs from Councilwoman Worthing, it's unnecessary. And to have said what she said was unnecessary... she was out of order, point blank.' But Worthing did not back down: 'First of all, we shouldn't even be having this discussion. The motion should have been seconded, discussed and voted on. You chose to threaten me in some way, so I thought that was inappropriate, Ms. Winfrey-Carter, so if you had not said there would have been no reaction. When you're a chair, you should be professional and treat everyone the same.' Worthing defended herself saying that other members on the council had 'abused' her over the four-and-half-years she has been on the council Worthing posted an apology on her Facebook page but still suggested that she should be the one who who should be apologized to Worthing, who is a school teacher said she felt embarrassed. 'I was actually just shocked it came out of my mouth in the first place. I don't normally talked that way. It was just frustration, pure frustration,' she said. Then other council members jumped in to voice their opinions on Worthing's use of the word 'ghetto'. 'To me, it's got some racial overtones. You can laugh, Ms. Worthing, but I can come up with some sure names for your neighborhood,' Councilman Eric Mays, who is also black, said. Once again, Worthing defended herself saying that Mays had once called her a 'nasty woman' referring to her race. 'We take offense to you calling us ghetto. Now I'm going to assure you, I'm going to look up some words and call you something. I don't want to call you trailer-nothing, but I will,' Mays said. 'My reputation is, when you go low once, I go low two, three times,' Mays added. 'And the sooner that council people learn this I keep score.' But the damage had been done and more council members then piled on to Worthing's use of 'ghetto'. Flint, Michigan City Councilwoman Jerri Winfrey-Carter is seen in photos from her campaign pages 'I am offended, and appalled, when you speak to 'ghetto' and it's seven black people here, that's a problem,' Burns said. 'We have to be careful, because there is no superiority in any race, we are all equal here.' 'You teach children, and you're comfortable using 'ghetto'?' Burns added, noting Worthing's day job. Worthing did not react well and likened Burns' comment to a personal attack. Chair Winfrey-Carter interjected once again: 'You've been giving personal attacks all evening, so let her finish with her statement.' Worthing could take no more. 'I am going to excuse myself, madam chair, this is not fair,' before getting up and leaving the meeting. Worthing later apologized saying she was sorry for her comment. 'I was actually just shocked it came out of my mouth in the first place. I don't normally talked that way. It was just frustration, pure frustration,' she said. 'It was a knee-jerk reaction. I said, 'That's ghetto' under my breath,' Worthing said to MLive said. Worthing also said that she was the one who deserved an apology. 'I have been through so much abuse on this council. I have never been apologized to,' Worthing said to Fox News. She also accused Burns of calling her a racist and a liar. 'Why is this behavior allowed? It is about race. All three white women on this new council have had their race pointed out by Eric Mays. There was no story and there was no apology,' Worthing said. 'As leaders, we should be modeling the behavior that we want to see in our city. And unfortunately, that has yet to happen in the four years that I have been on council,' she said. In a Facebook statement, Worthing claimed that she had been subjected to derogatory comments by others on the council for years. 'I have been called a nasty white woman, my children and occupation have been brought up and my white privilege has been mentioned solely to degrade my opinions,' her statement reads. 'I am very sorry for my choice of words. Those who know my heart know I would NEVER ever use someone's race to degrade them. In this case, I said it because I was threatened in a very unprofessional manner by Jerri Winfrey-Carter. I used this term to describe actions by Carter that I found extremely unsophisticated.' 'No one can tell ME how I used that term but me and it is NOT a term that is inherently racist. I normally do not use language like that in the first place. I am angry at myself ... I wish I had handled this better. I am very hard on myself. I'm still upset about it today. However, this one moment does not define me. I will continue to work hard for the residents of my ward.' Prince William is worried that conversations he has with Prince Harry during Jubilee celebrations may be used in his Netflix documentaries, sources have said. The Duke of Cambridge, 40, is 'wary' about his brother's decision to join the weekend celebrations with wife Meghan, 40, and their children Alfie, three, and Lilibet, 11 months, a source said. It comes as the couple, who have built their new life in California, announced on Friday that they were planning on travelling to the UK for the Platinum Jubilee. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who are no longer working royals, will not be allowed to join the Queen on Buckingham Palace's balcony for Trooping the Colour, on Thursday, June 2. Prince William is worried that conversations he has with Prince Harry during Jubilee celebrations may be used in his Netflix documentary, sources have said They will however be allowed to some of the weekend's events. 'William wants to talk to Harry to try to heal the rift between them but hes fearful it will find its way on to Netflix, Oprah or into Harry's upcoming book,' a source told The Sun. The brothers last saw each other in July, for the unveiling of a Kensington Palace statue in memory of their mother, Princess Diana. At the time, sources claimed a 'furious' Prince William did not want to attend the event, after the Oprah Winfrey interview in March last year. Palace aides are also said to be concerned that attention surrounding a Netflix film crew following Harry and Meghan as part of their multi-million deal with the streaming giant could detract from Jubilee proceedings Prince William was 'furious' after the Sussexes interview in March last year (pictured), but wants to heal the 'rift' between them, sources said. Royal biographer Tom Bower told the Sun: 'William will worry that Harry and Meghan will pull a stunt to try to get the limelight. 'Kate and William would be foolish not to be suspicious and would be unwise not to be cautious.' Palace aides are also said to be concerned that attention surrounding a Netflix film crew following Harry and Meghan as part of their multi-million deal with the streaming giant could detract from Jubilee proceedings. Aides are reportedly planning to prevent the Netflix crew filming inside the palace for any Jubilee events. They do not want the celebrations to be 'exploit[ed]' by the production team, after the couple signed the 112million deal in September 2020. It is understood that courtiers have said Netflix cameras will not be allowed in Royal properties including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. However the film crew could mix with crowds and shadow the couple while they are in VIP areas at public events for the Jubilee. The Queen, Meghan and Prince Harry watch a flypast from Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018. The Queen has chosen not to invite them back on to the balcony for her jubilee next month - but the Sussexes say they will be coming to the UK anyway The Monarch is joined on the Buckingham Palace balcony by members of the royal family for the Jubilee in 2019. Prince Andrew, who was at his mother's left hand that day, has also been excluded They may also try to join the couple inside other key locations, such as St Paul's Cathedral, during the four days of celebrations. On Friday, royal experts warned that Harry and Meghan's return to the UK risks becoming the 'focus' of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. Biographer Mr Bower told MailOnline on Friday: 'They have been forced to accept a downgraded role - grouped with all the other VIPs - but are clearly desperate not to be excluded. If the Palace is not remarkably careful, the Sussexes will milk the celebrations for their own benefit. 'Hopefully, the Sussexes will be kept firmly in check to avoid their selfish interests dominating the celebration of the Queen's awe-inspiring service to Britain.' Prince Harry's decision to quit as a working royal and make claims about the royal family from across the Atlantic is understood to have caused the Queen great heartache. It is also said to have caused major rift with Prince William and Prince Charles. Speaking during the Invictus Games last month, Harry said that he did not know if he, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet would return to the UK to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, saying there are 'security issues and everything else'. Labour was accused of being in denial over Beergate yesterday as one of Sir Keir Starmers frontbench team insisted he was Mr Rules. The party was thrown into turmoil by a bombshell document in The Mail on Sunday yesterday which cast doubt on his account of his notorious visit to Durham when he was caught on camera swigging beer. Even Left-wingers who had defended Sir Keir admitted they now believed he had serious questions to answer. But the partys housing spokesman Lisa Nandy rejected claims the leaked planning memo undermined his version of events. Asked seven times across two interviews if Sir Keir should resign if it is found he broke the law, Miss Nandy refused to answer. Mr Clarke-Smith said he believed Labour was in denial over the issue He is Mr Rules, he does not break the rules, she told Sky News. Last night Brendan Clarke-Smith, Tory MP for Bassetlaw, hit back: Mr Rules? Missed the rules more like it. Miss Nandy defended Sir Keir over claims he broke lockdown rules, saying: Im absolutely confident he hasnt broken the law. On Sky News, she insisted: He went on a work visit, he stopped to eat at various times during the day as was factored into the work visit and then he finished the work visit and he went back to his hotel. But asked seven times across two interviews if Sir Keir should resign if it is found he broke the law, Miss Nandy refused to answer. Mr Clarke-Smith said he believed Labour was in denial over the issue. They have dug themselves a huge hole, he added. Rather than continuing to dig, they should hold their hands up, admit they got this wrong and move on. Barrister Jolyon Maugham, who has been a donor to Labour, yesterday warned that Beergate was a serious matter. The partys housing spokesman Lisa Nandy rejected claims the leaked planning memo undermined his version of events The former adviser to Ed Miliband said: I do think there are proper questions which arise for Starmer and his team to answer. As I understand matters, I dont think this can be ignored. I really wouldnt want to be placing a bet that Starmer hasnt broken the law. I think this is a serious matter for him and for Labour. Left-wing activist Owen Jones also raised concerns after a report in The Sunday Times. A witness said they were prepared to tell police that the evening curry which Sir Keir ate broke Covid rules because there was no work done afterwards as Labour claims. Mr Jones tweeted: Ive repeatedly defended Keir Starmer over Beergate, which I took to be a desperate Right-wing deflection from Tory scandal. But if this all checks out, then Starmer lied regardless of whether restrictions were broken and his position isnt tenable. A bitter feud has erupted between the mother and ex-girlfriend of a heavily tattooed Bandidos enforcer with the pair heading to court over where he will be buried. Ricky Chapman, 32, died on April 20 after suffering a medical episode while working at Rio Tinto's port in Cape Lambert, 1,500km north of Perth. Chapman's sudden death has sparked a family dispute with his mother Suzy Stinger trying to have his body brought to South Australia - while his former partner Stacey Schoppe fights to keep him in the state. Now, Ms Schoppe - who has raised more than $9400 on GoFundMe for a funeral - has announced the service has been postponed indefinitely as she takes the case to the coroner's court. 'Unfortunately the funeral is on hold until further notice,' she wrote on the page on Friday. His former partner Stacey Schoppe (pictured together) is embroiled in a battle with his mother over where he will be buried 'His "mother" whos (sic) hasnt been in his life has decided its in Rickys (sic) best interest to go back to sa (sic) for the funeral. 'So I need to make a submission to the coroner to rule in my favour,' she said. 'This may take time. Sorry.' The update, first reported by The West Australian, has since been deleted from the page. It's understood Chapman's former partner, who is the stepdaughter of slain Rebels boss Nick Martin, was listed as his next of kin at the time of his death. The one-time Bandidos hardman's mother told loved ones on Facebook that she wouldn't be letting him be buried out west. 'Would like everyone to know Stacey is not burying Ricky he's coming home to his mother,' she wrote last week. 'Can you all be mindful Ricky has got a family from birth, Chapmans and my family which extends way down Wallaroo, SA. 'Brothers, sister, pops, nanna's and extended (family) that want to give our boy a send off.' Chapman was a keen body builder at the time of his death Chapman's mother, Suzy Stinger, has claimed Ms Schoppe is trying to organise a funeral for Chapman in WA, despite his mother living in SA The tension came to light after Ms Schoppe created the fundraiser to raise money for his funeral costs. 'Everybody knew Ricky knew how much he loved the beach. He love his dog 'big' they had a bond like no other,' she wrote. 'He will be sadly missed within our household as he would always say thank you for finally making me feel like I have a real family. 'Any help would be Greatly appreciated to give him the send off he deserves.' Immediately after Chapman's death, Ms Stinger shared a cryptic post telling her friends to 'stay calm, and if anyone gets out of control, I can't say what gonna happen,' Ms Stinger said. Chapman was working as a fly-in-fly-out rigger between Perth and Cape Lambert at the time of his death after vowing to give up the outlaw motorcycle gang lifestyle. He was involved in the infamous bikie brawl in Broadbeach in 2013 and last made headlines in 2020 when he copped a stray bullet to the arm in the contract killing of his father-in-law and bikie boss Martin. He required surgery to remove the bullet and was arrested upon leaving hospital for breaching the conditions of his parole for associating with known underworld figures. He was working as a fly-in-fly-out rigger between Perth and Cape Lambert at the time of his death after vowing to give up the outlaw motorcycle gang lifestyle Chapman also claimed someone had made a dating profile for him on Grindr because he was constantly being sent messages by men Chapman served further prison time but was released in April 2021, when he again vowed to change his life. In the 12 months since, Chapman appears to have dedicated his life to body building and his new work. Days before his death, the 32-year-old shared a motivational quote reading 'I hope that you become filled with so much happiness that it heals every part of you'. Around the same time, he also made a separate post questioning whether 'someone made a Grindr profile of me or put me on a gay site'. Chapman said he'd been bombarded by messages from men. Vladimir Putin's regime is 'mirroring' the actions of the Nazis and must share the same fate as them, Ben Wallace will say as the Russian leader stages a military parade to celebrate victory in World War II. Defence Secretary Mr Wallace will use a major speech to say that Putin and his inner circle should share the same fate as the Nazis, who ended up defeated and facing the Nuremberg trials for their atrocities. His speech, at the National Army Museum in London, will also directly criticise the behaviour of Russian commanders for war crimes and their incompetence in a campaign which has failed to secure the gains expected by Putin. In Moscow, Putin will watch the Victory Day parade of military hardware, marking the defeat of the Nazis in 1945. But according to extracts briefed to the Telegraph and Times, Mr Wallace will say: 'Through their invasion of Ukraine, Putin, his inner circle and generals are now mirroring the fascism and tyranny of 70 years ago, repeating the errors of last century's totalitarian regimes.' He will add: 'Their fate must also, surely, eventually be the same.' Ben Wallace on manoeuvres in Finland. Defence Secretary Mr Wallace will use a major speech to say that Putin and his inner circle should share the same fate as the Nazis, who ended up defeated and facing the Nuremberg trials for their atrocities. In Moscow, Putin will watch the Victory Day parade, marking the defeat of the Nazis in 1945 (pictured: Russian service members march during a rehearsal for a military parade marking the anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two in Red Square in central Moscow, May 7) Russia's sacrifices in the past should not be forgotten, 'but nor must the lessons about what lies in store for the perpetrators of such unprovoked brutality', he will say. In a message to Putin, he will say: 'In going to such extremes to justify this war of choice he and his generals are now ripping up both Russia's past and its future. 'Their unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine, attacks against innocent citizens and their homes, and the widespread atrocities - including deliberately against women and children - corrupts the memory of past sacrifices and Russia's once-proud global reputation.' The generals in their 'manicured parade uniforms' are 'utterly complicit in Putin's hijacking of their forebears' proud history' of resisting fascism, and 'all professional soldiers should be appalled at the behaviour of the Russian army,' Mr Wallace will say. 'Not only are they engaged in an illegal invasion and war crimes, but their top brass have failed their own rank and file to the extent they should be court-martialled.' He will say that rank and file soldiers in the Russian army 'will not get a voice and their mothers and sisters will be shamed into silence'. In a message to Putin (pictured), Mr Wallacewill say: 'In going to such extremes to justify this war of choice he and his generals are now ripping up both Russia's past and its future' Mr Wallace's speech comes after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss accused Russia of war crimes over the bombing of a school in eastern Ukraine where civilians were sheltering. Up to 60 are feared dead after the school in Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine was bombed and caught fire on Saturday. The Foreign Secretary said she was 'horrified' and added that Mr Putin's regime would be held to account. Around 90 people were thought to have been sheltering at the school, but just 30 have been rescued. Ms Truss tweeted: 'Horrified by Russia's latest attack on a school in Luhansk, resulting in the deaths of innocent people sheltering from Russian bombardment.' She said the deliberate targeting of civilians and infrastructure 'amounts to war crimes' and 'we will ensure Putin's regime is held accountable'. On Sunday, G7 leaders including Boris Johnson and Joe Biden held talks with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky. Mr Johnson told his counterparts 'the world must go further and faster to support Ukraine' against the Kremlin's invading forces. Ukrainian soldiers next to a destroyed Russian tank on the outskirts of Kharkiv, Ukraine, 8 May A Downing Street spokeswoman said: 'The Prime Minister said there was a savage irony that the leaders had gathered to discuss Putin's barbaric invasion on a day when they should be remembering the sacrifice of Russian soldiers defeating fascism in the Second World War. 'He agreed with G7 leaders that the world must intensify economic pressure on Putin in any way possible, and said the West must not allow the war to turn into a stalemate that only magnified suffering. 'Ukraine needed to receive military equipment that allowed them to not just hold ground in Ukraine, but recapture it, the Prime Minister told the leaders.' The G7 agreed more needed to be done to support Ukraine's agricultural exports, with the war impacting food supplies around the world. Mr Johnson also urged G7 countries to intensify diplomatic lobbying of countries which were failing to apply pressure on Moscow, 'especially as it was clear grossly unjustifiable human rights abuses and war crimes were being committed', the spokeswoman added. US officials claimed two major Russian tank factories had ground to a halt because of the impact of economic sanctions. The UK has pledged an extra 1.3 billion in military support to Ukraine, in a dramatic escalation of assistance for Mr Zelensky's forces as they fight the Russian invasion. It is the highest rate of UK military spending on a conflict since the height of the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Vladimir Putin's biggest Australian supporter has held an audacious pro-Russia party on Sydney Harbour where he pokes fun at Ukranian soldiers facing death in Mariupol. Simeon Boikov's flag-waving soiree to celebrate the Soviet Union's victory against the German Nazis in World War II was attended by Russian loving bikies, diplomats and his glamorous wife Katia. On a boat decked out with hammer and sickle flags, balloons in Russian flag colours of red, white and blue, the guests enjoyed food and wine, Russian folk songs and danced on the decks. Dressed in military uniform and a nautical style striped shirt, Mr Boikov stood stiffly at attention while a Russian anthem was played before columns of balloons in the Russian St George colours of orange and black and a glorious view of the harbour behind him. In a particularly disturbing moment Boikov asks members of the Australian chapter of the Lone Wolf Motorcycle Club - Putin's confessed favourite bikie gang - what they want to say to Asov Battalion, the Ukraine regiment holding out against Russian forces in the besieged port city of Mariupol, and two of them reply: 'You'll be gone'' and 'You won't last long'. 'Aussie Cossack' Simeon Boikov hosted a party on Sydney Harbour at the weekend to celebrate Russia's victory over Nazi Germany during World War II treating guests to food, wine and music Boikov asked his wife Katia (above on Board at the harbour Victory Day party) who he calls 'Mrs Cossack' about her great grandfathers fighting for Russia during World War II Guests aboard Simeon Boikov's party enjoyed food and wine and a stunning view of the water on a sparkling day on Sydney Harbour When the Aussie Cossack asks members of the Australian chapter of the Lone Wolf bikie gang what to say to a Ukrainian regiment, they reply, 'you'll be gone' The self-styled 'Aussie Cossack' also used the event to stage a mock Russian 'invasion' with a tiny motor boat with two dogs and a Russian flag aboard speeding past, a NSW Water Police craft in pursuit. Boikov can be heard saying as guests laugh on one of several videos he's posted online of his party, 'Guys. Can you believe this? We've got a Russian ship. 'We've got Putin's operatives on Sydney Harbour and in close ... proximity we've got the NSW Police are hot on their tail. 'I don't know how this is going to end. But I've never seen this before.' Mr Boikov's harbour party was held on Sunday to celebrate the '9th of May Victory Day' marking Russia's defeat 1945 over Nazi Germany in World War II. Across Russia on Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding massive Victory Day parades including a huge show of strength rolling out in Moscow, even as his army marks up to 25,000 soldiers killed in the war against Ukraine. With a video camera following him, Boikov does a walk-through of his party, interviewing his wife Ekaterina Olshannikova about her great grandfathers fighting in WWII. He approaches members of the Australian chapter of the Lone Wolf Motorcycle Club, which is Vladimir Putin's confessed favourite bikie gang, who he describes as 'scary looking bikers'. Today I celebrated VE Day ie when WWII Allies defeated the Nazis. Russian ambassador (HE Alexey Pavlovsky) was there. My speech outlined a five point plan for world peace - see 5-10% chance a nuke soon goes off followed by another 30+ ie Dark Ages II. Imperative we avoid. John Ruddick (@JohnRuddick2) May 8, 2022 Among what Mr Boikov described 'a very interesting crowd', he interviews former politician Ross Cameron and his former staffer, Liberal Democrats senate candidate John Ruddick. Cameron is an evangelical Christian who revealed he'd had an extramarital affair with an 'exotic solicitor' while his wife was pregnant with twins, and lost his seat of Parramatta two months later in the 2004 election. Ruddick is an anti-vaxxer, a mortgage broker and author of a 2018 book, Make the Liberal Party Great Again, and the Liberal Democrats lead NSW Senate prospect. Mr Boikov objected when Ruddick said his 'five point plan for world peace' included Russia's 'immediate withdrawal' from Ukraine. In one of his videos form the day Simeon Boikov mocks the NSW Water Police in pursuit of a boat which he jokes has 'Putin's operatives' on a 'Russian ship' with the police in 'hot' pursuit The 'Russian ship' was a small motor boat bearing a Russian flag and two dogs on board which streamed across Sydney Harbour in the evening with the Water Police trailing behind Anti-vaxxer Senate candidate John Ruddick and controversial former MP Ross Cameron enjoy a drink aboard the Aussie Cossack's pro-Russia harbour party at the weekend But Ruddick went on to say, 'we don't agree on everything ... that's why we're mates, but it also includes for Ukraine to have a constitutional amendment saying no military alliances. 'We also want NATO out of the Baltic states. It's too provocative. If one nuclear bomb goes off , 50 will go off.' Ross Cameron, who once described Vladimir Putin as 'Russia's finest leader since Peter the Great' said on camera, 'I'm here on victory in Europe day, the celebration of the defeat of fascism in Europe which, let's be honest, was a close run thing. 'It could have gone either way. And whilst we say that war is an ugly thing . It is for leaders to avoid avoidable war. Katia Olshannikova (right) married Simeon Boikov (left) in a Russian Orthodox ceremony in Sydney last year and he says she is even more ardently pro Russia than he is 'And I believe we are on the brink of a completely avoidable war. This is a war which is capable of being completely resolved.' Simeon Boikov has been Pro-Russian campaigner since the start of the war in Ukraine, and has denounced Prime Minister Scott Morrison's $70m military support for Volodymyr Zelensky's regime. The 32-year-old construction professional, who is the founder of the patriotic Russian Australian Aussie Cossack movement, is keen for Australians to see Putin as a 'liberator' not an invader or 'occupier'. Mr Boikov and his glamorous wife - who he says is even more 'staunch' and 'disgusted' with West's support of Ukraine have promoted the belief that Ukrainian forces are 'neo Nazi'. Ekaterina Olshannikova and Simeon Boikov (above at a March pro-Russian demonstration outside Kirribilli House) enjoyed a celebration on Sydney Harbour on Sunday for Victory Day Mr Boikov has attacked Australia's plan to send Ukraine missiles, saying the Prime Minister is 'a complete fool' who has put Australia's national security at risk. He said Mr Morrison's pledge to fund missiles for Ukraine had made Australia a 'target' for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr Boikov told Daily Mail Australia described the West's campaign to get behind Ukraine and oppose Russia as 'virtue signalling' and derided 'Instagram models .... who suddenly overnight become interested in the war' and put the yellow and blue colours of the Ukraine flag on their Instagram pages like 'they're Parramatta Eels supporters". 'I am against war, but the war has replaced Covid as the latest fear mongering campaign,' he said. This photo, released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency, Oct. 20, shows a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) being fired in waters off the east coast the previous day. Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo Despite launching two ballistic missiles within less than a week, North Korea has remained quiet on the launches, raising questions over the silence. Diplomatic observers say the absence of reporting on the launches in the North Korean media was due to the Kim Jong-un regime's plan to promote the provocations as a routine military action, as well as China's desire to prevent tensions from growing on the Korean Peninsula, rather than speculation that the launches ended in failure. According to the South Korean military, North Korea fired what was believed to be an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from the Sunan area in Pyongyang, Wednesday, followed by the launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the waters off the North's eastern coastal city of Sinpo, the North's main submarine shipyard, Saturday. However, the reclusive state's official news agency and other state media outlets have not reported the launches, seen as its latest saber-rattling ahead of the inauguration of South Korea's incoming President Yoon Suk-yeol. Usually, the Korean Central News Agency, Pyongyang's official mouthpiece, usually begins its morning news cycle with reports on major events that happened the previous day, such as its leader's activity or major weapons testing. The Rodong Sinmun, the North's main newspaper, and other media outlets also remained mum on the launches. Initially, the absence of reporting the missile launches was believed to have to do with their failures because another attempted missile launch ended in apparent failure, March 16, and its state-run media outlet did not report the event. However, as the North Korean regime did not report the SLBM, there has been growing speculation that there is another reason for its silence. There is something in common in the recent two missile launches. Both of the missile launches were declared successful by the country, so they are regarded as tests to reinforce the weapons. In other words, under its five-year military plan, the launches are part of its process to modernize its weapons. Internally, this information may not be news to deliver urgently to the North Korean people, and externally, it is seen as its determination to go its own way without considering neighboring countries such as China and Russia, as well as the United States. However, Cheong Seong-chang, the director of the Center for North Korean Studies at the Sejong Institute, said the absence may have to do with Beijing's pressure on Pyongyang to not ratchet up tensions on the peninsula. "North Korea's recent failure to expose its missile launches is likely due to pressure from China, which does not want to escalate military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and thereby worsen South Korea-China relations," Cheong said. "Instead of staging military provocations that may ruffle China's feathers, North Korea seems to have test-fired a short-range SLBM that could be accepted by China," he said. In fact, the Chinese government is seeking to improve its relations with the new South Korean government, as evidenced by dispatching Vice President Wang Qishan to Yoon's inauguration ceremony. A group of smash and grab robbers raided a Virginia eyeglass store and stole more than $20,000 of products. This week, Fairfax County released in-store surveillance footage of four men raiding a MyEyeDr. store near Richmond Highway in Alexandria at about 6.30pm on April 19. The suspects are all black men and are believed to be between the ages of 17 and 23. A fifth suspect, who was the group's getaway driver, is also wanted by police. The men are believed to have fled in an older-model black Toyota Camry with tinted windows and black hubcaps. A group of four men stole $20,000 worth of items from a MrEyeDr. store in Alexandria, Virginia, back in April before cops released footage of the robbery on May 5 The robbers smashed cabinet windows and took all items on display while store customers and employees watched on 'Detectives are following up on leads and are aware of similar incidents throughout the National Capital Region,' Capt. Frederick Chambers, Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division of the Fairfax County Police Department, said in a press release issued on Thursday. Police are having a hard time identifying the perpetrators, who were wearing masks, hoodies and hats on the day of the robbery. In the video, the four men can be seen entering the shop, immediately smashing cabinet windows before filling up their trash bags with glasses. 'The cops are on their way man,' a person in the footage tells the robbers, as they continue to ransack the store. No injuries from the burglary were reported. April's incident is the fourth robbery that happened in an eyeglass store in the DC area since the start of the year. All were carried out by smash and grab thieves. Near the end of the footage, one of the four men tried to break a cabinet's window with a bat but to no avail In the video, a man can be heard telling the robbers: 'The cops are on their way man,' while they continue to ransack the store Fairfax County police responded to MyEyeDr. on 6307 Richmond Highway on April 19 around 6:30 p.m 'Detectives continue to work with our law enforcement partners in the region to identify the suspects involved in this incident and are closely examining others that fit this same troubling pattern. We are asking for information from our community and reminding them they can remain anonymous through our Crime Solvers tip line,' Chambers added in Thursday's press release. Smash and grab robberies have been increasing across the country over the last few months, particularly in California and New York. A group of thieves in the Big Apple broke into a jewelry store in the Bronx, stealing an estimated $20,000 in chains and pendants on May 1, after smashing their way through the front window with a sledgehammer. Another similar incident, about two-and-a-half miles away in the Bronx, was reported to the NYPD on April 3. A group of robbers had also used a hedge hammer to break into a jewelry store's front window and stole about $50,000. A thief carrying a sledgehammer smashed the front window of a Bronx jewelry store before robbing items worth about $20,000 The robber managed to steal 10 gold chains and five gold pendants, the NYPD confirmed Meanwhile, violent crime has soared in the metropolitan D.C. area, which includes Alexandria, as police recorded a 24 percent spike this month compared to May 2021, according to public data. So far this year, D.C. has seen 812 robberies, a 53 percent increase compared to last year, when there were 531 going into May. Motor vehicle theft has also gone up by 10 percent. Last year, 1,013 vehicles were reported stolen at the start of May, while this year there have been 1,112 so far. However, sexual abuse reports have gone down, as 50 of them were filed in May 2021 while 39 of them were issued this year - a 22 percent decrease. Assault with a dangerous weapon has remained steady this year compared to last year, with a one percent decline. Last year, 474 claims were made while this year, seven fewer (467) have been filed. Hay fever tablets are running low across the country due to an ingredient shortage and the timing couldn't be worse as forecasters predict a rise in pollen levels. Stocks of chlorphenamine maleate an active ingredient in Piriton medication and other such remedies are widely limited. Piriton tablets for adults are out of stock online at Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy and Coop Pharmacy, although their syrups for children are still available. It comes as drug shortages in England reach their worst level ever, with HRT, steroids and blood pressure drugs also affected. About 500,000 patients in England are being stung by shortages, which have been blamed on the rising cost of raw materials, post-Brexit trade rule changes and Covid lockdowns in China. Piriton tablets are out of stock online at Boots, Lloyds Pharmacy and Coop Pharmacy. File image Chlorphenamine maleate is an active ingredient in Piriton medication and stocks are running low, say Boots. File image A spokesman for Boots told The Daily Telegraph that they were expecting stocks of hay fever tablets to be 'resolved soon'. 'There are a very small number of lines currently out of stock due to an industry-wide shortage of chlorphenamine maleate. However, we are expecting this to be resolved soon.' The shortages seem to be only in medications containing chlorphenamine maleate, with other types of antihistamines more readily available. It is understood that tablets using cetirizine hydrochloride are in good supply, which includes Allacan, Benadryl, Piriteze and own-brand varieties. Both cetirizine and chlorphenamine can be used to treat hay fever, but people often find that one is more suited to them, the NHS says. Medication using cetirizine hydrochloride is less likely to make someone feel sleepy as a side effect. Pharmacists say HRT crisis could be resolved 'quickly' by cutting red tape Pharmacists have doubled down on calls to get rid of red tape that blocks them from prescribing alternative HRT treatments amid the nationwide shortage. Thousands of menopausal women have struggled to their hands on the key drugs, which has left the most desperate rationing prescriptions or turning to the black market. In hope of alleviating the crisis, chemists have repeatedly called on Sajid Javid to ditch rules that force women to go back to their GPs for new prescriptions to get alternatives prescribed. But Sajid Javid who held talks with manufacturers yesterday has yet to announce a change, despite promising to 'do all I can' to fix the crisis. Thorrun Govind, chair of the English Pharmacy Board, told MailOnline changes in prescription rules need to be changed urgently. She said: 'For the pharmacists on the ground, they need the ability to get rid of this bureaucracy. 'When you think about it who's best able to offer an alternative that tends to be the pharmacist.' Advertisement Pollen levels are expected to peak as the two main types from trees and grass are simultaneously released in mid-May. Tree pollen is most common between late-March and mid-May, whereas grass pollen lasts for longer, and is released from mid-May to July. It is also the variety that more people are allergic to. Sarah Kent, a meteorologist at the Met Office, said: 'Pollen levels will be high across much of the UK today and Tuesday. 'At the moment its predominantly tree pollen, but grass season is just starting. 'You may start noticing symptoms more if youre sensitive to grass pollen.' It is thought that the pollen season could be extended in the future due to climate change, as well as warmer weather bringing invasive, and more pollen-rich plants to the country. The issue with hay fever tablets comes as the UK has experienced a general drugs shortage problem in recent weeks. Two-thirds of pharmacists have been facing supply issues every day, according to the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee. And many of them are having to serve aggressive patients, after they are told that their prescribed medication is unavailable. The Times found 67 different drugs were on the list of affected products the most for any March since records began in 2014. One of the most widely reported supply chain issues is with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), with demand rising among women in recent years. Fresh supplies of HRT could soon be shipped into Britain from other countries to ease shortages affecting thousands of women. Dr Leyla Hannbeck, chief executive of the Association of Independent Multiple Pharmacies, told The Times that about 500,000 patients are currently facing barriers to getting drugs they need for a wide range of conditions. Pharmacists are calling for the Government to cut red tape that means they could supply substitute medications without having to send patients back to their GP for a whole new prescription. Industry insiders claim that increases to the costs of raw ingredients, energy and shipping are the drivers of the current crisis. But disruptions caused by the pandemic, most recently China's reversion to strict city-wide lockdowns, are exacerbating the issues, as is Brexit. Dr Hannbeck told the newspaper: 'Shortages impact patients the most. 'Where stable medication has to be changed the process can often be complex and stressful for patients. Some medicines for example for cancer and blood pressure are difficult to substitute. 'It is pharmacies up and down the country that are dealing with these impositions every day and this should be recognised. 'What is more, frustrations [of] the public are often resulting in verbal abuse. Acts of violence towards pharmacy teams should not be tolerated. The job is hard enough without having to endure abuse and threats.' Desperate women have been forced to ration their prescriptions or turn to the black market due to a shortage of HRT drugs, particularly a rub-on gel called Oestrogel. The British Menopause Society has issued guidance to doctors on alternatives for HRT brands which are in short supply but these switches cannot be issued by pharmacists. Generous Daily Mail readers have been praised for their donations after the first of our 500,000 food boxes were handed out to families in wartorn Ukraine. Villagers living in areas close to the Russian border were delighted to receive the first shipment of vital aid packages, which have been part-funded by our Mail Force appeal. Readers have donated an astonishing 11million to help Ukrainians caught in Vladimir Putin's cruel war. The life-saving mission has despatched hundreds of thousands of boxes on an epic 2,000-mile journey from an East Midlands depot to families in the warzone. Seeking answers: Evhen, Valentyna and Kateryna Mohelenets clutch a picture of Olexander who went missing in March The ambitious initiative, which has been praised by Boris Johnson and President Volodymyr Zelensky, was joint-funded with the Ukrainian Embassy in London. Vadym Prystaiko, Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, said: 'I am delighted that our food boxes have been delivered to people in need who have faced unimaginable horrors on the front line of this war. 'I am very grateful to the Mail readers and the Great British public for all of their support and their generosity... Ukrainians will never forget what you are doing to help us in our darkest hour.' Families in the frontline village of Mezenivka, three miles from the border with Russia, were among the first to receive our boxes. When invading troops ordered the villagers to surrender their weapons in March, former border guard Olexander Mohelenets, 35, did as he was told and left home to hand over his hunting rifle. But he never came home and has been missing ever since. Clutching his picture, his wife Kateryna sobbed: 'He called and said he had been taken as a prisoner. We don't know what happened to him.' The family including Olexander's 62-year-old mother Valentyna were forced to cower in their basement a few days later as Russian missiles destroyed their garage and outbuilding. Olexander's son Evhen, 17, told the Mail: 'Only ruins remain. All the windows are broken and there are a lot of bomb fragments. Our car is completely destroyed.' For weeks, frightened villagers hid in their basements, surviving on meagre rations of potatoes and bread as the fighting raged on. Many managed to cook their first full meal only after our aid packages were handed out. The boxes travelled by lorry from Oakland International in Leicestershire to a secret depot in Poland. From there, they were packed onto freight trains and sent into Ukraine. The journey took more than two weeks after military strikes on Ukraine's railway network. The boxes were finally unloaded in the north-eastern region of Sumy and taken by military truck to villagers on the border. Each package contains 14 items including pasta, baked beans, rice, biscuits, cans of tuna and porridge, and provides around 12,000 calories enough to last someone for a week. The appeal was started with 500,000 from the Mail's parent company DMGT at the request of chairman Lord Rothermere and Lady Rothermere. Serhiy Myronov, a Sumy community leader in charge of 11 villages receiving aid, said: 'I want to thank all the British people who donated for this help. I hope that you never know what war is.' The project was co-ordinated by the CBI and managed by consultants from Accenture. CBI president Lord Bilimoria thanked Mail readers and businesses for 'doing their part to help save lives'. A hardworking Aussie couple has managed to achieve the dream of a lifetime by winning a fortune in just one afternoon of punting. For Joanne and Nic Cataldi, who run a shoe repair shop and live in the confined space at the back of it, one of the pleasures of their life is having a bet. On a recent Sunday afternoon, they turned a $200 quaddie at races held in Western Australia - almost 4,000km from their Sydney base - into a $690,000 payout. And if it weren't for the small print that they had never previously read, their win would have been over $1million. Nic and Joanne Cataldi (pictured left and right) celebrate their massive $690,000 win on a quaddie bet Space is so tight in their rented premises that their television is in the same room as their bed. But that is all about to change. The Cataldis, who have six children between them, will now finally be able to buy their own home. As the Albany Gallops were held on a Sunday - the only day they're not at work in Rose Bay Shoe Repairs - they were able to see their dreams come true in real time. Their phenomenal win is such a rarity, they had more chance of being struck by lightning than winning the exotic bet that requires picking the winners of four races. It started when Art Admirer, a 7/1 chance, came in. Then Little Punga - at 15/1 - was next. When Baronova, at 9/1, lined up in race six, the couple whose weekly betting limit is $200 started making some calculations. What is a quaddie? A Quaddie (shortened from Quadrella) is an exotic bet that is very popular with punters. It requires the bettor to pick the winners of four nominated races. The bigger the race meeting, the larger the quaddie prize pool is likely to be. Source: tab.com.au Advertisement When it too came good, Nick thought 'It's got be at least a $30,000 to $35,000 collect just with those three. 'And I said "Jo, you know, I think we won a bit of money." And she said "OK". She'd heard that before,' he told A Current Affair. But for the bet to pay off, they needed a fourth win. The final horse in their quaddie was Athlone Castle and it winning would have meant a massive windfall of more than $1million. The horse, named after a castle in the Irish midlands and ridden by an apprentice, was 8.5/1 - not the most likely horse to make dreams come true. Though boxed in at first, it made a break for it in the open and, to the utterly shocked joy of the couple, it won. 'It's a life changer. It's just unbelievable,' said Mr Cataldi. 'She started crying,' he added, pointing to his wife. 'We don't have much,' an emotional Mrs Cataldi said. 'We work hard, we've got our business.' Her husband said 'All we want is just a house that's ours, or a unit, and that's it. And we got it.' But then they discovered there were some complications in the fine print. The Cataldis thought they were about to become millionaires, but their betting agent Ladbrokes did not pay out all of the winnings they thought they were due, because it has rules on just how lucky a punter is allowed to get. When Athlone Castle (pictured front) won in Albany, it made the dreams of a couple 4,000km away come true 'They've got terms and conditions which I didn't know about,' said Mr Cataldi. A Ladbrokes spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia it 'did pay the correct return for the relevant bets. 'This return was considerably higher than the dividend if the bets were placed in the tote pool,' they said. But with $690,000 in winnings, it's easier to look at the glass as being half full, not half empty. 'Of course I'd like the extra money, everyone would, but then again I look at what I've got and ... we're pretty happy.' For decades, the humble couple had always believed that eventually their luck would be in. 'One of these weeks, you will win, and we proved it. It can happen. I mean, I had to wait 45 years, but we got there,' said Mr Cataldi. Tanya Plibersek has finally appeared alongside Anthony Albanese after claims the popular Labor MP was 'benched' from the campaign trail. The pair met with students at Mr Albanese's old school St Mary's in western Sydney on Monday morning and announced plans to recruit more high achievers to teaching careers. But it wasn't smooth sailing with a school bell repeatedly going off and interrupting Mr Albanese as he tried to begin his press conference. 'The bell tolls for the Morrison Government,' a quick-thinking Mr Albanese quipped. Ms Plibersek was conspicuously absent from major campaign events amid reports Mr Albanese sidelined popular MPs who might steal his limelight. She until recently only had one transcript released to the media and was not included in a trip to WA for events with popular Labor premier Mark McGowan. In an awkward moment Mr Albanese's speech on Monday was repeatedly interrupted by the school bell - but the Labor leader managed to make a quip at Scott Morrison's expense Ms Plibersek is the MP for Sydney while Mr Albanese is the MP for the neighbouring seat of Grayndler in Sydney's inner-west. Both are from the left faction of Labor and were considered for the party's leadership when Bill Shorten quit after the 2019 election loss. Ms Plibersek quickly pulled out of contention, leaving Mr Albanese to duke it out with right faction hopefuls. Back then, Ms Plibersek said she had 'support, from across the party, to be elected leader' but the move would have required too much time away from her family. She added she was was 'overwhelmed by the confidence my colleagues, the union movement, and Labor party members have placed in me'. Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce on Monday claimed he and PM Scott Morrison could work far better together than Mr Albanese and Ms Plibersek. 'I'm 450km away from (Mr Morrison's) seat of Cook,' he said. 'Tanya Plibersek is 10cm away from the seat of Grayndler, right next door, and you can't see Tanya and Albo at the same coffee shop,' Mr Joyce said. 'They can't stand each other.' Ms Plibersek was alongside Mr Albanese in Sydney on Monday after reports she had been benched because of her popularity (pictured) Mr Albanese took the opportunity on Monday to fire back at the prime minister's leaders' debate performance on Sunday night as nothing but smirk and smears, as pre-poll voting gets under way across the country. While the second leaders' debate was declared a draw following a shouty contest, both sides have sought to claim victory from the showdown. 'Scott Morrison didn't have anything to say except shouting, he only had smears and that smirk throughout it all,' he said. 'Last night I put forward ideas... I ask you to think about what were the policy measures that Scott Morrison said he would do in his fourth term if he's elected. If he is given three more years, we can't afford three more years of the same.' While a hung parliament remains a distinct possibility following the election, Mr Albanese said Labor wanted to govern in its own right. 'I will be working every day for 76 (lower house seats),' he said. 'We should have 150 Labor members in the House of Representatives, that is my starting point. I think we will fall short of that, but my objective is 76.' Despite not being able to guarantee a lift to real wages at Sunday's debate, Mr Albanese said he remained confident about working alongside businesses and unions to improve working conditions. 'The truth is we have had flatlining wages over 10 years. The key to lifting wages is lifting productivity,' he said. 'Our clear objective is to lift up living standards... (the prime minister) couldn't even say that Australian workers should be paid the minimum wage.' The pair were announcing their plan to get more high achievers into the teaching profession Labor is looking at splashing nearly $150 million on getting more high achievers into teaching and boosting the numbers of science and mathematics teachers. The plan aimed to reverse nearly two decades of declining performance in Australian students. The sector sees at least one in three teachers quit in their first five years of teaching, with unions complaining of extra workloads pushing members to their limit. Labor leader Anthony Albanese said his party's plan would incentivise the best graduates to take up teaching. 'We want to make sure our kids get the best education they can. That means we have to make sure they get the best quality teaching,' he said. The plan will give 5,000 students with an 80 or higher ATAR get $10,000 a year to study teaching, plus an extra $2,000 if they move to the bush. It will also fund 1,500 extra placements to retrain mathematicians and scientists and support them as they work part-time as teachers while getting their masters degree in education. Labor also said it would work with the states and territories to boost career options for existing teachers, including considering higher pay for elite teachers and more chances to share their skills with other teachers without having to leave the classroom. The updated plan will be funded by $146.5 million over four years. Mr Albanese attended St Mary's for eight years of his schooling (pictured at the school on Monday with Ms Plibersek) Ms Plibersek said boosting student results was one of the most important things Australia could do. 'If we want a better future in Australia, we need a smart, skilled workforce so we can compete for jobs and growth with our neighbours,' she said. There is uncertainty around the coalition's education portfolio, with the current minister Alan Tudge disappearing from the public eye in the wake of allegations he emotionally, and at one time physically, abused his staffer while the pair were having an affair. Acting Education Minister Stuart Robert said more money wasn't the answer to boosting student results, and the government was instead focused on shaking up the national curriculum. NSW and Victoria recently rejected an updated history curriculum amid concerns it was downplaying indigenous history. Celebrated author Margaret Atwood says enforced childbirth is slavery in response to the leaked draft decision from the Supreme Court that could potentially overturn the Roe v. Wade. Atwood, 82, has seen her seminal work The Handmaid's Tale - and the recent TV adaptation - become oft-cited by liberals warning of the consequences of conservative policies on social issues. Activists will often dress like characters from the show at protests. In an edited extract from her new book Burning Questions published in The Guardian Sunday, Atwood made the point that anti-abortion laws could force women to choose 'illegal' forms of abortion. 'Nobody likes abortion, even when safe and legal,' she wrote. 'Its not what any woman would choose for a happy time on Saturday night. But nobody likes women bleeding to death on the bathroom floor from illegal abortions either. What to do?' She then goes on to say that abortion is a matter of choice and freedom and that the restrictions placed on the practice would leave half the population 'enslaved.' After the leaked draft decision from the Supreme Court that could potentially overturn the landmark Roe vs. Wade decision, celebrated author Margaret Atwood is saying that 'enforced childbirth is slavery' Atwood, 82, has seen her seminal work The Handmaid's Tale - and the recent TV adaptation - become oft-cited by liberals warning of the consequences of conservative policies on social issues Activists will often dress like characters from the TV adaption of The Handmaid's Tale at protests 'Women who cannot make their own decisions about whether or not to have babies are enslaved because the state claims ownership of their bodies and the right to dictate the use to which their bodies must be put,' she wrote. She argued that the only similar consequence for men would be a reinstallation of mandatory military service, though she points out that they at least are given provisions throughout their service. Atwood was also critical of America's maternal healthcare system, wondering why Washington might force women to have babies, but not offer complimentary prenatal care, postnatal care and social programs to help raise children. 'If the state is very fond of babies, why not honor the women who have the most babies by respecting them and lifting them out of poverty?' she asked. She then casts doubt that this would ever happen and argues that the state is going to not only enforce childbirth, but make mothers pay for it. She adds that if life is a gift, that gift must be able to be rejected or else it's not a gift at all. 'Enforce childbirth if you wish but at least call that enforcing by what it is. It is slavery: the claim to own and control anothers body, and to profit by that claim.' If and when the draft is made final, the decision removes the federal right to abortion in America, leaving it up to elected officials in each state to decide whether or not women should have access to abortions. Twenty-six states are likely to ban it if Roe v. Wade is formally overturned, essentially outlawing abortion in more than half of the country. Eighteen states already have restrictive abortion laws in place. The news sent shock waves throughout Washington D.C. with Democrats vowing to codify the legal right to an abortion into law and Republicans demanding an investigation into the leak, claiming it was done to try and influence the high court ahead of its formal ruling. Perhaps anticipating backlash, the Supreme Court building initially was barricaded Monday night after the decision was leaked before being watched by security. Republican appointed-Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett all voted to strike down Roe with Samuel Alito, Politico noted The beginning of the original leaked draft opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito Politico reports that, aside from Alito, four other judges voted in favor of overturning the law: Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, all of whom were nominated by Republican presidents. Politico noted that this is the first such case in modern history of a Supreme Court draft decision being leaked to the public while the case was still pending. The draft document is not final until the court formally announces its decision in a case, meaning the ruling could still be changed. Sometimes drafts are circulated by one justice in the hopes of swaying fellow judges but this is believed to be the first time a draft has been leaked. The court is expected to issue its final ruling before its term is up in late June or early July. Boris Johnson will use this week's Queen's Speech to put Britain on the front foot with a 'Brexit Bills bonanza'. The Prime Minister will try to put his recent woes behind him and re-energise his administration with a 'super seven' set of new laws to take advantage of the UK's freedom from the European Union covering everything from slashing red tape to protecting animals. He believes the Bills, due to be announced by the Queen in Parliament tomorrow, will benefit families and businesses across the country as they struggle with the soaring cost of living. The Tories also hope the new agenda will deliver a 'Brexit dividend' in time for the next general election and help them again win the votes of Leave supporters who backed Mr Johnson in 2019. Boris Johnson will use this week's Queen's Speech to put Britain on the front foot with a 'Brexit Bills bonanza'. Pictured: The Queen gives the 2021 Queen's Speech in May last year The PM said yesterday: 'I'm proud that my Government is capitalising on the immense opportunity that our new-found Brexit freedoms bring. 'This relentless drive to deliver on the promise of Brexit is why we're bringing seven Brexit Bills in the Queen's Speech. 'I call them the super seven and they will benefit families and businesses across the land by changing old EU rules that don't work for the UK. 'From data reform to gene-editing to financial services, these Bills will allow us to thrive as a modern, dynamic and independent country,' he told the Sunday Express. The Queen's Speech is also expected to replace the Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights, making it easier to deport foreign criminals. The Government will also seek to use Tuesday's Queen's Speech to show that it is responding to the concerns of voters and moving on from scandals involving Tory MPs and the partygate rows over lockdown-busting fines for Mr Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak. Meanwhile, speaking on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab refused to say whether action on the Northern Ireland Protocol would be included in Tuesday's Queen's Speech. The Government is currently grappline with the implications of Sinn Fein's Stormont success in elections last week. The victory in the Stormont contests was the first for a republican party and 'ushers in a new era' of politics, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill said. Mr Raab said the Government would take 'whatever measures are necessary' to resolve the issues around the protocol, and pointed out that a majority of voters in Northern Ireland had not supported Sinn Fein's position. 'If you look at the results in Northern Ireland, 58% fully of people voted either for parties who support the Union or for parties who do not support constitutional change and that is the message from the people of Northern Ireland,' Mr Raab told Sky News. The PM (pictured on Friday) will try to put his recent woes behind him and re-energise his administration with a 'super seven' set of new laws to take advantage of the UK's freedom from the European Union covering everything from slashing red tape to protecting animals He suggested it would be dealt with in the coming 'weeks and months', warning that stability in Northern Ireland was being 'imperilled' by the dispute over the protocol - which was agreed by Boris Johnson's Government as part of the Brexit divorce from the EU. The deadlock will increase tensions between Westminster and Brussels, with the UK insisting all options remain on the table - including the possibility of unilaterally scrapping elements of the deal. That could trigger a major breakdown in relations between the UK and European Union. The protocol effectively creates checks on goods flowing from Great Britain to Northern Ireland in order to allow an open border with Ireland, which is within the EU's single market and customs union. 'We will deal with the situation, we will take whatever measures are necessary to protect the economic as well as the constitutional integrity of Northern Ireland,' Mr Raab said. He indicated that the protocol had been used as a 'political device' by Brussels. Ireland's Europe minister Thomas Byrne said 'a decisive majority' of the MLAs elected to Stormont want to make the protocol work and called on the UK to 'engage in a renewed way with the European Union' on the issue. As well as the prospect of a fresh round of Brexit battles with Brussels, Mr Johnson also faces pressure from his own benches to change course following Thursday's elections. Pictured: Prime Minister Boris Johnson joins the G7 Leaders Call from Chequers, Ellesborough, Britain, May 8, 2022 Writing for The Telegraph, former Cabinet minister Damian Green, leader of the influential One Nation Conservatives caucus of MPs, said the party must 'rediscover the virtues that appeal to natural Conservatives in strong Conservative areas', including reducing the tax burden to help those struggling with the rising cost of living. From the right of the party, former Cabinet minister Sir John Redwood called for tax cuts and warned governments 'are usually only swept from office when the economy goes into recession on their watch'. Mr Raab insisted that while the elections had been 'challenging', they were a 'mixed bag' and he was confident Mr Johnson's leadership would survive. 'I'm confident that he can and will win the next election,' he said. Mr Raab refused to categorise Tuesday's speech as a 'reset' for Mr Johnson's administration, but added: 'What we're going to be focusing on this week is what our plans are to drive up the economy, protect the cost of living. 'We're going to be talking about reforming the agricultural sector, innovation to create cheaper, healthier food. 'We're going to be talking about areas where Britain has a real comparative advantage, tech, financial services.' Mr Raab acknowledged the Liberal Democrat resurgence would mean he faces a 'tough fight' in his own Esher and Walton seat in Surrey. Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove suggested that a decline in home ownership may have contributed to the party's troubles in London, where flagship authorities in Wandsworth and Westminster fell to Labour after decades of Tory control. He told The Sunday Telegraph: 'There are other factors. But I think that for young people in London, there is a responsibility on the incumbent government to address some of the factors that have made it more difficult for them to own their own home.' As the final results trickled in from Thursday's elections, the Tories did manage to make gains in Croydon, with Labour losing the authority to no overall control. After results from 199 out of 200 councils, the Tories had suffered a net loss of 12 authorities and 397 councillors, Labour had gained six councils and 234 seats, the Liberal Democrats five authorities and 189 councillors. Labour is facing its own difficulties after police announced a probe into whether leader Sir Keir Starmer broke lockdown rules last year. But the party insisted the election results were a 'turning point' in Labour's fortunes. Shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy told Sky: 'I think it showed that the path back to power for Labour is steep, but it doesn't have to be long and we're making progress in every region and nation now, in Scotland and Wales and in England in parts of the country where I watched us lose Labour MPs, I watched us lose good people and I wondered if we'd ever repair that damage. 'We did start to repair that damage on Thursday.' Scott Morrison's claims his biggest weakness is being too good at problem solving. A clip of the Prime Minister's unexpected response to the question posed by Sunrise host David Koch sparked hundreds of comments on TikTok. 'I tend to go straight into problem solving mode... when I do that, people sometimes don't think that I really understand how they're feeling,' Mr Morrison told the host. A clip of the leader's unexpected response to the question posed by Sunrise host David Koch did the rounds on TikTok earlier this month 'I can assure you I do... My father was a policeman, my brother is a paramedic. When we see a problem, we want to fix it. 'Get $2 billion into support for the communities. Get the money to the flood victims. Ensure that we're putting JobKeeper in place. 'I tend to go straight into fixing things, Kochie and sometimes that might not come across the right way. 'People might criticise me for lacking a bit of that empathy on occasion, it's because I'm just really focused on trying to solve the problems that they're facing.' The video quickly caught the attention of younger Australians who took the opportunity to poke fun at the prime minister's claims in the comments. 'I tend to go straight into problem solving mode... when I do that, people sometimes don't think that I really understand how they're feeling,' Mr Morrison said of his biggest weakness 'Wait hang on a second he hasn't actually solved any problems,' one said. 'Apparently he does his best problem solving when he is in Hawaii,' another jibed. 'I'm using this one in my next job interview,' a third joked. Mr Morrison has repeatedly been accused of not being compassionate towards those in difficult situations as recently as the northern NSW floods in March. In the Australian summer bushfires of 2019-20, Mr Morrison famously received a prickly reception in the fire ravaged town of Cobargo. Days earlier he had cut short an Hawaiian holiday as fires spread out over large swathes of the country with the excuse that he 'doesn't hold a hose'. The Sunrise hosts later asked Labor leader Anthony Albanese (pictured) the same question, who said his biggest weakness was his loyalty The Sunrise hosts later asked Labor leader Anthony Albanese the same question. 'I have found my biggest weakness is my loyalty,' the opposition leader said. 'I am very loyal to people and sometimes that makes me a bit predictable and that sometimes can hurt me politically. 'I make no apologies for that. That is just who I am.' The leaders squared off at the Channel Nine studios in North Sydney on Sunday night for the second leaders debate of the election campaign. The politicians repeatedly argued and spoke over each other in a debate that voters complained they found difficult to watch - and even harder to follow along. The leaders squared off at the Channel Nine studios in North Sydney on Sunday night for the second leaders debate of the election campaign (pictured) Frustrated viewers took to social media to vent their anger about how the heated debate was mediated and a faulty online voting poll. The rivals had several fiery clashes with the biggest blow-up coming on the topic of national security when the two men yelled over the top of one another. In a key moment, the prime minister was humbled when he admitted that he should have described the Covid-19 vaccine rollout as a race after he repeatedly told Australians 'it's not a race' at the start of 2021. But he landed a blow on Mr Albanese when he told the Labor leader 'you have changed your mind on so many things' and listed his policy backflips. 'Small target, big risk,' he said while gesticulating at his opponent. The rivals had several fiery clashes with the biggest blow-up coming on the topic of national security when the two men yelled over the top of one another On national security, Mr Albanese said the Solomon Islands' new secret security deal with China amounted to a 'massive foreign policy failure' by the Government. He also blasted Mr Morrison over the Northern Territory government leasing Darwin Port to a Chinese company in 2015 - which Mr Morrison defended by saying the Commonwealth Government had no say in the deal. 'Your party, your tick off,' Mr Albanese said before the PM responded: 'You've been telling this lie for some time.' Channel Nine initially declared Labor Opposition Leader Mr Albanese as the preferred Prime Minister between the pair, despite a technical glitch leaving thousands of furious viewers unable to vote online. It later announced Prime Minister Morrison as the winner before votes shifted back towards Mr Albanese and was later locked at 50-50. There are, according to the old proverb, none so blind as those who will not see. And Labour frontbencher Lisa Nandy proved that yesterday by being unwilling to accept her boss is in very hot water. Asked about Sir Keir Starmer's beer and curry jolly, she declared risibly: 'He is Mr Rules. He does not break them.' Of course, Durham Constabulary which finally caved into pressure to investigate Beergate will determine if that's true. But little by little, more evidence emerges that Labour's leader did indeed flout lockdown laws in Durham last year. But little by little, more evidence emerges that Labour's leader did indeed flout lockdown laws in Durham last year A bombshell document revealed the takeaway, eaten indoors, was planned in advance and no campaign work was due to occur afterwards torpedoing Starmer's ludicrous excuse that it was justifiable. And today, a photograph shows that the day before the notorious event he dined al fresco with a Labour MP proving he knew socialising inside was strictly forbidden. Yet when asked to explain the late-night drinks do he has repeatedly lied, dissembled and obfuscated. At every turn, his account has held as much water as a sieve. All the while, he sanctimoniously demanded Boris Johnson resign for so-called 'parties' at No10. The hypocrisy is nauseating. Clearly, the Prime Minister didn't realise being given a birthday cake by an aide would break the law and incur a fine. And perhaps, despite all clues to the contrary, Starmer also didn't think his biryani bash was even slightly suspect. So baffling, convoluted and absurd were the restrictions, it's amazing anyone understood them even the lawmakers. The difference is, he hopped on his high horse and preached like he was without sin. This newspaper does not think that he should resign over his behaviour (although, if he's found to have broken the law, he must be treated as harshly as those he hubristically castigated). Instead, he should hold up his hands and say sorry for his grave mistake. Keeping the peace The seismic election victory of Sinn Fein, the sinister political party which cheered on the IRA's cold-blooded murderers, will sicken anyone who rejects violence. Yet a disastrous split in the Unionist vote has seen them become the Northern Ireland Assembly's largest party for the first time. Though unpalatable, it is a pitfall of the democracy we rightly treasure. But encouragingly, their seat tally and vote share did not improve on the last election. Inevitably, Sinn Fein is already demanding a referendum on Irish reunification, but there is no evidence of a majority for that. The truth is, people in the Province care more about politicians fixing their huge social problems creaking health system, housing shortages, unemployment. The first ticking timebomb to defuse, however, is the DUP's threat to continue boycotting the executive until the flawed Northern Ireland protocol is ditched. This post-Brexit agreement effectively places a border down the Irish Sea. But inflexible EU customs checks have severely stunted trade, fuelling Unionist resentment. If Stormont does not sit, old sectarian tensions will reignite jeopardising peace. Boris Johnson must persuade the DUP to end its petulance, while urging Brussels to overhaul how the protocol works. During Brexit talks, the EU insisted its priority was to maintain stability in Ireland. They must now live up to their word. A young father has tragically died in a motorbike accident leaving behind his heartbroken wife and three children on Mother's Day. Brendan Tyrrell, 28, was travelling on Woolcock Street in Townsville on about 6.20am on May 6 when he collided with a stationary ute. Mr Tyrrell was rushed to hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Hours later, his devastated wife Aliesha penned a gut-wrenching tribute to her husband as she braces for the future without him. 'Words cannot even begin to describe the agony that we are feeling, losing this man who truly meant the world to us,' she wrote on Friday. 'Brendan, thank you for giving me our beautiful babies and for being THE BEST daddy, husband, son, brother and friend. Brendan Tyrrell, 28, (pictured with his wife and children) tragically died in a motorbike accident on Friday Pictured: Police at the scene of the crash in Garbutt after Mr Tyrrell's motorbike collided with a car 'Rest easy my love. I dont know how Im going to navigate this life without you but I know that youll give me the strength to carry on. 'Harper, Payton, Xavier and I, love you 3000.' Tributes have begun pouring in online as friends and loved ones pay their respects to the devoted family man. 'RIP Brendan, chase those clouds and know that we will continue to support and rally around your loving wife and babies,' one friend said. His sister Georgia said she missed him 'so much'. 'My beautiful brother, he wanted the whole world for his family,' she said. 'Theres not enough words to describe how amazing he was.' Friend Carissa Doran said her heart 'could not stop aching' after hearing the news. Mr Tyrrell leaves behind his wife Aliesha (pictured together) and their three children, Harper, Payton, and Xavier Mrs Tyrrell penned a heartbreaking post paying tribute to her husband after his sudden death 'Anyone who has met Brendan would tell you he is the kindest soul and welcomed every single person with open arms,' she wrote. 'You were too young. I cant even imagine what his family is going through. You were the most devoted father and you are loved by so many. I still cant believe this has happened. Fly high.' Friend Keely Campbell has set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for the family as they navigate the loss of the husband and father. She said Mr Tyrrell was 'all the good you could ever want in a person'. 'He was a force to be reckoned with, a shoulder to lean on, a caring friend to have a laugh and beer with, a warm hug, a kind word,' the page reads. '[He was] an adored brother and cherished son, and the most incredible, devoted father to his three beautiful children, and loyal & loving husband to his wife, Aliesha. 'Quite frankly, there are not enough compassionate words to compliment this dear man.' Townsville Dominos will hold a fundraiser on Saturday May 14 to garner funds to help support the Tyrrell family and cover funeral costs. The young father has been remembered as a devoted family man who adored his wife and children Every store in the Queensland city will donate a $1 from every pizza sold between 11am until closing time. Dominos Townsville Franchisee Nathan van Jole said Mr Tyrrell worked for the chain at the North Ward store more than five years ago. He said when they first heard about the tragedy, they wanted to offer the family as much support as they could. 'Our thoughts are with Brendans wife, Aliesha, his three children, and the entire Tyrrell family,' he said. Meanwhile, investigations into the fatal crash continue, with police urging anyone with information or dashcam footage in the area at the time to come forward. District duty officer Senior Sergeant Scot Warrick told reporters at the scene of the crash Mr Tyrrell was travelling inbound on Woolcock St when his motorbike collided with the ute. Senior Sergeant Warrick said the ute was allegedly turning off Woolcock St into Langton St at the time of the incident. Domino's stores across Townsville will donate a dollar from every pizza sold on May 14 to the Tyrrell family A 60-year-old West End man, the driver and sole occupant of the car, was not physically injured. The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. Korea has launched a preliminary feasibility study for the successor to the Nuri rocket, the country's first domestically developed space launch vehicle, with the goal of sending a lunar landing module to the moon in 2031, the science ministry said Monday. The ministry said it plans to invest 1.93 trillion won ($1.53 billion) into the next-generation space launch vehicle from 2023 to 2031. It aims to send a lunar landing module to the moon using the envisioned rocket in 2031 after testing its capabilities. The government picked the project as the subject of preliminary feasibility study in April. The ministry anticipates Korea to acquire the independent ability to conduct space exploration projects not just limited to the Earth's orbit but also those of the moon and Mars following the development. From design to the final launch, the project will be co-handled by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute and a private partner that will be determined later. The government plans to prioritize the use of local parts in the development project to promote the growth of the domestic space technology parts industry. Nuri, Korea's first space launch vehicle, flew to a target altitude of 700 kilometers in October last year but failed to put a dummy satellite into orbit as its third-stage engine burned out sooner than expected. Korea plans to conduct another launch of the Nuri rocket in mid-June. (Yonhap) Advertisement The woman who was left in critical condition after being crushed between two cars by someone fleeing in a stolen truck is a mother-of-four from Nigeria who works at a Queens nursing home, it was revealed Sunday. Authorities said Florence Ngwu, 49, is unlikely to make it after her head was pinned between two parked cars in a horrific Mother's Day accident in South Jamaica, Queens. As the truck took off, Ngwu's young daughter screamed, 'Mommy! Mommy!' 'The doctors are basically saying they don't want to give us false hope,' her niece Nnenna B, 29, told the New York Post. 'They came to my uncle and said it's up to him what he wants to happen now, because we saw what she looked like and we could see for ourselves that things are looking terrible.' A neighbor, who has lived next door to Ngwu for six or seven years, remembered Ngwu as a 'very nice lady.' 'I would see her every morning because I was going to go swimming when she was coming home,' Robert Brown told the Post. 'She worked nights, she was a nurse.' Police are still looking for the driver of the truck, which had been reported stolen by Pawar Builders in Elmhurst, Queens. The truck was found abandoned about a mile-and-a-half away. Traffic violence is becoming an epidemic in New York City, which has reported a more than 41 percent increase in overall crime so far this year. The Nigerian mother-of-four is an aide at a nursing home, her family says. A neighbor says she worked night shifts there Horrific footage showed the moment the mother was crushed between two cars by a fleeing truck while her daughter watched. 'Mommy! Mommy!' Florence Ngwu's daughter screamed as the stolen truck, which had hit multiple parked cars while attempting a U-turn, travelled down the Queens street on Sunday. The 49-year-old woman, who crossed between two park cars in an effort to prevent the driver from fleeing, was trapped as the truck hit a silver car from behind, ramming it into her and jamming her against yet another parked car. Two other pedestrians fell to the ground. The truck driver sped off down the road as Ngwu screamed in apparent agony. That vehicle had been reported stolen a few hours before Sunday's horror unfolded. Police are searching for the driver, who remains at large. Ngwu was transported to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition, NYPD confirmed to DailyMail.com. She is not expected to survive. Nnenna B, Ngwu's niece, says doctors have left her uncle with the choice of what to do with her body as it looks like she will not survive the accident. 'He told the doctor to please keep fighting,' Nnenna told the Post. 'My aunt is a very strong woman. Shes a strong lady, strong-willed and strong-hearted person. He said please keep fighting for her until she gives up herself.' She said doctors have had a hard time stopping the bleeding and that some blood vessels 'are completely damaged beyond repair.' Nnenna said her aunt had gone down to see what the commotion was all about. 'I understand people may panic out of nowhere, but the way he went about it,' she said. 'He hit my cousin's car first and that's why my auntie came downstairs, to see what was going on. 'So, him trying to get away and him trying to - all of it to me is just so inhumane,' she said. 'I don't understand it.' Her family says Ngwu worked at the SilverCrest nursing home in Briarwood, Queens. Staff at the nursing home could not immediately confirm her employment to DailyMail.com on Sunday night. One neighbor described the gruesome scene, which ended with Ngwu sprawled out on the pavement after being crushed between the fleeing truck and a parked car. 'We went like, "Yo, you hit the car,'" the unidentified man told the Post. 'All of a sudden he just rammed the silver car there. The silver car hit us. She was further back to the green car, so she fell. She couldn't get up fast enough. 'Pinned her head on the bumper,' he said. One of the vehicles hit belongs to one of Ngwu's daughters. The white BMW sedan suffered damage to the hood and front bumbper. One police source said: 'That was horrible and it happened in front of the daughter on Mother's Day. You never recover from that. Whenever Mother's Day rolls around, thats how she'll remember her mother. That's horrific. 'I was heartbroken watching that video,' the source added. No more information on what led to the confrontation that sparked the horrific incident has been shared, besides cops revealing that the truck had earlier been stolen. One neighbor described the accident. 'She was further back to the green car, so she fell. She couldn't get up fast enough. Pinned her head on the bumper,' he said The truck left Ngwu trapped between two cars. 'He hit my cousin's car first and that's why my auntie came downstairs, to see what was going on,' Ngwu's niece recalled to the New York Post The driver of a Ford F-550 truck struck Ngwu at 8.33am on Sunday after attempting a U-turn at 167th Street and 120th Avenue in the South Jamaica neighborhood. Video shows the truck, sporting the words Pawar Builders on the side, hit multiple vehicles while it turns at the intersection. 'Oh my God, this cars hitting all these cars, bro,' a resident, who captured the crash on camera, is heard saying. Residents ran into the road, attempting to stop the driver from leaving the scene. But the suspect continued on. 'Oh my goodness. No!' the bystander screamed as the truck slammed into another parked car and pinned the mother between two vehicles. The suspect then sped off down the street and fled as the woman's family rushed towards her while she screamed out in pain. Her daughter was also yelling. The truck had been reported stolen about two hours before the incident and was later found by police about one-and-a-half miles away from the accident site, near 164th Place and 108th Drive. However, the driver was nowhere to be found. One of the cars that was hit by the stolen truck in Queens belongs to the daughter of victim Florence Ngwu. It appears to have suffered damage to the front bumper and hood A group of pedestrians go into the street in an effort to prevent the truck driver from fleeing. The 49-year-old Queens mom is among these individuals The woman's family members rushed towards her as she screamed, as seen in video captured at the scene Sunday morning The woman is seen trapped between the two vehicles. Police say she was transported to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition and is not expected to survive The suspect sped off down the street as the mother screamed in agony. Police later recovered the truck near 164th Place and 108th Drive, however the driver was nowhere to be found Police are searching for the driver, whose silhouette is captured above. Pawar Builders in Elmhurst reported the car stolen before the crash The stolen truck that hit a woman on mothers day was abandoned in front of a church on 108th Street and 164th Place in Queens Police are searching for the driver of the stolen truck, who remains at large as of Sunday night Traffic violence is becoming an epidemic in New York City, which has reported a more than 41 percent increase in overall crime so far this year. So far this year, the Big Apple has seen 7,634 felony assaults, a nearly 20 percent increase from last year, 470 shooting victims, a 4.4 percent increase, 509 rapes, a 10.7 spike, and 4,844 robberies, a rise of nearly 45 percent. On Saturday, around 8.15pm, an elderly man was killed after being struck by a minivan in the Bronx. John Dellacava, 72, was attempting to cross E. Tremont Avenue at Roosevelt Avenue in his battery-powered wheelchair when he was struck by a 25-year-old woman driving a Toyota Sienna minivan. NYPD said his initial injuries had appeared minor and paramedics transported him to Jacobi Medical Center in stable condition. However, he later died at the hospital from severe internal injuries. Police said Dellacava lived less than a mile from the scene of the accident. The driver, who remained on scene after hitting him, has not been charged and the incident remains under investigation. John Dellacava, 72, was fatally struck while attempting to cross E. Tremont Avenue at Roosevelt Avenue in the Bronx in his battery-powered wheelchair on Saturday night MAY 2021 vs MAY 2022: As of May 1, overall crime is up 41.6 percent so far this year compared to last year New Mayor Eric Adams, a former cop, has vowed to get crime in city under control and decrease bloodshed, one of the key points of his mayoral campaign. In January 2022, he unveiled a comprehensive plan to combat the city's surge in crime. That included increased foot patrols as well as the revival of a plain clothes unit named Neighborhood Safety Teams. Last weekend, Adams, 61, met with 77 NYPD precinct commanders and other top officials to discuss ways to combat the surge of violence across the city. He emphasized the need for authorities to become more actively involved with the community, alleging commanders should know schools principals, homeless shelter officials and other leaders in the neighborhoods they serve. However, critics of the new mayor have questioned his priorities, noting he has been regularly seen galavanting through his social circled during his first months in office. This past week, Adams split NYC to hobnob with billionaires and comedians on the West Coast and was so late in returning to the Big Apple on Thursday that he had to cancel scheduled press events. NYC Mayor Eric Adams joins billionaire philanthropist Nicolas Berggruen for the Berggruen Prize Gala at Berggruen Hearst Estate in Beverly Hills, California, on Wednesday. Friends in high places: Cara Delevingne was seen partying alongside Eric Adams on March 28 Adams' two-day California adventure comes amid revelations that a member of the playboy mayor's entourage, Hollywood superagent Cade Hudson, was once accused of sexual harassment. On Wednesday, the mayor participated in a panel at the Milken Institute Global Conference on 'digital transformation' before heading to the local Museum of Tolerance to celebrate Israel's independence day. He finished the night attending billionaire philanthropist Nicolas Berggruen gala at his Hearst Estate in Beverly Hills. The busy day followed Adams' stop to take in David Chappelle's show, where he witnessed 23-year-old Isiah Lee storm the stage with a gun that contained a hidden knife while the comedian joked that he'd had to increase his security in light of his trans jokes at the Netflix is a Joke festival. Adams also made appearances at the Met Gala on Monday and was seen with actress Cara Delevigne and rappers A$AP Rocky and Common at various city events. A recent poll found that 43 percent of New Yorkers approve of Adams overall job since taking over in January down from the 46 percent in the same survey conducted in February. Adams attended the ritzy Met Gala on Monday. He is pictured with his partner Tracey Collins Police and the Department of Education continue to investigate the incident She had been forgotten by staff who found her while preparing for drop-off The three-year-old was trapped in a daycare van for six hours last Wednesday Nevaeh Austin has been released from hospital after she was left in hot a van A toddler who was left on a bus for six hours at a childcare centre in central Queensland last week has been discharged from hospital. Nevaeh Austin, three, was left in the van as the temperature hit 28C outside Le Smileys Early Learning Centre at Gracemere, near Rockhampton last Wednesday. The three-year-old was flown to Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane in a critical condition where her condition stabilised before she was released on Monday, a hospital spokesman confirmed. The little girl and her family are on their way home and she is expected to make a full recovery. Nevaeh Austin, three, has been discharged from hospital after she was left in the van as the temperature hit 28C outside Le Smileys Early Learning Centre at Gracemere, near Rockhampton last Wednesday The little girl and her family are on their way home and she is expected to make a full recovery Nevaeh was the only passenger when the mini-van was parked at the centre's front door, but the two staff left the toddler in the vehicle Nevaeh was the only passenger when the mini-van was parked at the centre's front door, but the two staff left the toddler in the vehicle. As temperatures climbed to almost 30C, Nevaeh remained strapped before and was unconscious when finally discovered as staff prepared for the after-school pick-up. Police and the Department of Education continue to investigate the incident but no charges have been laid. Det. Inspector Shadlow said the daycare and staff have sought legal advice after police announced they would be 'looking at everyone involved in this matter.' A sign at the daycare where Nevaeh was forgotten had signage placed near the entrance to remind staff not to leave children in the vehicles Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper has revealed how he had to prevent former President Trump from carrying out military invasions in both Venezuela and Iran during his final year in office as well as firing missiles over the Mexico border. Speaking during a lengthy and candid interview on CBS News on Sunday night, Esper said he wanted people to know how close the country came to starting another war. 'It's important to our country, it's important to the republic, the American people, that they understand what was going on in this very consequential period. The last year of the Trump administration. And to tell the story about things we prevented. Really bad things. Dangerous things that could have taken the country in - in a dark direction.' Former Defense Secretary Mark Esper told CBS that he helped prevent a series of 'dangerous things that could have taken the country in a dark direction' including military action in Iran and Venezuela Esper told how ,any of the extreme ideas occurred during the final year of Trump's administration Interviewer Norah O'Donnell pressed further, 'What kind of terrible things did you prevent?' 'At various times, folks in the White House are proposing to take military action against Venezuela. To strike Iran. At one point, somebody proposed we blockade Cuba. 'These ideas would happen every few weeks. Something like this would come up and we'd have to swat 'em down. When asked who would be the one 'swatting' ideas away, Esper revealed that it was him, together with support from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley. Esper, left, claimed he had to 'swat' the ideas away put forward by Trump and was supported by chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Mark Milley, seen right Esper revealed how he and Milley came up with a 'four no' system to deal with the 'crazy' ideas coming from the White House. 'The four things we had to prevent from happening between then and the election. And one was no strategic retreats, no unnecessary wars, no politicization of the military, and no misuse of the military. And so, as we went through the next five to six months, that became the metric by which we would measure things.' On another occasion, Esper said Trump pulled him aside to suggest the U.S. fire missiles into Mexico. Esper said that Trump wanted to do it to destroy drug labs in the country. 'He would say it was to go after the cartels. And we would have this private discussion where I'd say, "Mr. President, I understand the motive." Because he was very serious about dealing with drugs in America. I get that, we all understand, but I had to explain to him, "We can't do that. It would violate international law. It would be terrible for our neighbors to the south. It would, you know, impact us in so many ways. Why don't we do this instead?"' 'These ideas would happen every few weeks. Something like this would come up and we'd have to swat 'em down,' Esper said of the 'terrible' ideas that would be suggested by Trump A Mexican officer stands guard over the makeshift lab in El Dorado, Sinaloa. Trump wanted to launch missiles into Mexico to take the labs out, and then deny the U.S. was responsible Trump is said to have pushed back, suggesting to Esper, 'No one would know it was us?' Esper corroborated the remark during Sunday night's interview. 'I just thought it was fanciful, right? Because, of course, it would be us. I was reluctant to tell this story. Because I thought, people won't believe this. That they'll think I'm just making it up and folks in Trump's orbit will dispute it.' On Sunday night, Trump ripped Esper as a 'RINO incapable of leading' and disputed several of the claims made in the interview and in his forthcoming book, A Sacred Oath. The show sought comment from Trump, who retorted that it was a 'complete lie' that he wanted to shoot Black Lives Matter protesters in the legs and described cabinet members as 'f**king losers,' claiming there were '10 witnesses' who could back him up. Aside from the interview, Esper also made the claims in his book, A Sacred Oath, which will be published on Tuesday 'Mark Esper was weak and totally ineffective, and because of it, I had to run the military,' Trump said in a statement shared by 60 Minutes. 'I took out ISIS, Qasem Soleimani, [Abu Bakr] al-Baghdadi, rebuilt the military with $2.5 trillion, created Space Force, and so much more.' 'Mark Esper was a stiff who was desperate not to lose his job,' added Trump. 'He was a lightweight and a figurehead, and I realized it very early on.' In his response to the show, Trump also disputed claims that he wanted to send 10,000 active duty troops into Washington, D.C. after St. John's Church was set on fire and that he allegedly mistakenly believed his Insurrection Act authority was taken away by Esper. Asked to confirm why he fired Esper, Trump said that Esper 'was a RINO incapable of leading, and I had to run the military myself.' On 60 Minutes' final question whether Trump did, in fact, contemplate attacking drug cartels in Mexico with missiles the former president replied simply, 'No comment.' A private school graduate who developed an ice addiction and was stabbed by his own mum has made a cryptic revelation about their relationship 18 months after the incident. Hugo Ball, now 24, urged his friends to 'treasure' their mums and 'make them proud' in a statement issued on Mother's Day. 'Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing women out there being the backbone of a family structure strong,' he wrote. 'Treasure her, you really have no idea what you've got until it's gone... Believe me'. Hugo Ball's mother Samantha (top left) stabbed her son with a 12 inch kitchen knife in November (pictured with Mr Ball and his biological father Ian Ball) The cryptic Mothers Day post made by former Scots student Hugo Ball - telling friends to 'treasure' their mums Ball, a former Scots student, returned home from a night out on November 21, 2020, reportedly ranting about being 'involved in a murder'. His mother, 56-year-old Samantha Palmer, pleaded guilty to stabbing her son during an altercation later that evening. The court heard she was battling PTSD caused by repeated assaults and threats made by Ball in the months leading to the incident. She avoided jail time but was sentenced to a 17-month intensive correction order. It would appear the relationship between Ball and Palmer remains rocky. Ball then posted a second story, saying his mother stabbed him nine times in total, including a 12cm deep laceration just 2mm from his heart. Ball bizarrely claimed women say he uses the story of being stabbed by his own mother as a way of 'hitting on them' He said he wasn't looking for 'attention' or to 'gain followers' before bizarrely claiming he had been accused of using his story to attract women. 'Sorry to be quite literally shocked into having to say this on my page for sensitive readers. I'm not trying to gain followers and the girls that think is is my way of hitting on you and attention seeking play in f***ing traffic!' he posted to Instagram. 'Block me you degenrates. The only message is appreciate what you have and have a wonder mothers day. Love your family as well number one.' Hugo Ball's mother Samantha Palmer, 55, was arrested in a black summer dress and pearl earrings (pictured) after the November 20 incident A court heard in August Ball was making an effort to turn his life around after moving in with his biological father at a multi-million dollar Paddington home. He told the court he was worried his grandmothers would think less of him for targeting an elderly woman when he was desperate for cash. The court heard he was waiting behind the 71-year-old woman and snatched the cash from the ATM before she could and did not assault the victim. He admitted the crime was 'a low thing to do'. The agreed facts state Ball's older sister Daphne Palmer-Ball (pictured together) and stepfather James Tilley woke at about 1.30am to the sound of the 23-year-old screaming The agreed facts state Ball's older sister Daphne Palmer-Ball and stepfather James Tilley woke at about 1.30am to the sound of the 23-year-old screaming. Palmer had repeatedly stabbed him. Mr Tilley used a tea towel to slow the bleeding and called an ambulance while Ms Palmer-Ball bundled her mother into a separate room. Palmer repeatedly told her 'he threatened me, he was going to hurt me', the court heard. Ms Palmer-Ball responded: 'You've got just as many issues as he does you just stabbed Hugo.' In sentencing over the theft, Ball's defence lawyer told the magistrate he had already been using drugs when the attack occurred but became more dependent on illicit substances in the aftermath. He developed a 'daily ice habit', the court heard. Ball being stretchered to hospital by paramedics after the attack in Sydney's east (pictured) back in November 'That (stabbing) incident has really sent him tailing down this road of increased drug use, anxiety, depression and PTSD, all of which he has been diagnosed with,' she said. 'Those emotions regarding that incident are still really raw and really unprocessed.' He was convicted after pleading guilty to stealing less than $2,000 from a person and slapped with an 18-month good behaviour bond. Ball was also ordered to repay the elderly woman, must also abstain from drugs for six months and submit to drug testing. Magistrate Ross Hudson also warned Ball that it was 'critical' he seek professional help to deal with his mental health issues and not use illegal drugs as a 'barrier'. 'Make sure you treat yourself legally is that understood?' he said. An outspoken Australian critic of the Chinese Communist Party has been arrested for holding up a sign saying 'f*** Xi Jinping'. Drew Pavlou, 22, was rounded up by NSW Police at an anti-Communist Party rally in Sydney's Eastwood on Saturday night and spent five hours in a police cell. A few dozen pro-democracy campaigners gathered in the north-western suburb with a high number of Chinese residents, one week after Mr Pavlou caused controversy by holding up his sign. On this occasion the Queenslander was carrying a placard that read: 'Free Hong Kong, free Tibet, free the Uyghurs, down with CCP'. Mr Pavlou, who is running as a candidate for the Senate at the Federal election next Saturday, said he told the arresting officer captured on video patting him down against a police van, to 'buy me dinner first'. 'I was just standing there holding a sign. There were no profanities this time and I wasn't even the most vocal protester,' Mr Pavlou told Daily Mail Australia. 'But when a group of Chinese government supporters came along and started swearing in Mandarin at us, police gave me a charge sheet for the sign that said f**k Xi Jinping.' The officers momentarily detained him before allowing him to leave. He then returned to the protest and was given a formal move-on order and told by officers he would be arrested if he did not leave the area. Police were concerned that the 'unauthorised assembly was causing fear and alarm among the community'. 'I said, with respect, sir, I would rather be arrested because I believe this is my right as an Australian to speak freely,' he said. Video posted online shows officers patting down the Senate candidate before being loaded into a police van and taken back to the station. The Queenslander was carrying a placard that read: 'Free Hong Kong, free Tibet, free the Uyghurs, down with CCP'. Senate candidate arrested protesting against Xi Jinping 'When he was patting me down I said "buy me dinner first mate" because it was quite invasive to be honest,' Mr Pavlou said. He is now facing one charge of offensive language and another of failing to follow a police direction. Mr Pavlou intends to fight the charges when he appears in Hornsby Local Court May 25th, with his esteemed barrister Mr Tony Morris QC vowing to take the case all the way to the High Court if necessary. 'People should be far more concerned about the one million Chinese Muslims in concentration camps and Xi Jinping's signature policy of genocide,' he said. 'In the grand scheme of things, Drew puts f*** Xi Jinping on a sign does not compare.' Drew Pavlou was rounded up by police at an anti-Communist Party rally in Sydney's Eastwood on Saturday night and spent five hours in a cell He revealed that during the demonstration various Chinese Australians thanked him for standing up against China's 'dictator'. 'I had people coming up to me saying thank you. They said they wanted to protest too but were scared other Chinese people in the community would smash their business or take retribution,' Mr Pavlou said. Another man has also been charged over the viral protest in Eastwood last week, with a 48-year-old man facing one count of assault. There were ugly scenes when an angry mob surrounded Mr Pavlou as he held up his x-rated sign. 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) 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' 'F*** you, motherf***er!' one bystander screamed at him . Another person punched Mr Pavlou's sign and told him: 'America has genocide, not Xi Jinping.' Video shows how the situation quickly escalated when two men attempted to take the camera from Mr Pavlou's friend and snatched his sign away. Several women in the crowd told Mr Pavlou he was a coward and to 'f*** off' while he remained standing in the street. If successful in his campaign at this month's federal election, Mr Pavlou would be the youngest senator in Australian history. Farmers are being urged to be on the lookout for mice in their paddocks amid reports of increased numbers of the rodents across Australia's rural regions. Australia's government science agency says farmers have reported increased mice activity in northern NSW, central Queensland, north western Victoria, the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia and the wheat belt in Western Australia. CSIRO research scientist Steve Henry said it can be difficult to notice growing numbers of mice before there number become too large to combat them. 'Farmers need to get out of their vehicles and walk through their paddocks to see signs of mouse activity,' Mr Henry said. Mice reached plague proportions in 2020 and 2021 courtesy of an abundance of food from a bumper growing season (pictured: mice on a NSW farm in 2021) Just one pair of mice can quickly spread to plague proportions if the conditions are right and there is enough food, as was the case in 2021 'We haven't reached plague proportions but we are getting reports of higher numbers across the cropping zone and farmers need to be prepared to take action to reduce numbers as they sow the winter crop.' Millions of dollars' worth of crops were destroyed during last year's mouse plague in NSW and southern Queensland, which also caused extensive damage to farm equipment, vehicles and buildings. Mr Henry said mice are most likely to be in the unharvested summer crops, and in the winter crop stubble where grain has been left behind. 'As it gets colder mice are also seeking shelter and are venturing into houses and other buildings,' he said. Farmer Eric Fishpool lifts a tarp on his farm in Tottenham as mice scurry away amid the 2021 mice plague in NSW and Queensland NSW Farmers Vice President Xavier Martin has also urged farmers to survey their properties for signs of rodent activity in a bid to avoid a repeat of last year. 'Let's make sure we all get out of the ute and into the paddock to make sure we avoid another plague,' he said on Monday. Some farmers have increased baiting in a bid to suppress mice numbers. The NSW government introduced a rebate for zinc phosphide bait last year. CSIRO data indicated patchy numbers of mice across NSW but Mr Martin said farmers were reporting more rodents running around their properties. 'What we don't want to see is a repeat of last year's mouse plague, so please if you see something, say something,' he said. One third of farmers surveyed by NSW Farmers estimated their crop losses at between $50,000 and $150,000 during last year's mice wave. An epic defamation trial that saw an IT guru's sordid sex life aired in public has ended a year after it made international headlines. Constantine Arvanitis, 49, had accused his ex-partner Selina Holder of defaming him after she branded him a sex-addict in documents shared with his fiancee and her high flying doctor sister. On Monday, the pair returned to the County Court of Victoria to announce the matter had finally been resolved out of court. Constantine Arvanitis and Melanie Thornton leave the County Court of Victoria on Monday. Mr Arvanitis claimed he had been the target of a savage attack to destroy his reputation Selina Holder had defended allegations she defamed her former partner Selina Holder attends the County Court of Victoria last year. She was defending claims she had defamed her ex-partner by calling him a sex addict It was June last year when the warring parties last stepped foot inside the court. Victoria had been within the grip of the Covid 19 pandemic, which saw the state's justice system effectively grind to a halt. Ms Holder's barrister Barrie Goldsmith told The Age her client and Mr Arvanitis had mutually agreed to settle the case and that there was 'an intention to read a document in court' announcing it. A smiling Mr Arvanitis was seen leaving the courthouse on Monday hand-in-hand with his fiancee Melanie Thornton - the sister of respected cancer surgeon Dr Chantel Thornton. It is understood Ms Holder, who lived in Sydney, was not physically present in the court on Monday. The last time she faced-off with Mr Arvanitis she ended up storming out of the courtroom in disgust. Newshounds chased down Constantine Arvanitis and Melanie Thornton as they left the County Court of Victoria on Monday in Melbourne Constantine Arvanitis had been accused of bedding multiple women and being a sex addict Selina Holder (left) Melanie Thornton (centre) all become embroiled in a messy court case in Melbourne Mr Arvanitis had been under cross examination for five days in their ugly defamation trial at the time. 'That's a lie. You're a pathological liar,' she exclaimed from a position seated behind her barrister. 'Sorry, I'm leaving.' The incident followed a claim by Mr Arvanitis that Ms Holder had embarked upon a mission to destroy his relationship with Ms Thornton. Mr Arvanitis had denied he had maintained a sexual relationship with Ms Holder while sleeping around with anywhere up to half-a-dozen other women. The offending document she had shared alleged Mr Arvanitis broke her foot, that he was a prescription drug dealer, was mentally unstable, a criminal and a 'sex addict'. Letter To Mr Arvanitis' fiance Melanie Thornton Court documents allege Selina Holder shared a document with Mr Arvanitis' current fiancee that stated: 'He is dangerous and violent and sex addict (sic). He goes to Sydney and cheats on you. He will beat you up. (redacted) We have the police investigating him. We want to warn you. We are the sisterhood. We have to expose him. He will take all your money. He has to be stopped. We have evidence of his abuse. We are trying to save you. You must contact us so we can protect you from this evil person. We all want to help you. We are in Melbourne together so please meet with us. Advertisement Mr Arvanitis further claimed a letter outlining similar allegations was also received by his current fiancee. While the IT specialist's other two ex-girlfriends apologised and made retractions, Ms Holder proceeded to court to face-off with her ex-boyfriend. It was a decision she likely lived to regret as media across the country picked-up on the public stoush. Ms Holder had been advised on the first day of the hearing that Mr Arvanitis would end his legal action if she consented to an order that she stop making defamatory statements, an acknowledgment that what she had written was false, and $5000. That offer was rejected and the trial quickly descended into a full scale slanging match between the angry ex lovers. Mr Arvanitis had met Ms Holder via a dating app in September 2012. But the relationship quickly soured and by 2015 it ended after the birth of their child. Mr Arvanitis claimed Ms Holder had cheated on him from the beginning of their relationship and had once found a raunchy photo message on her phone that he claimed she had sent to her secret lover. When questioned about the image, Mr Arvanitis claimed Ms Holder would become violent and lash out. Among a swag of allegations, Mr Arvanitis claimed Ms Holder repeatedly punched him in the face and whipped him over the head with a phone charging cable. Melanie Thornton and her sister Dr Chantel Thornton, a respected cancer surgeon Dr Chantel Thornton allegedly received some damning information about Con Arvanitis and shared it with her husband Selina Holder had been all smiles upon leaving court when the trial began. On Wednesday she could hardly contain her rage for her ex-partner An image of Mr Arvanitis' battered face was tendered to the court in support of his claims. The father of two claimed Ms Holder had not only consumed alcohol while pregnant, but would do so while breastfeeding their own child. 'I didn't think it was right,' Mr Arvanitis said. The court heard Ms Holder once punched him in the face as he drove their car, but when he tried to make a report to police they told him not to bother. 'If you were a female I'd have no hesitation in slapping an intervention order on,' the office allegedly told him. Mr Arvanitis was issued with an order of his own later that evening after the argument escalated, the court heard. By 2015, Mr Arvanitis claimed Ms Holder would attack and incite him to respond and then record him with threats to go to police. As the relationship continued to sour, Mr Arvanitis claimed his ex-partner threatened to ring his boss and tell him he was a drug addict. Audio of Ms Holder allegedly making the threat was played in court. Mr Arvanitis, who claimed to have kicked a rampant cocaine habit that threatened to consume his life, said he had continued to pay all of his child maintenance responsibilities in addition to paying off Ms Holder's credit card debts. Selina Holder walks from a Melbourne court last year. Ms Holder, who denied she sent the letter, filed a defence claiming Mr Arvanitis spent $220,000 on cocaine, took meth and sold Viagra to colleagues while working at ANZ. She had alleged Mr Arvanitis was having sex with at least two other women - and her - and possibly more during the same period. The court heard a series of raunchy text exchanges between Mr Arvanitis and Ms Holder during the period he was 'hooking up' with sex partners he had met on Tinder. The couple had already broken up and Ms Holder had moved to her hometown of Sydney with their young daughter. Mr Arvanitis denied continuing a sexual relationship with Ms Holder and claimed the text messages - some of which contained references to the 'morning after pill' and 'getting pregnant' - were a form of long-distance role playing. Mr Arvanitis admitted he had been having unprotected sex with the two women while dating Ms Thornton. Several of his ex-girlfriends were set to enter the witness box on behalf of the defence when the trial was prematurely adjourned. Mr Arvanitis had told the court those women were all simply 'hook-ups' that he had met on the dating app Tinder under the full intention of having meaningless sex. Again Mr Arvanitis claimed the jilted women - now numbering five - were conspiring to destroy him. Mr Arvanitis had brought on the legal action after Dr Thornton received a separate defamatory document from Ms Holder. Dr Thornton - the wife of luxury car dealer Srecko Lorbek - was expected to be subpoenaed to court to outline exactly who she shared that document with. Mr Arvanitis had been embraced by the Thornton clan until late 2018 when he claims the document made its way into the hands of Dr Thornton. He was dropped like a hot potato when Dr Thornton received the disturbing document and has never returned to the fold despite his ongoing relationship with her sister, who had received a hand-delivered letter all of her own. The letter had been signed-off by Ms Holder and two other of Mr Arvanitis' ex-girlfriends - aka 'The Sisterhood'. She hadn't been the first to see it, Mr Arvanitis claimed, with his two previous ex-girlfriends also receiving a copy. In ending the case, the pair asked for the proceedings to be dismissed and requested there be no cost orders made. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been threatened by the head of Russia's space agency over his attempts to provide Ukraine with internet service. Musk, 50, has been using Starlink - a constellation of more than 2,000 satellites in low Earth orbit - to beam internet connections to dishes around the world. The service has a large presence in Ukraine, introduced with the explicit intention of keeping the country online amid the ongoing Russian invasion. The billionaire said they had 'resisted hacking and jamming attempts' from the Russians back in April and were focusing SpaceX efforts on counter measures - at the expense of other projects. Musk tweeted out information provided by Dmitry Rogozin, the head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, to the Russian media on Sunday night. Rogozin posted the statement himself on Telegram. Rogozin - who just yesterday boasted that Russia could destroy all NATO countries 'in half a hour' - accuses Musk of giving Starlink equipment to what they refer to as the 'Nazi Azov Battalion' as well as branches of the Ukrainian military. 'From the testimony of the captured chief of staff of the 36th Marine Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel Dmitry Kormyankov, it follows that the ground-based subscriber equipment of the Starlink satellite company Elon Musk was delivered to the militants of the Nazi Azov Battalion and the Marines of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to Mariupol by military helicopters,' Rogozin wrote. Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he's been threatened by Russia over his attempts to provide Ukraine with internet service Musk tweeted out information provided by Dmitry Rogozin (pictured), the head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, to the Russian media on Sunday night Musk, 50, has been using Starlink, a constellation of more than 2,000 satellites in low Earth orbit, beaming internet connections to dishes around the world, with a large presence in Ukraine, introduced to keep the country online amid the ongoing Russian invasion Rogozin posted the statement himself on his Telegram account 'Elon Musk is thus involved with supplying the fascist forces in Ukraine with military communications,' Rogozin adds. 'And for this you will have to answer in an adult way, Elon, no matter how much you'll play the fool.' As well as responding to attacks, officials say Starlink is giving Ukrainian forces the edge in winning the drone war as the nation fights back with technology to track down invading Russians. The billionaire responded, as he often does, with his tongue pressed firmly in cheek. 'The word 'Nazi' doesn't mean what he seems to think it does,' Musk - who is in the process of attempting to purchase Twitter - tweeted. He then added: 'If I die under mysterious circumstances, it's been nice knowin' ya.' Many of Musk's fans responded to the missive, including his own mother, Maye Musk. 'That's not funny,' Musk's mother wrote with a few angry-faced emojis to go along with it. Many of Musk's fans responded to a tweet suggesting he might die under mysterious circumstances, including his own mother, Maye Musk 'Sorry! I will do my best to stay alive,' Musk replied. Rogozin has been feuding with the billionaire since the invasion began, calling him 'little devil' and criticizing the Tesla Cybertruck, according to Business Insider. He even mocked Musk's attempt to buy Twitter, calling him 'moneybags' and mocking the idea that he would bring free speech to the platform. SpaceX has launched more than 2,000 of its 'Starlink' space internet satellites into orbit and hopes to have 12,000 in the sky by 2026. They form a constellation designed to provide low-cost broadband internet service from low Earth orbit. While satellite internet has been around for a while, it has suffered from high latency and unreliable connections. Starlink is different. SpaceX said its goal is to provide high-speed, cable-like internet all over the world. Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Musk for the support, and invited the tech mogul to visit Ukraine once the war is over Musk has previously challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to a fistfight as he remains on the side of Ukraine amid the invasion Musk has previously said the venture could give three billion people who currently do not have access to the internet a cheap way of getting online. It could also help fund a future city on Mars. Drones used in the field are able to use Starlink to keep connected and provide intelligence as internet and power outages plague Ukraine. With the technology, the drones can be directed to drop anti-tank munitions to help ward off the Russian attack. Starlink satellite system is giving Ukrainian forces the edge in winning the drone war as the nation fights back with technology to track down invading Russians. Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of the embattled country took to Twitter to thank the Tesla CEO, for the support, and invited the tech mogul to visit Ukraine once the war is over. Rogozin spoke about Russia's ability to crush NATO Saturday, using a word that Putin has banned in relation to Ukraine - 'war' - he said: 'This is a war for the truth - and the right of Russia to exist as a single and independent state.' He insisted: 'The very existence of a Ukraine separate from Russia will inevitably turn it into anti-Russia and a springboard of the West for aggression against our people. 'That is why what we call a Special Military Operation goes far beyond its original meaning and geography.' He did not say which other territory Putin was eyeing beyond Ukraine. But he claimed NATO was engaged in a proxy war using Ukrainian soldiers to fight without putting their own forces in harm's way. 'The armed forces of Ukraine are expendable cannon fodder for NATO,' he said. 'They are only operators trained by NATO instructors who push the levers and buttons of NATO weapons.' On Sunday, G7 leaders including President Joe Biden held talks with President Zelensky. As the war approaches its tenth week, more than 3,000 Ukrainians were confirmed to have died in the conflict, according to an estimate by the United Nations. The organization said that the real number is 'likely considerably higher,' and independent sources point at more than 10,000 civilian fatalities in the war-torn country. NATO estimates that Russia and Ukraine have both lost around 15,000 troops each. Massive queues trailing for 'kilometres' have formed at Sydney Airport with passengers forced to wait hours in line. Travellers have taken to social media to vent their frustration over the long wait times at the domestic and international terminals on Monday. One Twitter user described the queue at a security check-in as several 'kilometres long' with only six out of 17 stations open for screening passengers. Staff shortages have been blamed with the scenes of chaos reminiscent of the holiday rush during Easter. Massive queues trailing for 'kilometres' have formed at Sydney Airport with passengers forced to wait hours in line 'Sydney International Airport is a complete mess today,' one wrote. '40 mins queue to check in, ~100 (more outside) just to get through passport control, then the screening queue snakes the whole length 6 times, with ~600 people. 'Like the domestic terminal during school holidays.' Another added: 'I've just had the worst airport experience in my entire life !! 2-hour security queue and no express lanes!!' Some travellers have waited two-and-a-half hours in the queues outside the security stations. 'Huge immigration lines @SydneyAirport this morning,' one Twitter user wrote. 'At least 250m . First class passenger just booted out of priority queue for passengers who will miss flights without early access.' Forty minute wait times have been reported at the check in desk with even longer times at passport checking stations. The scenes mirror the chaos that unfolded at the terminals during Easter holiday in April. Frustrated travellers have taken to Twitter to reveal they have been waiting in queue for up to two-and-a-half hours More than 82,000 passengers passed through the domestic terminal in one day with queues forming outside of the terminals. Passengers at Sydney and Melbourne airports faced five consecutive days of lengthy delays and missed flights. Qantas boss Alan Joyce blamed recent chaos on passengers not being 'match-fit' and up to half of its workforce absent due to Covid-19 isolation rules - which have since been scrapped. 'At the moment the sick leave, the absenteeism is twice the level of the reserves,' he said. 'You have 15 percent of cabin crew typically on reserve on backup on stand by, where you getting up to 30 percent of people not turning up because of Covid or close contacts. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has blasted the city's current Mayor Eric Adams as a 'failure' for his inability to combat the Big Apple's rising crime rate during his first four months in office. Giuliani, who was mayor between January 1994 and December 2001, also poured scorn on the mayor's social calendar and continual partying - whether it be showing up at theatre premieres, heading to the West Coast to hobnob with celebrities and billionaires or posing at last week's New York Met Gala. 'Adams hasn't done a damn thing,' Giuliani told The New York Post. 'So far, he's the biggest failure of a new mayor in America. He's the worst failure of any new first-year mayor in New York City in my lifetime.' Giuliani, who earned the title of America's Mayor after ushering the city through the horrors of 9/11 before becoming a punching bag for his support of Donald Trump, also suggested Adams should lie low when it comes to his social engagements until he has made some real progress. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani says Eric Adams has failed on crime. He is pictured in April Giuliani has also criticized the 61-year-old mayor's social calendar that has seen him swanning from theatre premieres and Met Gala, pictured above, to events on the west coast The mayor is pictured with Ariana Debose at New York Fashion Week in February Last week, Adams headed to the West Coast but was so late in returning back to the Big Apple on Thursday that he had to cancel previously scheduled press events. Adams stopped to take in David Chappelle's show, where he witnessed a man rushing the stage to attack him. Adams didn't arrive home until late Thursday because of what his press shop called a 'last-minute flight cancellation.' The cancellations forced the mayor to miss several events, including a rally demanding he be allowed to control the city's school system. At the start of last week, he appeared at the Met Gala. He was also seen with actress Cara Delevigne and rappers A$AP Rocky and Common at various city events. 'I didn't go to a Met gala until I got the city under control,' Giuliani explained. 'People should stop inviting him to events. Adams should be at City Hall and Gracie Mansion implementing plans that should have been implemented months ago. MAY 2021 vs MAY 2022: As of May 1, overall crime is up 41.6 percent so far this year compared to last year 'Crime is up 38 percent. That is a tsunami,' Giuliani explained. 'Adams has more crime than Bill de Blasio. The city is undeniably more dangerous than it was last year under de Blasio.' Adams' brief sojourn out West comes as crime continues to rise across the Big Apple despite his promises to crack down on the already surging numbers under predecessor Bill de Blasio. Through May 1, overall crime is up 41 percent in New York City from the same period in 2021. While murders are down 14 percent, robberies are up 44 percent and felony assaults are up 19 percent. A recent poll also found that 43% of New Yorkers approve of Adams' overall job since taking over in January down from the 46% in the same survey conducted in February. In January 2022, Mayor Adams unveiled a comprehensive plan to combat the surge in crime, which included increased foot patrols as well as the revival of a plain clothes unit named Neighborhood Safety Teams. The mayor launched his Subway Safety plan in February, which sent 1,000 officers with health care partners to crackdown on homelessness and crime in the city's transit system. Yet the initiatives have bore little fruits as crime continues to rise The mayor also launched his Subway Safety plan in February, which sent 1,000 officers with health care partners to crackdown on homelessness and crime in the city's transit system. Yet the initiatives have bore little fruits as crime continues to rise, with murder and rape being the only crimes to see a down tick between April 2022 and April 2021. The NYPD reported 31 murders last month, a 38 percent drop from the 50 last year, and rapes fell by 6 percent, with 109 cases reported in April. Giuliani claims that Adams' record so far is worse than that of de Blasio who had to deal with the violent Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. During Giuliani's time in office, he worked together with then-Police Commissioner Bill Bratton and saw crime rates fall. The violent crime rate dropped by 56 percent during the eight years he served as mayor. Murder, down nearly two-thirds. Robbery, down 67 percent. Aggravated assault, down 28 percent. Crime in the subways dropped 27 percent. Over the eight years he was in office, Giulinani grew the NYPD from 28,000 officers to 40,000. Over the eight years he was in office, Giulinani grew the NYPD from 28,000 officers to 40,000. He is pictured, left, with Police Commissioner William Bratton Giuliani instituted a zero-tolerance approach to crime-fighting which allowed police to stop and frisk suspicious people and make arrests for minor infractions that once had been ignored. The approach was based on a theory called 'Broken Windows,' which contends that low-level disorder leads to increased blight and crime. Adams campaigned on a promise to bring down crime touting his experience as a retired police captain in that he had the right tools to combat crime. Giuliani, who a former federal prosecutor, dismissed Adams' claims as all-talk. 'I arrested way more criminals than he did. Ask him about his most famous arrest. This guy was a politician who was a member of the police department,' Giuliani said. Rudolph Giuliani is sworn in as 107th Mayor of New York City, in January 1994. With Giuliani are his wife, Donna, and their children, Andrew and Caroline New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani poses with scooter officers of the police department in December 1994 on the steps of City Hall. The violent crime rate dropped by 56 percent during the eight years he served as mayor Giuliani also dismissed Adams statements insisting that the subway was safe as felony assaults jumped 50 percent from February to March of this year. 'Adams goes out and tells us the subways are safe. Who believes that?' the former mayor asked. Giuliani also suggested that Adams didn't have the courage to push for cashless bail laws in the state to be reviewed. The lax laws see criminals who have committed crimes released back onto the streets, sometimes within hours of their arrest. The remarks were dismissed by City Hall who dismissed Giuliani is a 'national embarrassment'. The remarks were dismissed by City Hall who dismissed Giuliani is a 'national embarrassment' who was a 'lying lapdog to a president that made our gun violence crisis exponentially worse' 'Giuliani burned all of his credibility as a lying lapdog to a president that made our gun violence crisis exponentially worse by failing to do a single thing to combat the flow of firearms into our city during his four years in office,' said Adams spokesman Max Young. 'Since the start of our administration we have been laser-focused on public safety we have taken over 2,300 guns off the street, instituted an all-new anti-gun unit, and invested a record amount of funding in programs, like youth employment and summer jobs, that will prevent New Yorkers from entering the criminal justice system in the first place.' The City Hall spokesman also explained how Adams had already been lobbying New York State Governor Kathy Hochul in an effort to tighten up bail laws. 'We have pushed reforms in Albany that no one thought possible, and have begun correcting historical mistakes that allowed too many criminals to avoid punishment for their actions,' Young said. 'But let's be clear President Trump, who Mayor Giuliani humiliated himself for time and time again, did nothing to stop this crisis, and in fact made things far worse by opposing virtually every single gun safety law or measure proposed. If the former mayor wanted to do something useful he would be in Washington demanding that his party take action,' Young said. Danish Ambassador to Korea Einar Jensen, fifth from right, takes a photo with embassy staff and officials from the Gangnam Severance Hospital as the embassy donated Octo Plushies a stuffed toy and Lego sets in celebration of Children's Day at the hospital in southern Seoul, May 3. The Octo Project began in Denmark in 2013. The octopus doll's tentacles remind newborns and premature babies of the umbilical cord, thereby helping them feel safe and secure. The Danish Embassy in Korea and Novo Nordisk Korea gifted the octopus dolls to five hospitals this year. Courtesy of the Embassy of Denmark in Korea Labor leader Anthony Albanese has come under attack from both the left and the right - the Greens and the Liberals - for saying 'negative gearing is a good thing'. During Sunday night's election debate, Prime MInister Scott Morrison questioned Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese on how his policies had changed since 2019. Mr Morrison took aim at Labor's shift in positions on negative gearing, a policy which has been blamed by some experts for driving up house prices, and locking young Australians out of the market. 'Anthony, even in the last three years you have been for the abolition of negative gearing and against the abolition of negative gearing,' Mr Morrison said. 'Given you have changed your mind on things you were passionately against, how can Australians believe you are now for them?' Scroll down for the video. Greens leader Adam Bandt has slammed Anthony Albanese's defence of negative gearing during Sunday night's election debate against Scott Morrison Mr Albanese replied: 'I supported the Labor Party at the last election. We had a range of policies that we put forward that were not successful. 'When I became Labor leader, on day one, I said that under my leadership we would be defined by being a Labor leader not by being the Opposition leader. 'That all policies would start anew, and on the basis of the positions that we would come to when I announce to them. Mr Morrison accused Mr Albanese of changing his policies regarding negative gearing because they weren't 'popular' 'So on housing, for example, we have come up with a better way. The Housing Australia Future Fund.' Mr Morrison: 'So is negative gearing now a good thing?' Mr Albanese: '-With the "help to buy" scheme ...Negative gearing is a good thing. We had a policy that we took to the election where we were not successful. ' Mr Morrison: 'So is that the way you are approaching it? It is just not popular?' Negative gearing allows investors to deduct money lost to mortgage repayments on their tax returns. It has been criticised as a key cause of Australia's housing crisis. During the heated debate Mr Albanese defended his new stance on negative gearing by saying it would be 'a good thing' under his party's Housing Australia Future Fund The Labor party dropped its policies to limit negative gearing and halve the 50 per cent capital gains tax in July last year after losing two consecutive federal elections on the policies in 2016 and 2019. Greens leader Adam Bandt weighed in on the issue on Monday, taking exception to Mr Albanese's 'good thing' comment in particular. 'Last night Anthony Albanese said negative gearing is "a good thing". Theres nothing to celebrate about pushing up housing prices and locking young people out of owning a home,' he wrote. 'The Greens plan is to stop the $63b in handouts to the very wealthy & property moguls, limit negative gearing to one property only, and build 1m affordable homes that people can rent for 25% of their income or buy into for $300,000.' Mr Albanese has been the proud advocate of his party's proposed housing schemes that will aim to tackle Australia's housing crisis. Labor's Housing Australia Future Fund will look to build 30,000 new social housing properties in the next five years while the Help to Buy Scheme will help young, low-income earners break into the property market. Former Sydney rugby league player and teacher Chris Dawson murdered his wife and disposed of her body in 1982 because he was infatuated with one of his students, a judge has heard. Opening the trial on Monday, crown prosecutor Craig Everson SC said Dawson, 73, had called his wife Lynette a 'fat and ugly b****'. He told the judge that Dawson had entered into a consensual relationship with one of his students, known only as JC, repeatedly asking her to marry him. 'He was motivated to kill his wife Lynette by his desire to have an unfettered relationship with [JC],' Mr Everson said. Former Sydney rugby league player and teacher Chris Dawson (pictured, outside the Supreme Court on Monday) murdered his wife and disposed of her body in 1982 because he was infatuated with one of his students, a judge has heard Opening the trial on Monday, crown prosecutor Craig Everson SC said Dawson, 73, had called his wife Lynette a 'fat and ugly b****' Dawson allegedly tried to sell his Bayview home without his wife's permission and briefly moved to Queensland to start a new life with JC before returning to Sydney. Justice Ian Harrison heard Dawson had contemplated hiring a hitman to get rid of his wife, once when returning from holiday on the Gold Coast in October 1975 and a second time in late 1981 at the Newtown Rugby League Club after a visit with JC. 'JC will testify that when he, the accused, returned from inside ... he told her that he contemplated, thought about, getting a hitman to get rid of his wife but decided against it because innocent people would be hurt,' Mr Everson said. The Crown alleges Dawson eventually murdered his wife around January 8, 1982 but had lied to friends and family members, saying she had called him after that date. While witnesses claimed they saw Ms Dawson after January 8, Mr Everson said there was no realistic possibility she was alive at that time. Dawson is accused of having a level of animosity towards his wife about her failure to bear children at the same time as his twin brother, Paul Dawson. The couple eventually had two children together. The Crown's case relies on inferences to be drawn from Mrs Dawson's behaviour, such as commissioning a portrait of her two children shortly before her alleged murder. In mid-January, Dawson allegedly told the artist his wife had gone away and no longer wanted the paintings. Six weeks after her disappearance, Dawson reported her missing, Mr Everson said. Dawson allegedly tried to sell his Bayview home without his wife's permission and briefly moved to Queensland to start a new life with JC before returning to Sydney Also on Monday, the Crown and Dawson unsuccessfully applied to have the entirety of the murder trial and the resultant judgment suppressed temporarily, citing the 'media storm' that would emerge. 'Once the evidence gets into the public domain, there is probability, a strong probability, it will be sensationalised in circumstances where this man will be portrayed as an evil murderer, a cunning predator, immoral, etc,' Dawson's lawyer Greg Walsh said. Dawson's previous attempts to permanently put the proceedings on ice failed, with the High Court rejecting this bid in April this year. The trial is being heard in NSW Supreme Court by Justice Harrison without a jury, after Dawson successfully argued he would be prejudiced if the case was heard by a jury. Chris Dawson has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife. The trial continues on Wednesday. A shop assistant who was stood down after he went viral for confronting a woman allegedly using an empty child's pram to steal from his store has been offered a job at a rival company. Video circulating online shows the worker stopping the woman outside Supercheap Auto in Ashmore, on the Gold Coast, after she allegedly tried to flee with items stashed in the pram. After an expletive-ridden showdown, the employee managed to recover some of the allegedly stolen goods before the woman allegedly fled the scene. Supercheap said the worker was stood down pending an investigation, sparking fury as dozens of Aussies flocked online to slam the decision and demand he be rewarded for his efforts. Now, Autobarn, in nearby Burleigh Heads, has offered the man a position after being impressed by how he handled the situation. A Supercheap Auto employee has been stood down pending an investigation after footage of him confronting an alleged thief (pictured) went viral 'On behalf of our team in Burleigh, we would like to offer this man a job,' the business wrote in an online post. 'If anyone knows his name, please help us get in touch.' The store's owner, Michael Farrar, said his business has lost around $15,000 worth of goods over the past two years and the man in the video was the kind of employee he wanted on his team. 'His actions showed to me that he is a loyal person and someone we would want on our team,' he told the Gold Coast Bulletin. It remains unclear whether the man has contacted the business to take up the offer. Local car wreckers Southport Auto recyclers have also posted a job opportunity for the worker. The man has been offered a position at Autobarn, in Burleigh Heads (pictured) The rival automotive company issued a post calling on the man to contact them over a job proposal 'If anyone knows him tell him to DM us or tag him, we would like to interview him for a position should he require one!' they wrote on Facebook. 'After watching the video it's crazy that supercheap have stood him down after the commitment to them he demonstrated!' Supercheap Auto confirmed on Monday the employee had been stood down, telling Radio 2GB: 'While the situation is being investigated, the employee will not be able to work'. The move has sparked outrage online with Australians expressing their support for the worker. 'Was he really sacked that's' a s**t go Supercheap!' one wrote on Reddit. 'Unbelievable. This guy stood up for this store and this is how they repay him. Bloody thieves need to learn that stealing just isn't cool,' another comment read. Autobarn Burleigh Heads owner Michael Farrar (pictured) said the man was the kind of employee he is looking for A third added: 'Poor bastard. You do a good deed and get punished. What a f**king joke.' Many people have taken to the company's Facebook page to condemn the decision, vowing to shop elsewhere. 'Looks like you lost a worker. Thankfully another company has seen his value,' one man wrote. 'Know where I will be shopping from now on.... Well done Autobarn. Shame on you,' a woman said. 'Seriously Supercheap you got it wrong,' a third post read. However, others felt the employee addressed the situation poorly. 'I was in retail work 30 years ago and they were adamant even back then that you report but never confront if you suspected a thief,' one wrote. 'I was a retail manager for years. I always trained my staff to never stop a thief,' another added. 'There was no incentive from head office to stop thieves and they didn't want to risk an employee getting hurt or a thief trying to sue.' 'It's idiotic to risk your own safety over product that costs a few cents/dollars to make, and is insured by the company. You're worth more than cheaply made s*** that is easily replaced,' a third wrote. In footage of the altercation a large cardboard box falls from the woman's pram onto the pavement (pictured) The footage shows the frustrated employee grabbing the pram while the woman pretends there is a baby inside A Supercheap spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the company is reviewing the incident, which is 'standard practice after an event of this nature'. 'At all times, we remain focused on the health, safety and wellbeing of our team members and customers,' they said. It is understood the employee was stood down with pay. The video posted online last month showed the woman tightly gripping her decoy pram, pretending there was a baby inside, as she bickered with the employee. The employee threatened to 'call the cops' if she didn't return the allegedly stolen items as the woman tried to move the stroller out of his reach. 'Let my baby go,' she screamed as the man took hold of its handles and looked inside. 'You haven't even got a baby in there,' the man calmly replied. 'Don't touch my baby,' the woman screamed again as the employee noticed a box stowed inside the pram that was covered with a blanket. 'Oh there's a box in there!' the man cries in mock surprise. The woman then seemingly gave up on her ploy and told the retail worker he could have 'the f**king motor'. She pushed a large cardboard box out of the pram and onto the pavement for the man to collect before finally calling him a 'f**khead'. A second video later posted online showed the woman barging him out of the way and storming off down the carpark, away from the automotive supplies store. Queensland Police said detectives were unaware of any complaints made about the incident. A witness, who was at the shop getting her windscreen wipers serviced, said staff allegedly saw her stealing on their cameras inside the store. The witness claimed to Daily Mail Australia that the woman had three disc brake rotors, valued at about $82.99 each. 'I heard the yelling before I saw them and just started filming,' the witness said. 'The worker was ok, he was angry more than anything.' The bystander claimed staff recovered two rotors and believe the woman got away with a third hidden under the pram. Anthony Albanese has stepped away from the cameras when asked about China's activity in the Pacific - instead deferring to shadow foreign affairs minister Penny Wong. In a press conference in Adelaide on Monday afternoon a reporter directed his query about the Solomon Islands to 'both' Mr Albanese and Senator Wong but the Labor leader simply stepped away from the cameras. Last week Mr Albanese faced criticism for deferring several questions to shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers and shadow housing minister Jason Clare - and for not knowing the details of his own NDIS policy. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is pictured in the federal seat of Gilmore, NSW on Monday Scott Morrison has accused the Labor leader of using his colleagues as 'human shields' because he's not across the details of his policies. 'And when the human shield goes, well, we see what happens,' the Prime Minister warned last week after Mr Albanese failed to state the unemployment rate on day one of the campaign. 'This is just the campaign. Didn't know what the unemployment rate was. Didn't know what the cash rate was. Didn't even know what his own NDIS policy. Could you imagine three years of that? Of this guy sitting there, with everything we're dealing with,' Mr Morrison told Sky News on Thursday. Mr Albanese has insisted it's normal to defer questions to relevant colleagues, pointing out that Mr Morrison does it all the time in Parliament. Anthony Albanese pictured in Adelaide on Monday But Defence Minister Peter Dutton said Mr Albanese defers questions far more than other leaders including Julia Gillard, John Howard, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating. Mr Albanese was asked today about a report in The Australian that China was looking to build wharves and shipyards in the Solomon Islands - which could potentially be used by its military. A leaked copy of a memorandum of understanding between China and the Solomon Islands revealed a draft agreement that would set up 'deep-sea fishing bases' just 2,000km from Queensland. It comes after the two countries signed a security pact earlier this year, which has raised alarm bells among western nations. Senator Wong said while she could not verify reports of the leaked memorandum, it represented a concerning development in the region. 'If it's true, it demonstrates the seriousness of what has occurred on Mr Morrison's watch,' she said. 'It also demonstrates that the sort of tough words he's talking about, or trying to use, about red lines don't appear to be the way forward or appear to have much effect.' Campaigning in Nowra, NSW, Mr Morrison said China has made no secret of its ambitions in the Pacific. 'We are very aware of what's happening in our region and of the pressures... the Chinese government is seeking to put on countries right across our region,' he told reporters on Monday. The Prime Minister has been accused of the worst foreign policy failure since World War Two after the Pacific nation just 2,000km from Queensland announced the pact with the Beijing last month 'I am very concerned, as many other Pacific leaders are, about the interference and intrusion of the Chinese government into these types of arrangements and what that can mean for the peace, stability and security of the southwest Pacific.' Mr Morrison had previously stated that China building a military base in the Solomon islands would be a 'red line' - without saying what would happen if the line is crossed. He sought to emphasise Australia was still the preferred security partner of the Pacific nation. 'The first call when these things happen in our region, from any of our Pacific family, is to Australia (and) that remains the case,' he said. 'The Australian Federal Police remain on the ground in Honiara now.' Maryam Hamka's friend tried calling her the day after she was last seen alive, prompted by a worrying text message she sent him. The 36-year-old woman was last seen leaving a Brunswick supermarket on April 10, 2021, after telling family she was going to visit a friend in Brighton. Ms Hamka's former boyfriend Toby Loughnane has been charged with her murder and faced Melbourne Magistrates Court by videolink on Monday. Maryam Hamka, 36, was last seen leaving a Woolworth's store in Albert Street, Brunswick at 5:30pm on April 10 last year (pictured, Woolworth's CCTV footage of Ms Hamka) Oscar Newman appeared in person over charges alleging he assisted in the murder. The court heard on the last day she was seen, Ms Hamka sent her friend Shane Allen a text message saying 'sorry I blew out'. He said he called her at 3am or 4am on April 11 after seeing the text. 'She didn't sound right. I was just checking, worried about her,' he told the court. Under questioning by Loughnane's barrister Daniel Sala, he said the phrase 'blew out' was used by people who had taken too much of the drug GHB. On the last day Ms Hamka was seen she texted her friend, 'sorry i blew out'. Melbourne Magistrates Court heard the phrase 'blew out' was used by people who had taken too much of the drug GHB Another witness said Ms Hamka and Loughnane argued in front of her for more than three hours in the weeks before she went missing. The witness, a friend of Loughnane, had not seen Ms Hamka for eight years and did not know the pair were in a relationship. She told the court she went to Loughnane's Brighton home on February 20 last year after she was contacted by him on Facebook. She said Loughnane and Ms Hamka had an altercation 'for hours' between 1am and 4.30am, and she stayed at the house during their dispute. 'Toby was my friend, and seeing Maryam go through what she went through that night, I stayed because to be honest I was in fear,' she said. 'I was trying to get a Didi home, an Uber home, and I couldn't get any cars.' Ms Hamka's body has never been found. The committal hearing will continue on Tuesday. A retired sheriff's deputy who allegedly stole thousands of dollars in gifts from 11 Phoenix-area weddings told investigators that he only attended the ceremonies to hear the vows 'because he was going through a divorce.' Landon Earl Rankin, 54, was arrested Wednesday and charged with two counts of third-degree burglary. He had methamphetamine and fentanyl on him during his arrest, police say. Rankin posed as a guest at two weddings that were ransacked on April 15 and April 30, police say. At each of those, he stole a box of wedding cards containing between $3,000 and $6,000. Investigators later tied him to similar cases of stolen wedding gifts in Pinal County, the city of Mesa and the town of Gilbert, according to Chandler police. Rankin was a deputy with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, joining the agency in 1994. He retired in 2015 but remained a reserve officer until 2017, office spokesperson Lauren Reimer said. He is being held at Maricopa County Jail without bond, according to Chandler police and court and jail records. Landon Earl Rankin, 54, was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly stealing gift money from 11 Phoenix-area weddings. He worked at the Pinal County Sheriff's Office until 2017 Surveillance video shows him walking out of a wedding venue in Chandler with a gift box that he had placed in a bag. He later said he attended the weddings to hear the vows According to police, the two stolen boxes of wedding cards at the April 15 and April 30 weddings each contained between $3,000 and $6,000. Surveillance video from one of the Chandler wedding venues showed Rankin grabbing the gift box, placing it in a bag, walking out the venue's rear door, running to his vehicle and driving away, police said in a probable-cause statement. When interviewed by police, Rankin said he attended the weddings to hear the wedding vows 'because he was going through a divorce,' the statement said. During their investigation of the two Chandler thefts, police learned of at least 11 total crimes in the East Valley area, police said on Facebook. Rankin is now under investigation in those cases, and Chandler police have heard from 'four or five' additional newlywed couples regarding possible additional thefts, according to Chandler police spokesman Sgt. Jason McClimans. Police urged victims of such crimes to contact appropriate law enforcement agencies. Chandler police say they've tied him to at least 11 weddings in the Phoenix area. He faces a maximum of three years and nine months in prison for each of the two burglary counts Rankin was jailed on suspicion of two counts of third-degree burglary. He also was booked on possession of narcotics, possession of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Each burglary count carries a maximum sentence of three years and nine months in state prison, according to the Shouse Arizona Law Group. Court records didn't list an attorney who could speak on his behalf. Thousands of Australians have already cast their votes for the federal election 12 days from polling day on May 21. Early voting opened on Monday and by the time the campaign is over about half of the country is expected to have cast their ballots. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his Labor challenger Anthony Albanese still have almost two weeks of policy announcements and gaffes to come, but for these voters little of it will matter. Candidates all study the patterns of early and postal voting very closely and sometimes time policy launches to coincide with what they expect will be a busy pre-polling period. A man is seen casting his vote at an Australian Electoral Commission early voting centre in Melbourne on Monday, May 9, 2022, while his dog looks on Ben Raue, election analyst at The Tally Room, said Coalition voters were more likely to vote early than their Labor counterparts. 'In the past two elections, there has been a three to five per cent higher vote for Labor on the official election day than in pre-polling,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'Despite losing the elections in 2016 and 2019, Labor won a majority of the two-party-preferred vote among those voting on election day at both of those elections.' About 42 per cent of votes were cast by pre-polling and postal voting in the 2019 election and the number is expected to rise again this time. 'It may go over 50 per cent,' Mr Raue said. 'There will be a big increase in postal voting because of Covid. There has already been a big increase in the number of people requesting postal votes.' In some of the state and council elections held during the pandemic, on-the-day voting was as low as 20 per cent, with the rest having pre-polled or voted by post. But with 93.9 per cent of people now vaccinated, that will not be replicated in the federal election - though its popularity is increasing. 'As the early vote has increased, this outcome has become more critical to deciding elections,' Mr Raue said. 'It would have been very hard to win an election despite losing the election day vote back in 2001, when almost 90 per cent of all votes were cast on the day.' Staff members are seen at the early voting centre inside the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Monday, May 9, 2022 Ballot boxes are seen at an early voting centre in Melbourne on Monday, May 9, 2022 With pre-polling now a major part of the federal election, many people worry that something will happen between the day they voted and election day that may have changed their choice. Mr Raue doesn't agree with that: 'The act of voting, regardless of when you do it, is final. 'A party could release a policy after you've voted that might change your mind and wish you'd voted a different way, but equally they could do something a week after the election that makes you regret how you voted. 'The biggest pre-polling days are always the Thursday and Friday before the actual poll, so there is not a lot of time left for regret for most people anyway,' he said. Celebrity chef Mario Batali's trial on sexual misconduct allegations opens on Monday in Boston after it was delayed by the pandemic. Batali, 61, pleaded not guilty in May 2019 to a charge of indecent assault and battery after a woman accused him of forcibly kissing and groping her at a Boston restaurant in 2017. The woman alleged that Batali saw her taking a photo of him at the now-defunct Towne Stove and Spirits restaurant and invited her to take a selfie with him. She said Batali then groped one of her breasts and her buttocks and groin, and kissed her face repeatedly without her consent. It is the first criminal charge levied against Batali following sexual harassment and assault allegations that first surfaced in April 2017 amid the #MeToo movement. Batali is expected to be in court throughout the trial, starting with jury selection on Monday in Boston Municipal Court. The proceedings should last about two days once jury selection is complete, said Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden's office. If convicted, Batali could face up to two-and-a-half years in jail and be required to register as a sex offender. Mario Batali, 61, pleaded not guilty in May 2019 (pictured outside the municipal court in Boston after entering his plea in 2019) to a charge of indecent assault and battery after a woman accused him of forcibly kissing and groping her at a Boston restaurant in 2017 Lawyers for Batali didn't comment ahead of the start of jury selection Monday in Boston Municipal Court. The chef's lawyers have previously said the charge is without merit. His accuser has also filed a civil lawsuit against Batali seeking unspecified damages for 'severe emotional distress' that's still pending in Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston. Her lawyer didn't respond to emails Friday. Batali is among a number of high-profile men who have faced a public reckoning during the #MeToo social movement against sexual abuse and harassment in recent years. The 61-year-old was once a Food Network fixture on shows like 'Molto Mario' and 'Iron Chef America.' But the ponytail- and orange Croc-wearing personality's high-flying career crumbled amid sexual misconduct allegations. Four women accused him of inappropriate touching in 2017, after which he stepped down from day-to-day operations at his restaurant empire and left the since-discontinued ABC cooking show 'The Chew.' Batali has offered an apology, acknowledging the allegations 'match up' with ways he has acted. 'I have made many mistakes and I am so very sorry that I have disappointed my friends, my family, my fans and my team,' he said in an email newsletter at the time. 'My behavior was wrong and there are no excuses. I take full responsibility.' Last year, Batali, his former business partner Joe Bastianich and their New York City restaurant company agreed to pay $600,000 to resolve a four-year investigation by the New York attorney general's office into allegations that Batali, restaurant managers and other workers sexually harassed employees. They agreed to pay the $600,000 settlement to the 20 men and women who said they were sexually harassed while working at their restaurants. The woman alleged that Batali (pictured in the Eataly in 2010) saw her taking a photo of him at the now-defunct Towne Stove and Spirits restaurant and invited her to take a selfie with him. She said Batali then groped one of jer breasts and her buttocks and groin, and kissed her face repeatedly without her consent The New York attorney general office's investigation found a culture rife with sexual harassment at the Manhattan restaurants Babbo, Lupa and Del Posto, which closed permanently in April 2021, with employees reporting that managers and colleagues groped them, kissed them against their will, or made sexual comments. Some female employees said they were told to wear makeup and even to get breast implants, and that male colleagues would tell them to get on their knees or discuss the attributes of their mouths. Victims who came forward said they wanted to see a change in the restaurant industry, where they say that all too often sexual harassment is viewed as routine or mere horseplay. 'Sexual harassment, discrimination, and retaliation should never be normalized in any industry or workplace,' said Juliana Imperati, a former line cook at Del Posto, in a statement. 'When my female coworkers and I were being sexually harassed by multiple people at Del Posto, the restaurant's leadership made us feel as if we were asking for it as if it is a rite of passage to be harassed at work,' she added. Mario Batali (left) and his former business partner Joe Bastianich (right) appear with former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg at Eataly's grand opening Female employees also complained that chefs and managers blatantly favored male employees and made misogynistic comments degrading women in the workplace. One manager referred to several female employees in front of dining guests as 'little girl' and 'sensitive,' and said that 'females should not work in the mezzanine,' which was a main part of the restaurant, according to the report. 'Throughout the course of my employment at Del Posto, I endured constant, escalating sexual harassment,' said Brianna Pintens, a former server at Del Posto, in a statement. 'Management routinely ignored these behaviors, made excuses for the perpetrators, and often used victim blaming as a way to avoid having to deal with a workplace culture rooted in fear and humiliation,' she added. In Boston, Batali opened a branch of the popular Italian food marketplace Eataly in the downtown Prudential Center in 2016 as well as a Babbo Pizzeria e Enoteca in the city's Seaport District in 2015. Batali has since been bought out of his stake in Eataly, which still has dozens of locations worldwide including in Boston, and the Babbo restaurant in the city has since closed. Disgusting toilets and overcrowded, demountable classrooms are influencing parents to send their children to private schools, an inquiry into NSW public school infrastructure has been told. A parliamentary upper house education committee is examining the planning and delivery of school infrastructure, following reports from the Auditor-General Margaret Crawford last year. Public school infrastructure is so bad that students avoid eating or drinking so they don't have to use their school's 'absolutely disgraceful' toilets, Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW vice president Yvonne Hilsz told the inquiry on Monday. An inquiry into NSW public school infrastructure heard on Monday that students at Concord High School refuse to eat or drink so they can avoid using the 'absolutely disgraceful' toilets (pictured, toilets at Concord High School) 'We have parents complaining their children have (urinary tract infections), bladder issues, because children refuse to go to the toilet during the day,' Ms Hilsz said. Some school toilets don't have working soap dispensers, the doors don't lock, they're dark and they stink from decades worth of urine soaking into tiling grout, Ms Hilsz said. In its submission to the committee, Concord High School Parents and Citizens Association noted their school was short of toilets and demountable bathrooms had been installed, with no plan to replace them. Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW vice president Yvonne Hilsz (pictured) told the inquiry disgusting toilets, overcrowding, demountable classrooms and a lack of consultation is influencing parents to send their children to private schools Volunteers had managed to secure a $150,000 grant from the government to upgrade bathrooms, and were informed that was enough to upgrade just four toilets, which could take up to a year. The school has one wheelchair accessible toilet, on the second floor of a building where the lift does not work. Demountable classrooms were also being used to address overcrowding in growing catchments, encroaching on school ovals and preventing children from exercising, the inquiry heard. Temporary infrastructure, overcrowding and a lack of consultation with school communities about catchment and enrolment was pushing parents who can afford it to send their children to private schools, Ms Hilsz said. 'Where there is option for private, and budget availability for parents to go private ... they will move out of public education and by year five many have already started to move into private (schools),' she said. That option is not available to everyone. 'I'm a cleaner, I can't pay thousands and thousands of dollars a year for my children's school and we should all have the same opportunity,' Gillieston Primary School parent Katie Ferguson told the inquiry. Ms Ferguson said she was excited to find a mention of Gillieston in a government document outlining $5 million funding until she realised it was to build a new private school. 'It breaks my heart,' she told the hearing. The new school, despite not being built yet, also came up first in her ServiceNSW app when she tried to access an Active Kids voucher last week, Ms Ferguson said. Parent's told the inquiry that Gillieston Primary School (pictured) has not been maintained or upgraded despite exponential growth in the area. The school is not connected to sewerage and has chicken wife for a fence Another Gillieston parent, Todd Sellers, said the public school has not been maintained and upgraded to meet the exponential growth in the NSW Hunter town of Maitland where it's situated. All but two buildings are demountable and so are some of the toilets. 'I can go to a music festival and go to the toilet in better conditions than my children do,' Ms Ferguson said. The school is not connected to sewerage, and has chicken wire for a fence, which the department says is adequate because it's a 'rural school', despite being across the road from newly built suburban style housing. Parents were looking to send their children elsewhere and teachers were unlikely to stay at the school either. 'They come to the school because it's a job and it's a paycheck, but after a certain period of time they'll start applying for other schools with other opportunities. Gillieston doesn't get the opportunities,' Ms Ferguson said. Are you stuck in the queues today? Let me know about your experience: james.robinson@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Are you stuck in the airport queues today? Share your experience - Contact: laurence.dollimore@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement Fed-up holidaymakers were today blamed for the painfully-long queues at security at Birmingham Airport as a staffing crisis continued to cause chaos at Britain's travel hubs. A mother with a three-year-old travelling to Fuerteventura told MailOnline she had 'never seen anything like it', describing the queues as 'horrendous', before claiming a member of staff blamed the bedlam on flyers failing to remove liquids from their hand luggage. She was one of thousands who faced hours-long delays at check-in and security, with similar scenes seen at Manchester Airport. British Airways was also forced to axe 128 flights, although the flagship carrier said passengers had at least a few days' notice. The mother, who only gave her name as Sarah, said: 'The queues were horrendous. We have a three year old and at one point we just wanted to call it early and give up and go home... 'The worst part was; where you queue to get through the first part (where boarding passes are checked) - that was only the tip of the iceberg! There were miles more of queues.' She added: 'Then, the guy running the security belt said "make sure you take your liquids out of your bag. This is why we're in this mess". Well we just laughed at him. It clearly wasn't.' The chaos has seen some families taken to turning up six hours early while at Manchester Airport, one woman was left 'in tears' after missing her flight. Passengers in Manchester said they were facing a two-hour wait at security check-in this morning, with queues leading outside the terminal and into a nearby car-park. There were also delays to flights, while at Stansted, there were also claims of two-hour delays at passport control last night. Passengers waited in queues stretching for more than 300 yards to pass through airport security at Manchester Airport. Holidaymakers adhered to flight operators' advice to arrive in plenty of time only to be told they were too early to check-in. Shirley Young, 71, from near Burnley, Lancashire, was travelling on an easyJet flight to Pathos, Greece. She said: 'We've been at the airport since 9am but our flight isn't until 2.45pm. 'The airline sent an email telling us to arrive early and now they won't let us check-in. 'There are no facilities until past security, so we are just stuck here. When we manage to check-in, we then have to go back outside and queue to get through security. 'It is very disappointing. This is the flight that was originally scheduled for 2019, so we have waited a long time.' Chloe Charlton, 26, an NHS worker from Middleton, was flying to Alicante with her two children. She said: 'I just feel stressed by it all. We can't check-in yet and it is very difficult to keep the children happy while we wait. 'We were hoping to get through security early and then give the children something to eat. 'They have been good so far but it won't be long that changes when they become hungry and fed-up. It's just a bad situation all round.' Lucas Tottman, 21, a supermarket worker from Sandbach, was travelling to Turkey and had arrived more than four hours before his flight said: 'It is not ideal, but Im prepared to do it to go on holiday. 'Saying that, Im not happy about having to arrive so early for my flight and then queue for so long. Things need to change fast.' Kian Nowland, 21, a student from Sandbach, said: 'It is really poor that after so long they still cant get it right and sort it out. 'They will be making a fortune charging people dropping passangers off and they cant afford to employ enough staff to cope with the number of people arriving. 'They are blaming covid for lack of staff but that is no longer an excuse. We have to live with covid and adapt our way of life to cope with it.' It comes as airports up and down the UK continue to face staffing issues in the wake of Covid restrictions. Travel chiefs say the issues have been exacerbated by a huge increase in demand for travel following two years of Covid-enforced disruption. Some have warned the staffing issues, which came to a head last month as people rushed away for the first restriction free Easter Bank Holiday in more than two years, could last as long as a year. And yesterday EasyJet announced plans to remove seats on some of its planes this summer so that it can operate flights with fewer cabin crew as it too battles staffing issues. Paul Charles, CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency, said: 'From my own travels through various airports and on various airlines in recent days, it's clear that demand is literally sky-high to travel. Manchester Airport staff direct passengers as they stand in a massive queue outside of the departures terminal to try and get through security Queues were so long at Birmingham Airport this morning that some passengers had to queue outside the terminal building Holidaymakers jetting off on their late Spring getaway are today facing airport chaos, with delays to flights, 'shambolic' organisation and queues stretching outside terminal buildings. Pictured: Queues at airport security today at Birmingham Airport Holidaymakers have been queuing in their hundreds today at Birmingham Airport, with some passengers even having to wait outside the terminal building Birmingham Airport say ongoing staffing issues are behind the queues. Pictured: Passengers queueing for a Tui flight at Birmingham Airport this morning. At Manchester Airport's Terminal 1 passengers were today seen queueing outside the terminal building as they waited to get through to security Passengers were seen queueing in the car-park outside Manchester Airport today as long queues developed this morning 'With some airlines pruning their schedules, this means every flight is rammed at the moment as consumers get onboard whatever is available to their destination. This is all putting extra pressure on airports, especially at the main pinch point of security, where there are still extensive staff shortages. 'It's not a public holiday today but we are seeing more tour and school groups travelling during May, and so that adds to the pressure as well. 'Don't forget many people haven't travelled for over two years so they are having to get used to travel again, and all the processes that go with that, such as not carrying bottles over 100ml in hand luggage.' A Manchester Airport spokesperson said: 'We are aware that at times this morning, some passengers have experienced longer security queues than we would like and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. 'We continue to make good progress in our recovery from the devastating impacts of the pandemic, both in terms of recruiting the number of staff we need for the summer, and the waiting times experienced by the majority of travellers. 'However, we are still advising customers that there will be occasions when queues will be longer than usual, as was the case for periods this morning due to unexpectedly high levels of absence experienced on the day. 'Whenever this is the case, we do all we can to minimise disruption and prioritise customers wherever possible to ensure they make their flights. When necessary, we have also taken the decision to make use of part of Terminal One's car park in order to effectively manage queues and minimise congestion within the terminal itself. 'Passengers due to travel through Manchester Airport are advised to arrive three hours before their flight is due to depart, and to ensure their ensure their hand luggage is packed in accordance with security rules. 'We are urging passengers not to come any earlier than this because they may not be able to check-in with their airlines or enter security. This could cause unnecessary waits in the terminals while they wait for these processes to open. Leaving a three-hour window will enable people to pass through security and make their flights. What is the situation at each of the airports today Manchester: Long queues this morning for security with some stretching outside the terminal building. Delays of up to two hours to get through security. Up to 57 flights delayed so far today, including 11 easyJet and 8 from Ryanair. Birmingham: Long delays for security. Birmingham say half of its 15,000 customers today were booked to depart in our busy dawn peak. Airport said it decided to move some of the security queues outside to prevent tangling with check-in. Up to 31 flights delayed so far today, including 11 Jet2 flights and 4 Ryanair flights. Stansted: Claims of two-hour delays on arrival at passport control last night (Sunday). Stansted say Sunday nights is one of its peak times for arrivals. No reports of departure delays. Up to 31 flights delayed so far today, including 16 Ryanair flights and 3 easyJet flights. Heathrow: No widespread reports of delays at security or check-in today. However British Airways has cancelled more than 120 short-haul flights to and from its the west London airport today. Gatwick: No widespread reports of delays at security - though a small number of Twitter users suggesting delays on getting off planes. Up to 96 flights delayed, including 63 easyJet flights. *Flight delays using data from FlightAware Advertisement 'We would like to thank all our colleagues for their ongoing commitment and dedication and to assure customers we are do everything we can to get back to where we want to be as soon as possible.' With holidaymakers flocking to airports this morning at the start of a new week, passengers again faced delays at Manchester and Birmingham. Bosses of both airports today said the queues were due to the ongoing staffing problems. It is also understood that Manchester has suffered additional problems, including passengers arriving up to six hours before their flight in the hope of beating the queues - creating bottlenecks at already busy times. However there did not appear to be queues at Heathrow and Gatwick today. Passengers at the travel hubs, the UK's two biggest airports, faced delays over Easter - when millions jetted off for a four-day weekend. One holidaymaker flying out from Manchester Airport today branded the situation a 'sh*t show', while others at Birmingham Airport said they feared missing their flight. Another Twitter use wrote: 'Chaos at Manchester Airport this morning. Queue for security is outside in the drop off area. Then snaking inside before you are even near the gate for security.' Another added: 'Queueing since 4.30am this morning for getting through Manchester Airport security. What a nightmare.' One holidaymaker, Danny, 40, who asked not to be fully named, and partner Abigail, were among hundreds of travellers to fall foul of baggage delays at the airport on Wednesday. The couple's TUI flight from Paphos landed at 7pm but they were not able to retrieve their luggage until 10.45pm, with the alternative being to give their addresses so it could be delivered 'mid-to-late next week'. Danny told the Manchester Evening News : 'We were expecting something with everything that's been in the news - but when you see little kids crying their eyes out because it's so late and the lack of information, it makes it even worse. 'Everyone who came out in a high vis was getting peppered but they couldn't give us any information - apart from one guy who blamed staff shortages. 'To be fair, Manchester Airport was good flying out, there were no issues, it was coming back that was the problem.' Having arrived on a TUI flight from Paphos, the account director said their arrival experience was 'a shambles' throughout. Their flight was delayed by 90 minutes in Greece, there was no food available on the journey and, after making their way through customs, they were met by 'two baggage belts of people waiting'. Danny added: 'You knew from the looks on their faces it was going to be bad.' The couple waited for an hour at the conveyor initially, watching baggage from other flights arrive - to cheering and clapping from the waiting travellers. When, after two-and-a-half hours they were still waiting, there was finally an announcement on the PA system. Danny added: 'They said unfortunately we're not going to be able to tell you when your bags are coming out. They asked us to queue to get a baggage reclaim form, so they could send it to our houses in the middle to end of next week. People started to queue for that, and after another 45 minutes, another flight from Antalya came in and their baggage came in too.' Finally, at 10.45pm, their baggage arrived. Danny added: 'We couldn't wait until next week and although around 25 per cent of passengers decided to go home and get them sent, there were families with babies who said all the stuff they needed was in the bags.' Passengers were also left furious at the situation at Birmingham Airport. One passenger, writing on Twitter, branded the situation: 'Utterly ridiculous'. Sharing an image from outside the Terminal, they wrote: 'These are the queues to enter Birmingham Airport. Everyone will miss their flight.' Another, sharing an picture of queues outside the terminal, added: 'What the hell?'. There were also claims of two-hour delays at Stansted's passport control hall last night. One Twitter user wrote: 'And the worst airport award goes to: Stansted. Two-and-a-half-hours to go through passport control, terribly long queues and I wonder if this is safe at all other than unbearable. Only Gatwick and Heathrow now on.' Passengers at Manchester Airport say they are facing a two-hour wait at security check-in this morning, with queues leading outside the terminal and into to a nearby car-park. Meanwhile, at Birmingham Airport, passengers have complained of 'ridiculous' queues at arrivals today, with long queues outside the main terminal building. There are also delays to flights, with at least ten late flights at Manchester and four at Birmingham as of 8am this morning. It comes as airports up and down the UK continue to face staffing issues in the wake of Covid restrictions. Travel chiefs say the issues have been exasperated by a huge increase in demand for travel following two years of Covid-enforced disruption Birmingham Airport chiefs today said the queues were due to ongoing staffing issues, with almost half (43 per cent) of its employees being made redundant during the pandemic. Bosses said the airport had launched a recruitment drive in November and were currently in the process of training new security officers. A spokesperson for Birmingham Airport told MailOnline: 'Half of the 15,000 customers flying out of BHX today were booked to depart in our busy dawn peak, so we took the decision to run queues outside the terminal to avoid them getting tangled with check-in lines. 'Queues were long but managed and moving. We thank customers for their patience. EasyJet to remove some seats from flights so it can fly with fewer crew EasyJet will be ripping out seats on some of its fleet this summer, so that it can fly with fewer crew, due to difficulties with staff shortages. The airline has been struggling to meet the rising demand for travel, as more Brits head abroad now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted. In a bid to solve this, it is removing the back row from 60 of its A319 jets, which will limit the plane to 150 passengers instead of 156. It means that three crew members can operate the cabin, instead of the usual four. Civil Aviation Authority safety laws require three cabin crew to every 50 seats, irrespective of the number of passengers on the flight. A company spokesperson said that the decision will 'build additional resilience and flexibility', The Telegraph reported. Since Easter, multiple airlines have been struggling with crew shortages after many cut staff numbers during the peak of pandemic restrictions. With demand back on the rise, this has left airlines unable to bring numbers back up quickly. Airline bosses blamed the shortages on a slow security checking process overseen by the Government. And cabin crew who were made redundant are less inclined to return to the workforce, having found new employment opportunities. At the time, Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, accused airlines of not 'gearing-up' before the Easter break. EasyJet bosses have said that covid was the made reason for staff absences over Easter, with April sickness rates rising to more than double the usual rate. While easyJet chief executive, Johan Lundgren, has not criticised the Government for staff shortages, the airline is believed to be waiting for 145 of its trained staff to have security checks approved. Removing the six seats in some of its A319 fleet could reduce the need for approximately 300 cabin crew, industry sources have suggested. The easyJet spokesperson said the airline expects to be 'back to near 2019 levels of flying' this summer. Advertisement 'As always, our message to departing customers is: Help us help you keep queues moving by removing any liquids, gels, pastes and electrical items from your bags before our security x-ray scanners.' Manchester Airport chiefs meanwhile say they have more than 500 new recruits going through security and vetting following a recruitment drive in April. 'Sixty new recruits have already joined the operation in April, with a further 200 new recruits due to start in May to bolster the workforce ahead of the peak summer season,' an airport spokesperson said last week. Responding to the criticism from the passenger who was delayed receiving their bag, A Swissport spokesperson said: 'We are sorry for the delay passengers experienced waiting to collect their baggage, following a number of delays to scheduled flights which exacerbated some existing resource challenges. While the aviation industry is still recovering from the pandemic, we are working hard to address these challenges and have already welcomed over 1,200 new colleagues across the UK and Ireland. 'We understand how frustrating and inconvenient delays are and we continue to work with our partners to implement contingency measures and improve turnaround times.' It comes as EasyJet yesterday announced it will be taking out seats on some of its fleet this summer, so that it can fly with fewer crew, due to difficulties with staff shortages. The airline has been struggling to meet the rising demand for travel, as more Brits head abroad now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted. In a bid to solve this, it is removing the back row from 60 of its A319 jets, which will limit the plane to 150 passengers instead of 156. It means that three crew members can operate the cabin, instead of the usual four. Civil Aviation Authority safety laws require three cabin crew to every 50 seats, irrespective of the number of passengers on the flight. A company spokesperson said that the decision will 'build additional resilience and flexibility', The Telegraph reported. Since Easter, multiple airlines have been struggling with crew shortages after many cut staff numbers during the peak of pandemic restrictions. With demand back on the rise, this has left airlines unable to bring numbers back up quickly. Airline bosses blamed the shortages on a slow security checking process overseen by the Government. And cabin crew who were made redundant are less inclined to return to the workforce, having found new employment opportunities. At the time, Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps, accused airlines of not 'gearing-up' before the Easter break. EasyJet bosses have said that covid was the made reason for staff absences over Easter, with April sickness rates rising to more than double the usual rate. While easyJet chief executive, Johan Lundgren, has not criticised the Government for staff shortages, the airline is believed to be waiting for 145 of its trained staff to have security checks approved. Easyjet is removing the back row from 60 of its A319 jets, which will limit the plane to 150 passengers instead of 156 Removing the six seats in some of its A319 fleet could reduce the need for approximately 300 cabin crew, industry sources have suggested. The easyJet spokesperson said the airline expects to be 'back to near 2019 levels of flying' this summer. Before the pandemic, it had around 300,000 passengers each day during peak travel season. Julia Lo Bue-Said from UK's largest independent travel agent group, the Advantage Travel Partnership, said that the 'dire labour shortage' is one of the key issues impacting the aviation industry. Bring your own plane food! TUI stop serving hot and cold meals on flights due to 'staff shortages' at catering supplier and will only provide 'limited' snacks Passengers on TUI flights have been encouraged to bring their own food and drink onboard after the airline announced its own meals service would be 'limited' in the coming days. In a statement on its website, TUI said 'staff shortages' had led to the cut in services for short and mid-haul flights and it was monitoring the situation. Long-haul flights will continue to be catered for. The 15 affected airports are Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Doncaster Sheffield, Dublin, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Humberside, Leeds Bradford, Luton, Manchester, Norwich and Teesside. A TUI spokesman said: 'We can confirm that unfortunately due to staff shortages with our catering supplier, there may be limited food and drinks services available onboard TUI Airways short- and mid-haul flights over the coming days. 'Customers may therefore want to bring their own food and soft drinks onboard (no alcohol permitted). Any soft drinks over 100ml will need to be purchased after you have passed through security. 'Please note this disruption does not affect any long-haul flights to Aruba, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Orlando and St Lucia and meal services on these flights will continue to operate as normal. 'Please be assured we are continuously monitoring the situation and working closely with our suppliers to limit the impact to the onboard service for our customers. We are directly contacting all customers impacted. 'We're very sorry for any inconvenience caused.' Advertisement She told the BBC that it was a 'travesty' that easyJet is removing some seats to reduce the number of crew required per flight. The airline said that its last six seats on each flight are usually taken by last minute bookings, so it does not expect their removal to impact holiday-makers who have planned their summer getaway ahead. Last week the prospect of summer travel chaos intensified with the news that British Airways is cancelling 16,000 flights and staff are threatening to strike over pay. BA announced that flights on several popular routes are being slashed until October as it continues to struggle with staff shortages. Chief executive Sean Doyle said an average of 60 flights daily 16,000 in total will have been axed between March and the autumn about 10 per cent of all BA flights. Around 75 per cent of those are short-haul flights to EU hotspots including Spain and Italy. The Daily Mail also revealed last week that hundreds of BA check-in staff based at Heathrow Airport, where the carrier mostly operates from, are voting on whether to strike. They took a 10 per cent pay cut during the pandemic and are demanding their full salaries are reinstated amid cost-of-living pressures and passenger numbers surging again after the pandemic. Nadine Houghton, of trade union GMB, said it is 'no wonder' workers are considering industrial action. Both GMB and Unite unions were testing members' appetite for strikes yesterday and union chiefs are poised to hold a formal, legally binding vote giving a mandate for a walkout if pay demands are not met. Strikes could begin by July and continue into August. BA said the majority of staff accepted a 'generous' one-off lump sum equivalent to 10 per cent of their salary. But check-in staff rejected this because it meant taking a long-term pay cut. BA has already cancelled thousands of flights in recent months due to staff shortages and an IT meltdown, and critics say it cut too many staff during the pandemic. Mr Doyle said the airline had had 'significant losses over the last two years' but 'I think when you look at what we had to go through, the decisions made at the time were appropriate'. BA's owner International Airlines Group said 'the problems we are having at BA we can see in other airlines'. Budget carrier easyJet has also cancelled hundreds of flights in recent weeks, but the likes of Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI have not. Ambassador of Georgia to Korea Otar Berdzenishvili, first from right, and Seodaemun District head Moon Seok-jin, second from right, pose for a photo with Georgians in Korea during an event commemorating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Georgia and Korea at Boxquare in Sinchon, central Seoul, Saturday. The embassy offered traditional Georgian foods and wines as well as an opportunity to write the visitors' names in the Georgian alphabet. All proceeds from the event were donated to Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea Dmytro Ponomarenko, showing support and solidarity as another Black Sea neighbor country. Courtesy of Embassy of Georgia in Korea The little girl who was locked on a bus for six hours in sweltering heat has made a miraculous recovery after being released from hospital, tucking into some fast food with her family after the terrifying ordeal. Nevaeh Austin, three, walked out of Queensland Children's Hospital in Brisbane on Monday. She had been airlifted there in a critical condition last week, suffering kidney failure. The toddler was was found unresponsive on a minivan outside Le Smileys Early Learning Centre at Gracemere, near Rockhampton last Wednesday. Temperatures on the day were about 29C outside. Estimates suggest the interior of a car could have reached 56C after just 2 hours in direct sunlight. However, just hours after being discharged, Nevaeh, her mother and father Shane sat down with big smiles as they dined at Red Rooster at Brisbane Airport on the way back to Rockhampton. Nevaeh Austin is now safe in her father Shane's arms (pictured) after being released from hospital The toddler (pictured with her father) was left on sweltering hot bus outside of a daycare centre last week. Above, she's seen in Frozen shoes The family tucked into some fast food at Brisbane Airport on their way back to Rockhampton The family were all smiles (pictured) after Nevaeh's harrowing ordeal last week A police officer is seen photographing the minivan in which a toddler was left for six hours Nevaeh was the only passenger when the mini-van was parked at the centre's front door, but the two staff left the toddler in the vehicle. As temperatures climbed the girl remained trapped before and had passed out when finally discovered as staff prepared for the after-school pick-up. Police and the Department of Education continue to investigate the incident but no charges have been laid. Darrin Shadlow. Detective Inspector said the daycare and staff have sought legal advice after police announced they would be 'looking at everyone involved in this matter'. Nevaeh and her mother wander through Brisbane Airport after the toddler was checked out of hospital Nevaeh (pictured with family) was was found unresponsive on a minivan outside Le Smileys Early Learning Centre at Gracemere, near Rockhampton on May 4 Estimates suggest the interior of a car could have reached 56C after just 2 hours in direct sunlight. Pictured: Nevaeh and her mother at Brisbane Airport The furious family are continuing to seek answers as to how the near-tragedy was allowed to happen The furious father recently said he's 'dumbfounded' how Nevaeh survived and cannot understand how his daughter - who was strapped into her seat at 9am - was missed by staff and not seen until 3pm. A sign out the front of the school boasts of having a pick-up and drop-off service, which centre owner Michelle O'Rourke revealed on Thursday would be permanently suspended in the wake of this latest tragedy. Just steps away from where the van was parked there are more signs warning of the dangers of leaving children in hot cars. 'Never leave children alone in a car,' one sign reads. 'Four-and-a-half minutes inside of a car could be as high as 70 degrees.' The warning also outlines health risks, including heat stress, dehydration, brain injury, serious kidney damage, and death. 'Always check your back seat is free of passengers before leaving your car,' the sign reads. Advertisement Prince Harry has starred in a skit promoting his new eco-travel project which would see holidaymakers 'rated' on their green credentials. In a five-minute video published on the YouTube page of the duke's non-profit Travalyst today, the Queen's grandson goes for a jog through California which doubles as the backdrop for 'New Zealand woodland'. He is then ambushed by 'rating agent' Rhys Darby, who accuses him of dropping a lolly wrapper four years earlier on a trip to the country with Meghan. The video, which also features Kiwi actors Dave Fane and Rena Owen, launches the first-ever initiative launched in New Zealand for the British prince's non-profit Travalyst organisation, founded in 2019, in which holidaymakers, rather than holidays, are rated for how sustainable they are. Kiwis now have access to a rating tool on the Travalyst website as part of a pilot initiative encouraging travellers to consider sustainable options during planning for their next trip. It is unclear why the Duke chose New Zealand for the project, but Harry is known to love the country and considered moving there with Meghan when they quit as frontline royals, before opting for LA instead. He told Maori television's current affairs programme Te Ao with Moana: 'The Maori culture inherently understands sustainable practices and taking better care of our life-giving land, which are critical lessons we can all learn and that is why I'm here with you to share a new kaupapa.' In the skit, Harry - who is dressed in a grey 'Girl Dad' t-shirt and sporting Apple Airpod headphones - is at first given three stars out of five, and then three and a half - as stamps on his arm - for only using one towel and for buying local honey. He is also praised for not leaving the tap running while brushing his teeth. Prince Harry holds his head in a cringe-inducing skit promoting his new eco-travel campaign Harry runs into Darby, who accuses the duke of dropping a lolly wrapper on Auckland's Bethells Beach Asked how he is, Harry responds 'Kei te pai' [I am fine] and admits the rating 'has got me thinking' Harry sports a 'Girl Dad' t-shirt and Apple Airpod headphones while jogging in New Zealand in a promo video Prince Harry has chosen to speak Maori to announce a new project in New Zealand today The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit Te Papaiouru Marae on October 31, 2018 in Rotorua, New Zealand Harry, who served in the British military, joined fellow soldiers during his 2015 trip to the country, and learned the army's Haka 'Cringe factor': While some social media users praised Harry's acting skills, others branded the performance 'cringe' A who's who of the Kiwi actors who starred in Harry's bizarre skit RHYS DARBY Kiwi comedian Rhys Darby is best known for his role as the band manager in hit TV series Flight of the Conchords, as well as a string of appearances in movies including Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Yes Man, What We Do in the Shadows and The Boat That Rocked. Born in Auckland on March 21, 1974, former soldier Darby left the New Zealand Army in 1994 and began studies at the University of Canterbury, where he formed comedy duo Rhysently Granted with Grant Lobban. The pair began performing at local venues before Darby pursued more solo shows first in Auckland, and then the UK - where he then appeared in the Flight of the Conchords BBC radio series. As of July 2014, Darby lives in Los Angeles, California with his family. Rhys Darby and Jim Carrey in 2008 movie Yes Man RENA OWEN Rena Owen is of Welsh, English, Irish and Maori descent. She starred as Beth Heke in Once Were Warriors and in George Lucas's Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones. Born in New Zealand's Bay Of Islands on July 22, 1962 Owen pursued a medical career and trained as a nurse at Auckland Hospital before moving to London as a registered nurse. There, she trained at the Actors Institute in London in the mid-1980s before returning to New Zealand and starring in a string of theatre productions and television series. Temuera Morrison and Rena Owen in Once Were Warriors DAVE FANE Dave Fane, a Kiwi actor of Samoan descent, will perhaps be known in Britain for Bro'Town, The Tattooist and The Strip. A founding member of comedy group Naked Samoans, Fane, 56, first appeared on TV in sketch comedy show SKITZ alongside future Naked Samoans Oscar Kightley and Robbie Magasiva. In 2010, Fane found himself at the centre of controversy when he said that 'Hitler had a right', people living with HIV deserved to be 'roasted', and 'Jews were expendable' at the inaugural Radio Roast. Fane apologised to the New Zealand Aids Foundation and New Zealand Jewish Council, with both organisations accepting his apology. Writer and performer Dave Fane arrives for the opening night of Cirque Du Soleil 'Dralion' at Alexandra Park on July 9, 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand Advertisement 'I never do... Hang on a second. How do you know that?... That's really weird,' Harry quips. The duke insists the wrapper is not his, with comedian Darby saying: 'It might have been a confusing time, it was windy.' Harry responds: 'I don't think it was confusing. It was an incredible time. We had an amazing time in New Zealand. It's beautiful.' Fane, who plays another rating agent, arrives claiming he is meant to be assessing the duke, saying: 'I'm supposed to be rating Harry. You've got Harry Styley and I've got the stylish Harry.' The duke delivers several phrases in Te Reo Maori as he chats with Star Wars actress Owen, who pulls up in a van to check on the disorganised agents during the skit which was filmed in California. Asked how he is, the duke responds back in Maori with 'Kei te pai' [I am fine] and admits the rating 'has got me thinking'. Launching his campaign on Maori Television's current affairs programme Te Ao with Moana, Harry described New Zealand as a country of 'sustainability pioneers' and called his project his 'new kaupapa' - the Maori word for work that is considered principled and for public good. He went on to praise Maori culture, which he said 'inherently understands sustainable practices and how to take better care of our life-giving-land, which are critical lessons which we can all learn'. While Harry's fans praised him for his 'acting chops' on social media, many branded his performance 'cringe'. 'Getting root canal is more entertaining than Prince Harry's cringe acting,' read one brutal review. Another said: 'This man is an embarrassment, how cringe can you get?', while another added: 'This man is supposed to be a prince.' Others questioned the optics of filming about eco-tourism after flying to New Zealand for the shoot. One wrote: 'How green was it to fly everyone across the globe from New Zealand to California just so Prince Harry could make a cringe video about eco-tourism?' But Travalyst CEO Sally Davey said New Zealand was an 'obvious fit' for the new project, telling Stuff Travel: 'We really wanted to start this journey in a place where sustainability is already embedded in the destination - particularly in the local community. 'The Duke in particular is very aware of Maori culture and kaitiakitanga [guardianship] and felt very strongly, as we all did, that Aotearoa was just an ideal setting for the pilot.' In a statement, Harry said: 'In a world where we're tasked with rating so many things, we're now asking: what if your destination rated you? 'Starting in beautiful Aotearoa New Zealand, we're launching our first campaign. There is a well-known Maori proverb: Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini (success is not the work of an individual, but the work of many) - we invite you to be a part of our many.' Referring to the country in its Maori-language name Aotearoa, Harry told Te Ao with Moana: 'A few years ago I founded Travalyst, a non-profit dedicated to making sustainable tourism mainstream for all of us, and through that making systemic change. 'Every year more and more of us want better options, and for the first time Travalyst is striving to make that reality for everybody who wants to support local communities and looking after nature and wildlife. 'For our first campaign, we are encouraging people to flip the script. We're always being asked for our feedback on our trips and experiences, but what would happen if our holiday rated us? It's an important question to ask, and we want all of you to help us answer it.' Harry added: 'I've been to Aotearoa a number of times throughout my life, and I've always felt a deep connection and respect towards the Maori people, who make me feel so welcome every time. 'Most recently when I visited with my wife, we were touched by the connections we built and the incredible memories we have from our time there. 'We were particularly honoured to meet with young people, who are dedicated to the Maori culture and to giving back to their communities and their country. They are rightly determined to make this world a better place for the next generation. 'Guided by Maori knowledge and practices, Aotearoa is a country of sustainability pioneers. The Maori culture inherently understands sustainable practices and how to take better care of our life-giving-land, which are critical lessons which we can all learn.' 'It's interesting to hear someone who's a royal speak about Maori values, given our history but also given the current debates about having Maori values at the forefront of decision making and relationships,' she said. 'We are open to talking to anyone anything that particularly resonates with our values as Maori - whether we agree or not. We talk about the Crown every week. I'm hoping that we will have an interview further down the track to tease out that relationship between Maori and the Crown.' Te Ao with Moana host Moana Maniapoto said Harry had been inspired by Maori values around kaitiakitanga, which translates to 'guardianship and protection'. In 2018, the Prince returned to New Zealand with Meghan Markle. The pair discussed moving to there according to the Queen's representative in the country. That was more than a year before they stepped back from royal duties and moved to the US. Former governor-general Dame Patsy Reddy recalled the couple saying they 'could imagine living in a place like this' and questioned whether it would be 'theoretically possible'. She told Associated Press in an interview: 'They were looking at how they might raise their family. And obviously they've made some decisions since.' Harry and Meghan, shocked the world when in January 2020 they announced their intent to step back from senior royal roles, become financially independent and spend more time in North America. Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and the Queen all pose for a picture during the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London on June 26, 2018 Recalling the couple's trip to New Zealand, and how they appeared tired, Dame Patsy, 67, said: 'I remember they'd just been down to the Abel Tasman National Park when we sat down and had a drink. 'They said that they could imagine living in a place like this and wondered whether we thought it would be theoretically possible. Even possible for them to have a place in New Zealand. 'Of course, we said, 'Sure. It would be fine'. There are lots of opportunities to live in New Zealand, but that would be something that they'd have to explore.' The discussion suggests the couple were considering options outside Britain less than six months after they married and well before their eventual move to the US. Dame Patsy said she did not view it as a formal request for assistance but more of an informal discussion about the couple's hopes for the future. She said they seemed impressed with access to the outdoors and their interactions with New Zealanders. During a widely watched interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, Harry and Meghan said they had offered to take a step back from royal life in a Commonwealth country such as South Africa or New Zealand. Dame Patsy said she watched the interview but did not want to comment on internal royal family business. 'I thought they were a lovely couple and I hope they've got a great future where they are,' she said. Harry feeling the heat? Prince goes semi-shirtless to get some sunscreen at California polo match as Palace aides 'hatch plan to STOP the Sussexes taking Netflix crew into Queen's Platinum Jubilee events Prince Harry bared his chest at his latest polo match in California on Friday as a row brews over he and Meghan's attendance at the Queen's Jubilee celebrations in London next month. The Duke of Sussex was changing his shirt on the sidelines and having sun cream or an ointment applied, before warming up for the match, held the same day as his son Archie's third birthday. He was spotted at the game as it was announced that he and Meghan, along with Prince Andrew, will not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony on Thursday, June 2. Palace aides are said to be concerned that attention surrounding a Netflix film crew following Harry and Meghan as part of their multi-million deal with the streaming giant could detract from proceedings. Aides are reportedly planning to prevent the Netfilx crew filming inside any Jubilee events. At the game in Santa Barbara, California, the prince was helped with the wardrobe change, with attendees catching a glimpse of his chest as he switched clothing. Prince Harry was seen semi-shirtless by onlookers at the polo in Santa Barbara, California on Friday as he swapped shirts and had sun cream applied before a warm-up Duke of Sussex was helped with sun cream and the wardrobe change, with attendees catching a glimpse of the prince's chest The Duke of Sussex was changing into a white t-shirt on the sidelines, before warming up for the match. He is seen leaning forward and having sun cream applied Harry has signed up to a whole season of polo, but will be taking a break to come to the UK for his grandmother's jubilee The royal looks across the polo pitch as an aide applied the sunscreen, or ointment Prince Harry leans forward and is helped with his shirt at the match. He was spotted following the announcement that he and Meghan, along with Prince Andrew, will not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony on Thursday, June 2 Harry chats with his team as his aide applies the ointment, which could also be something to treat back pain The British prince gets ready to lift up his top for the back massage The Duke of Sussex appeared to be practicing his breathing before the sunscreen was applied The royal had a moment of calm with the help of an aide Harry stretches upwards ahead of getting on his horse Harry claps his hands together and appears to exclaim during the warm up The Duke of Sussex then began stretching downwards supported by two members of his team Prince Harry then stretches out with member of the polo team before they got on their horses The prince recently joined polo team Los Padres, having played the sport for most of his life. The club is run by his friend Nacho Figueras, who said he was 'excited' for the duke to join the ranks. 'My polo team has a platform where we use the sport and the platform to raise awareness for charities. Harry's going to be a part of this team,' he told KCLU. On Friday, palace officials announced that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will not be allowed to stand on Buckingham Palace balcony for Trooping the Colour, in a decision made by the Queen. Harry sticks his tongue out in the California heat as he was seen for the first time since the Queen's balcony snub The Duke was warming up for a polo match. He recently joined polo team Los Padres, having played the sport for most of his life The prince leans forward with his hands together in the warm-up before the polo match The Duke places one arm near his hip as he bends down to touch the floor, at the game on Friday, the same day as his son Archie's birthday Prince Harry stretched with his shirt lifting to expose his mid-riff, at a match held the same day as his son Archie's third birthday The prince pushes his shoulders back and practices his movement ahead of the game on Friday in California Harry stretches his legs and neck with the man who applied cream to his back She has decided that non-working royals will not stand on the balcony, with the plan also removing Prince Andrew from the viewing platform. Moments after the announcement, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed that they will attend some of the Jubilee celebrations with their children Archie and Lilibet. But a team of palace aides will be put in place to stop the Netflix crew from filming inside the palace for any of the documentary about the couple's lives. They do not want the celebrations to be 'exploit[ed]' by the production team, after the couple signed the 112million deal in September 2020. Harry on his polo pony during the chukka he took part in last month. On Friday, the prince was pictured ahead of his latest match The Queen, Meghan and Prince Harry watch a flypast from Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018. The Queen has chosen not to invite them back on to the balcony for her jubilee next month - but the Sussexes say they will be coming to the UK for celebrations It is understood that courtiers have said Netflix cameras will not be allowed in Royal properties including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. Pictured, the couple with the Queen at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace on June 26, 2018 'Even if they accept that their Netflix crew can't go into Buckingham Palace to film, they could cause problems and at the very least cause a major distraction,' a source told The Sun. 'Senior courtiers believe that Netflix will see it as one big opportunity to exploit their mega-millions agreement with the couple.' It is understood that courtiers have said Netflix cameras will not be allowed in Royal properties including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. However the film crew could mix with crowds and shadow the couple while they are in VIP areas at public events for the Jubilee. They may also try to join the couple inside other key locations, such as St Paul's Cathedral, during the four days of celebrations. Last month, around 30 crew joined them at the Invictus Games, in The Netherlands. On Friday, royal experts warned that Harry and Meghan's return to the UK risks becoming the 'focus' of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. The couple announced their comeback just minutes after it was revealed they were banned from the Buckingham Palace balcony. A sensational statement at 3pm said the couple - as well as the Duke of York - would not be invited onto the balcony for Trooping the Colour, the spectacular start of her long weekend of celebrations. Last month, around 30 Netflix crew joined the couple at the Invictus Games, in The Netherlands Tom Bower told MailOnline on Friday: 'They have been forced to accept a downgraded role - grouped with all the other VIPs - but are clearly desperate not to be excluded. If the Palace is not remarkably careful, the Sussexes will milk the celebrations for their own benefit. 'Hopefully, the Sussexes will be kept firmly in check to avoid their selfish interests dominating the celebration of the Queen's awe-inspiring service to Britain.' Royal author Angela Levin said the Queen had made a 'great decision' to restrict the balcony to working royals, adding: 'It will have such a different positive atmosphere if there are working royals who support Her Majesty.' On the Sussexes' decision to attend other events she said: 'The focus will be on them and how they behave, which the Jubilee shouldn't be about'. Richard Fitzwilliams, another commentator, added: 'There was [a danger] in the run up to it if this hadn't been settled. I expect there will be an element of this in the US coverage. 'However though there will still be a lot of speculation about what they will attend and what they will do, this is about one person. It is the Queen's wish that they attend. 'Although when they planned to do the Oprah interview they didn't know Prince Philip would be ill, they nonetheless went ahead. That won't be forgotten. 'But the Queen wants the family to put on a united front. A huge amount has gone on behind the scenes to achieve this.' Meghan Markle REMOVES all references to her doomed Netflix animation show 'Pearl' from Archewell website after woke production was axed by the streaming giant Meghan Markle has wiped all references to her doomed Netflix animation 'Pearl' from her Archewell website after the series was axed by the streaming giant. Pearl, the working title for the Markle-created show, was officially canceled last week as part of a wave of cutbacks prompted by Netflix's drop in subscribers. A prior description of the series under the Archewell Productions subsection was nowhere to be found on Sunday, 'Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life's daily challenges,' a now-removed quote from Meghan read. It continued: 'I'm 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. The quietly deleted references come a week after Netflix announced the cancelation of the animated show, in which Meghan was taking the role of executive producer along with David Furnish, Elton John's husband. 'Like many girls her age, our heroine Pearl is on a journey of self-discovery as she tries to overcome life's daily challenges,' a now-removed quote from Meghan read Meghan Markle wiped all references to her doomed Netflix animation 'Pearl' from the Archewell website after the series was axed by the streaming giant The show was officially canceled last week as part of a wave of cutbacks prompted by Netflix's drop in subscribers. Pearl, which focused on 12-year-old Pearl's exploring achieving women throughout history, was only in the development stage. The Archewell website now features 'Heart of Invictus,' a docu-series about competitors on their journey to the Invictus Games in The Hague in 2020, as the Duchess' sole active media project. It is Meghan's and Harry's second attempt within a week to salvage their status, after the Queen sensationally banned the couple from appearing at the palace's balcony for Trooping the Colour, the start of the Jubilee commemorations. The defiant Sussexes later revealed in a tweet via their friend and journalist Omid Scobie that they will still fly in from California - with Archie, three, and Lilibet, 11 months - for the events to mark the monarch's 70 years on the throne that begin on June 2. Meghan and Prince Harry established Archewell Productions in the autumn of 2020 to create scripted series, docu-series, documentaries, features, and children's programming. Pearl was expected to be the first animated series created by the production company. It was set to see a young girl inspired by Meghan - whose name means 'pearl' in Welsh - take on various social injustices, while highlighting the work of feminist icons. It is Meghan's and Harry's second attempt within a week to salvage their status, after the Queen sensationally banned the couple from appearing at the palace's balcony for Trooping the Colour, the start of the Jubilee commemorations. Above, Meghan, Harry and the Queen pictured during Trooping the Colour in 2018 Despite dropping Pearl, insiders claimed Netflix remains optimistic about the Archewell deal and has several projects planned, including a documentary series called Heart of Invictus, which follows the recent Invictus Games. Netflix made several cuts in late April and early May, including dropping two other children's shows and firing staff. 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. Meghan 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. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are yet to produce any published content for the Netflix. But the company has pinned hopes that their upcoming series documenting the recent Invictus Games will prove value for the money 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 Meghan 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 Meghans own childhood, citing how she named the show and its title character Pearl, the original 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. 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 canceled 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. A former detective's discovery of war medals hidden inside furniture he bought more than a decade ago has prompted a search for the relatives of a WWII veteran. A retired police officer, who worked for Victoria police for more than 30 years, purchased the furniture at a garage sale in Doncaster in Melbourne's east over 10 years ago. But it was only recently that he found a set of four war medals inside the furniture, which are believed to belong to WWII veteran David Bruce Welsford. A former detective's discovery of war medals hidden inside furniture he bought more than a decade ago has prompted a search for the relatives of a WWII veteran The set of medals awarded to Mr Welsford for his service includes the Pacific Star, War Medal, 1939-45 Star and Australian Service Medal 1939-1945. David Bruce Welsford was born in 1924 and died in 2001, with his last known address being in Doncaster. He was married to Lorrie Welsford, who passed away in 1999. It's believed the couple never had any children but Ms Welsford may have had children from a previous marriage. The set of medals awarded to Mr Welsford for his service includes the Pacific Star, War Medal, 1939-45 Star and Australian Service Medal 1939-1945 Police have confirmed that Mr Welsford lived in Melbourne's east and north-east his entire life. The retired detective handed the medals into his local police station in Warrandyte last Tuesday. Police are now appealing to the public to help locate Mr Welsford's relatives. Anyone with information is being urged to contact Warrandyte Police Station on (03) 9844 3231. An oligarch close to Vladimir Putin has warned friends that his 'psychiatric health is bad' and there is a 'very real' threat he could use nuclear weapons. The prominent billionaire has told associates that the Kremlin leader's 'psychiatric health is bad indeed, and 'stories about him going bonkers are not a joke'. He and others with huge business empires closely tied to Putin, 69, are fearful over his next moves in the barbaric invasion of Ukraine. Rumours about the Russian leader's ill health have been circling in recent months after he was seen holding a table for support and shaking his hand uncontrollably. Sources have claimed he is suffering from Parkinson's or cancer and he has been seen in public less frequently. Bloated Putin was seen gripping a table while slouching in his chair during a televised meeting last month with his defence minister Sergei Shoigu Russian analyst and investigative journalist Christo Grozev (pictured right) said Putin is no longer trusted by billionaires The revelation comes as Putin today hosts a vast Red Square parade with 11,000 troops, showing off his missiles and tanks in a display of might to the West. His Doomsday plane - from which he can control Russia in a nuclear war - is also featuring in the Victory Day commemoration for the first time in 12 years, a sign of deep tension with the West. A trusted source said: 'People who personally know [this oligarch close to Putin] and other [insiders] have told me that big business closely affiliated to power are sitting as quiet as mice because the emperor's madness is real, and the nuclear strike's threat is very real, too. Those 'most strongly opposed to the war' in the elite 'have shut up' because of the dangers of challenging him. 'They told me that Putin's psychiatric health is bad indeed, and stories about him going bonkers are not a joke. Putin's Doomsday plane - from which he can control Russia in a nuclear war - is featuring in today's Victory Day commemoration 'There is some really serious trauma there, with everyone scared of its consequences.' The oligarch is a well-known name in Russia, and he has known the Russian leader closely for many decades. His concerns come as well-placed Russian analyst and investigative journalist Christo Grozev, told Ukraine-24 TV that Putin is no longer trusted by billionaires hitherto close to him, who believe he is suffering from cancer. 'I have no exact data about his health condition, butpeople who are close to him, including oligarchs [believe he has cancer],' said Grozev, who is associated with British-based Bellingcat open source research group which has run investigations on Russian corruption. 'One oligarchclose to him [has told] about Putin's serious oncological disease. Hardliner Nikolai Patrushev will reportedly take control of the war in Ukraine while Putin is under the knife to treat abdominal cancer 'Once again, I cannot tell you this is really so, but I can say they talk about it. 'People next to him believe he has such a disease. It becomes a factor in Russian inner politics. 'Because people do not believe Putin any more, do not believe he can be their guarantor [in future]. 'And this is [the feeling] throughout the elites.' Other reports suggest Putin is suffering the early stages of Parkinson's disease, and grips a desk to avoid involuntary shaking. General SVR - which uses the acronym of Russian foreign intelligence - said last month that Putin may soon vanish for a period as undergoes surgery linked to cancer. He has allegedly secretly nominated his hardline security council security secretary Nikolai Patrushev - a former KGB counterintelligence officer who once headed the FSB - to take 'control' of Russia while he is incapacitated. Shadowy Patrushev, 70, is seen as a key architect of the Ukrainian war strategy and the man who convinced Putin that Kyiv was awash with neo-Nazis. The EU and US are considering sanctioning Putin's supposed partner gymnast Alina Kabaeva (pictured together) Grozev said he expects new revelations about Putin's family. This comes as the EU and US are considering sanctioning his supposed partner gymnast Alina Kabaeva, 38, with whom he is believed to have at least two children. Until now there had been a reluctance to reveal the truth about Putin's vast wealth. But he said: 'The fact that Kabaeva is almost guaranteed to be included in the sanctions list means that all this unwillingness to publish the data about his offshores, the people who hold his money, can change in the next week. 'Investigations are still ongoing, real journalistic ones. 'I know that colleagues, journalist-investigators from Russia, managed to obtain new information on what his daughters are doing, so in a week, or in the coming days, they will publish this.' Putin has two officially acknowledged daughters Maria, 37, and Katerina, 35, both from ex-wife Lyudmila, once Russia's first lady. Dr Maria Vorontsova, a year younger than Kabaeva, born when the Russian president was a KGB spy in Germany, is an expert in rare genetic diseases in children. She is a leading researcher at the National Medical Research Center for Endocrinology of the Ministry of Health of Russia, and an authority on dwarfism. Her divorced sister Katerina Tikhonova is deputy director of the Institute for Mathematical Research of Complex Systems at Moscow State University. She is a former high-kicking 'rock'n'roll' dancer. Both daughters have been sanctioned by the West, unlike Putin's unacknowledged 'love child' Luiza Rozova, 19. Luiza is the daughter of cleaner-turned-multimillionaire Svetlana Krivonogikh, 45, now part-owner of a major Russian bank, one of the country's wealthiest women with an estimated 74million financial and property fortune. Advertisement Vladimir Putin gave a chest-beating speech to his troops during Moscow's Victory Day parade today - telling soldiers that they are now fighting for the security of the nation against what he called Western plans to invade. Seeking to re-frame his war in Ukraine as a war between Russia and the West, he declared NATO to be the aggressor and said he is trying to deescalate the situation with a 'special military operation' against a 'neo-Nazi' regime in Kyiv, declaring that launching the attack was 'the only right decision' he could have taken. He also sought to twist the truth of what is happening on the ground in Ukraine, hailing a day of 'great victory' despite Russia's battlefield defeats and telling his men they are fighting a just war despite plentiful evidence of war crimes in occupied territories. 'Everything indicated that a clash with the neo-Nazis, the Banderites [Ukrainian Nazi sympathisers], backed by the United States and their junior partners, was inevitable,' he said. 'We saw military infrastructure being ramped up, hundreds of military advisers working and regular deliveries of modern weapons from NATO. (The level of) danger was increasing every day. Russia preventively rebuffed the aggressor. It was necessary, timely and ... right. The decision of a sovereign, strong, independent country.' Russian troops in Donbas are fighting on 'their land', he claimed, peddling his warped world view in which Ukraine is not a real country and Ukrainians are simply Russians waiting to be reintegrated into the motherland. But he stopped short of what many had feared: An official declaration of war on Kyiv which would have allowed him to mobilise Russia's military reserves and conscript civilians in order to escalate fighting across the border. The parade was much slimmed-down from previous years, with an aerial display that was due to feature his 'Doomsday jet' - allowing him to continue ruling Russia in the event of a nuclear blast - was axed at the last minute due to 'bad weather', though rumours and light cloud in Moscow suggested it could be due to fears of sabotage. The vehicle parade was also downsized from previous years, featuring almost a third fewer than in 2020 because Russia has committed - and lost - so many of its ground forces in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin congratulated his troops on a 'day of great victory' as he addressed a Victory Day parade in Moscow today, twisting the truth of what is happening on the ground in Ukraine Thousands of Russian troops formed up in the Red Square as Russia marked the day Nazi Germany surrendered in 1945, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe Putin used his speech to re-frame the war in Ukraine as a war against Western aggression and told his troops they are fighting for the security of Russia against what he claimed were plans to invade A Soviet-era motorbike driven by soldiers dressed in Second World War uniforms and emblazoned on the side with the Ukraine 'Z' war symbol takes part in a parade in Vladivostok earlier in the day Putin watches over a downsized military parade in Moscow's Red Square on Monday, as a fly-past by the air force was cancelled - ostensibly due to bad weather in Moscow A Russian intercontinental ballistic missile - though to be the RS-24 Yars capable of carrying up to 10 warheads - drives through the Red Square during Victory Day celebrations Russian T-72B3M tanks take part in a downsized military parade through Moscow's Red Square as part of Victory Day events in Moscow, commemorating Soviet victory over Nazi Germany A T-34 tank - the main battle tank of the Soviet military during the Second World War - flies a Soviet banner as it processes through the Red Square during Victory Day events in Moscow Russian armoured vehicles process through the Red Square as part of a downsized Victory Day parade, thought to have been scaled down because Russia has committed - and lost - so much of its army in Ukraine Russian servicemen march on Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow Russian troops riding atop armoured vehicles salute towards a platform where Vladimir Putin was sitting during Victory Day commemorations in Moscow today Russian paratroopers, who were involved in a conflict in Ukraine, drive BTR-MDM armoured personnel carriers during a military parade on Victory Day Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with a veteran during Victory Day events in Moscow today Russian President Vladimir Putin, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the Russian Land Forces Oleg Salyukov walk after a military parade on Victory Day Russian commanders march through Moscow Red Square on Monday during Victory Day commemorations in Russia, which Putin used to drum up support for his war on Ukraine Putin stopped short of officially declaring war on Ukraine in his speech, a move that many had feared and which could had led to a mobilisation of Russia's military reserves and an escalation in the fighting Russian commanders - hundreds of whom have died in fighting in Ukraine - march through Moscow's Red Square as part of scaled-down events to mark Victory Day Russia troops, their chests baring medals in the orange and black of Saint George's ribbon - the highest award of Imperial Russia and which has become linked to the war in Ukraine - parade through the Red Square Russian servicewomen march through the Red Square as part of Victory Day celebrations taking place across the country Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister who has been rumoured dead several times since the war in Ukraine started, salutes troops as he rides through the Red Square on Victory Day Russian officers, whose ranks have been dramatically thinned during fighting in Ukraine, march in the Victory Day parade Members of a Russian military band march during a parade on Victory Day, which marks the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes to his soldiers as he is driven along Red Square in the Aurus Senat car during the Victory Day military parade in Moscow Russian soldiers give a soft 'ura' cheer to mark the end of Vladimir Putin's speech during the Victory Day parade in Moscow None-the-less, it still featured dozens of Russian tank, armoured vehicles, and nuclear missiles launchers that paraded alongside thousands of goose-stepping troops before Putin walked to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to lay a wreath as the national anthem played. It came hours after a similar parade took place in Russia's far-eastern outpost of Vladivostok, where a Soviet-era motorbike emblazoned with the 'Z' symbol that has become synonymous with the Ukraine war took pride of place among tanks streaming Soviet banners. But even as Putin declared victory in Moscow, fighting was still raging between Russian forces and Ukrainian holding out in the Donbas region - with a fresh artillery barrage striking the city of Mariupol, where an unknown number of Kyiv's troops are making a last stand inside a steel mill. The mill is the only part of the city not overtaken by the invaders. Its defeat would deprive Ukraine of a vital port and allow Russia to establish a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014. The Ukrainian military's General Staff warned of a high probability of missile strikes and said that Russian troops were seizing 'personal documents from the local population without good reason' in Russian-controlled areas of Zaporizhzhia - the city where many fleeing Mariupol have gathered. The military alleged Russian troops were seizing documents to force residents to join in Victory Day commemorations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the anniversary, which marks the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany in 1945, could bring a renewed onslaught. 'They have nothing to celebrate,' Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said of the Russians, speaking on CNN. 'They have not succeeded in defeating the Ukrainians. They have not succeeded in dividing the world or dividing NATO. And they have only succeeded in isolating themselves internationally and becoming a pariah state around the globe.' Speaking Monday at a military parade marking the holiday, Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to justify his invasion, by claiming that it was necessary to ward off what he described 'an absolutely unacceptable threat just next to our borders.' He has repeatedly alleged that Ukraine was planning to attack Russia - which Kyiv has flatly denied. 'The danger was rising by day,' he claimed, adding that 'Russia has preemptively repulsed an aggression.' Putin again scolded the West for failing to heed the Russian demands for security guarantees and a rollback to NATO's expansion, arguing that it also left Moscow no other choice but to invade. Russian servicemen march on Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow Russian cadets lead marchers through Red Square during parades to mark Soviet victory over the Nazis in World War Two Russian navy sailors march during a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two Russian VDV paratroopers - whose units have suffered some of the heaviest casualties during fighting in Ukraine - take part in a march through Moscow's Red Square today Sergei Shoigu - the Russian defence minister who has been rumoured dead several times since the invasion began - rides atop an open car through Moscow during Victory Day celebrations in Russia Russian service members take part in a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two Russian service members line up before a military parade on Victory Day in Moscow Members of a military band attend the Victory Day military parade on Red Square in central Moscow A Soviet era T-34 tank and other military vehicles roll through the city of Novosibirsk during a military parade, which marks the 77th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two Military vehicles roll through the far eastern city of Vladivostok during a military parade, which marks the 77th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two A Russian tank emblazoned with orange and black stripes of the Saint George's ribbon - Imperial Russia's highest Russian infantry fighting vehicles take part in Victory Day parades in Vladivostok, in Russia's far east, on May 9 Participants wearing historical uniforms ride in WWII-era vehicles during a military parade, which marks the 77th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two But he did not - at least so far - give any signal as to the next phase of the conflict nor did he claim the complete capture of Mariupol, which his forces have bombarded and besieged for weeks. Ukrainian fighters in the steel mill in the port city have rejected Russian-set deadlines for laying down their arms, even as attacks continued by warplanes, artillery and tanks. 'We are under constant shelling,' said Capt. Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Ukrainian Azov Regiment, a unit holding the steel mill. Lt. Illya Samoilenko, another Azov Regiment member, said a couple hundred wounded soldiers were in the plant. He declined to say how many able-bodied fighters remained. Fighters lack lifesaving equipment and are having to dig by hand to free people from bunkers that collapsed under shelling. 'Surrender for us is unacceptable because we cannot grant such a gift to the enemy,' Samoilenko said. The last of the civilians who had taken shelter with fighters at the plant were evacuated Saturday. They arrived Sunday night in Zaporizhzhia, the first major Ukrainian city beyond the frontlines, and spoke of constant shelling, dwindling food, ubiquitous mold - and using hand sanitizer for cooking fuel. Britain's Defense Ministry warned in a daily intelligence report on Twitter that Russia was running short of precision-guided munitions and increasingly is using inaccurate rockets and bombs, subjecting Ukrainian towns and cities to 'intense and indiscriminate bombardments with little or no regard for civilian casualties.' More than 60 people were feared dead after a Russian bomb flattened a Ukrainian school being used as a shelter in Bilohorivka, an eastern village, Ukrainian officials said. About 90 people were sheltering in the school's basement when it was attacked Saturday. Emergency crews found two bodies and rescued 30 people, but 'most likely all 60 people who remain under the rubble are now dead,' Serhiy Haidai, governor of Luhansk province, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Russian shelling killed two boys, ages 11 and 14, in the nearby town of Pryvillia, Haidai said. Luhansk is part of the Donbas, the industrial heartland in the east that Russia's forces are working to capture. Explosions echoed across the major Black Sea port of Odesa. Keeping up their dogged resistance, Ukraine's military struck Russian positions on a Black Sea island that was captured in the war's first days. A satellite image by Planet Labs showed smoke rising from two sites on the island. But Moscow's forces showed no sign of backing down in the south. Satellite photos show Russia has put armored vehicles and missile systems at a small base in the Crimean Peninsula. Ukraine's military also warned some 19 Russian battalion tactical groups were stationed just across the border in Russia's Belgorod region. Those groups likely consist of some 15,200 troops with tanks, missile batteries and other weaponry. The most intense combat in recent days has taken place in eastern Ukraine. A Ukrainian counteroffensive in the northeast near Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city, was making 'significant progress,' according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank. Military vehicles roll through the far eastern city of Vladivostok during a military parade marking the end of the Second World War in Europe and the losses suffered by Soviet forces Russian sailors, rifles carried across their chests, take part in a Victory Day march through the eastern city of Vladivostok Servicewomen take part in a military parade, which marks the 77th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in the far eastern city of Vladivostok Sailors take part in a military parade as cities across Russia mark Soviet victory over Nazi Germany that ended war in Europe Servicemen take part in a Victory Day parade in the far eastern city of Vladivostok on Monday morning Sailors take part in a military parade, which marks the 77th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in the far eastern city of Vladivostok People wearing Soviet World War Two uniforms and carrying a Soviet flag take part in Victory Day marches in Vladivostok A Russian embassy staff member carries a wreath to the Soviet War Memorial at Tiergarten Park in Germany However, the Ukrainian army withdrew from the embattled eastern city of Popasna after two months of fierce fighting. Rodion Miroshnik, a representative of the pro-Kremlin, separatist Luhansk People's Republic, said its forces and Russian troops had captured most of the city. The Kharkiv regional administration said three people were killed in shelling of the town of Bogodukhiv, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Kharkiv. South of Kharkiv, in Dnipropetrovsk province, the governor said a 12-year-old boy was killed by a cluster munition that he found after a Russian attack. An international treaty bans the use of such explosives, but neither Russia nor Ukraine has signed the agreement. 'This war is treacherous,' Gov. Valentyn Reznichenko wrote on social media. 'It is near, even when it is invisible.' As Victory Day turned attention toward Putin, Western leaders showed new signs of support for Ukraine. The Group of Seven industrial democracies pledged to ban or phase out imports of Russian oil. The G-7 consists of the U.S., Canada, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Japan. The United States announced other new sanctions, cutting off Western advertising from Russia's three biggest TV stations, banning U.S. accounting and consulting firms from providing services, and cutting off Russia's industrial sector from wood products, industrial engines, boilers and bulldozers. U.S. first lady Jill Biden met with her Ukrainian counterpart. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised his country's flag at its embassy in Kyiv. And U2's Bono, alongside bandmate The Edge, performed in a Kyiv subway station that had been used as a bomb shelter, singing the 1960s song 'Stand by Me.' The acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Kristina Kvien, posted a picture of herself at the American Embassy, and described plans for the eventual U.S. return to the Ukrainian capital after Moscow's forces abandoned their effort to storm Kyiv weeks ago. Zelenskyy released a video address marking the day of the Allied victory in Europe 77 years ago. The black-and-white footage showed him in front of a ruined apartment block in Borodyanka, a Kyiv suburb. Drawing parallels between Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the evils of Nazism, Zelenskyy said generations of Ukrainians understand the significance of the words 'Never again,' a vow not to allow a repeat of the horrors of the Holocaust. People carry portraits of relatives who fought in World War II, during the Immortal Regiment march in Ulan-Ude, the regional capital of Buryatia, a region near the Russia-Mongolia border People carry portraits of their relatives - WWII soldiers - as they take part in the Immortal Regiment march in the far eastern city of Vladivostok People carry portraits of their relatives - WWII soldiers - as they take part in the Immortal Regiment march in the far eastern city of Vladivostok People carry portraits of their relatives - WWII soldiers - as they take part in the Immortal Regiment march in the far eastern city of Vladivostok President Volodymyr Zelenskiy awarded Ukraine's four-legged mine-sniffing Jack Russell Terrier with the Medal For Military Service on Sunday. Zelenskiy awarded the pup for detecting more than 200 explosives since the start of the war on February 24. He made the award at a news conference in Kyiv with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Patron, the pint-sized Jack Russel whose name means 'cartridge', is quickly becoming a canine symbol of Ukrainian patriotism. The two-year-old pooch barked and wagged his tail as he received the award, prompting laughter from the audience. Trudeau patted his pockets as though looking for a dog treat. 'Today, I want to award those Ukrainian heroes who are already clearing our land of mines,' Zelenskiy said in a statement after the ceremony. 'And together with our heroes, a wonderful little sapper - Patron - who helps not only to neutralize explosives, but also to teach our children the necessary safety rules in areas where there is a mine threat.' The award also went to Patron's owner, a major in the Civil Protection Service, Myhailo Iliev. Patron, the pint-sized Jack Russel whose name means 'cartridge', is quickly becoming a canine symbol of Ukrainian patriotism President Volodymyr Zelenskiy awarded the pooch with the Medal For Military Service to Ukraine The pup has detected more than 200 explosives since the start of the war on February 24 The award also went to Patron's owner, a major in the Civil Protection Service, Myhailo Iliev Zelenskiy made the award at a news conference in Kyiv with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau The two-year-old dog has gained social media fame after charming followers as well as the pyrotechnicians in Chernihiv The dog has gained social media fame after charming followers as well as the pyrotechnicians in Chernihiv - north of Kyiv. He helps the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) in clearing explosives, who call him the 'soul and mascot' of the group. A Telegram post from the emergency services calls the small, cute pup: 'our militant dog'. Sometimes, at the end of a day of hard work, the dog is rewarded with a cheesy treat and a belly rub. It adds: 'Thank you, friend, for your tireless work!' Another post read: '(Patron) continues to help pyrotechnicians in the Chernihiv region to clean the land of Russian "gifts". 'So be aware, look under your feet and do not upset Patron.' The two-year-old dog - called Patron - has gained social media fame after charming followers as well as the pyrotechnicians in Chernihiv, where he 'continues to serve' He is the 'soul and mascot' of the group and helps the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SES) in clearing explosives More recently Patron's valiant efforts have earned him a few fans who have drawn the four-legged soldier. 'Friends, we really want to show you a few more Ukrainian talents,' the emergency services said. 'Our brave baby Patron has inspired an incredible number of talented artists and we are incredibly happy about it. 'This motivates us not to give up, no matter how hard it is, to keep the bar high and to go into battle with new strength, knowing how many people are still waiting for help and how many people believe in us. 'Our Patron also does not lower his paws and conveys his gratitude to everyone. Great heroes are not necessarily great. 'Therefore, believe in your strength, in our defenders, in our victory. Approach it on all fronts wherever you can and do not slow down.' An emergency services spokesperson said 54,000 mines and unexploded ordnance, which includes nearly 2,000 missiles, have been found and deactivated with more than 600 deminers working across Ukraine, the Washington Post reports. On Thursday pyrotechnics of the with the Ukrainian emergency services were reported clearing the Kyiv region of ammunition. Sometimes, at the end of a day of hard work, Patron the dog is rewarded with a cheesy treat Another post read: '(Patron) continues to help pyrotechnicians in the Chernihiv region to clean the land of Russian 'gifts' It said: 'Shells are mined in the yards of private houses, along roads, in open areas and infrastructure. 'About 500 munitions were destroyed by sappers alone. 'Twenty pyrotechnic calculations of the State Emergency Service in Buchansky, Brovarsky and Boryspil districts were involved in the works.' This week Ukrainian authorities in the northeastern city of Kharkiv warned people not to go near what they said were landmines being dropped on the city. On Monday, security forces cordoned off an area in the east of Kharkiv as they cleared a number of small devices scattered across residential streets. Lieutenant Colonel Nikolay Ovcharuk, head of the demining unit of the state emergency service, said the devices were plastic PTM-1M mines, which detonate using timers and which were widely used by Soviet forces in Afghanistan. 'They have self-destructing timers,' he said as loudspeakers warned people not to approach the cordoned-off area where mine disposal teams were working. Reuters could not independently confirm the type of device. More recently Patron's valiant efforts have earned him a few fans who have drawn the four-legged soldier A Telegram post from the Ukrainian emergency services calls the small, cute pup: 'our militant dog' An adorable cheese-loving Jack Russell has been helping Ukrainian forces by sniffing out explosives Scatterable landmines such as PTM-1M mines are prohibited under the Ottawa treaty on anti-personnel mines because of the risk of civilian casualties. Last month reports claimed that Russia is using banned landmines that can detect footsteps and kill or injure anyone within a 50ft radius. Human Rights Watch said POM-3 anti-personnel mines that failed to deploy were discovered in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv despite international treaties outlawing their use. The campaign group said the 'Medallion' mines have been deployed by Vladimir Putin's invading forces. The use of landmines is prohibited by the 1997 international Mine Ban Treaty. Russia is not among the 164 signatories but Ukraine is. Stephen Goose, director of the group's arms division, said: 'These weapons do not differentiate between combatants and civilians and leave a deadly legacy.' Human Rights Watch said that a delivery canister remnant pictured in Ukraine contained POM-3 mines that failed to deploy properly, with markings indicating that it was produced last year. Mr Goose added: 'Countries around the world should forcefully condemn Russia's use of banned anti-personnel landmines in Ukraine. '(It) deliberately flouts the international norm against use of these horrid weapons.' Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia will have no Victory Days left after it loses the war in Ukraine. In a clip released minutes before Putin's propaganda parade in Red Square this morning, Zelensky stated: 'Very soon there will be TWO Victory Days in Ukraine. 'And someone will have not even one left.' Addressing 'the great people of mighty Ukraine', President Zelensky accused Putin of 'repeating the horrific crimes of Hitler's regime'. He also said Russia 'treaded on a rake' by invading Ukraine. 'Every occupier who comes to our land treads on it', he said. Zelensky added: 'Our enemy dreamed that we would refuse to celebrate May 9 and the victory over Nazism. [But today], we are fighting for a new victory.' Zelensky said 'madman' Putin is 'doomed'. 'Because he was cursed by millions of ancestors when he began to imitate [Hitler]', he stated. 'And therefore he will lose everything.' Zelensky said 'madman' Putin would have no Victory Days left after his humiliation in Ukraine He closed by referencing Hitler's defeat: 'We won then. We will win now, too! Glory to Ukraine!' Zelensky wore his trademark green shirt as he walked down Khreshchatyk, Kyiv's main street, still littered with metal barricades. He said Russia resents Ukraine's freedom. 'We are free people who have our own path. That scares them', he said. 'There are no shackles that can bind our free spirit.' He finished the five-minute address by saying: 'We won then. And we will win now too. Glory to Ukraine!' The president started by looking back to celebrations last summer of 30 years of Ukrainian independence. Zelensky's clip was interlaced with footage of the Kyiv military parade on August 24 last year Zelensky cited alleged Russian war crimes as he described the invaders as 'barbarians' The country celebrated its third decade of freedom from the Soviet Union with a military parade on Khreshchatyk on August 24. Zelensky said Russia had behaved like a 'feigned friend' - which is worse than an 'insidious enemy'. He quoted Ukrainian national philosopher Gregory Skovoroda: 'There is nothing more dangerous than an insidious enemy - but nothing more poisonous than a feigned friend.' Zelensky continued: 'On February 24th, we realised this when a feigned friend started a war against Ukraine.' 'The road to [victory] is difficult. But we have no doubt that we will win. 'What is our advantage over the enemy? We are smarter [on] one book. A textbook on the history of Ukraine. 'We would not know grief if all our enemies could read it.' Zelensky's dramatic video was released just an hour before Putin addressed Moscow's Red Square to mark Victory Day over the Nazis. Russia had hoped to use the May 9 celebration to tout its achievements in Ukraine. But a spate of military failings and a fierce Ukrainian resistance made that impossible. Instead Putin said he invaded Ukraine to 'protect' Russian minorities inside the country. He also accused the West of plotting to invade Russia. Images last night show a wrecked school in Ukraine's war-torn Luhansk region. Sixty civilians were reportedly killed in the Russian attack, Zelensky confirmed in a speech to the G7 But the Kremlin leader stopped short of what many feared: an official declaration of war on Kyiv. This would have allowed him to mobilise Russia's military reserves and enlist more civilians to escalate fighting across the border. A planned flyover by his 'Doomsday' nuclear escape jet was also axed at the last minute, reportedly amid fears it could be attacked. The parade itself was also downsized from previous years, featuring almost a third fewer vehicles than in 2020. That's because Russia has committed - and lost - much of its ground forces in Ukraine. A 70-year-old farmer has been hospitalised after a dog walker threw a rock at him in a 'unprovoked' attack while he was out working in a field. Christopher Pine was ploughing the field in Somerset when he was hit in the face with dirt by a stranger, who went on to launch the missile at his head. Seeing the man standing there, Mr Pine asked why he threw the dirt and the dog walker replied that he did not want him to 'plough the footpath'. The tenant farmer explained he had a 'right to work the field' before a rock was thrown at him and the dog walker ran off. Mr Pine was left with blood gushing down the side of his head and and injury, which had it been 'two inches the other way' could have blinded him, according to his wife, Jane. Christopher Pine, pictured, 70, was ploughing the field in Creech St Michael, near Taunton, Somerset, when he was attacked Mr Pine's wife, Jane, described the moment her husband came under attack at their rented field near the funeral directors in North End in Creech St Michael (seen on map), near Taunton on Saturday Mr Pine's wife Jane described the moment her husband came under attack at their rented field in North End in Creech St Michael, near Taunton on Saturday. Mrs Pine said: 'Without any provocation or anything else, this walker threw dirt at him as he was driving past, so he stopped to ask "what's the problem" to find out why he'd done this. 'He was then told "don't plough the footpath", which of course he wasn't - he does everything 100 percent correctly. 'We rent the field so in a sense you're even more careful with what you do.' After a brief exchange in which Mr Pine informed the man of his right to work the field, the dog walker picked up a rock and proceeded to throw it at the farmer's head. Locals have expressed both their disgust and best wishes online, where son James Pine has thanked people for their kind words and reassured them that 'he's fine - just a few staples' after seeking treatment in the accident and emergency department Mrs Pine added: 'With that he picked up a rock - and there are rocks there the size of your hand - and threw it at my husband's head, then he ran off. 'He is 70, and [you] purposefully throw it at someone's head. If my husband had been looking maybe two inches the other way he'd have had his eye out.' Mr Pine suffered cuts on the side of his head which resulted in heavy bleeding. Locals have expressed both their disgust and best wishes to Mr Pine after the attack. His son James Pine thanked people for their kind words and reassured them that 'he's fine - just a few staples' after seeking treatment at A&E. The dog walker is described as in his mid thirties with dark hair on the sides and back but balding on top. He is also of slight build, was wearing shorts and was walking with a grey Staffordshire Terrier. Anyone with any information about the incident should call Avon and Somerset Police on 101. Grace Tame's close alliance with Anthony Albanese has turned sour after she fired a brutal shot at the Labor leader over his interview with Alan Jones. Mr Albanese sat down with the Sydney broadcaster in his new studio on Monday and posted a selfie of the pair shaking hands, sparking a public scolding from the child sexual assault survivor and former Australian of the Year. A disappointed Ms Tame didn't mince her words when she made her feelings known about the photo a few hours later. It comes just weeks after she had sat down with the Labor leader for a glowing magazine interview with InStyle. 'Side eye SIDE EYE,' she captioned the photo of Mr Albanese with Jones. Until now, Ms Tame has been a vocal supporter of Mr Albanese with the pair having cosied up together pose for photos at several high profile events. It's in contrast with the frosty relationship she has with Prime Minister Scott Morrison whom she has taken numerous swipes at since she was named 2021 Australian of the Year. The side eye reference in Ms Tame's latest tweet is believed to be in reference to her infamous encounter with Mr Morrison earlier this year. Grace Tame (left) has slammed Labor Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese (right) The furore with Ms Tame was sparked by the Labor Opposition Leader posting a photo shaking hand with controversial broadcaster Alan Jones (right) The then-Australian of the Year made headlines in January when she refused to hide her displeasure of being at a morning tea hosted by the prime minister and his wife Jenny at The Lodge in Canberra. Ms Tame was seen giving Mr Morrison a less than friendly handshake with a scowl on her face before throwing him an icy sideways glance. She expressed her bitter disapproval in Mr Albanese's photo with Jones. 'Yeah nah, this is where you could've just frowned and walked off. Or better yet, not done it,' she tweeted. 'There are plenty of other ways to broaden your messaging without enabling known agents of sexism and abuse. None of us is obliged to speak to bigots. The optics of this aren't good.' Jones later issued a statement saying Ms Tame was entitled to her opinion. The brutal shot at Mr Albanese comes just two weeks after Ms Tame sat down with him for an emotional interview for InStyle magazine. They addressed a wide range of topics, from Mr Albanese's upbringing, Mr Morrison, gender diversity, the Covid pandemic and Ms Tame's infamous bong photo. The Labor leader recounted to Ms Tame how his single mother, Maryanne, struggled to bring him up in her Camperdown council house in Sydney's Inner West in the 1960s - bringing Ms Tame to tears. Midway through the video link interview, Mr Albanese suddenly broke off his story when he noticed the tears streaming down Ms Tame's face. The pair later sparked criticism for steering clear of discussing bullying allegations from Labor's 'mean girls' following the recent death of Labor senator Kimberley Kitching from a sudden heart attack. They also posed for a selfie on Australia Day, a day after Ms Tame's frosty exchange with the Prime Minister. 'With our legendary Australian of the Year, Grace Tame. She's using her voice to stand up for survivors of child sexual abuse everywhere. Her strength makes Australia stronger,' Mr Albanese tweeted at the time. The angry outburst was sparked by Mr Albanese sharing a photo from his sit-down interview with the controversial broadcaster, which aired on Monday night. Grace Tame made her feelings known about Mr Albanese's sit down with Alan Jones Grace Tame was left unimpressed by Anthony Albanese's sit down with Alan Jones 'Good to chat with Alan Jones today in his new Sydney studios,' the photo was captioned. Many jumped to the Labor leader's defence following Ms Tame's outburst. 'Can't agree. As prospective PM, Albanese has a duty to reach those diametrically apposed to his beliefs. The show, whether you like Jones or not, allows for this - the possibility of changing hearts & minds. In no way does it enable Jones' behaviours. That's unfair,' one wrote. A woman added: 'It's politics, not a dinner invitation. He has to try to appeal to different voters. And he cannot be seen to be a 'lefty', as that now has a toxic association. It's tough but that's the reality.' One man speculated whether the photo may not be all as it seemed. 'That's not a smile, it's gritted teeth,' he wrote. Grace Tame (right) came under fire earlier this year over her frosty exchange with the Prime Minister (left) at an Australian of the Year function at The Lodge It comes as Labor has extended its lead over the Coalition but Mr Morrison still remains Australia's preferred prime minister, according to the latest Newspoll. The Australian reported Labor now holds 39 per cent of the vote, compared to the Liberal and Nationals' 35 per cent - the largest lead Anthony Albanese's party has held during the current federal election campaign. The Labor leader however still trails Mr Morrison in the PM vote 44-42, however Mr Albanese has climbed three points in the past week while the Liberals leader has fallen a point. Labor holds a 54-46 lead over the Coalition in the two-party preferred vote, climbing for the first time since early April. Skyrocketing cost of living prices have seen Labor tighten its grip on the election, with the opposition earning the confidence ahead of Mr Morrison's government that has seen interest rates rise for the first time in 11 years. Newspoll saw 44 per cent of voters put their confidence in Mr Albanese to better plan for rising costs, ahead of 41 per cent for Mr Morrison. A youth was attacked with machetes outside a London tube station last night. Police sealed off the area around Leytonstone Underground station and are believed to be searching for three attackers. Witnesses said they saw the victim, 19, being attacked outside a post office and forced into shutters before he was knifed. A youth was attacked with machetes nearby Leytonstone Underground station (pictured) last night and left with serious, but not life-threatening injuries The attack took place on Church Lane (pictured), and a witness said they saw three youths running away wearing hoods Dozens of police attended the scene last night and this morning (pictured), with many searching for any potential clues One witness said he saw three youths running away wearing hoods and one was aged about 14. Police, who administered CPR, have said his condition was serious but not life threatening after he was airlifted to an east London hospital by an air ambulance. Leytonstone tube station was shut down as police sniffer dogs were brought into search for any discarded weapon - but has now reopened. All roads around Church Lane, Leytonstone were closed as dozens of police investigated. A spokesperson for Met police said: 'Police were called by LAS at 19:04hrs on Sunday, 8 May to Church Lane E11 following reports of a stabbing. 'A 19-year-old man was found with stab wounds. 'Officers administered CPR before he was taken to an east London hospital. His condition has been assessed as not life-threatening. 'There have been no arrests at this time. 'A crime scene is in place and enquiries are ongoing.' Korea's outgoing foreign minister had a farewell phone call with his U.S. counterpart Monday, a day before the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, according to Seoul's foreign ministry. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong had the call with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the top U.S. diplomat's request, during which they reaffirmed the importance of a strong bilateral alliance, it said. Chung is leaving the post after 15 months of service in the Moon Jae-in government. Chung and Blinken gave positive assessments of the allies' cooperation on a wide range of regional and global issues, including North Korea, Ukraine, Afghanistan and Myanmar, as well as climate change and supply chains, the ministry added. (Yonhap) TV legend Anne Robinson has waded into a transgender rights row - saying 'a woman is someone with a vagina'. The famously blunt presenter declared her position on the ongoing row over trans rights in an interview with the Daily Telegraph a week after quitting as host of game show Countdown after just a year. Anne added that she was aghast at what she called the lack of 'safety' in women-only spaces such as changing rooms at swimming pools. She said that she is worried about the allowing of transgender people who have not undergone sex reassignment surgery into these spaces. 'I'm horrified by the lack of safety in women's changing rooms, at swimming pools and that sort of thing. 'The most interesting statistic is that the amount of trans [people] who actually surgically get altered is miniscule. So you are talking about men in women's changing rooms.' The famously blunt presenter (centre) declared her position on the ongoing row over trans rights in an interview with the Daily Telegraph Anne made her name as the 'Queen of Mean' as host of the BBC's The Weakest Link Anne told the Telegraph she had never met anyone 'who hates the idea that we can define a woman with common sense. 'I've never met this person that's so angry. I suspect they're angry [anyway] and this has been quite good to latch on to.' Anne's lack of exposure to the toxicity of the trans row could be down to the fact she is not on social media because it 'doesn't pay'. Britain currently faces a deep divide on the issue of transgender rights. Some activists say that trans people should be able to self-identify with the gender of their choosing. But others have hit back at that idea - saying it would leave women-only spaces vulnerable to predatory behaviour. Trans rights became a hot-button issue in 2017, when plans to change the Gender Recognition Act to allow transgender people to self-identify in a gender different to that corresponds with their sex were announced by Justine Greening. Advocates for transgender people welcomed the move to scrap the requirement for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria to be legally recognised as the gender they identify as. This sparked a backlash from some who said the removal of this process would put women-only spaces at risk. The Government later dropped the plans despite a public consultation in 2020 showing a majority of respondents backed self-identification. Honest: Anne Robinson, 77, revealed she quit Countdown over pay dispute and admits that she did insist on 'noisy' Susie Dent and Rachel Riley's mics being switched off on Wednesday In the interview, Anne said she was concerned that parents were 'taking their unhappy children to the Tavistock [clinic] when they're 13' and not adequately scrutinising whether they are indeed transgender. 'How do you know that's what it is? That's what your child is telling you it is. It's that phrase: 'Will that be what you want when you grow up?', she said. She then quipped: 'That's what I should have said to myself when I accepted Countdown'. Anne revealed last week she quit Countdown over a pay dispute and she did insist on 'noisy' Susie Dent and Rachel Riley's mics being switched off. The presenter, 77, who was employed on a freelance basis, admitted that despite being offered a pay rise, she did not want to join Channel 4's payroll and so decided to walk away from her role as host. It was revealed that she was leaving Countdown after just one year, earlier this week by The Daily Mails Alison Boshoff, with Anne adding that she has since smoothed over the rift with her co-stars. Speaking to The Sun, she confessed: 'I come from a long line of alcoholic, Irish bandits so to suggest I go PAYE is a bit like asking Philip Green or Richard Branson to join the company payroll. 'I wasn't interested in any offer on that basis. Even if it included financial parity. I will, however, miss out on the Channel 4 luncheon vouchers, which is a big regret.' Speaking with Emma Barnett on Radio 4's Woman's Hour, she added: 'I marched so that your generation would be really clever at negotiating your salaries and your pay, and you're all absolutely hopeless at it. Why? It's so easy. There's about six steps to getting the money you want.' Of the rift with her co-stars Rachel and Susie she admitted that she had been annoyed by their time-keeping and noisiness (Rachel and Susie pictured) Anne continued: 'What happens is some bloke comes in with his friend, gives you the interview and says 'we're going to pay you this', you say 'thank you very much'. What you have to realise, they go outside and they do high fives because you've accepted the first offer.' Of the rift with her co-stars Rachel and Susie she admitted that she had been annoyed by their time-keeping and noisiness. But later said: 'They're both brilliant at what they do. I mean they really, really are. Channel 4 are incredibly lucky to have them. And there isn't a rift. 'It was me wanting everyone to be quiet in the studio. I like everyone turning up on time and quiet, quiet, quiet. So we did have to iron that out. But that's it.' The first migrants slated for deportation to Rwanda will be told of the decision this week as Priti Patel battles to secure her flagship policy in the face of a deluge of legal challenges. The initial cohort are expected to be single men who crossed the Channel by small boat and who have been deemed to be economic migrants rather than refugees fleeing their homelands for safety. Boris Johnson has said he wants the first flight to leave by the end of the month - but six legal challenges mean the whole scheme may never get off the ground. The number of people chosen initially is likely to be in the dozens to reduce the number of further individual legal challenges. A group of migrants are brought ashore in Dover, Kent, after crossing the Channel on Friday Each person will be given a week to provide legal grounds for remaining in the UK, which will be assessed by government lawyers before the formal notification of deportation is sent. There is intense scepticism that the Prime Minister will meet his deadline for the first flight, with a Home Office source predicting it would be 'a couple of months' before the deportations begin. 'There is a lot to work through and we are doing it for the first time and have to make sure we get it right,' the source told The Times. 'There is a legal process we needed to follow and the priority is to do it properly.' It came as hundreds more migrants arrived by boat over the weekend, loading more pressure on Ms Patel to get the scheme up and running. Latest figures show that 169 would-be refugees crossed the Channel in 11 separate dinghies on Saturday, following 116 on Friday. Priti Patel and Boris Johnson have blamed 'liberal lawyers' for delaying the start of the Rwanda programme It takes the total for May to more than 1,000 as people-smuggling gangs took advantage of a spell of calm weather in the Dover straits, after stormy seas meant that no boats could set sail for 11 days at the end of April. The Government had wanted flights to Kigali to start by the end of May under the 120million deal it secured with the Kagame government last month. Under the partnership agreement, people arriving in the UK, including by crossing the Channel in small boats, will be flown 4,000 miles to East Africa if they are deemed to have travelled illegally for economic reasons rather than asylum. Mr Johnson has blamed 'liberal lawyers' for delaying the start of the scheme. The Home Secretary shakes hands with Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Birutaare after signing the migration agreement at a joint news conference in Kigali Last week two asylum seekers who came to Britain in the backs of lorries this year instructed lawyers to bring a legal challenge against the policy. A 11-day break in crossings in recent weeks was cited by some supporters of the scheme that it was already having a deterrence effect, but experts insisted it was purely due to poor weather. The MoD took over control of migrant operations in the Channel in April, when the Government also announced its Rwanda deal. The multi-millionaire watch tycoon who owns Sekonda is being sued in London's High Court by his younger brother over allegations he has hidden 'millions' of their father's fortune from his sibling for decades. Stephen Margulies has accused his brother Marcus Margulies, whose company Time Products (UK) Ltd owns watch brand Sekonda as well as Accurist, of concealing at least 1.5million which their father Alexander Margulies had intended would go to him. Alexander, who set up the family watch empire after coming to Britain as an immigrant from Poland in 1931, left behind a 'substantial' sum following his death in the early 1990s. Alexander Margulies, who set up the family watch empire after coming to Britain as an immigrant from Poland in 1931 For the past 30 years, the brothers have fought over the fortune in a series of court clashes which Stephen's lawyers insist were largely caused by Marcus' alleged attempts to 'disentitle' his brother. Marcus, who was worth 135million according to 2018's Times Rich List, is now being sued by Stephen. In documents lodged with the High Court, Stephen's lawyers say that Marcus, 79, was the sole beneficiary of Alexander's estate under a will that he made in 1982 whilst 'annoyed' with Stephen, who had gone to live in Peru rather than join the family business. Stephen claims that an unknown sum was earmarked for him by his father and held in a Swiss bank account before the pair fell out. He says his share of the Swiss money was put into Marcus' control to hold in trust for him while Alexander was ill in his final years. However, he insists that his father never changed his intention for that money to go to him, and that he and Alexander reconciled after the younger brother left South America. His lawyers said that by 1988, three years before Alexander died, their relationship was 'warm'. The younger brother claims Marcus has hidden the money in a secret offshore trust called Dulwich Inc, and is now suing him in a bid to force him to reveal the value of the money in the account, what happened to it and to pay it or its current value to him. He has accused Marcus of 'lies, concealment of documents, deception of the court, and abuse of [power]'. Stephen's lawyers say: 'Though Marcus was made Alexander's sole residual beneficiary under his will of 1982, it was not Alexander's intention for this to have the practical effect of cutting Stephen out from his share of the Swiss monies'. Stephen says his siblings 'received substantial sums of money' - at least 1.5million each - in 1976 from the Swiss account and that his father intended him to get an equal sum. At the time, Alexander had been worried about him having so much money due to 'concerns' about his 'lifestyle and general attitude to life,' Stephen's lawyers say in court filings. 'Stephen infers [that he]... did not receive such a gift in 1976 because of Alexander's concern about Stephen's ability at that time to handle his wealth,' his lawyers say, adding that his father had 'disapproved' of him having moved to Peru. But by 1988, they pair had made up, Stephen's lawyers say, adding that Alexander told Stephen in a letter: 'I was annoyed with you because I thought that if you had been here and in the business maybe we could have avoided a lot of worries. 'You understand me much better than I ever thought. Let bygones be bygones... let's start afresh'. Alexander also gave Stephen his mother's diamond engagement ring when he told him he was going to marry, his lawyers say. 'Marcus, in Alexander's elderly years, in order to avoid frequent conflicts with his father and to have what he thought was a good relationship with his father, chose to agree with what Alexander said and thereafter proceed to do exactly what he, not his father, wanted,' Stephen's lawyers say. 'Over the last 20 years, Stephen has gone to very great lengths in an attempt to uncover the true position in respect of dealings with the Swiss accounts or assets whose value is derived therefrom and the extent of Stephen's interest in the same'. The younger brother claims that, after a 20-year worldwide investigation, he can now prove that Marcus hid potentially millions that he was entitled to. The investigations involved multiple trips to the British Virgin Islands, Mexico, US, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the UK in relation to a BVI company called Dulwich Inc which were 'complex, costly and necessarily very time-consuming in circumstances where Marcus denied any knowledge of Dulwich Inc,' his lawyers say. Stephen beat his older brother Marcus in a court fight over their mother Stella's share of the family wealth in 1993 when a judge declared in favour of a 1971 will - meaning her money was shared equally between the brothers and their sister Judith Sacerdoti. Marcus had argued Stella died intestate, meaning all her wealth would have gone to husband Alexander and then to Marcus as sole beneficiary under Alexander's 1982 will. A further row then erupted between the brothers over which of their parents had owned their valuable art collection, with Marcus claiming it all belonged to their father. That fight was eventually settled, with 56.5% of the collection going to Alexander's estate and 43.5% into Stella's. Stephen also then sued and won over a family settlement that would have solely benefited his brother. However, he lost a further court fight to prove that Marcus was holding a third of their father's wealth for him on trust. Marcus' defence to the action was not available from the court at the time of writing. When contacted his representatives declined to comment on the case. A Sydney woman has made an odd request on social media, offering to pay someone to catch huntsman spiders in her home and relocate them elsewhere. The woman, who lives in Summer Hill in Sydney's inner west, made the offer in a post to a Facebook group on Monday. She said she has crossed several huntsman spiders in her house and, due to her fear of them, wants someone to catch and release them so she doesn't have to kill them. An Australian woman has made an odd request on social media, offering to pay someone to catch huntsman spiders in her home and release them outside. (Pictured: A close up image of a huntsman spider) 'Hi everyone, just wondering if you know anyone who can/doesn't mind catching spiders in people's houses to relocate as opposed to killing them?' the inner west resident wrote. The woman states she's 'terrified' of the arachnids but acknowledged that they're 'generally harmless' and wanted them removed safely so she didn't have to continue killing them. 'Is there a service that does this? Or any teens who'd like to get a bit of pocket money to do this?' she asked. The woman then detailed a recent experience she'd had with a huntsman in her home on Monday. 'Found another huntsman in my kitchen just now and of course I freaked out'. 'He had run away and I'm now paranoid and on edge as to where he'll pop up again so just thought I'd ask around,' she added. The woman, who resides in Summer Hill in Sydney's inner west, made the offer in a post to a private Facebook group on Monday Advertisement Had it not been for the courage of an unflappable British Second World War veteran, the hijacking of an Israeli jet 50 years go could have ended in disaster and immense loss of life. On May 8, 1972, four hijackers from the Black September terrorist group who were armed with explosives and pistols seized Sabena Airlines' Flight 571, 20 minutes into its journey from Brussels via Vienna to Tel Aviv. On board the aircraft were ten crew members and 90 passengers, including the wife of the plane's pilot Captain Reginald Levy, who was set to celebrate what was his 50th birthday after landing in Israel's capital. The hijackers, who included two women and were led by a man calling himself Captain Rafat, were demanding the release of 315 terrorists in exchange for the captured passengers and crew. But after Captain Levy had been forced to land at Lod Airport - which is now known as Ben Gurion International - the RAF hero was able to send a coded message to Israeli officials requesting help. After opening negotiations with the hijackers to keep them occupied, Israel's defence minister Captain Moshe Dayan hatched a plot to rescue the passengers, and Captain Levy played a key role. The pilot had been allowed by the hijackers to go to Lod's control tower on the pretext of arranging repairs to the jet's undercarriage so that it could take off again. But once out of the plane, Captain Levy - a recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross - gave a detailed description of the four captors to a crack team of commandos. Minutes later, the squad of 16 soldiers from the elite Sayeret Matkal unit followed Captain Levy back towards the aircraft. Among their number were Ehud Barak and Benjamin Netanyahu - both future prime ministers of Israel. The men stormed the aircraft and, within two minutes, shot dead Captain Rafat and his male accomplice, while the two women - one of whom was injured - were caught alive. Only one passenger - a pregnant woman who had been injured in the exchange of fire - died, whilst Netanyahu himself was hit in the arm by a misplaced bullet from a commando colleague. After the hijacking, the then Israeli PM Golda Meir held a banquet for the unflappable pilot and his crew, at which she told him: 'Captain Levy, I love you.' Speaking ahead of the anniversary of the attack, the daughter of Captain Levy, Linda Lipschitz, who was then 26, told last week how she and her siblings had not been worried about their father because they knew 'he could handle it', but were instead fearful for their mother's safety. She said she 'burst into tears' when she saw her for the first time after the ordeal. Had it not been for the courage of an unflappable British Second World War veteran, the hijacking of an Israeli jet 50 years go could have ended in disaster and immense loss of life. Above: Captain Reginald Levy being interviewed after the hijacking ordeal onboard Sabena Airlines' Flight 571 had come to an end on this day 50 years ago. Right: The Second World War veteran in later life. The former pilot died in 2010 aged 88 On May 8, 1972, four hijackers from the Black September terrorist group who were armed with explosives and pistols, seized Sabena Airlines' Flight 571, 20 minutes into its journey from Brussels via Vienna to Tel Aviv. On board the aircraft were ten crew members and 90 passengers, including the wife of the plane's pilot Captain Reginald Levy, who was set to celebrate what was his 50th birthday after landing in Israel's capital. Above: The plane's passengers are seen being rescued from the plane by Israeli commandos. Seen left in white overalls is the unit's leader, Ehud Barak, who went on to serve as prime minister of Israel The Black September terror group was named after the 1970 conflict that took place between forces loyal to the Kingdom of Jordan and members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in September 1970. The fighting led to the defeat of the PLO and its allies. Black September became famous for a series of hijackings and acts of terror, with the most significant being when 11 Israeli athletes were murdered at the 1972 Munich Olympics, just a few months after the Sabena incident. During the Second World War, Captain Levy, who passed away aged 88 in 2010, had flown Halifax heavy bombers out of Snaith, in East Yorkshire, with the RAF's 51 Squadron. He was involved in the devastating bombing of Hamburg and the raid on the Nazi's Peenemunde rocket research centre, as well as the aerial attacks on berlin in 1944. Captain Levy's 1972 ordeal began when the two male Black September highjackers burst into the cockpit of the Boeing 707 that he was flying, shortly after he had taken off from Vienna. Whilst the men were armed with grenades and pistols, their female accomplices had plastic explosives and had remained in the cabin Captain Levy had been astute enough not to tell the hijackers that his wife was one of his plane's passengers. He had brought her on to the flight so that the pair could enjoy a meal in Tel Aviv to celebrate his birthday. The crack team of commandos also included Benjamin Netanyahu, who served as Iraeli prime minister for 12 years until 2021. Netanyahu was wounded in the raid after being hit by a misplaced bullet from one of his fellow commandos. Above: Netanyahu is seen with his arm in a sling as he shakes hands with Israel's then president Zalman Shazar during a ceremony held to mark the feat of the commandos On the evening of May 9, elite commandos disabled the jet to ensure the hijackers would not be able to take off again. The hijackers wanted to fly to Cairo with the passengers and crew, who they said would then be freed after Israel released 317 jailed Palestinian guerilla fighters. Above: The jet is seen on the runway at Lod Airport after being damaged One of the female hijackers, Theresa Halsa, is seen with her arm covered in blood as she runs on the plane's wing whilst being held by an Israeli Barak went on to serve as Israeli prime minister from 1999 until 2001 and then defence minister in Netanyahu's government. Above: Netanyahu (left) and Barak in 2012 Therese Halaseh, right, and Rima Issa Tannous, left, hear the reading of their life sentences at their trial in Lod, Israel on August 14, 1972. They were eventually sentenced to 200 years in prison but were freed in November 1983 in a prisoner exchange during the 1982 Lebanon War Ms Lipschitz told the Jerusalem Post how news of the ongoing hijacking 'turned our lives upside down'. Whilst her parents were facing possible death at the hands of crazed terrorists, Ms Lipschitz had to keep calm at the family home in Brussels with her 15-year-old sister and her two brothers. Captain Levy calmly told his passengers that 'as you can see, we have friends on board'. At around the same time, he alerted the Israeli authorities to the hijack via a coded message. On the evening of May 9, elite commandos disabled the jet to ensure the hijackers would not be able to take off again. The hijackers wanted to fly to Cairo with the passengers and crew, who they said would then be freed after Israel released 317 jailed Palestinian guerilla fighters. But once the hijackers realised the 707 had been immobilised, they sent Captain Levy to both arrange for repairs to the plane be carried out and to show the Israeli government that they were serious about their intentions. But, having shown them the pieces of plastic explosives he had been given to demonstrate their seriousness, Captain Levy instead gave commandos a detailed description of the hijackers - what they were wearing, how to pick them out among the passengers and where they were sitting. When he returned to the plane and assured the hijackers that everything was fine, the disguised commandos followed him across the tarmac. By then, General Dayan had indicated to the hijackers that they would get their way, meaning the hijackers' suspicions were not raised by the appearance on the airport's tarmac of the repairmen. The commandos were led by Barak, who went on to become prime minister of Israel between 1999 and 2001. Captain Levy spent his 50th birthday on the runway in Lod, before helping Israel's team of commandos to overcome the hijackers. He is pictured above being interviewed on May 15, 1972 Passengers are seen escaping from the aircraft that had been deliberately damaged by Israeli commandos to stop it from taking off The news of the hijacking and the subsequent raid made it onto the front page of the Daily Mail. The audacious rescue operation resulted in the death of one female passenger Captain Levy (centre) is seen at a press conference in Tel Aviv with Israel's prime minister Golda Meir after the successful operation to rescue him and his passengers and crew In the gun battle that ensued in the moments after they stormed the aircraft, only six of the plane's passengers were injured, with all but one going on to survive. Netanyahu was injured when another commando, Mark Ashkenazi, shot one of the female attackers, Theresa Halsa, and the bullet passed through her, hitting the future PM's bicep. Both Halsa and the other woman, Rima Tannous, were eventually sentenced to 200 years in prison but were freed in November 1983 in a prisoner exchange during the 1982 Lebanon War. Captain Levy, who was Jewish, was immediately lauded for his bravery, with General Dayan telling him: 'We appreciate very much what you have done.' Thanking him, Captain Levy said in reply: 'Look what a lovely day it is. Now I just want to find my wife. She is a passenger in the plane'. The then Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, David Elazar, said of the raid: 'The boy's didn't use smoke bombs or gas or any gimmicks at all. 'They just went in there like soldiers. If other countries acted the same way, the world would be finished this disgraceful hijacking business.' Speaking of the moment Ms Lipschitz and her siblings were told that her parents were safe, Ms Lipschitz said: 'We got a phone call from Reuters and the journalist said, 'We've just had news that your father is safe. 'The plane has been released'. And I said, 'What about my mum?' And he said, 'I'll get back to you.' He called a few minutes later to say that mum was safe also.' She saw her parents again when she and her siblings were driven to the airport in Brussels, where Captain Levy had flown the Sabena jet. 'The plane seemed so enormous close up. Dad was there waving out the cockpit window and then all the crew got off the plane. 'Only after they were all on the ground, my mother appeared at the top of the steps with a huge bunch of flowers. The four of us just burst into tears seeing her,' she added. Whilst Captain Levy was hailed as a hero by Israel, with him and his wife treated to dinner with the PM, the pilot was blamed by the PLO for aiding the Israelis. It meant that he and his family had to be sent by Sabena for their own protection to Spain and then to South Africa. From there, Captain Levy flew the Johannesburg-Brussels route. The furious PLO had said that Captain Levy was the reason their operation had failed. Ms Lipschitz also recalled how, years later, her parents were invited to a hotel in Tel Aviv to mark the anniversary of Sabena operating in Israel. There, they met Barak. Captain Levy's wife, Dora, is said to have shouted 'it's him!' before throwing her arms around the former commando. In 2015, a docudrama telling the story of the hijacking was released. Sabena Hijacking My Version, was directed by Rani Sa'ar The couple later reunited with most of the other commando crew members on a television show. In 2015, a docudrama telling the story of the hijacking was released. Sabena Hijacking My Version, was directed by Rani Sa'ar. Netanyahu, who was forced out of office last year after 12 years as PM, said at the film's premiere that, in the 1970s, 'terrorists were like preying animals, grabbing planes, kidnapping passengers and threatening to kill them and sometimes doing so'. He said the 'most important lesson' of the era was that it 'was not merely sophisticated military expertise but our determination and our daring against those who threaten us that curbed this particular form of terrorism.' Recalling the moments after he had been injured during the raid on the jet, Netanyahu said he saw his brother Yoni, who was also a commando but had not been part of the 16-man squad, running towards him. 'He ran to me, his face was very worried. He came closer. He saw me lying there with my white overalls stained with blood. 'In a moment [after realising his brother's injury was not life-threatening], his face changed and he said: "You see, I told you that you shouldnt have gone!"' In 2015, Halsa insisted in an interview that she and her fellow hijackers were not terrorists. 'They called us terrorists, but we weren't. The real terrorists were the Israelis who threw the Palestinian people off their land,' she told the Guardian. Schoolchildren who persistently skip classes will be named on compulsory registers and their parents warned as part of new measures to raise attendance. The policy, to be announced in the Queen's Speech on Tuesday, will for the first time create a compulsory register used for tracking truancy in a bid to 'level up' education. The measures will ensure pupils benefit from 'every possible hour in the classroom', Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said education was 'at the very heart of this Government's agenda'. Mr Johnson continued: 'We are determined to raise standards in our schools so every child has access to the same opportunities wherever they live, and our brilliant teachers are supported to do what they do best, which is why we're putting our education ambition into law this week. Schoolchildren who persistently skip classes will be named on compulsory registers - with the policy due to be announced in the Queen's Speech on Tuesday Naming truants on compulsory registers will ensure pupils benefit from 'every possible hour in the classroom', Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi (pictured) said 'By giving every child a good education, we're giving them the opportunity to thrive so they can reach their full potential and secure the jobs needed - this is absolutely vital to our levelling up mission.' It comes after the Department for Education handed schools new powers to slap fines on the parents and caregivers of persistent truants. While previously fines for skipping school helped fund further fines or prosecutions, the money will now be earmarked to support services to prevent truancy. Truancy fears were stoked in March last year when it was revealed that the rate of absenteeism among secondary school pupils had doubled after the pandemic-period of remote learning, with 9 percent of the school population missing compared with the usual rate of 4.5 percent. Local authorities have been told to 'rigorously track' children's attendance data recorded by schools and social services, according to The Telegraph. The Schools Bill will also include plans for schools to join multi-academy trusts (MATs), a proposal which has been resisted by education unions, with a strengthened regulatory framework giving greater powers to intervene when they are failing. A new national funding formula is aimed at distributing cash on a 'fair and consistent basis', Ofsted will be given greater powers to crack down on illegally-operating 'unregistered schools' and the Teaching Regulation Agency's ability to investigate misconduct will be strengthened. As well as the measures on school attendance, in an attempt to make sure children do not slip through the cracks local authorities will be given a duty to provide support to home-schooling families. Mr Zahawi said: 'Our new Schools Bill, alongside the Schools White Paper, will create a school system that works for every child, parent and family, bringing every school up to our current best standards. 'We want every school to be part of an academy trust, enabling teachers to focus on what they do best, meeting the needs of every child. 'Schools' approach to attendance is being overhauled to make sure every child gets the benefit of every possible hour in the classroom. Truancy fears were stoked in March last year when stats showed the truancy rate in secondary schools had doubled following the reopening of classrooms and the end of the Covid era of remote learning 'In combination, this work will make sure every child has access to an education that they deserve and helps them fulfil their potential.' Also in the Queen's Speech, a Higher Education Bill will enable the introduction of the promised lifelong loan entitlement, allowing people to retrain at any point. Under the plan people can access a loan equivalent to four years of education, 37,000 in today's fees, that they can use over their lifetime for a range of studies including shorter and technical courses. Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 'After two years of unprecedented chaos and disruption to children's education, the Conservatives are obsessing over structures instead of improving children's experience in the classroom. 'This Bill contains no plan to support children's pandemic recovery. No plan to improve teaching and tackle the exodus of school staff from our classrooms. 'No plan to ensure more young people gain essential qualifications. 'No plan to give children the broad education that young people, parents and employers want to see. 'No plan, no ambition, no vision for our children.' Video from the Chinese port-city of Zhoushan neighbouring Shanghai shows the sky turned blood-red under thick layers of fog. Panic could be heard in the voices of the residents as they recorded the discoloured horizon, stirring apocalyptic fears. The crimson sky was most prominent by the port, prompting worries that a fire had got out of control. The red sky became a top trending topics on China's Twitter-like social media, Sina Weibo, attracting more than 150 million views. On Douyin, China's version of TikTok, users called the red sky a bad omen over China's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, resurgent in neighbouring Shanghai. One user said it means: 'Accidents will happen', with another adding. 'I started to stock up on supplies.' But local media explained the strange weather phenomena was not a sign of Armageddon but in fact a result of light refraction. Blood red sky blankets city near Shanghai sparking Armageddon fears. The crimson sky was most prominent by the port, prompting worries that a fire had got out of control Fish are videoed writhing by the port as the red light illuminates the city. The lighting may have come from a fishing boat that was harvesting Pacific saury, according to local media quoting China Aquatic Products Zhoushan Marine Fisheries The rare weather phenomena attracted millions of views on Chinese social media, trending on Sina Weibo, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, and attracting more than 150 million views. Local media explained the strange weather phenomena was not a sign of Armageddon but in fact a result of light refraction 'When weather conditions are good, more water in the atmosphere forms aerosols which refract and scatter the light of fishing boats and create the red sky seen by the public,' said the staff of the Zhoushan Meteorological Bureau, according to the Global Times. The lighting may have come from a fishing boat that was harvesting Pacific saury, according to local media quoting China Aquatic Products Zhoushan Marine Fisheries Co, which owns the boat. Online sleuths said particulate matter from the 2022 Tonga Volcanic Eruption, found to be the largest volcanic explosion in the 21st century so far, could also have contributed to the light refraction. Historians recently uncovered documents from 1770 from China, Korea and Japan, where eye-witnesses reported the skies turning an eerie red. Researchers told Live Science that geomagnetic storms, caused by solar eruptions hitting the earth's magnetosphere, might have caused the event. Chinese state media said solar and geomagnetic activity on Saturday was calm and there were no significant anomalies in solar activity, discrediting the notion that a geomagnetic and solar storm may have turned the sky red in Zhoushan. During the Carrington Event of 1859, the most intense geomagnetic storm recorded in history, electrical currents in the atmosphere zapped telegraph wires and caused paper to catch fire. A similar geomagnetic storm today would damage power grids across the world, leaving millions without light or electricity. The Project hosts opened Monday's show by attacking 'wildly arrogant' Steve Price over his agenda against millennials. The conservative columnist said he gave young people a 'slap' in a recent article for the Herald Sun, saying they 'constantly whinge and whine' about the state of the country. He was lambasted by the other hosts of the Channel Ten program, with Waleed Aly, Tommy Little and Chrissie Swan all arguing against Price. 'Steve Price is here to make millennials cry,' Aly said as he opened the program, before Price thanked him for 'that little slap'. Steve Price was attacked by his co-hosts on The Project on Monday night for his 'wildly arrogant' comments on millennials The co-hosts pressed Price on his column where he said 'stop whingeing and start living. You'll be much happier', with the commentator doubling down on his comments. 'I called them lousy whingers who need to get over themselves. That's all,' he said on Monday's broadcast. 'What I loved the most is you didn't listen to anyone,' Swan said to Price, referencing their argument on the show last week. 'The idea that millennial also be upset because they read your newspaper column is wildly arrogant,' Little added. Price's co-hosts pressed the journalist on his column attacking young Australians for 'whingeing and whining' about the state of the country Price clashed with Swan and Peter Helliar on the show last Tuesday, where the Herald Sun columnist launched into a tirade against millennials. 'They've got to realise they're a very lucky generation,' he said. 'They've grown up in a country that's safe, that's prosperous, they've got a pretty good chance of getting a job because they've had a free university education.' Helliar and Swan responded to his comment, saying Price grew up in vastly different circumstances than Aussies today. 'On a planet that's being torched and they won't own their own home?' Helliar replied. 'Who's had a free university education? Swan added Price said young people have delayed payments with HECS debt, before Swan again interrupted. 'That's not free. Yours was free,' she said. 'Steve Price is here to make millennials cry,' Aly said as he opened the program, before Price thanked him for 'that little slap' The conservative columnist then claimed older Australians were constantly the target of criticism. 'Everybody dumps on my generation, the Baby Boomers, saying 'you had it easy',' Price said. 'No I didn't, I worked 50 years without having a day off.' Helliar replied: 'When did anyone say you had it easy? I didn't see that bit.' Price said young people had been 'suggesting' it was 'all hard for them and not hard for anyone else'. 'You did have it a lot easier than this generation,' host Hamish McDonald said. 'It was a lot cheaper to buy a house, you got free university education'. Price was angered by the suggestion, saying he had to 'work hard every day of my life since I was 17', before Swan pointed out he had again missed the point. 'So are they, and they feel like they don't have the choices,' she said. Townies swapping cities for greener pastures rarely understand the countryside and are 'obsessed' with their Wi-Fi speeds, according to the editor of rural bible Country Life. Mark Hedges, who edits the 125-year-old glossy magazine, says the Covid pandemic has sparked a 'great exodus' of city-dwellers to the countryside. But he says not everyone is 'happy' with the mass countryside migration of what he calls 'Twats' - city workers who only go into the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. In an opinion piece in The Times, the journalist, who grew up in the Cotswolds, took aim at 'newcomers' who he said held 'strong views' about rural issues such as badger culling but often failed to understand the countryside. He also said city-dwellers were 'obsessed' about Wi-Fi speeds and, unlike traditional countryside residents, didn't know how to rustle up rural classics such as potted squirrel or tickle a trout. And he urged newcomers not to criticise Prince Charles in their local pubs, saying that the royal, who has long campaigned on rural and environmental issues, was the 'countryside's poster boy'. His comments come after wealthy Londoners fled to the countryside in their droves during the pandemic, hoovering up rural properties and purchasing second homes due to the increasing prevalence of working from home. Londoners spent a record 54.9billion on properties outside the city last year - the highest value on record by far. Mark Hedges, who edits the 125-year-old glossy magazine, says the Covid pandemic has sparked a 'great exodus' of city-dwellers to the countryside In an opinion piece in The Times, the journalist, who grew up in the Cotswolds, took aim at 'newcomers' who he said held 'strong views' about rural issues such as badger culling but often failed to understand the countryside He also claimed city-dwellers were 'obsess' about Wi-Fi speeds and, unlike traditional countryside residents, didn't know how to cook potted squirrel or tickle a trout Meanwhile Taunton in rural Somerset became last year's property hotspot, seeing property prices rise by a fifth due to the huge increase in demand for country homes. So how DO you tickle a trout and cook up potted squirrel? Potted Squirrel A perfect countryside starter - rather than a strange way to keep squirrels - potted squirrel is essentially a pate made from the meat of the invasive grey squirrel species. And while many may baulk at the idea of eating the cute-looking rodent, it is actually encouraged by The British Association for Shooting and Conservation as a way of population control. While you can trap and kill squirrels yourself, without expert knowledge it is better to get your meat from your local butcher. Take two oven-ready squirrels, jointed into three pieces each, and put them into a pot with wine, vegetables such as carrot and onion, and a variety of herbs, such as bay leaf and rosemary. Bring it to the boil and then let it simmer for five hours before shredding the meat, adding bacon, and pouring into four ramekins. Add some butter to the top, chill for an hour and then serve with bread and chutney. Tickling a Trout Tickling a trout might sound like one of those wacky techniques which actually has very little to do with tickling. But this tried and tested technique mentioned in Shakespeares Twelfth Night is not far off when it comes to its description. It is also illegal in public places - and is popular with poachers as it means they don't have to carry incriminating equipment such as nets - so make sure you get permission from whoever owns your chosen stretch of river before you do it. Trout can be found up and down waterways in the UK. The brown trout lives in streams, rivers, lakes and salt water habitats, while the Rainbow Trout lives in poorer quality water than its native cousin. While the primary technique for catching trout is fly-fishing, trout tickling involves getting your hands dirty. Trout, when startled, will often head for a bank. If you lie face down on the bank at the point where the fish was last seen, you can gently slide both hands beneath the bank and move them inwards in an pincer movement. At this point you then have to gently stroke the underbelly of the fish - tickling - to identify that it is indeed a fish - rather than a rock of a tree root - and identify which way around the fish is. Once you have established where the head is, smoothly but firmly tighten your head around the gill/fin area. Then, while keeping your hands on the fish, slowly raise up from the ground wish the fish in your hands. For those wishing to practice, the advice is to use a bar of soap. Advertisement But the sudden influx of townies has led to tension with longer-term residents, who say they are being priced out of their areas. Meanwhile, farmers have complained that townies are unaware of the rules of the countryside - though they have now been urged to 'use friendly language' towards trespassers under changes to the Countryside Code. Addressing the conflicts in his Times piece, Mr Hedges said: 'Lockdown brought a great exodus from the cities and rural house prices rocketed. 'Some though it would be temporary; in fact, with many city workplaces adopting flexible working, it appears that much of the change is here to stay. People who were slaves to their desks have become Twats (working Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in the city. 'Not everyone is happy about this rural migration. There are two new subjects of rural conversation: Newcomers are obsessed by Wi-Fi speeds and everyone else by telling the newcomers who many decades they have lived there. 'The newcomers may hold strong views on badgers and the reintroduction of beavers, but unless they also know the difference between straw and hay, rooks and crows, hares and rabbits, they would be better off keeping it to themselves.' However, Mr Hedges, who took editorship of the Hampshire-based magazine - dubbed the 'Bible of British Aristocracy' - in 2016, said there had been some positives. He said village shops had seen a boost in sales and, in a tongue-in-cheek take on the capital's coffee culture, could 'make a fortune if they worked out how to make a latte'. But, in a wise word of warning, Mr Hedges urged city-dwellers to keep their opinions on Prince Charles to themselves while in the country. The future monarch, 73, has often been vocal on country and environmental issues, and even guest-edited Country Life in 2013. And last year, in his latest call for action in the countryside, warned the 'heart will be ripped out of the British countryside' if small, family-run farms are allowed to go out of business. Speaking about Prince Charles, he said: 'The Prince of Wales is a countryman above all. I have seen him at his happiest laying a hedge planting trees of inspecting his cattle. 'Do not, if you are a newcomer, criticise him in your local country pub. He is the countryside's poster boy.' Mr Hedges' comments come amid rising tension between townies and country folk following the impact of the Covid pandemic. Londoners rushed to buy country homes and rural second homes during the pandemic, as firms allowed staff to work from home during lockdowns. Covid lockdowns and the rise of flexible working saw a surge of Londoners travelling outside of the capital, spending a record 54.9bn on properties outside the city last year - the highest value on record by far. However, the rush for country and second homes brought misery to residents of the most popular towns, with soaring house values pricing young people out of the housing market. Areas such as Salcombe in Devon, Falmouth, in Cornwall, and Tenby in Wales became property hotspots. But, in a wise word of warning, Mr Hedges urged city-dwellers to keep their opinions on Prince Charles to themselves while in the country. The future monarch, 73, has often been vocal on country and environmental issues, and even guest-edited Country Life in 2013 A map showing the most sought-after second home towns for British city dwellers, with Salcombe, Falmouth, St Ives, Brixham and Newquay in the South West all within the top six in demand Taunton in Somerset was the top house price hotspot last year, with average house prices rising by 56,546 - more than a fifth - while some areas of London actually saw property prices fall. In the North Yorkshire village of Robin Hood's Bay it has been claimed that only 30 per cent of properties are now owned by locals with all but five in the area near the harbour believed to be either second homes or holiday lets. 'Get off my land (please?): The key changes to the Countryside Code - which will see farmers asked to use 'kinder language' Farmers used to shouting 'get off my land' will instead be told to 'use friendly language' towards trespassers under changes to the Countryside Code. They have also been warned against using 'misleading' signs to deter visitors - including claiming they have bulls in their fields. In an update to the code published by Natural England, landowners are being urged to ask rambling visitors if they are lost and 'help them get back to paths'. The changes are part of plans to 'help the public enjoy the countryside in a responsible and respectful way'. However, the guidance has instead stoked fears of the countryside turning into 'a free-for-all for ramblers'. The guidance says access should be 'easy for visitors with different abilities and needs' and encourages landowners to install self-closing gates instead of stiles 'if possible'. New guidance has been issued for land managers 'to help the public enjoy the countryside responsibly'. It includes: New guidance on keeping rights of way usable, with recommendations on cutting back vegetation and keeping public waterways clear; Instructions on where visitors can walk freely; Guidance on reporting anti-social behaviour, fly tipping and noise disturbances; Guidance on managing and protecting livestock. Advertisement The average house in the village now fetches 373,000 more than 12 times average annual earnings in the area and out of the reach of first-time buyers. It has become such an issue, that the Government is even said to be planning to introducing punishing council tax bills for second home owners who leave their properties unused. For the first time, councils in England will be able to double council tax on unoccupied second homes to boost funding for local services. Other homes simply left empty could also see the standard council tax rate doubled after 12 months as opposed to two years at present. The plans are being discussed as part of the Government's Leveling Up scheme. Alongside a big increase in property prices, there have also been tensions between city-dwellers and countryside residents over rural rules - such as walking through fields and closing gates. However, earlier this year it was revealed farmers used to shouting 'get off my land' will instead be told to 'use friendly language' towards trespassers under changes to the Countryside Code. They have also been warned against using 'misleading' signs to deter visitors - including claiming they have bulls in their fields. In an update to the code published by Natural England, landowners are being urged to ask rambling visitors if they are lost and 'help them get back to paths'. The changes are part of plans to 'help the public enjoy the countryside in a responsible and respectful way'. However, the guidance has instead stoked fears of the countryside turning into 'a free-for-all for ramblers'. The guidance says access should be 'easy for visitors with different abilities and needs' and encourages landowners to install self-closing gates instead of stiles 'if possible'. If a farmer finds a trespasser on their land, they are told to 'ask them if they are lost and help them get back to paths or areas they are allowed on. Visitors rarely mean to trespass.' The guidance does however advise to 'manage visitors appropriately if theyre acting in an antisocial way'. On signage, the guidance adds: 'Make signs clear and easy to follow. Too much information can confuse visitors and cause them to do the wrong thing. 'Keep any signs in good condition, or remove a sign if the hazard no longer exists. Do not use misleading signage, such as "bull in field" if it is not true.' However, farmers are also warned that they must not keep animals they know to be dangerous in places with public access. It follows several incidents of walkers, usually with dogs, being killed or injured by cows. In an update to the Countryside Code published by Natural England, landowners are being urged to ask rambling visitors if they are lost and 'help them get back to paths' David Clark, 59, a former Scotland under-21 rugby player, was trampled to death by cows as he walked his dogs in Richmond, North Yorkshire, in September 2020. The code was updated for the first time in a decade in April last year in response to an increase in litter and dogs worrying livestock as the number of people visiting the countryside soared over lockdown. The changes, published yesterday, aim to help 'avoid damage to property, livestock and wider anti-social behaviour'. Farmers have also said it should be 'up to them what works best for their farm'. Sarah Lee, Director of Policy at the Countryside Alliance, said the updated code has 'put an onus on landowners', rather than ramblers, and pointed to concerns over the cost for farmers. She added: 'The pandemic and subsequent lockdowns lead to more people getting out and enjoying the countryside which was welcome. 'However, sadly, there were numerous reports of littering in beauty spots and livestock being spooked by dogs off the lead which in turn, could have heightened anxiety among some living and working in the countryside. Reminders of responsible access are, therefore, always welcome. 'This new guidance for landowners provides many welcome additions, such as advice on reporting anti-social behaviour and how to report fly-tipping, however, it also puts an onus on landowners to replace stiles with gates. 'Stiles have multiple uses from providing a stock proof barrier while allowing people to move freely and it should be up to individual farmers what works best for their farm while welcoming visitors. 'We would also be concerned over the cost to the farmer of changing field access points. It might be the case that money will be available through the new farming schemes to make land more accessible, but that is not clear at this stage. 'It is important to remind visitors that each of us have a personal responsibility to abide by rights of way and respect that the countryside is a full time place of work for many. Stuart Roberts, deputy president of of the National Farmers' Union, also said the refresh was needed to address issues over visitors 'ensuring dogs are under control and dog waste is binned'. He said: 'Its important to ensure everyone who visits the countryside is provided with greater awareness of the need to keep safe and responsible as well as the role farming plays in shaping our much-loved working farmed landscapes. 'The NFU has been working closely with Defra and Natural England on a refresh of the guidance for farmers and land managers to bring the Code up to date and help address an increase in access-related issues such as keeping to public rights of way, ensuring dogs are under control and dog waste is binned. 'The new guidance will help to ensure that the modern-day rights of way network benefits both farmers and the public.' It comes as one landowner was hauled before a court last week after using razor wire and chains to stop walkers using a public footpath near her home. Frances Payne, 56, became embroiled in the bizarre row with ramblers whom she accused of causing 'constant' problems such as taking drugs, assaults, thefts and vandalism on a beauty spot in Evesham, Worcestershire. Under the new guidance, landowners have now been given recommendations on making rights of way more accessible for ramblers, including adding self-closing gates instead of stiles. Marian Spain, chief executive of Natural England, said: 'This refreshed advice for land managers has never been more important in helping to ensure we work together to protect our outdoor spaces. 'I urge all land managers to follow this new advice and continue to help make nature accessible to everyone.' Uber will scale back hiring and reduce expenditure on its marketing and incentive activities after the company posted a $5.9 billion loss for the first quarter of 2022, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said in an email to staff. The ride-hailing company becomes the latest to rein in costs to have a lean investment model, after Facebook-owner Meta Platforms Inc said last week it would slow down the growth of its workforce. Khosrowshahi said Uber's change in strategy was a necessary response to the 'seismic shift' in investor sentiment, according to an email obtained by CNBC. 'After earnings, I spent several days meeting investors in New York and Boston,' Khosrowshahi said. 'It's clear that the market is experiencing a seismic shift and we need to react accordingly.' 'The least efficient marketing and incentive spend will be pulled back. We will treat hiring as a privilege and be deliberate about when and where we add headcount,' Khosrowshahi added. Uber will scale back hiring and reduce expenditure on its marketing and incentive activities after the company posted a $5.9 billion loss for the first quarter of 2022, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi (pictured) said in an email to staff Uber shares sank by around six per cent on Monday, with the stock price down by more than 40 per cent year-to-date. The company's revenues more than doubled to $6.9 billion in the first quarter of this year, but Uber also posted a $5.9 billion loss due to a slump in its equity investments. Uber said last week its driver base is at a post-pandemic high, and the company expects this to continue without significant incentive investments, a sharp contrast to rival Lyft Inc which has said it needs to spend more for labor. The company will now focus on achieving profitability on a free cash flow basis, rather than adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, according to the CNBC report. The ride hailing giant expects to generate 'meaningful positive cash flows' for the full year, according to its latest earnings report. Khosrowshahi added in his letter that Uber's food delivery and freight businesses need to grow faster, the CNBC report added. Uber shares sank by around six per cent on Monday, with the stock price down by more than 40 per cent year-to-date Uber did not immediately respond to a Reuters' request for comment. Meanwhile, Meta said last week it would slow down the growth of its workforce as the Facebook parent company looks to reign in costs. 'We regularly re-evaluate our talent pipeline according to our business needs and in light of the expense guidance given for this earnings period, we are slowing its growth accordingly,' a Meta spokesperson said in an e-mailed statement. Business Insider, citing an internal note to employees, reported that the company was lowering hiring targets and had temporarily stopped hiring for the remainder of the year. Meta Platforms last week recorded its slowest revenue growth in a decade, with Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg also saying the company would scale back costs. A Woori Bank employee who was arrested last month on charges of embezzling 61.4 billion won ($48.2 million) was found to have lost more than half of the stolen money through investments in high-risk stock derivative products, police said Monday. The employee, identified only by his family name Jeon, was arrested April 30 on charges of embezzling the huge amount from the nation's fourth-largest commercial bank between October 2012 and June 2018. His younger brother, who is not a bank employee, and a former employee of a Woori Bank affiliate have also been arrested as co-conspirators. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the bank employee lost 31.8 billion won after investing it in futures option products. "It has been confirmed that some of the embezzled money was remitted overseas. An investigation is also ongoing into the suspicion that part of the stolen money was used to buy real estate owned by Jeon or his family," said a police official. "Five investigators are tracking down the lost money, but it will take some time, as the embezzlement was committed a long time ago and the suspects have changed their statements frequently," said the official, vowing to recover as much of the stolen money as possible. The official added some of the embezzled money was also transferred to the account of the former Woori Bank affiliate employee. (Yonhap) Britain has hit Russia with a third wave of trade sanctions and targeted precious metal imports in the latest action against Vladimir Putin's regime. With Russia's barbaric invasion of Ukraine in its third month, the UK slapped a new package of sanctions on Russia - along with Mocsow's ally Belarus - aimed at 1.7billion worth of trade. The action by ministers attempts to further cripple Mr Putin's war machine. New measures against imports from Russia - adding an additional 35 percentage point tariff - will cover 1.4billion worth of goods, including platinum and palladium. Russia is one of the leading platinum and palladium producing countries and is highly dependent on the UK for exports of the precious metals. In addition, export bans on key materials such as chemicals, plastics, rubber and machinery will hit more than 250million worth of goods. It is hoped these will harm sectors of the Russian economy most dependent on UK goods. The action by ministers attempts to further cripple Vladimir Putin's war machine as he continues his barbaric assault on Ukraine A Soviet era T-34 tank parades through Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow today Russia is one of the leading platinum producing countries and is highly dependent on the UK for exports of the precious metals International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: 'We are determined to do our utmost to thwart Putins aims in Ukraine and undermine his illegal invasion, which has seen barbaric acts perpetrated against the Ukrainian people. 'This far-reaching package of sanctions will inflict further damage on the Russian war machine. 'It is part of a wider coordinated effort by the many countries around the world who are horrified by Russias conduct and determined to bring to bear our economic might to persuade Putin to change course.' The value of products subjected to full or partial import and export sanctions since Mr Putin's waging of war against Ukraine is now more than 4billion. The proportion of goods imports from Russia that have now been hit by restrictions is now more than 96 per cent. More than 60 per cent of goods exports to Russia are also under whole or partial restrictions. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: 'Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine is causing suffering on an enormous scale. His barbaric war must be stopped. 'Over 4 billion worth of goods will now be subject to import and export sanctions, doing significant damage to Putins war effort. 'Working closely with our allies we can and will thwart Putins ambitions.' Last week, Britain cut off Russia's access to UK accountancy firms amid a ban on services exports. It means Russian businesses can no longer benefit from Britain's accountancy, management consultancy, or PR services. These are estimated to account for 10 per cent of Russian imports in these sectors. The number of UK sanctions against individuals and organisations also went above 1,600 as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss unveiled a slew of new asset freezes and travel bans. Many of the 63 new sanctions put in place last week were targeted at Russian media organisations linked to Mr Putin's disinformation campaign. Vladimir Putin has lost his 40th colonel in Ukraine, it was confirmed today as he marked Victory Day in Moscow. Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Blinov, 42, was killed in March but news of his death was strenuously denied by Russian officials. His death has been confirmed by a picture on his grave in Volgograd, south-western Russia. Blinov's killing is a new milestone in Russia's faltering invasion, with nine of Putin's generals also known to have died since the war in Ukraine began on February 24. The death of Lt Col Alexander Blinov, 42, is the latest milestone in Putin's faltering invasion News of Blinov's death broke as Putin addressed the Victory Day army parade in Red Square Blinov was a married father of three. A family friend said: 'For us it is just a shock.' He served in a motorised rifle unit. Yesterday news emerged of Putin's 39th killed colonel Fezul Bichikaev, 36. The Lieutenant Colonel was a high-flying elite soldier reportedly killed on a secret intelligence mission. Tanks were the main event at the Red Square parade this morning after the air show was called off, reportedly due to bad weather. Putin's fearsome 'Doomsday' plane was scheduled to fly A Soviet Union-era T-34 tank used in World War Two was part of the 77th anniversary festivities The father-of-three was portrayed as a hero who was killed near Kharkiv 'with a machine gun in his hands covering his subordinates', according to reports in Russia. Lt-Col Fezul Bichikaev, 36, died in Ukraine on May 2, 2022, becoming the 39th Russian colonel to die in Ukraine 'Thanks to the self-sacrifice and heroism of the officer, it was possible to save the lives of servicemen, destroy the enemy's sabotage group, and complete the combat mission,' said military expert Oleg Marzoev on a local news website in Vladikavkaz, North Ossetia. The actual toll of dead Russian high ranking officers be higher since the defence ministry has acknowledged few deaths. The US said it has assisted Ukraine with intelligence used to target Putin's top brass. Bichikaev was one of Russia's youngest colonels, second in command of his regiment, and his death amounted to 'a heavy, irreparable loss', said the report. Bichikaev's death came a day after the disclosure of the death of Lt-Col Fyodor Solovyov, 44, in the Donbas. Solovyov was commander of the howitzer self-propelled artillery regiment of the 127th motorised rifle division in Putin's army. Putin (right) deliberates with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu (left) as he leaves the parade He was buried with full military honours and a triple volley of guns in Chunaki village, Penza region. Four days earlier Lt-Col Eduard Dmitriev, 44, a tank commander, was reported to have been killed. Nine generals and 40 colonels have been killed since 24 February in Putin's war according to known statistics, although Russia has not come clean on total fatalities. Despite setbacks, Putin pressed ahead with his annual May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow, commemorating the end of World War Two. In an uncharacteristically subdued speech, Putin repeated his claim Ukraine is riddled with Nazis. The hotly awaited air parade was called off, reportedly due to bad weather. Lt-Col Eduard Dmitriev, 44, (left) died in Vladimir Putin's 'special military operation' in Ukraine on April 24, 2022. Lieutenant colonel Fyodor Solovyov (right) died in Donbas, he was buried in Penza region. He was the 38th Russian Colonel to die in Ukraine since February 24 Solovyov was buried with full military honours. He was commander of the howitzer self-propelled artillery regiment of the 127 motorised rifle division Holiday-goers and locals in Thessaloniki spotted what appeared to be ships floating in the air on a sunny day. The large vessels seemed to drift lazily across the air above the waterline, violating the laws of physics. But keen observers may notice that the strange sight is in fact a trick of the light, played on the viewer by the inversion of warm and cool air. A Fata Morgana is a form of mirage caused when rays of light bend as they pass through air layers of different temperatures. It can be seen on land or at sea, in polar regions, or in deserts. Ships are pictured 'hovering' above the water in Thessaloniki, northern Greece The large vessels seem to violate the laws of physics as they drift across the air But the strange sight is in fact a type of mirage known as a Fata Morgana, thought to be the source of the legend of the Flying Dutchman The mirage can be responsible for many unusual sightings, occurring on land, in polar regions, or in deserts The phenomenon has occurred in a few parts of Greece, such as the western side of Samothrace. The mirage is thought to be the source of the legend of the Flying Dutchman, according to Jonathan Eyers' 2011 book Don't Shoot the Albatross!: Nautical Myths and Superstitions. The mirage is not limited to the sea, and can be responsible for many unusual sightings, including mountains that appear to be hovering. Frata Morgana is the Italian name for Morgan le Fay, the Arthurian sorceress believed to use withcraft to conjure up fairy castles used to lure sailors to their deaths. Multiple 'floating ships' have been photographed and videoed over the years, with boats appearing to hover off the coat of Britain in Cornwall, Devon and Aberdeenshire in once incident. In another sighting, four ships appeared to hover above the sea off the coast of Cyprus, forming a line just east of the southern city of Limassol. The Anthem of the Seas cruise ship, an 168,000-tonne Royal Caribbean liner, looked like it was hovering above the water In March, a series of boats were spotted 'floating in mid-air' off the coast of Britain in Cornwall, Devon and Aberdeenshire as a result of the phenomenon. Pictured a 'floating' ship in Banff, Aberdeenshire Morrisons today won a battle to take over collapsed convenience store chain McColl's in a move that will secure the future of 16,000 jobs and 1,100 shops. The supermarket giant has fended off competition from the billionaire Issa brothers, who also own Asda, with an offer that is expected to see McColl's stores and workforce preserved in their entirety. It comes as the two suitors lodged last-minute bids last night to take control of the collapsed corner shop chain, which is one of Britain's largest. The supermarket giant has fended off competition from the petrol station operator with an offer that is expected to see McColl's stores and workforce preserved in their entirety Morrisons and the Issa brothers' EG Group have been battling for the firm in a takeover tussle that could send shockwaves through the sector. McColl's lenders had rejected an initial offer from Morrisons on Friday that would have seen it take on the firm's debts and repay them over time. The bid from Morrisons the sole supplier to McColl's would have protected the 'vast majority' of staff and stores as well as its 141million pension plan. But Morrisons returned yesterday with an improved deal that would see the lenders repaid in full immediately, satisfying one of their key demands, although the details are unclear. Now Morrisons seems to have won the race, according to Sky News, with the deal set to be structured as a pre-pack administration, meaning Morrisons will buy McColl's immediately after it enters insolvency proceedings overseen by PwC. Morrisons, which is now owned by US private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice - has been contacted for comment. Petrol station giant EG Group is thought to have followed that up with its own last-ditch bid including a commitment to honour McColl's pensions, according to sources. EG Group also declined to comment. Zuber and Mohsin Issa, self-made billionaires who run a sprawling retail empire that includes Asda McColl's went into administration last week after it was unable to repay debts of nearly 100million. It sounded the alarm in November over shortages of key products, lorry drivers and distribution centre workers. The firm also issued a series of profit warnings and it emerged in February that it was on the brink of collapse. The decision to place the group into administration, a key condition of the offer from EG Group, was condemned by Morrisons as 'disappointing, damaging and unnecessary'. Morrisons is now owned by US private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Trustees of the company's pension scheme wrote to the Issa brothers demanding EG Group support its pension commitments, telling them: 'Any company looking to acquire McColl's must do the decent thing and ensure that promises made to staff about their pensions are honoured.' The trustees also wrote to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng urging him to intervene to ensure the scheme's 2,200 members are protected. Labour work and pensions spokesman Jonathan Ashworth urged ministers not to 'stand by and do nothing', but to protect the pensions. The Chinese army sent aircraft into Taiwan's air defence zone over the weekend to 'test and improve their combat capability', Beijing said. Taiwan had scrambled aircraft and readied missile defences when 18 Chinese jets violated its air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Friday. The People's Liberation Army manoeuvres were repeated on Saturday and Sunday. A Chinese Y-20 military transport aircraft performs during an airshow in southern China Beijing's Eastern Theatre Command said in a statement that naval and air force assets carried out the drills to 'further test and improve the joint combat capability of multiple services and arms'. Although Taiwan responded proactively on Friday, it did not scramble defence systems during Chinese military manoeuvres on Saturday or Sunday. Living in constant fear of a Chinese invasion, the self-ruled island 100 miles off the mainland raised its alert after Russia entered Ukraine in late February. Pictured: a Chinese jet takes off from the Liaoning aircraft carrier in the Yellow Sea near Korea It suspects a copycat invasion by Beijing, which has not condemned Putin's actions. Taiwan has complained for the past two years about Chinese military activity around the southern and south-western part of its air defence identification zone (ADIZ). Taiwan's Defence Ministry said China deployed bombers, fighters and anti-submarine aircraft. No shots were fired and the Chinese aircraft had not been flying in Taiwan's air space. Its ADIZ is a broader area monitored and patrolled by Taiwan in the hope it will provide more time to respond to military threats. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told parliament this morning China continues to pose a threat. Taiwan's foreign ministry released a map showing where Chinese aircraft travelled on Friday 'But we have the determination to defend our country,' he added. Japan reported last week that eight Chinese naval vessels including an aircraft carrier passed between its islands in the Okinawa chain near Taiwan. Taiwan also carried out pre-announced missile and other drills off its southern and southeastern coasts last week. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. The contested Taiwan Strait remains a potential military flashpoint. Taiwan's government rejects China's sovereignty claims and says only the island's 23million people can decide their future. The pair are not related but are thought to be 'lovers' according to police The escaped murderer and former prison guard, Vicky White, are still on the run White was charged with a host of violent crimes and other serious felonies Bryant claimed his client wanted to die when he was arrested back in 2015 ale Bryant was the defense attorney for White when he was sentenced in 2019 An attorney who used to represent escaped murderer Casey White has declared the former inmate may attempt 'suicide by cop'. Dale Bryant was the defense attorney for White when he was sentenced in 2019 on counts of attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, burglary and other felonies dating back to 2015. Bryant claimed his client wanted to die when he was arrested back in 2015 and suggested White could likely shoot at police officers to elicit a deadly response. 'Casey wanted to die... He was trying to get the officers to shoot him and that is kind of my fear, how this situation is going to end,' Bryant told WAFF last week. 'I'm afraid that Casey may try to shoot them [police officers] to try and get them to shoot him. I want to say in his interview after his arrest and in my conversations with him, he wanted to die that day.' Confessed murderer White, 38, broke out of Lauderdale County Detention Center in Alabama on April 29, aided by 57-year-old prison guard Vicky White. The pair - who are unrelated but are said to be lovers - are still on the run from authorities 10 days after they were supposed to arrive at an Alabama courthouse for a 'mental health evaluation'. Dale Bryant was the defense attorney for White when he was sentenced in 2019 on counts of attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, burglary and other felonies dating back to 2015. Bryant claimed his client wanted to die when he was arrested in 2015 and suggested White could likely shoot at police officers to elicit a deadly response Confessed murderer White, 38 (left) broke out of Lauderdale County Detention Center in Alabama on April 29, aided by 57-year-old prison guard Vicky White (right) Former correctional officer Vicky White (pictured) was seen checking out of the Quality Inn in Florence, Alabama, the morning she was seen helping her convict 'lover' escape jail Bryant went on to declare that the escaped murderer is actually a 'decent person' when on appropriate medication, but warned that he 'can't function in the real world' and is prone to self-medication with dangerous substances. 'Casey suffers from a mental illness... When he's on medication and in a supervised environment... he's a decent person. When he gets out of incarceration, he self medicates by smoking methamphetamine or taking other illegal substances,' Bryant said. Bryant's comments came as a woman living in Tennessee discovered that Casey and Vicky White's getaway car had been abandoned outside her home. 'It's eerie that they were here,' College Grove resident Jackie Adams told DailyMail.com Saturday after coming across the suspicious vehicle on the evening of April 29, roughly 100 miles from the jail the pair had fled earlier that day. Adams, 41 who drives a school-bus in the rural town, said she was coming home from one of her other jobs when she saw the then-unidentified SUV with tinted windows and no tags, which belongs to former corrections officer White. 'I went ahead and called the sheriff's office to have it towed. We know all of our neighbors and I immediately knew it wasn't anybody's car.' The car - which contained contained White's jail radio, handcuffs and keys - was towed later that day, with sheriffs seemingly unaware of the vehicle's connection to then burgeoning manhunt. The car sat in a Tennessee tow lot for an entire week, but cops on Friday realized the impounded vehicle belonged to Vicky White, spurring a force of US Marshals, Williamson County Sheriff's Officers and SWAT members to circle back to Adams' property Friday morning - a week after she had reported the vehicle. 'It was pretty intense yesterday,' the school bus driver recalled Saturday to DailyMail.com. She said officers searched her property, the properties around her home, and nearby woods relentlessly into the night, for any clues as to the location of the pair - whom police believe are romantically involved. Speaking to DailyMail.com just hours after drones and helicopters descended on the home - where they remained for hours and into the evening, according to Adams - the homeowner said she hopes the duo are long gone. 'I would hope that the people arent here but I hope that they find them soon so that people around here can sleep peacefully,' Adams said, adding that the car turning up in the usually quiet neighborhood left her and others feeling on edge. 'We know everybody on our road and we watch out for each other.' She added 'We have children and we like to trust that our kids are safe in their yards but now we can't trust that.' Jackie Adams - who discovered the abandoned getaway car of fugitive prison guard Vicky White and convicted killer Casey White last Friday - says she felt unease after finding the vehicle outside her Tennessee home, just hours after the duo had escaped an Alabama prison White, who was an assistant director of corrections at Lauderdale County, used a police vehicle to ferry Casey out of the maximum-security facility, under the guise that she was taking the con to a scheduled mental health evaluation. The pair then switched to Vicky's orange Ford Edge (pictured), which was found in Tennessee Adams was coming home from one of her other jobs when she saw the then unidentified SUV parked outside the house. The car - which contained Whites' jail radio, handcuffs and keys - had no tags, so cops had it towed, not knowing it belonged to the at-large corrections officer The Marshals have released various photos of the couple, showing off Casey's tattoos - many which have references to white supremacy - and what they would look with different hairstyles Cops say Vicky White, a 57-year-old prison guard at Lauderdale County Jail in Alabama with a spotless record, helped confessed murderer Casey White - no relation - escaped custody the morning of April 29, the day she was scheduled to retire. White, who was an assistant director of corrections at Lauderdale County, used a police vehicle to ferry Casey out of the maximum-security facility, under the guise that she was taking the con to a scheduled mental health evaluation. The pair then switched to Vicky's orange Ford Edge - the car Adams would discover on her property hours later. Rick Singleton, the sheriff of Lauderdale County, said at a press briefing Friday that the couple's escape vehicle was abandoned roughly two hours away from the jail. 'I think this was a very well thought out plan,' said Singleton. 'We're sort of at a loss.' Singleton noted that Vicky was divorced but continued living with her ex-husband, who died of Parkinson's disease earlier this year. He wonders if grief at the loss of her former partner may have triggered her recent actions. New video released Wednesday shows Vicky and Casey driving to the Florence Square shopping center on Friday where they abandoned the sheriff's car used during the escape The sheriff of Williamson County, where the SUV was discovered, said in a tweet earlier Friday that 'there is NO sign the two are still in our area.' Investigators have also learned that White had sold her home in the weeks before the escape, and had withdrawn about $90,000 in cash from several banks in the area, Singleton said. He also noted that Vicky White had used an alias to purchase the SUV, and was likely to try to do that again. The US Marshals Service, a federal agency specialized in fugitive manhunts, also said in a report Friday that Vicky White might have darkened her hair. The agency released composite images of what she would look like, as well as photos of Casey White's tattoos -- including one associated with a white supremacist prison gang. Their report also noted the couple's stark difference in size, with Casey White, age 38, standing a full foot taller than the 57-year-old former corrections officer. The reward for information leading to the couple's arrest has been increased to $25,000, Singleton said. Gloating Russians have taunted Ukraine by holding Victory Day parades in Mariupol and other occupied cities in a display of blind patriotism despite the stalling invasion. In the port city brought to ruin by persistent Russian shelling and blockades, Kremlin puppet Denis Pushilin marched through the streets waving the traditional orange and black ribbon of Saint George associated with the military celebrations. The leader of the Donetsk People's Republic wore a Z symbol on his chest as he chanted with fellow senior pro-Russian officials and even lit a torch at Mariupol's memorial for the victims of fascism in a display of breathtaking arrogance. Similar Victory Day rallies were held in other cities including Melitopol, Energodar, Kherson and Staroblesk to rub Ukrainians' noses in the Russian invasion. The celebrations are held in commemoration of the Soviet Union's defeat over Nazi Germany in 1945, but is now coinciding with Russia's atrocities against civilians in Ukraine. Participants hold a giant St. George's Ribbon during a ceremony in Mariupol, marking the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany Kremlin puppet Denis Pushilin marches through Mariupol parading the traditional ribbon of St George today In Melitopol (pictured), pro-Russian supporters waved Soviet and Russian flags for the military parade Service members of pro-Russian troops stand guard during today's ceremony in Mariupol In Berdyansk, Zaporozhye region, a huge Russian flag was paraded through the streets today An elderly woman holding balloons and flowers becomes emotional during the celebrations in Mariupol Soldiers and separatists marched through the Russian-controlled streets waving flags and chanting in support of Putin and the motherland. The anniversary marks the Soviet Union's WWII victory but is now used to display Russia's latest weaponry in a show of strength to the West. The Kremlin has made unproven claims it is carrying out a 'deNazification' mission in Ukraine which is overrun with far-right nationalists. Yet throughout the barbaric invasion, Putin's forces have shelled hospitals and schools, destroyed Holocaust memorial sites, butchered and raped civilians, and even set up 'filtration camps' which have chilling echoes to Nazi concentration camps. The celebrations are held in commemoration of the Soviet Union's defeat over Nazi Germany in 1945 In Energodar, in the north-western part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, hundreds took to the streets for the anniversary parade In Nova Kakhovka, a city in the Kherson oblast of Ukraine, Russians chanted as they marched to commemorate the defeat of the Nazis in 1945 Children joined in on the Victory Day marches in Ukraine, where Russia is accused of carrying out war crimes Soldiers and separatists marched through the Russian-controlled streets waving flags and chanting in support of Putin and the motherland Just this weekend, up to 60 sheltering civilians were feared killed after Russian airstrikes on a school in Luhansk. But two days after the alleged war crimes, one of many believed to have been carried out by Russia, its forces are celebrating the historic defeat of Nazism The parades mirror celebrations back home where Putin gave a chest-beating speech to his troops in Moscow - telling soldiers that they are now fighting for the security of the nation against what he called Western plans to invade. Many Western analysts had believed Putin wanted to declare victory over Ukraine by Victory Day before forces stalled in the face of defiant Ukrainians. Seeking to re-frame his war in Ukraine as a war between Russia and the West, he declared NATO to be the aggressor and said he is trying to deescalate the situation with a 'special military operation' against a 'neo-Nazi' regime in Kyiv, declaring that launching the attack was 'the only right decision' he could have taken. He also sought to twist the truth of what is happening on the ground in Ukraine, hailing a day of 'great victory' despite Russia's battlefield defeats and telling his men they are fighting a just war. 'Everything indicated that a clash with the neo-Nazis, the Banderites [Ukrainian Nazi sympathisers], backed by the United States and their junior partners, was inevitable,' he said. 'We saw military infrastructure being ramped up, hundreds of military advisers working and regular deliveries of modern weapons from NATO. (The level of) danger was increasing every day. Russia preventively rebuffed the aggressor. It was necessary, timely and ... right. The decision of a sovereign, strong, independent country.' Vladimir Putin congratulated his troops on a 'day of great victory' as he addressed a Victory Day parade in Moscow today, twisting the truth of what is happening on the ground in Ukraine Thousands of Russian troops formed up in the Red Square as Russia marked the day Nazi Germany surrendered in 1945, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe Putin used his speech to re-frame the war in Ukraine as a war against Western aggression and told his troops they are fighting for the security of Russia against what he claimed were plans to invade Russian troops in Donbas are fighting on 'their land', he claimed, peddling his warped world view in which Ukraine is not a real country and Ukrainians are simply Russians waiting to be reintegrated into the motherland. But he stopped short of what many had feared: An official declaration of war on Kyiv which would have allowed him to mobilise Russia's military reserves and conscript civilians in order to escalate fighting across the border. The parade was much slimmed-down from previous years, with an aerial display that was due to feature his 'Doomsday jet' - allowing him to continue ruling Russia in the event of a nuclear blast - was axed at the last minute due to 'bad weather', though rumours and light cloud in Moscow suggested it could be due to fears of sabotage. The vehicle parade was also downsized from previous years, featuring almost a third fewer than in 2020 because Russia has committed - and lost - so many of its ground forces in Ukraine. None-the-less, it still featured dozens of Russian tank, armoured vehicles, and nuclear missiles launchers that paraded alongside thousands of goose-stepping troops before Putin walked to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to lay a wreath as the national anthem played. A Soviet-era motorbike driven by soldiers dressed in Second World War uniforms and emblazoned on the side with the Ukraine 'Z' war symbol takes part in a parade in Vladivostok earlier in the day A Russian intercontinental ballistic missile - though to be the RS-24 Yars capable of carrying up to 10 warheads - drives through the Red Square during Victory Day celebrations Russian T-72B3M tanks take part in a downsized military parade through Moscow's Red Square as part of Victory Day events in Moscow, commemorating Soviet victory over Nazi Germany A T-34 tank - the main battle tank of the Soviet military during the Second World War - flies a Soviet banner as it processes through the Red Square during Victory Day events in Moscow It came hours after a similar parade took place in Russia's far-eastern outpost of Vladivostok, where a Soviet-era motorbike emblazoned with the 'Z' symbol that has become synonymous with the Ukraine war took pride of place among tanks streaming Soviet banners. But even as Putin declared victory in Moscow, fighting was still raging between Russian forces and Ukrainian holding out in the Donbas region - with a fresh artillery barrage striking the city of Mariupol, where an unknown number of Kyiv's troops are making a last stand inside a steel mill. The mill is the only part of the city not overtaken by the invaders. Its defeat would deprive Ukraine of a vital port and allow Russia to establish a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014. The Ukrainian military's General Staff warned of a high probability of missile strikes and said that Russian troops were seizing 'personal documents from the local population without good reason' in Russian-controlled areas of Zaporizhzhia - the city where many fleeing Mariupol have gathered. The military alleged Russian troops were seizing documents to force residents to join in Victory Day commemorations. Advertisement Vladimir Putin appeared to walk with a limp and sat with a blanket over his lap during Victory Day commemorations in Moscow today, raising fresh doubts over his health. The Russian leader, 69, attended the event - which commemorates Nazi Germany's surrender in 1945 - to give a speech during which he projected an image of Russian strength and military might despite the faltering war in Ukraine. But at several points - including as he left a speaking podium and went to the Tomb of the Unknown Solider to lay a wreath - Putin appeared to be walking with a heavy step, as if trying to disguise a limp. And, during the parade itself, he was seen sitting with a heavy blanket across his knees despite geriatric war veterans being sat around him with their laps uncovered. On their own either incident would be easy enough to dismiss - but taken together they will do little to dispel persistent rumours that Putin is suffering health issues. Vladimir Putin (centre) watched part of Monday's Victory Day parade in Moscow with a blanket draped over his lap, while geriatric war veterans sat around him uncovered The 69-year-old appeared to be walking with a limp as he descended from a podium and walked to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Putin's face appeared puffy, in an appearance that will do little to dispel rumours that he is suffering from poor health During his appearance in front of the nation today, Putin clutched a portrait of his father Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin, but appeared to look unwell He watched on the Victory Day military parade in Moscow's Red Square where he appeared bloated and ill at ease The strongman has been battling rumours he is suffering from cancer or Parkinson's and has disappeared from the public eye on occasion What's wrong with Putin? Rumours have been circling for years that Putin is suffering from health problems, and they have intensified since he launched his brutal invasion of Ukraine. Critics and Kremlin sources have indicated he may be suffering from cancer of Parkinson's, supported by footage showing the leader shaking uncontrollably and gripping a table for support. He has also disappeared from the public eye for weeks at a time, with suggestions he is undergoing surgery. Valery Solovey, professor at Moscow State Institute of Foreign Affairs first hinted at Putin's health problems, said in 2020 that Putin had undergone surgery for cancer. Another unnamed source suggested the operation was on Putin's abdomen. He said: 'One is of a psycho-neurological nature, the other is a cancer problem. 'If anyone is interested in the exact diagnosis, I'm not a doctor, and I have no ethical right to reveal these problems. 'The second diagnosis is a lot, lot more dangerous than the first named diagnosis as Parkinson's does not threaten physical state, but just limits public appearances. 'Based on this information people will be able to make a conclusion about his life horizon, which wouldn't even require specialist medical education.' The Kremlin has consistently denied that there is anything wrong with Putin's health. Others have previously noted his 'gunslinger's gait' a clearly reduced right arm swing compared to his left, giving him a lilting swagger. An asymmetrically reduced arm swing is a classic feature of Parkinson's and can manifest in 'clinically intact subjects with a predisposition to later develop' the disease, according to the British Medical Journal. In February, Putin was seen with a shaking hand as he firmly gripped the side of his chair for support. The clip, which was taken on February 18, just before the onset of his invasion of Ukraine, shows him welcoming fellow strongman Alexander Lukashenko at the Kremlin. He pulls his trembling hand into his body in an attempt to quell the shakes, but then he almost stumbles as he unsteadily walks towards Lukashenko. Later, Putin sits on a chair but is unable to remain still, constantly fidgeting and tapping his feet while he grips onto the arm for support. In a meeting last month with defence minister Sergei Shoigu, Putin's poor posture and his apparently bloated face and neck fuelled the speculation. Video showed Putin speaking to Shoigu whilst gripping the edge of the table with his right hand - so hard that it appears white - and tapping his foot consistently. Advertisement Two years before he decided to invade Ukraine, rumours began swirling about Putin's health including suggestions he had undergone cancer surgery. Valery Solovei, a political analyst and prominent Putin critic, began spreading the rumour in late 2020 while also suggesting he was suffering from Parkinson's. The rumours gained such traction that the Kremlin was forced to go on record and deny them, with Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov insisting his boss was in 'excellent health' and any rumour to the contrary was 'complete nonsense'. But the whispering has steadfastly refused to die out and has intensified since the war in Ukraine began, with critics suggesting that Putin looks unwell in TV appearances and is noticeably puffy around his face. Leaked footage of a meeting with Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko in the early stages of the war also appeared to show pronounced arm and leg tremours. Shaking is one of the main symptoms of Parkinson's - a condition that Hitler is thought to have suffered from towards the end of the Second World War. As Putin sat down with Lukashenko he was seen gripping the arm of his chair - perhaps in an attempt to head off any more shaking. He then pulled a similar pose - this time gripping the edge of a table - while meeting defence minister Sergei Shoigu a few weeks later. Then came an Easter Sunday mass during which the Russian leader made unusual fidgeting motions with his lips while listening to the service. He could be seen making the same lip motions following Monday's Victory Day parade, as he walked with Shoigu to lay a wreath. During his speech, Putin blamed Moscow's invasion of Ukraine on western policies and said it was necessary to ward off potential aggression. Speaking at a military parade in Red Square to mark the Second World War victory over Nazi Germany, Mr Putin drew parallels between the Red Army's fighting against the Nazi troops and the Russian forces' action in Ukraine. While lambasting the West, Mr Putin gave no indication of a shift in strategies or made any indication he is going to declare a broad mobilisation, as some in Ukraine and the West fear. Addressing the phalanxes of elite Russian troops filling Red Square, Mr Putin said the campaign in Ukraine was needed to avert 'a threat that was absolutely unacceptable to us (that) has been methodically created next to our borders'. 'The danger was rising by the day,' he claimed, adding 'Russia has given a pre-emptive response to an aggression' in a 'forced, timely and the only correct decision by a sovereign, powerful and independent country'. The Russian leader has repeatedly accused Ukraine of harbouring aggressive intentions with support from the US and its allies - claims Ukrainian and western officials have denied. In his speech at the parade, Mr Putin again scolded the West for failing to heed Russian demands for security guarantees and a roll-back to Nato's expansion, arguing it left Moscow no other choice but to attack Ukraine. The Russian leader said Russian troops in Ukraine are fighting for the country's security and called a minute of silence to honour the soldiers killed combat. Mr Putin said some of the troops taking part in the parade have previously fought in Ukraine. Monday's Victory Parade was designed to project an image of Russian strength, despite the war in Ukraine grinding towards a stalemate A Russian intercontinental ballistic missile - designed to carry nukes - drives through the Red Square as part of the Victory Day parade Putin used a speech to say the West had been planning to invade Russian territory and that going to war in Ukraine was the only option Thousands of Russian troops formed up in the Red Square as Russia marked the day Nazi Germany surrendered in 1945, marking the end of the Second World War in Europe Putin used his speech to re-frame the war in Ukraine as a war against Western aggression and told his troops they are fighting for the security of Russia against what he claimed were plans to invade A T-34 tank - the main battle tank of the Soviet military during the Second World War - flies a Soviet banner as it processes through the Red Square during Victory Day events in Moscow A Soviet-era motorbike driven by soldiers dressed in Second World War uniforms and emblazoned on the side with the Ukraine 'Z' war symbol takes part in a parade in Vladivostok earlier in the day Putin gripped the armrest of his chair during a meeting with Alexander Lukashenko earlier this year, after footage showed his arm shaking Putin also gripped the edge of a table during a recent meeting with his defence chief, perhaps covering up the signs of a tremour During an Easter Sunday mass, Putin fidgeted with his lips - and pulled a similar expression during Monday's Victory Day parade He said the troops in Ukraine have been 'fighting for the Motherland so that no one will forget the lessons of World War Two and there will be no place in the world for hangmen, executioners and the Nazis'. The Victory Day that Russia marks on May 9 is the country's most important holiday, celebrated with military parades and fireworks across the county. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in the Second World War, which it calls the Great Patriotic War. The conflict, which devastated the country and caused enormous suffering, has left a deep scar in the national psyche. Some in Ukraine and the West expected Mr Putin to use his speech at the parade to switch from calling the attack on Ukraine a 'special military operation' to acknowledging it as a war. Mr Putin did not make any such shift in rhetoric or give any indication that the Kremlin may change its strategy and declare a broad mobilisation to beef up its ranks. The Kremlin has focussed on Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland known as the Donbas, where Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since 2014. That conflict erupted weeks after Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The Russian military has re-armed and re-supplied its forces withdrawn from areas near Kyiv and other regions in Ukraine's north-east and moved them to Donbas in an apparent attempt to encircle and destroy the most capable and seasoned Ukrainian troops concentrated there. Russia celebrated Victory Day beyond its borders today, but celebrations in Poland did not go according to plan. The Russian ambassador, Sergei Andreev, was doused in red paint and branded a 'fascist' by activists while laying flowers at a war memorial in Warsaw. Sergei Andreev, Russia's ambassador to Poland, was doused in red paint by pro-Ukraine demonstrators as he tried to lay wreaths at the main memorial to Soviet soldiers who died in the Second World War in Warsaw, Poland Andreev arrived at the memorial with his security detail to lay a wreath on Victory Day - which marks the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945 - when they were pelted with paint (pictured, a bodyguard is doused in paint) Andreev's embassy had warned just two days ago that the wreath-laying would not go ahead due to safety concerns and did not make it clear why the decision was changed - though the incident was immediately picked up by pro-Kremlin media Andreev wipes red paint out of his eyes after being covered in it by pro-Ukraine protesters surrounding the Soviet war memorial in Warsaw, Poland, during Victory Day commemorations Andreev and his entourage (pictured behind) were doused while trying to reach the memorial as part of a wreath-laying event on Victory Day, marking the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945 He was blocked from entering the cemetery by a crowd that waved Ukrainian flags in his face and chanted 'fascist' before people began throwing things at him. Andreev and his security detail were hit multiple times with projectiles before one demonstrator threw a bag of red paint into his face. The delegation where prevented from reaching the war memorial at the centre of the cemetery or laying the wreaths they had brought with them. Instead, police had to be called to escort them away. Andreev said later that he had not been injured during the fracas. Poland - which has a long and bloody history with Soviet Russia - has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since the early days of the war and has been on the receiving end of threats by Kremlin propagandists as a result. Despite the threats, the Polish government has continued to supply weapons to Ukraine including sending more than 200 T-72 tanks to bolster its armed forces. Russian state media was quick to seize on the incident in Warsaw as evidence of what it claims is growing anti-Russian sentiment in the West, motivated by what the Kremlin insists is Nazism. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Moscow's foreign ministry, posted about the incident on her Telegram channel - saying that 'fans of neo-Nazism have once again bared their faces, and it is bloody.' Participants hold a giant St. George's Ribbon during a ceremony in Mariupol, marking the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany Kremlin puppet Denis Pushilin marches through Mariupol parading the traditional ribbon of St George today In Melitopol (pictured), pro-Russian supporters waved Soviet and Russian flags for the military parade 'The demolition of monuments to the heroes of the Second World War, the desecration of graves, and now the disruption of the flower-laying ceremony on a holy day for every decent person prove the already obvious - the West has set a course for the reincarnation of fascism,' she messaged to followers. Russia also taunted Ukraine by holding Victory Day parades in Mariupol and other occupied cities in a display of blind patriotism despite the stalling invasion. In the port city brought to ruin by persistent Russian shelling and blockades, Kremlin puppet Denis Pushilin marched through the streets waving the traditional orange and black ribbon of Saint George associated with the military celebrations. The leader of the Donetsk People's Republic wore a Z symbol on his chest as he chanted with fellow senior pro-Russian officials and even lit a torch at Mariupol's memorial for the victims of fascism in a display of breathtaking arrogance. Similar Victory Day rallies were held in other cities including Melitopol, Energodar, Kherson and Staroblesk to rub Ukrainians' noses in the Russian invasion. Soldiers and separatists marched through the Russian-controlled streets waving flags and chanting in support of Putin and the motherland. The Kremlin has made unproven claims it is carrying out a 'deNazification' mission in Ukraine which is overrun with far-right nationalists. Service members of pro-Russian troops stand guard during today's ceremony in Mariupol In Berdyansk, Zaporozhye region, a huge Russian flag was paraded through the streets today An elderly woman holding balloons and flowers becomes emotional during the celebrations in Mariupol The celebrations are held in commemoration of the Soviet Union's defeat over Nazi Germany in 1945 Yet throughout the barbaric invasion, Putin's forces have shelled hospitals and schools, destroyed Holocaust memorial sites, butchered and raped civilians, and even set up 'filtration camps' which have chilling echoes to Nazi concentration camps. Just hours ahead of the highly-anticipated parade, hackers targeted Russian TV with the message: 'The blood of thousands of Ukrainians and hundreds of their children is on your hands. TV and the authorities lie. No to war.' The message appeared on schedules and programmes including children's TV shows, affecting viewers across the country. It impacted online viewers of various channels transmitted by MTS mobile operator, NTV Plus, Rostelecom and Wink. One parent in Tyumen, Siberia, said: 'The [TV] provider "delighted" my child with such a message on children's channels, and then it turned out that the same thing happened on the other channels. 'The message appears in the description of any programme.' The hack also hit Russian defence ministry channel TV Zvezda for viewers accessing via Yandex search engine. Russian TV has been hacked with the message 'the blood of thousands of Ukrainians and hundreds of their children is on your hands' The 'No to War' message also warned viewers that 'TV and the authorities lie' as it appeared on schedules and programmes including children's TV shows (pictured) It impacted online viewers of various channels transmitted by MTS mobile operator, NTV Plus, Rostelecom and Wink The hack also hit Russian defence ministry channel TV Zvezda for viewers accessing via Yandex search engine Throughout the war, hackers have been targeting Russia to spread the truth of Putin's barbaric invasion to his brainwashed population 'A cyberattack was carried out on Russian TV broadcasting channels, because of which subscribers could have extremist inscriptions in the broadcast grid,' said MTS in Siberia. 'Now our IT specialists are promptly eliminating the consequences of the hack so that subscribers can receive services and watch TV programs and movies as quickly as possible.' A viewer called Olga Ivanova said: 'I have NTV Plus satellite TV and the same s*** is happening there on every channel.' She said: 'It is not on all MTS channels but on many for several hours. 'I switched on TV at 7am, it was already like that, switched off only at 11.' The source of the attack in support of Ukraine was not immediately clear. Former Russian presidential candidate Ksenia Sobchak said: 'At night and in the morning, residents of Russia who wanted to watch festive TV program stumbled upon such messages. 'At least [those who use] MTS, NTV-plus, Rostelecom, and Wink. 'I wonder who exactly was hacked. Whose head will fly off his shoulders?' One source claimed: 'This is a built-in player in smart TV. there's a Ukrainian code. 'They are being manipulated. 'In my Samsung, he has been replacing some IPTV channels with central Russian ones for a long time and is chasing Ukrainian propaganda.' Throughout the war, hackers have been targeting Russia to spread the truth of Putin's barbaric invasion to his brainwashed population. An incredibly rare watch that belonged to the prolific Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal sold for almost triple its valuation at a staggering 1.16million. The Patek Philippe wristwatch - one of just two ever made - was originally owned by a Holocaust survivor who helped catch 1,100 Nazi war criminals, including Adolf Eichmann. Wiesenthal, an architect before the war, acquired the watch soon after he was liberated from Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria in 1945. After his death in 2005 the timepiece was bought by a leading European watch collector. The stainless steel timepiece sparked a bidding war at Phillips auction house in Geneva, Switzerland. Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal's Patek Philippe wristwatch (pictured: Mr Wiesenthal wearing his watch) sold for 1.16million at an auction in Geneva, almost three times its 420,000 valuation The wristwatch is one of only two made and thought to be around 80 years old, it boasts a number of rare features It was valued at 420,000 but went for almost triple this sum including fees. The timepiece is the rarest ever made by the Swiss watchmaker due to its black lacquered dial, teardrop lugs, and Brequet numerals, a limited edition font highly sought-after by collectors. It is thought it was made some time between 1941 and 1944. After surviving 13 different concentration camps Wiesenthal dedicated the rest of his life to tracking down fugitive Nazi war criminals. These included Karl Silberbauer, the man who arrested Anne Frank. In 1960 he helped the Israeli intelligence service identify the hiding place of Adolf Eichmann in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Eichmann, one of the major architects of the Holocaust, was later tried and executed in Israel. Wiesenthal was often pictured wearing the watch, including one of him at his desk. His original alligator skin strap will also be sold alongside the watch, although export restrictions meant it could not be sent to the auction house in Geneva. Wiesenthal bought the watch soon after he was liberated from Mauthausen concentration camp in Austria in 1945, it was then bought by a leading European watch collector in 2005 after his death A close up of the watch highlights its black lacquered dial, teardrop lugs, and Brequet numerals Alexandre Ghotbi, specialist in watches at Phillips, said: 'The Wiesenthal watch is a treasure trove of history, rarity, and condition. 'From a purely technical point of view, it is the rarest ever produced by Patek Phillipe. It is one of the very few designs to incorporate flamboyant teardrop lugs and one of just two examples made with black lacquered dials and Brequet numerals. 'This compounds the remarkable rarity of the design, which was made for just four years between 1941 and 1944. 'Then there is the watch's extraordinary provenance. Simon Wiesenthal is one of the most well renowned peace activists of the 20th century and one of the foremost Nazi hunters. He was relentless in helping bring to justice more than a thousand war criminals. 'The watch is a symbol of justice, perseverance and resistance to oppression - imagine if one of Gandhi's watches came to auction. That is the level of significance that we are talking about.' Simon Wiesenthal was studying architecture in Lviv, Ukraine, at the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. After Nazi Germany invaded in June 1941, he was transported to concentration camps including Buchenwald and Mauthhausen where he was liberated by Allied troops. He died in Vienna in 2005 aged 96. TV presenter Paul Hollywood's brother-in-law was killed when his plane crashed into a Spanish mountain amid thick fog, an inquest heard. Father-of-two Simon Moores, 62, died when the light aircraft went down near Errezil in the north of Spain in January 2019, the hearing was told. The chances of the plane landing safely were 'remote' in such horrendous conditions, the inquest in Maidstone, Kent, heard. Coroner Joanne Andrews said it was impossible to know whether Mr Moores and his passenger, David Hockings, were being 'naive or optimistic' in deciding to take off. Mr Moores' sister, Alex, had been married to Great British Bake Off star Mr Hollywood but the couple divorced in 2019. The amateur pilot lived in Westgate-On-Sea in Kent and decided to take his plane on holiday to Spain. Father-of-two Simon Moores, 62, died when the light aircraft went down near Errezil in the north of Spain in January 2019, the hearing was told Mr Moores, who lived in Westgate-On-Sea, Kent, shared pictures from the plane - captioned 'Mountains of mid Spain' - on the same day as the crash on January 9, 2019 The hearing was told that before the flight took off it was likely there was reduced vision. It is not known what weather system they had used to determine whether it was safe to fly, the hearing was told. However, Mrs Andrews said: 'Given these weather conditions, the possibility of [landing] the plane was quite frankly remote.' Mr Moores and Mr Hockings were killed in a Piper Arrow III which was on its way from the Portuguese town of Cascais to San Sebastian before crashing into Mount Hernio. Mr Moores shared pictures from the plane - captioned 'Mountains of mid Spain' - prior to the crash on January 9, 2019. The inquest heard Mr Moores wasn't aware of how close he was to the mountains and so did not know of the danger they were in until it was too late. Such deaths are known as 'controlled flight into terrain'. A verdict of accidental death was recorded by Mrs Andrews as she explained the details around the plane journey. Statements from the authorities in Spain, witness accounts and a post-mortem by Dr Andrew Wild were read out by the Coroner. The chances of the plane landing safely were 'remote' in such horrendous conditions, the inquest in Maidstone, Kent, heard. Pictured is the crash site No evidence was found that there were any issues with either Mr Moores' ability to fly the plane or with the aircraft itself. The inquest heard how the aircraft being piloted by Mr Moores, whose Certificate of Airworthiness had last been renewed in 2018, left Cascais at 8.30am local time and crashed at 1.55pm. Signal was lost between 12.20pm and 12.30pm, before police were informed. Emergency services had to use ropes to climb almost 1,000 metres to reach the scene. Mrs Andrews said: 'This flight would have been expected to have taken three hours and 42 minutes. 'The evidence I have is the flight went as expected until around 12.30pm that day.' Concluding the inquest, she added: 'In this case, having considered the evidence, I am satisfied that one [a conclusion] of accident can be applied.' Mr Moores' sister, Alex, had been married to Great British Bake Off star Mr Hollywood but the couple divorced in 2019 The Coroner also passed her condolences on to Mr Moores' two children and his wife. He had served as a Conservative councillor on Thanet District Council in Kent for several years from 2007. He ran a blog called thanetlife.co.uk, on which he posted aerial shots of the Kent coast. He was also a lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University. A previous inquest, held in September 2019, had concluded that the circumstances behind Mr Moores' death would never be known. The inquest was reopened following an application under Section 13 of the Coroners and Justice Act 1988. This permits a new inquest to be held following the discovery of new facts. The defense ministry office in Yongsan, Seoul / Yonhap Police will focus on minimizing the inconvenience people could suffer from providing security for incoming President Yoon Suk-yeol during his commute from his private home to the new presidential office, Seoul's chief police officer said Monday. Yoon, who takes office Tuesday, will be the first president to work from what is now the defense ministry compound in Yongsan, western Seoul, as he decided to move the presidential office there to keep his campaign promise to return Cheong Wa Dae to the public. He is expected to commute from his private residence in Seocho in southern Seoul for a month while the foreign minister's official residence, which is located near the defense ministry compound, is remodeled into the new presidential residence. Without specifically disclosing the route of Yoon's commuting to and from work due to security issues, Choi Kwan-ho, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA), said police have conducted three simulations with a focus on minimizing inconvenience to the public. "We have judged that there will not be an excessive discomfort to the public," Choi said during a regular press briefing, adding the police will manage the traffic system to minimize the impact on Seoul's heavy traffic load. Yoon's relocation task force earlier said the distance from Yoon's private home to the new Yongsan office is about seven to eight kilometers and the travel time is around 10 minutes. Choi also said traffic restrictions will be placed near the National Assembly building in western Seoul, where an inauguration ceremony is set to take place. Streets near the compound will be closed between 1 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday, the SMPA said. (Yonhap) A fourth dose of Pfizer or Moderna's Covid jabs provide an 'substantial' boost to immunity against the virus, UK Government-funded research shows. The study of around 160 Britons aged 50-80 found the quadruple-vaxxed had up to seven times more T cells and two times more antibodies 'over and above' triple-jabbed people. There were also no clear signs vaccines are getting weaker with each dose, allaying fears that 'over-vaccinating' could cause the jabs to lose their potency. The finding paves the way for millions more Britons to get a fourth dose later this year. While countries like Israel and Germany have been rolling out fourth doses to their entire population since March, currently only over-75s, care home residents and severely ill patients are being invited in the UK. British health chiefs have confirmed an autumn Covid vaccine scheme will go ahead, although they have not decided which groups will be eligible. The study did, however, reveal people who had high levels of antibodies and T cells before they were given a fourth dose only got a small boost to immunity. UK researchers, who monitored around 160 Britons in their fifties to seventies who had a fourth dose of mRNA vaccine Pfizer and Moderna, found the top-up jab gave a 'substantial' boost to antibody and T cell levels These people may have recently been infected recently or have had their third dose more recently, meaning their immunity had not had as long to wane. Professor Saul Faust, chief investigator of the Cov-Boost study, said this suggests there is a 'ceiling effect' on 'how high you can go' with immunity which needs to be further studied. WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A FOURTH DOSE? An extra spring dose is being dished out to some Britons around 6 months after their last vaccine. The group includes: Adults aged 75 and over Residents in a care home for older adults Over-12s who are immunocompromised This group is being given a fourth dose because they are at a higher risk of serious complications - hospitalisation and death - if they catch the virus. The spring campaign aims to maintain high levels of immunity as a precaution against outbreaks. Advertisement The researchers said still have doubts about whether a fourth dose should be rolled out to younger groups, as they are at lower risk from the virus. As part of the latest study, the team led by researchers at the University of Southampton, gave 166 triple-jabbed people between 51 and 78 a fourth dose of Pfizer or Moderna. All participants had previously received two doses of Pfizer or AstraZeneca, followed by a third dose of Pfizer given around seven months ahead of the fourth dose. Patients had a blood test two weeks after their fourth dose to check antibody and T cell levels. Their results were compared to a blood test they took four weeks after their third dose. The findings, published in the scientific journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, show fourth jabs boost immunity to levels 'similar to, and possibly better than, peak responses after the third dose'. Antibody levels after a fourth dose of Pfizer were 60 per cent higher than four weeks after the third dose, which the scientists said was a 'significant increase'. Among those who were given a fourth dose of Moderna, antibody levels were 2.19-times higher. The team said T cell levels were also boosted 7.32-fold among Pfizer recipients and 6.22-fold in the Moderna group. But the scientists urged against comparing the vaccine brands. They say the results could be influenced by what time of vaccine the participants were originally given two courses of. The graphs show that a fourth Covid vaccine boosted antibodies (top row) and T cells (bottom row) to 'similar to, and possibly better than, peak responses after the third dose'. Each graphs show antibody levels or T cell levels at four points: the day the third jab was given, 28 days after the third jab, the day the fourth jab was given and 14 days after the fourth jab. The left graphs show levels among those who had a Pfizer fourth dose and the right graphs show immunity among those who had a Moderna booster Antibodies work to stop an infection taking hold by attacking the virus, preventing it from binding to and infecting cells. But if the virus breaches that defence, T-cells can identify and kill off infected cells to stop them spreading further. What Covid? England's outbreak slumps to lowest size since before Omicron took off Restriction-free England's Covid cases have plunged to the brink of a five-month low, official data revealed today in another justification for the Government's lax strategy. Virus-tracking analysts at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimate 1.59million people were infected in the week to April 30, down by a third on the previous week. It marks the lowest projection since December 19, when No10 was facing pressure from doom-mongers to cancel Christmas yet again to save the NHS from Omicron. The ONS whose huge surveillance project offers ministers the only genuine reflection of the country's outbreak now, given that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) daily stats have been skewed by the axing of free tests described the trend as a 'considerable reduction'. But it warned infections 'remain high', with up to one in 35 people carrying the virus last week and in the region of 300,000 still catching it every day. Experts said the downward trend in infections among all regions and age groups was 'very good news', noting that while Covid is not over 'we are past the worst'. Advertisement These white blood cells are thought to provide longer-lasting protection against the virus compared to antibodies which wane within months. They are also harder to measure and quantify. Although vaccine immunity against infection wanes over time they still provide high levels of protection against severe illness. Professor Faust, who is an expert in paediatric immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Southampton, said people of all ages in the study received a boost but the benefit was greatest for the elderly, whose protection wanes fastest. However, the researchers noted that some participants in the study maintained high antibody and T cell levels even before having a fourth dose. If this finding is spotted in other studies, it could be down to long-lasting vaccine protection or from a recent infection, the team said. This group only had a small boost to their virus immunity from a fourth jab, suggesting there is a 'ceiling' to the amount of protection a person can have against Covid, the researchers said. This finding is important for policy makers because it suggests some may benefit less from a fourth jab, they added. Meanwhile, results showed that a sore arm and tiredness were the most complained of side effects from the jab. Professor Saul Faust said the jabs provided 'excellent antibody boosting over and beyond' that seen after the third jab. But he said it is not as simple as saying 'we have vaccine so lets give it out'. He noted that it is unclear what future Covid variants may take hold in the UK, future rollouts may require modified vaccines and it may be beneficial to wait and deploy another booster scheme in a future wave rather than now. Any timeline on the decision of vaccines and the rollout would be made by the UK Health Security Agency and the Department of Health. But Professor Faust said long-term data is 'looking really good' with people maintaining protection against severe illness and death from just two or three doses. Health Secretary Sajid Javid, said: 'This is further evidence underlining the importance of people coming forward for their booster as soon as they are eligible. 'We're able to live with Covid thanks to the protection provided by our phenomenal vaccine programme and a booster dose will top up your immunity to continue to keep you and your loved ones safe.' Professor Andrew Ustianowski, a clinical lead at the National Institute for Health and Care Research, which funds the study, said: 'The Cov-Boost study has continuously supported the UK's booster vaccination programme and had further impact on how vaccines are administered globally. 'We knew that it was important to offer a fourth dose to those most vulnerable earlier in the year. These new study findings support that decision and provides the public with the confidence that fourth doses are both safe and even more effective than third doses at boosting immunity against COVID-19. 'It is thanks to the endless efforts and contribution of study participants and staff across the UK that we can keep discovering more about the use of vaccines, and they continue to play a pivotal role just as they have done throughout the pandemic.' Imelda Marcos, the 92-year-old wife of late Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos, has turned out to vote for her son Bongbong who is tipped to win the country's presidential election. The former first lady, famed for her opulent lifestyle including a collection of 3,000 pairs of shoes, donned a matching red outfit with a rosary and a Chanel pin as she was lifted from a white van to cast her ballot this morning. Imelda's husband was deposed by a violent revolt in 1986 and the family chased into exile ending a 21-year reign over the country. But now the younger Marcos looks set to complete the clan's remarkable comeback from pariahs to the peak of political power. Ferdinand Jr, known as Bongbong, is expected to win the presidency against his liberal rival Leni Robredo, the incumbent vice president. Imelda Marcos was lifted down from a white van to vote in northern city Batac this morning Imelda, 92, flashed a greeting symbol to crowds gathered at the polling station earlier today Bongbong, 64, attended a Sussex public school with Harry Enfield and is set to become the first world leader ever to play himself in a film. Imelda took Bongbong's seat in the Philippine parliament after he entered the Senate. She retired in 2019 after almost 50 years in politics, including an 11-year stint as governor of Manila. Key US allies during the Cold War, Marcos and Imelda fled to Hawaii after their overthrow. They were visited by Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Ronald Reagan became the Marcos family's most important ally and hosted the couple at the White House in 1982. Four years later, he advised Ferdinand and Imelda flee the Philippines amid the revolt. After the ex-dictator's death abroad in 1989 and a cooling of tensions in her native country, Imelda returned to Manila in 1991 Mrs Marcos wore a tasteful matching red outfit and a Chanel pin as she cast her ballot today Bongbong attended a 36,000-a-year Sussex public school with Harry Enfield, then Oxford The couple are thought to have swiped around $10billion from the country's central bank during Ferdinand's presidency. By the end of his life, Ferdinand owned priceless original paintings by Picasso, Van Gogh and Monet. According to Guinness World Records, the couple's central bank theft is the biggest heist of government property in history. Glory days: Imelda (right) poses with Ferdinand Sr (left) at a military event in November 1985 A reporter takes a look at 1,200 pairs of Imelda's shoes displayed at the presidential palace Bongbong claims he was promised a ticket on the first commercial flight to the moon by President Nixon during his state visit in 1970. The likely next president of the Philippines is expected to quash legal claims against his family. Many of his countrymen are trying to recover the family's ill-gotten gains. When asked about his family's bloody legacy, Bongbong simply replied: 'What have I to be sorry about?' He points to his father's record of roads and power plant construction. Bongbong also boasts that the Philippines has the highest literacy rate in Southeast Asia. President Bongbong! Imelda Marcos's former British public schoolboy son looks set to win today's election in the Philippines, writes RICHARD KAY When Bongbong Marcos first arrived in Britain, he faced not just educational and cultural challenges but physical ones, too. For not only was he the youngest boy at the fee-paying Worth School in West Sussex, he was also among the smallest on the rugby pitch. But what he lacked in strength he more than made up for in guile he took a flick knife to games which he is said to have brandished in scrums. It was the only time in the school day that Bongbong could not be protected by his bodyguards, some of whom were disguised as kitchen staff, reputedly to taste his school meals in case they had been poisoned. The heir to a political dynasty, Bongbong (left) poses with father Ferdinand (second from left), mother Imelda (centre), younger sister Irene (second from right) and big sister Imelda (right) Sometime later today, this Ferrari-driving former British public schoolboy, will barring an electoral result that flies in the face of recent opinion polls that put him 30 points ahead of his nearest rival be unveiled as the 17th president of the Philippines. It will be a victory that completes one of the most extraordinary political comebacks of all time. What makes Bongbong's success so unlikely is that his father was the ruthless dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who plundered billions from his country while brutally suppressing dissent, and his mother Imelda, a former beauty queen, who was infamous for her vanity, materialism and her 3,000 pairs of shoes, half of which were left behind after the family fled a popular uprising in 1986. Yet in a country of startling inequality, the Marcos legacy has been anything but a hindrance to the chances of Ferdinand junior Bongbong's real name at the polls. The likely next president of the Philippines poses with his Rolls-Royce at Oxford in 1975 And while his triumph owes much to a web of dynastic politics, loyalties reaching back generations and exploiting social media, it was also forged on the playing fields of 36,000-a year Worth, a Benedictine boarding school near Crawley, where fellow pupils included comedian Harry Enfield and Cold Feet star Robert Bathurst. At the time of his overthrow 36 years ago, Marcos senior was an international pariah. He and his wife, dubbed the 'conjugal dictators', had amassed a staggering amount of wealth and Imelda's shoe collection remains the most notorious symbol of the couple's outrageous ostentation. Soon-to-be Philippine president Bongbong Marcos pictured at a huge rally in Lipa last month She loved luxury European brands such as Christian Dior and Gucci, but also had a standing order for ten locally made pairs of shoes to be delivered every week to the presidential palace. Her footwear collection, however, pales into insignificance compared with the billions of dollars that were stashed in secret bank accounts around the world or spent on real estate, jewellery, artwork and stocks. Only after the regime's downfall did Filipinos comprehend the magnitude of their plunder. Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr snubbed photographers after turning out to vote earlier today The couple had carried off one of the greatest government thefts ever seen, stripping up to $10 billion from the country's coffers to fund their lavish lifestyle. The dictator and his cronies were found to have pillaged everything from foreign aid to World Bank loans, forcing outright takeovers of major companies and soliciting bribes for lucrative government contracts. More than three decades after they were harried into exile in Hawaii where Marcos died in 1989 most of this hidden wealth is still missing or the subject of court proceedings that have dragged on for years. Bongbong (left) poses somewhat uncomfortably with father Ferdinand (right) in January 1972 With 64-year-old Bongbong as president, any lingering hopes of the Philippines recovering the family's ill-gotten gains look slim. Political opponents say Marcos Jr is running not only to redeem the family name but also to ensure that their immunity from prosecution remains in place. When questioned about this toxic heritage, Bongbong has shown anything but repentance. 'What have I to be sorry about?' he demands. Instead, he cites the thousands of miles of roads and power plants built by his father, while boasting that the Philippines has the highest levels of literacy in south-east Asia. Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos, son of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, his wife, Louise (left) and his sister Imee (right) pictured in 2018 If, as the pundits predict, he secures victory today, Bongbong will not only be the first head of state to have played himself in a film, but also the first to claim he has been promised a ticket to ride on the first commercial flight to the moon. The promise, he says, was made by disgraced former U.S. President Richard Nixon. When Nixon was in the White House, Bongbong was at Worth, where he had arrived in 1970. A letter from the school to his father warns that young Ferdinand would find life very different to what he was used to. For a start, he would be sharing a dormitory with ten other boys. 'I imagine that in sending Ferdinand to an English public school, you would like him to be treated as any other new boy,' the school writes adding: 'I would strongly recommend that until he has settled down, he does not telephone you or you him, as I have found from experience that the sound of parents' voices on the telephone can make a boy very unhappy and homesick.' Running mate Sara Duterte, mayor of Davao city, is the daughter of outgoing president Rodrigo Duterte Intriguingly Marcos senior, who is addressed as 'Mr President', appears to have got his son's age wrong. A letter of application had given the boy's age as 11 but an accompanying birth certificate showed he was actually 12. The president's decision to educate his son in Britain was seen as having strategic value for the UK government. When Mrs Marcos made a private visit to help her son settle in, civil servants planned an itinerary for her to visit orphanages and museums. But it was scrapped when Britain's ambassador to the Philippines said Mrs Marcos was 'highly egocentric' and would want to go to 'functions which serve to show off her beauty in public'. It was noted that she had been 'as exigent, difficult, tactless and inconsiderate as it was possible to be'. When told that the Queen would be at Balmoral and unable to see her, Mrs Marcos said she was being received by the Pope and President Nixon that year and expected equal treatment here. Eventually, the Queen agreed to see her at Windsor Castle. Diplomats said the visit went off without incident perhaps because her final itinerary included shopping trips to Harrods, Selfridges and Bond Street. Bongbong left Worth after four years, during which he passed seven O-levels and three A-levels in physics, maths and English. He was awarded a place at Oxford, but envoys had to lobby officials at St Edmund Hall after the young Filipino twice failed examinations. To avoid an embarrassing departure, the college's principal asked the Philippine military attache in London to come up with 'any special circumstances' which would permit St Edmund to ignore its own rules. A compromise was reached and Bongbong switched courses and received a special diploma in social sciences. Not that this academic demotion stopped him claiming for years that he had graduated from Oxford in 1978 with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics (PPE). He was even less successful when he went to the U.S. to study at the prestigious Wharton College and failed to graduate. While opponents have complained about his lack of honesty, political analysts describe it as typical of the Marcos family's relationship with facts. Said one: 'They have a penchant for weaving their own truth into a version of reality which is glitzy and glamorous enough to appeal to some people.' Take his father. He claimed to be 'the most decorated war hero in the Philippines', who was awarded three U.S. army medals from World War II. But while Marcos had served in the U.S. Forces in the Philippines, the country's National Historical Commission later declared his tales of heroism 'full of lies'. Bongbong's father became president in 1965 and his wife soon became famous for her exorbitant spending. On a single overseas trip in 1983, she apparently spent $9 million in 90 days, including $14,150 on bed sheets, $58,000 on sterling silver serving dishes and $611,000 on gems from Cartier. In a recent Netflix documentary about her life, Imelda Macros said such spending was essential to be the perfect First Lady. 'I had to dress up and make myself more beautiful because the poor always look for a star in the dark of the night,' she explained. Ferdinand Marcos's 21-year rule was notorious for corruption, extravagance and brutality. As he and his family lived in luxury on the state purse, the Philippines economy stagnated, the income gulf between rich and poor ballooned and thousands of political opponents were tortured or killed. In 1972, as his two-term limit was nearing an end, Marcos declared martial law and then amended the constitution to allow him to stay in power indefinitely. But even as their days of greed ended, they managed to scoop up millions of dollars' worth of valuables cash, jewels, gold and art, including works by the French painter Monet. The estimated 300 crates loaded on to the two U.S. Air Force planes that carried the Marcos family to Hawaii also included weapons, bank deposit certificates and the deeds for numerous overseas property holdings. More than 36 years after the family fled into exile, not one person has been jailed over their illegally acquired wealth. The family was allowed to return to the Philippines in 1991, after the dictator's death. Twice Mrs Marcos, now 92, ran for president and twice she failed. Now the family's fortunes and its rehabilitation looks secure in the hands of Bongbong, the boy who played rugby on the playing fields of England with a knife in his pocket. Advertisement London mayor Sadiq Khan was called the 'rockstar of world mayors' by his New York City counterpart Eric Adams as he continues his trip to the United States intended to boost London's post-pandemic tourism. The newly-elected NYC mayor heaped praise onto Khan at a press conference on the second day of the five-day trip which will see him visit New York, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and Los Angeles across a five- day trip in a bid to boost London's tourism industry. Khan had earlier reassured Americans on television that 'Covid cases numbers are down, vaccination numbers are up' and that London was safe to visit on NBC's Morning Joe. He added that the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations and open air gigs made it a 'good time' for potential tourists to visit London. The mayors of London and New York City were full of praise for each other as they held a joint press conference in NYC Eric Adams (left) called Sadiq Khan (right) 'the rockstar of world mayors' in a gushing tribute to his opposite number Khan met Adams as he continues his trip to the United States intended to boost London's post-pandemic tourism industry The Mayor of London pictured today walking on the streets of New York City during a five- day visit to the US in a bid to boost London's tourism industry Khan smiles for cameras as attends the 'Let's Do London' US tourism campaign, launched in New York's Time Square today Khan pictured posing with the Coldstream Guards at the 'Let's Do London' US Tourism Campaign Times Square Takeover today Khan looks out over the Avenue of The Americas in New York City today. He is visiting New York before making his way to San Francisco, Silicon Valley and Los Angeles After a press conference with Adams, Khan went to Times Square and was flanked by Coldstream Guards and the cast of the Broadway Musical, Six, based on the wives of Henry VIII. Khan met with former New York City mayor and presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg on Sunday as he began a tour of the US meant to promote London's ailing post-pandemic tourism industry - which lost 7.4billion in 2020 alone. The Labour mayor has launched a 10 million tourism campaign in a bid to atttact US tourists back to the UK capital after Covid used his Twitter account to post a picture of him crossing a New York street with the iconic Chrysler building in the background. The image was accompanied with a picture of Khan and Bloomberg - who was NYC mayor from 2002 to 2013 - in a coffee house catching up. Khan used his Twitter account to post a picture of him crossing a road with the iconic Chrysler building in the background He also posted a picture of him meeting his 'good friend' and former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg in a coffee house The meeting was part of the first day of a 5 day visit to the US in a bid to boost London's tourism industry after Covid Khan spoke of the affection between the mayors and called the media mogul billionaire a 'good friend'. The Mayor of London has said he hopes to use the trip, which will also include visits to California, to attract investment to the capital. He will also discuss pandemic recovery with senior politicians. London was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, losing 7.4 billion of international tourist spend in 2020 alone. Khan will then travel to the West Coast of the United States to meet representatives from Google and LinkedIn in San Francisco, before travelling to Los Angeles to promote London's film industry. Khan said he intends to use the trip to 'bang the drum for London'. 'We're doing four regions in four days, New York, Silicon Valley, San Francisco, Los Angeles,' he said. 'It's really important that I bang the drum for London, that's what I intend to do.' The senior Labour figure and former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 seemed in good spirits After meeting the former mayor, Khan will meet current NYC mayor Eric Adams in the city later today The pictures come as part of a 10million PR blitz by the Mayor to promote London's economic interests abroad The move comes a day after Sadiq Khan wrote a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, published in the Independent, to renew his campaign for rent controls in the capital. In the letter, Khan implores his predecessor to implement a two-year rent freeze for residents in the capital. Renting in the capital has continued to become more expensive with many London properties now as expensive as New York City to rent. New York City already has a form of rent control with caps on rent for a small number of buildings supplemented by a larger number of apartments which are only allowed to increase by a small amount each year - known as rent stabilization. This is the moment a brave dog tried to scare away a wild boar to protect its owner from a dangerous wild boar that chased them across a field. The woman filmed the video of the wild boar at Villa Glori, in the Parioli quarter of the Italian capital. Boar attacks have become more common in central Italy as the wild pig population swells. The owner can be heard shouting the name of her dog, Vulcano, followed by cries of 'watch out' in Italian and 'go, go, shoo' as the wild animal charges. She hides behind a tree trunk in the green space before running from the beast. The woman filmed the boar chasing her pet dog, which barked to scare away the animal, at Villa Glori, in the Parioli quarter of the Italian capital Rome The video emerged after Italy's capital banned picnics in a bid to contain the wild boar population after health authorities detected African swine fever in one of the dead animals. Provinces in northern Rome have been beset by wild boar attacks in recent weeks, with residents criticising authorities for failing to take measures to control the boar population. The country has set up anti-board 'red zones' in the north of the capital, with the animals pictured rummaging through bins and walking down the road in search of food. Residents of Balduina and six other districts imposed an 8.30pm curfew after one woman was pushed to the ground during an attack on May 1, 2022. Authorities in Rome has also banned anyone from feeding or getting close to the animals, over fears the disease could spread. Anyone walking over farmland or nature reserves has received notice to disinfect their shoes. Wild boars roam a street foraging for food in Rome, Italy September 23, 2021. Italy's capital has banned picnics in a bid to contain the wild boar population after health authorities detected African swine fever in a dead boar Provinces in northern Rome have criticised authorities for failing to take measures to control the boar population The news marks the first time central Italy has reported a case of African swine fever, a disease which cannot spread to humans but is often fatal to the pig population. Health professionals had already identified the disease in a wild boar in the northern Piedmont region in January, prompting the government to appoint a special commissioner to impose measures to eradicate the illness. Around Between 113 carcasses have been found of infected wild boar in north between January and May 2022, according to Pig Progress. Health ministry undersecretary Andrea Costa said the government was discussing a 'slaughtering plan' to reduce the wild boar population, reported the Guardian. 'I respect the sensitivities of animal rights activists and environmentalists, but we are facing an emergency and it must be addressed with emergency measures,' he told the state broadcaster, Rai. Manager of the Agriculture Department of the Brothers of Italy, Luca De Carlo, called upon Prime Minister Mario Draghi to 'start the killing of wild boars' as it was 'the only way to contain the spread of the disease'. Italy's pork industry props up around 1.5billion worth of trade annually, with African swine fever threatening the business of Italian farmers should it spread further. Boars roam a street foraging for food next to garbage bins in Rome. The wild boar population has been increasing in recent years The news marks the first time central Italy has reported a case of African swine fever. The disease cannot spread to humans but is often fatal to the pig population 'The first case found in Rome suggests that the problem is no longer limited to Liguria and Piedmont and requires immediate measures for the containment and safety of breeding pigs,' said Andrea Michele Tiso, national president of Confeuro, the Confederation of European and World Farmers. 'The Italian butchery boasts a turnover of around 20 billion a year. A heritage that employs one hundred thousand people and must be protected by taking all necessary measures without further hesitation.' China suspended pork imports from Italy in January after ASF was detected in a wild boar in the Piedmont region. About 23,000 wild boar live in and around Rome, according to estimates from Coldiretti, the farmers association. Treasury staff have been warned their passes will be tracked to make sure they come into the office as part of the latest attempt to force civil servants back into Whitehall. Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who leads the department, has made it clear he expects his officials to be in the office at least some of the time, but has not yet dictated a minimum. Meanwhile, it has emerged the Bank of England is only requiring its employees to be in the office one day a week - demonstrating the uphill battle facing ministers who have been trying to persuade mandarins to kick their WFH habit. The Bank of England is only requiring its employees to be in the office one day a week, it also emerged today The Treasury is believed to be the only department to announce it will monitor its staff using their security passes, the Telegraph reported. Although it says it has seen a 'significant increase' in office occupancy, it appears to have accepted many staff will continue on a hybrid model - with job adverts for senior roles stating that applicants would be required to come in between 40 and 60 per cent of the time. Meanwhile, the Bank of England is planning to increase the amount of time staff are required to come in to 40 per cent from next month, with plans to eventually increase this to 50 per cent. Catherine Mann, who is on the Bank's monetary policy committee, said last year that videos were unable to replicate the spontaneous office conservations that were important for securing recognition and advancement. She warned women risk hurting their careers if they continue to work remotely while others return to the workplace. City regulator the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is also experiencing low office occupancy rates, and is trialling a 'hybrid working' model until August that requires staff to be in the office just two days a week. Jacob Rees-Mogg, who serves as minister for Whitehall efficiency, has been leading the government's WFH campaign - leaving notes on civil servants' desks Jacob Rees-Mogg, who serves as minister for Whitehall efficiency, has been leading the government's WFH campaign - even leaving notes on civil servants' desks when they are out of office. They read: 'Sorry you were out when I visited, I look forward to seeing you in the office very soon.' Last month, Mr Rees-Mogg published a league table of Government departments based on how many staff were present and wrote to all Secretaries of State to say they must send a clear message to civil servants in your department to ensure a rapid return to the office. He says that even within the Cabinet Office, the disparity is stark, with some teams boasting an attendance rate of 180 per cent of staff compared to desks, while others are at 6 per cent. Mr Rees-Mogg recently 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. 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. Chancellor Rishi Sunak - who leads the Treasury - and Mr Rees-Mogg, who is the minister in charge of 'government efficiency' 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.' A government spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary have been clear they want to see office attendance across the civil service consistently back at pre-pandemic levels and we are seeing significant increases in occupancy which continues to be closely monitored. 'There is total agreement across government on there being clear benefits from face-to-face, collaborative working and we know that this is particularly important for the learning and development of new and junior members of staff.' The DUP today turned up the heat on the post-Brexit border row as the party warned it won't re-enter powersharing in Northern Ireland without 'decisive action' on trade rules. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson insisted his party would not be nominating ministers to a Stormont Executive until there was movement on the Northern Ireland Protocol. He spoke after talks with Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, who today travelled to Belfast to meet with all parties following last week's historic election results. For the first time ever, a nationalist party became the largest at Stormont after Sinn Fein won the most seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly. This has triggered a stand-off with the DUP, the largest unionist party, who are now refusing to form a power-sharing administration due to their opposition to the Protocol. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill can't form a devolved government at Stormont as First Minister without the DUP nominating a Deputy First Minister. The election result has piled the pressure on the UK Government to come up with a solution to its dispute with the EU over the Protocol. The Protocol was designed to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit and imposed checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. But the EU's 'dogmatic' and 'rigid' implementation of the Protocol has been blamed by British ministers for causing significant trade disruption. And unionists are concerned the agreement has been detrimental to Northern Ireland's status within the UK. The UK Government has repeatedly refused to rule out taking unilateral action to tear up key parts of the Protocol, should ongoing talks with the EU on the issue fail to reach a solution. Downing Street today attempted to play down reports of a Cabinet rift over whether the UK should soon scrap the Protocol. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson insisted his party would not be nominating ministers to a Stormont Executive until there was movement on the Northern Ireland Protocol Michelle O'Neill called on both the DUP and British ministers to 'accept and respect' the outcome of Northern Ireland's elections Following his talks with Mr Lewis today, Sir Jeffrey said he had made the DUP's position 'clear' as he demanded the Protocol row was 'resolved'. 'It is the position we have held before the election, throughout the election campaign and will continue to hold, and that is until we get decisive action taken by the UK Government on the Protocol we will not be nominating ministers to the Executive,' he said. 'We want to see stable political institutions, we want to be part of the Executive, we want to play our part and fulfil the mandate we were given by the people of Northern Ireland. 'We are also clear given the damage and harmful impact the protocol continues to have on Northern Ireland, driving up the cost of living, harming our economy, impeding the ability of businesses to trade with our biggest market and fundamentally undermining political stability, undermining the principle of consensus politics.' However, Ms O'Neill called on both the DUP and British ministers to 'accept and respect' the outcome of Northern Ireland's elections. 'Brinkmanship will not be tolerated where the north of Ireland becomes collateral damage in a game of chicken with the European Commission,' she said. 'Responsibility for finding solutions to the protocol lie with Boris Johnson and the EU. 'But make no mistake, we and our business community here will not be held to ransom.' Ms O'Neill warned there could be 'no excuses' to prevent an administration being formed at Stormont, adding: 'There can be no attempt by the DUP or by anyone else to punish the public and leave workers and families high and dry now or in the time ahead.' Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is said to be leading a push for the UK to act alone in overriding the Northern Ireland Protocol Ms Truss is reportedly being opposed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove Earlier today it emerged that 'hawks' and 'doves' around the Cabinet table are at odds over Britain taking unilateral action to scrap key parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is reported to be leading a push for the UK to act alone in overriding the Brexit deal. But she is being opposed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, according to the Telegraph. Those Cabinet ministers pushing for unilateral action are said to want a package of measures including 'red and green lanes' for goods travelling to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, 'trusted trader schemes' to manage hauliers travelling only to Northern Ireland, and heavy legal penalties for those who import goods to the Republic that were meant to remain in Northern Ireland. But the newspaper said Mr Gove wanted talks with the EU to last 'longer' and for the UK to take a 'slightly softer approach'. And Mr Sunak was reported to have 'always had a problem with unilateral action' because of concerns that it could cause a trade war with the EU that would worsen the cost-of-living crisis. Boris Johnson's own view on when to take unilateral action over the Protocol has been described as the 'million-dollar question' within Government. But Downing Street today played down the reports of a Cabinet rift over the Protocol. When asked whether there are divisions among ministers over proposals to unilaterally scrap the post-Brexit deal, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'I wouldn't say that at all. 'I think our preference has always been for a negotiated solution to fix the Protocol and we have been clear that we will take further steps if solutions can't be found. 'No decisions have yet been taken on the way forward.' The spokesman insisted the proposals so far put forward by the European Commission 'don't go anywhere near far enough to make the Protocol sustainable', adding: 'We believe (they) would take us backwards from where we are today. 'So, no decisions have been taken. But we do reserve the right to take action.' Ms Truss has been claimed to believe the EU will 'never' back down over its refusal to significantly re-work the Protocol. And EU vice-president Maros Sefcovic, who is leading Brussels' negotiations with the Britain on the issue, this weekend showed little appetite for compromise as he warned the UK to be 'honest about the deal they signed'. He told Politico that the EU had 'already shown a lot of flexibility by proposing impactful, durable solutions and we stand ready to continue discussions'. 'We need the UK Government to dial down the rhetoric, be honest about the deal they signed and agree to find solutions within its framework,' he added. Ms Truss and Mr Sefcovic are due to hold fresh talks on the Protocol within days. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis has moved to dismiss the prospect of a border poll amid speculation about the possibility of Irish unification For the first time ever, a nationalist party became the largest at Stormont after Ms O'Neill's Sinn Fein won the most seats Ahead of his talks with Northern Ireland's parties today, Mr Lewis said there was a need to 'address the outstanding issues' relating to the Protocol. He reiterated the UK Government's warning that, should ongoing talks with the EU over reform of the Protocol not be successful, Britain could go it alone in tearing up the post-Brexit rules. 'We want to do that by agreement with the EU, but as we have always made clear, we will not shy away from taking further steps if necessary,' Mr Lewis said. Michelle Donelan, the universities minister, today refused to put a timetable on when a decision would be made over the future of the Protocol but confirmed that scrapping the agreement was 'on the table as one of the options'. 'I am not going to put an arbitrary figure of a number of days, that would be foolish, I think, on my behalf, but what I will say is that we're working at pace, we want to get this done as quickly as possible,' she told Sky News. 'We want a functioning executive in Northern Ireland and we understand the extreme urgency of this.' Ms Donelan added: 'The Northern Ireland Protocol is not working in the way that we had intended it to do so and we've been very open and frank about that one ... the level of bureaucracy that is being placed on Northern Ireland's businesses is not acceptable.' Ms Truss and Maros Sefcovic are due to hold fresh talks on the Protocol within days, but the EU vice-president has issued a warning that Brussels will only move so far ont he post-Brexit deal Northern Ireland's election results have increased speculation over the possibility of Irish unification, although Mr Lewis has moved to dismiss the prospect of a border poll. The Northern Ireland Secretary, who has the power to call a border poll, played down the chances of a referendum being held. He highlighted how the nationalist vote has not gone up, and the unionist vote remains higher. 'Sinn Fein haven't gained seats, we haven't seen a growth in the nationalist vote and indeed the unionist vote is still larger and the number of seats held by unionist parties is still larger,' Mr Lewis told BBC Northern Ireland's Sunday Politics programme. 'I think the focus at the moment quite rightly is on getting Stormont back up and running, getting the money that is moving from the UK Government to Northern Ireland out to people in Northern Ireland so we can move forward on domestic issues, get the healthcare reform that people want to see and we want to get the protocol resolved for everyone in Northern Ireland.' Advertisement Russia's ambassador to Poland was doused in red paint and pelted with objects as he tried to lay a wreath at a memorial to Soviet soldiers in Warsaw today. Sergei Andreev was confronted by protesters as he tried to mark Victory Day - Nazi Germany's surrender in 1945 - at the Soviet Military ceremony in the Polish capital. He was blocked from entering the cemetery by a crowd that waved Ukrainian flags in his face and chanted 'fascist' before people began throwing things at him. Andreev and his security detail were hit multiple times with projectiles before one demonstrator threw a bag of red paint into his face. Polands Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau subsequently branded the incident 'deplorable', although Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski said the anger behind the protest was 'understandable'. Kaminski added that the ambassador had been warned not to attend the cemetery ahead of the attack. Sergei Andreev, Russia's ambassador to Poland, was doused in red paint by pro-Ukraine demonstrators as he tried to lay wreaths at the main memorial to Soviet soldiers who died in the Second World War in Warsaw, Poland Andreev arrived at the memorial with his security detail to lay a wreath on Victory Day - which marks the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945 - when they were pelted with paint (pictured, a bodyguard is doused in paint) Andreev's embassy had warned just two days ago that the wreath-laying would not go ahead due to safety concerns and did not make it clear why the decision was changed - though the incident was immediately picked up by pro-Kremlin media Andreev wipes red paint out of his eyes after being covered in it by pro-Ukraine protesters surrounding the Soviet war memorial in Warsaw, Poland, during Victory Day commemorations Andreev and his entourage (pictured behind) were doused while trying to reach the memorial as part of a wreath-laying event on Victory Day, marking the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945 Andreev is escorted by Polish police after trying and failing to reach the Soviet war memorial in Warsaw (pictured to the top right of the frame) to lay his wreath Andreev said afterwards that he was uninjured in the attack, but it was picked up by the Kremlin who described it as a 'bloody' attack by 'fans of neo-Nazism' The delegation where prevented from reaching the war memorial at the centre of the cemetery or laying the wreaths they had brought with them. Instead, police had to be called to escort them away. Andreev said later that he had not been injured during the fracas. But the incident highlights tensions that have been building between Russia and other former Soviet states since the invasion of Ukraine. Poland - which has a long and bloody history with Soviet Russia - has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since the early days of the war and has been on the receiving end of threats by Kremlin propagandists as a result. Despite the threats, the Polish government has continued to supply weapons to Ukraine including sending more than 200 T-72 tanks to bolster its armed forces. Russian state media was quick to seize on the incident in Warsaw as evidence of what it claims is growing anti-Russian sentiment in the West, motivated by what the Kremlin insists is Nazism. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Moscow's foreign ministry, posted about the incident on her Telegram channel - saying that 'fans of neo-Nazism have once again bared their faces, and it is bloody.' 'The demolition of monuments to the heroes of the Second World War, the desecration of graves, and now the disruption of the flower-laying ceremony on a holy day for every decent person prove the already obvious - the West has set a course for the reincarnation of fascism,' she messaged to followers. Pro-Ukraine protesters had gathered in front of the war memorial - which is located along the highway leading to Warsaw's main airport - on Monday to demonstrate against Russia's war Poland has been among Ukraine's staunchest defenders since the war broke out - taking in millions of refugees and sending heavy weapons back the other way, with public shows of support for Kyiv commonplace (pictured above) Pro-Ukraine protesters stand at the base of a monument to Soviet soldiers killed during the Second World War in Warsaw Poland has been a staunch defender of Ukraine since Putin ordered his troops to attack - taking in millions of refugees while sending heavy weapons back Activists painted in red symbolising the death caused by Russia's war in Ukraine - and bearing the names of places that have been attacked - gathered in front of the memorial A planned Immortal Regiment march - when families of soldiers killed during the Second World War walk through the streets holding photos of their dead loved ones - was also cancelled. Authorities in Warsaw had warned such events could be illegal, because they were designed to show support for Putin's war in Ukraine. Polish law prohibits 'public calls for aggressive war' and the displaying of symbols linked to 'fascist or totalitarian states'. The Russian foreign ministry described the allegation as 'absurd and unfounded'. Ambassadors said at the time that they no longer planned to hold the march or wreath-laying ceremony because Poland was unlikely to ensure its safety. It is unclear exactly why the ministry attempted to go ahead with the wreath-laying regardless, though images of the ambassador being attacked play nicely into the Kremlin's narrative of Russia being surrounded by enemies. Protesters also marched in Warsaw to protest the war, bringing a tank on a tractor and parking it in front of the Russian Embassy on Sunday evening. Since the war began on February 24, images of Ukrainian tractors hauling off Russian tanks have been symbols of Ukrainian resistance. The Soviet cemetery is set amid a vast park on the route linking downtown to the international airport. It is the final resting place of more than 20,000 Red Army soldiers who perished fighting while helping to defeat Nazi Germany. While Poland has removed some monuments to the Red Army in the years after it threw off Moscow-backed communist rule, it has allowed the cemetery to remain undisturbed. The wreath-laying was designed to mark Victory Day when the Nazis surrendered at the end of the Second World War, and was marked in Moscow by a parade (pictured) A Russian intercontinental ballistic missile - designed to carry nukes - drives through the Red Square as part of the Victory Day parade A transgender mother who forced the seven-year-old daughter she fathered to engage in child pornography at her New Jersey home has been jailed for 25 years without parole, along with three accomplices. Marina Volz, previously named Matthew, was sentenced on Friday at Somerset County Superior Court alongside another transgender woman Ashley Romero 28, previously named Adam, and two other offenders Sean Allen, 54, and Dulcinea Gnecco, 21. Volz, 32, ran a 'family-owned transgender pornography production studio specializing in amateur, BDSM and taboo fetish content' from her Coburn Lane home in Franklin Township, according to acting prosecutor Annmarie Taggart, where she allowed her accomplices to sexually abuse her young daughter. The involvement of all four defendants was made clear in a string of group messages in which they discussed their plans to abuse Volz' child. Somerset county assistant prosecutor Brian Stack told judge Peter Tober at sentencing on Friday the quartet orchestrated a 'vortex of darkness' that 'snuffed out' the young girl, adding the group were 'incapable of redemption' and had 'not accepted full responsibility'. Judge Tober meanwhile said the crime was said 'heinous, cruel and depraved', and commented the child endured abuse involving a basement cage, neck collars and a variety of sex toys. The judge sentenced Volz and Romero to 25 years without parole, while Allen received a 12-year sentence (eligible for parole after 10 years), and Gnecco was handed a five year sentence. Volz, Romero and Allen will all be subject to lifetime parole supervision upon release. Marina Volz, 32, ran a 'family owned-transgender pornography production studio specializing in amateur, BDSM and taboo fetish content' from her Coburn Lane home in Franklin Township, according to acting prosecutor Annmarie Taggart Ashley Romero, 28, was sentenced to 25 years in prison with no possibility of parole alongside Volz. Romero sexually abused Volz' daughter Sean Allen received a 12-year sentence (eligible for parole after 10 years), and Dulcinea Gnecco was handed a five year sentence An investigation by the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Unit found Volz managed to win custody of the child in 2018, before taking her from her mother's home on the West Coast and bringing her back to New Jersey. Once in captivity, the young girl was subjected to sexual abuse and filmed on multiple electronic devices. Investigators who raided the property one night after they assumed custody of the child following an anonymous tip off in January 2019 discovered more than 30 computers, cameras and digital storage devices containing extensive evidence of child pornography and sexual abuse. They also discovered firearms, a high-capacity magazine and cocaine at the residence, according to The Daily Voice. Anthony Cowell, Volz' public defender, confirmed the child has been adopted by relatives and added his client had relinquished all parental rights following the abuse. 'She will never see her child again... I can't wrap my head around what happened in this case,' he said, adding the evidence was 'some of the worst images I have ever seen in my life' according to My Central Jersey. Cowell explained Volz had no criminal record, had served in the US army and was not deemed to be a violent sexual predator prior to the case. The judge meanwhile said it will be years before the full extent of the psychological harm endured by Volz' daughter is known, declaring the girl had 'suffered grievously' at the hands of her captors. He also stated the transgender woman had herself suffered sexual abuse in her youth and had attempted to commit suicide on numerous occasions. Volz, 32, ran a 'family owned-transgender pornography production studio specializing in amateur, BDSM and taboo fetish content' from her Coburn Lane home in Franklin Township (Coburn Lane is pictured - the house where the abuse took place is not known) All four defendants pleaded guilty in November 2021 to a range of charges including human trafficking, aggravated sexual assault, creation of child pornography and possession of child pornography, as well as charges related to possession of firearms and high-capacity magazines. Romero's lawyer insisted his client 'has her head on the right way for redemption... there is hope for her', despite the fact she extensively abused the child while being filmed. Allen, a US Navy veteran, said he was complicit in orchestrating the cross-country transport of a minor for the purposes of sexual gratification, and had also engaged in the sexual abuse. Gnecco meanwhile received a lesser sentence, as the judge established she had not participated in the abuse of the child. The 21-year-old acted as the child's carer and was tasked mostly with cooking and cleaning in Volz' New Jersey home, according to her lawyer Jack Venturi. She ultimately pleaded guilty to counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Acting prosecutor Taggart said the case served as an example of the importance of reporting suspicions of child abuse, arguing that without the anonymous tip-off from a concerned member of the community, Volz and her accomplices may never have been brought to justice. Calls to the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (NJ DCP&P) Child Abuse Hotline may be made anonymously, 24 hours a day, by calling 1-877-NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873). A British Army Sergeant has been kicked out of the military after he went into a female soldier's room for a cup of tea before kissing her neck, pushing her onto the bed and exposing himself to her. Sgt Mathew Fieldhouse - who was a corporal at the time - tried to undo the woman's belt before undoing his own during the 'frightening' assault. The married man, whose wife was pregnant at the time, began playing with himself while saying 'come on' before she fled to another room. A court martial heard the victim was junior to him and going through a difficult time. She felt as though Sgt Fieldhouse, who she considered a friend, 'took advantage of her vulnerability'. The woman wept as she told the court the experience had left her feeling 'disgusting' and she had lost her trust in men. Sgt Mathew Fieldhouse - who was a corporal at the time - allegedly tried to undo the woman's belt before undoing his own during the 'frightening' assault The 37 year old denied one count of sexual assault but was found guilty following a trial at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire. Sgt Fieldhouse - who bowed his head for much of the hearing and sobbed afterwards - has now been dismissed from the Army and reduced in rank as a judge castigated him for 'abusing' their friendship. He was also ordered to pay his victim 1,000 in compensation. Judge Advocate Jane England said: 'You subjected the victim to a frightening sexual assault in her own room after she had innocently invited you there. 'You abused your friendship - you sexually assaulted a friend and colleague in a particularly unpleasant way. 'You took advantage of her, forced your desires on her. You attempted to undo her belt and took your penis out and started massaging it. She feared the worst and we can well see why. 'We saw the effect this offence has had on her and she blames herself, partly because she was outgoing and friendly. 'We hope she no longer blames herself, as the only person to blame is you. 'It's a very sad way to bring to an end 20 years of exemplary service, but it is an end you have brought upon yourself, by your own actions.' The trial in March heard Sgt Fieldhouse, of the 25 Training Regiment of the Royal Logistics Corps, had told his victim he was having marital problems. Mathew Fieldhouse, 37, had denied exposing himself to an army colleague, but was found guilty following a trial at Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire Bulford Military Court Centre where the court martial was heard She said Sgt Fieldhouse, who has been in the Army for over 20 years and goes by the nickname 'Mouse', was known for his flirty banter and would make sexual comments, but that these were always laughed off. Rupert Gregory, prosecuting, told the trial: 'The defendant went to the complainant's block and she invited him to her room for a cup of tea. 'He came into her room, put his hands on her and picked her up by her hips and began kissing her on her neck. 'She was nervous. She did not know how to react. He put her on the bed with one knee on the bed and tried to unbuckle her belt. 'He unbuckled his belt, took out his penis and began masturbating saying 'oh come on'. 'She ran out of the room to two rooms away into another private's room and told him what had happened.' In her video interview, played to the court, the woman said she had not thought anything about inviting him to her room as she had many male friends. The woman said: 'He picked me up and put me on the bed and started kissing me. I started laughing, I was in shock. I don't know if he thought 'oh she's liking this'. 'I felt really uncomfortable while he was doing it. I don't see him in that way - he's not the most attractive guy in the world. 'He pulled his boxers down and grabbed his penis and was doing some movements or whatever, playing with himself. That's when he was like 'oh, come on'. 'I thought 'this is too much' and something was triggered and I just went out. I felt disgusting.' The woman wept as she added: 'I was not myself. It felt like he took advantage of my vulnerability because of the stuff I was going through. 'I didn't say anything to anyone because I didn't think anyone would believe me because of the person he is.' The woman said a colleague even laughed when she told her what happened, saying 'Mouse would not do that' but when he realised she was being serious, he urged her to report it. In a statement written given to police, the victim said: 'I feel like it's my fault. I feel like I have to change who I am to stop [something like this happening again]. 'I just don't really trust men - I know that not all men are like that, but I just have trust issues at the moment now.' Sgt Fieldhouse was dismissed, reduced in rank to private, handed 180 hours of community service and must pay the victim 1,000 in compensation. Boris Johnson will bid to reset his premiership tomorrow when the Queen's Speech is delivered. The new Parliamentary session is expected to see legislation to tear up old EU laws, Level Up the Red Wall, crack down on truancy, punish owners of unused second homes, and give locals more power over housing developments. Assuming the 96-year-old monarch is well enough, she is due to outline around 30 Bills. If she is unable to attend Prince Charles will stand in. The government will then try to steward them through the Houses of Parliament over the course of the session - which has no fixed end point, although they tend to last around a year. With a general election required to happen by the end of 2024, the success of this package of legislation is likely to be critical for the Tories' chances of staying on in power. Boris Johnson (pictured with EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen in 2020) is promising a 'super seven' of post-Brexit Bills can help with the soaring cost of living Post-Brexit bonfire of laws Boris Johnson is promising a 'super seven' of post-Brexit Bills can help with the soaring cost of living. The package of legislation is designed to highlight the benefits of leaving the EU , from slashing red tape to bolstering protection for animals. The Tories hope the new agenda will deliver a 'Brexit dividend' in time for the next general election. The PM said yesterday: 'I'm proud that my Government is capitalising on the immense opportunity that our new-found Brexit freedoms bring. 'This relentless drive to deliver on the promise of Brexit is why we're bringing seven Brexit Bills in the Queen's Speech. 'I call them the super seven and they will benefit families and businesses across the land by changing old EU rules that don't work for the UK. 'From data reform to gene-editing to financial services, these Bills will allow us to thrive as a modern, dynamic and independent country,' he told the Sunday Express. Under-used holiday homes A crackdown on under-used holiday home is set to be laid out in the Queen's Speech tomorrow. Local authorities are expected to be handed discretionary powers to double council tax on second homes unless they are either regularly used or let out by their owners for at least 70 days per year. Vacant property has become a festering issue in prime beauty spots, with locals frustrated at soaring prices preventing permanent residents getting on the housing ladder. A government source told the Telegraph that wealthy owners who leave homes unused will be expected to contribute to 'crucial services in a way that can really benefit the whole community and boost levelling up'. One option would be to deploy the revenue to cut council tax. Properties that are not even furnished will face a 100 per cent increase in council tax after 12 months, rather than the current two years. Planning overhaul to give residents more rights Local residents are expected to be given the right to be consulted on 'design codes' spelling out the standards that housing developments must meet. Ministers will look at how the planning inspectorate handles targets on local housing requirements, with greenbelt and areas of natural beauty no longer forced to meet 'unrealistic' goals as long as they produce a plausible plan. A fast-track application category could also be added to the planning system for small builders in an effort to 'level the playing field' with big developers. The measures are contained in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, according to The Times. Ministers will crack down on truancy, beef up the powers of education watchdogs and reform the funding system in new legislation to create 'a school system that works for every child' Boosting education watchdogs and curbing truancy Ministers will crack down on truancy, beef up the powers of education watchdogs and reform the funding system in new legislation to create 'a school system that works for every child'. Under the plans, which will form part of the Queen's Speech on Tuesday, England's schools will be required to publish an attendance policy and there will be compulsory registers for children who are not in classrooms so the authorities can identify who is not receiving a full-time education. The measures will ensure pupils benefit from 'every possible hour in the classroom', Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said. Mr Johnson said education was 'at the very heart of this Government's agenda'. The Schools Bill will also include plans for schools to join multi-academy trusts (MATs), a proposal which has been resisted by education unions, with a strengthened regulatory framework giving greater powers to intervene when they are failing. A new national funding formula is aimed at distributing cash on a 'fair and consistent basis', Ofsted will be given greater powers to crack down on illegally-operating 'unregistered schools' and the Teaching Regulation Agency's ability to investigate misconduct will be strengthened. As well as the measures on school attendance, in an attempt to make sure children do not slip through the cracks local authorities will be given a duty to provide support to home-schooling families. Lifelong learning loans A Higher Education Bill will enable the introduction of the promised lifelong loan entitlement, allowing people to retrain at any point. Under the plan people can access a loan equivalent to four years of education, 37,000 in today's fees, that they can use over their lifetime for a range of studies including shorter and technical courses. Under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill measures to revive England's high streets, councils will be given powers to take control of buildings for the benefit of their communities Regenerating high streets Under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill measures to revive England's high streets, councils will be given powers to take control of buildings for the benefit of their communities. Compulsory rental auctions will ensure that landlords make shops that have been vacant for more than a year available to prospective tenants. Authorities will also be given greater powers to use compulsory purchase orders to deliver housing, regeneration schemes and infrastructure. Replace the Human Rights Act The package will include plans to replace the Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights, making it easier to deport foreign criminals. Hunting trophy trade ban The Animals Abroad Bill is due to include a ban on the trade in hunting trophies and the sale and promotion of travel experiences which are cruel to animals. Channel 4 privatisation A Broadcasting Bill is likely to be included in the agenda to push through the privatisation of Channel 4. Facts about Russia-Ukraine conflict: Canadian PM meets Ukrainian president in Kiev Xinhua) 15:08, May 09, 2022 BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The following are the latest developments regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Sunday, announcing more military aid to Ukraine and more sanctions against Russia. According to a news release on Sunday, Trudeau said that Canada would be providing Ukraine with an additional military aid worth of 50 million Canadian dollars (40 million U.S. dollars), including drone cameras, high-resolution satellite imagery, small arms as well as ammunition. - - - - Zelensky met in Kiev Sunday with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to discuss defense and energy cooperation and Ukraine's European integration, the Ukrainian presidential press service reported. Zelensky said security issues and steps needed to support Ukraine were key topics of the talks. He thanked Croatia for supporting Ukraine on its path to European Union integration and introducing sanctions on Russia over the Russia-Ukraine conflict. - - - - Zelensky and visiting President of the German parliament Baerbel Bas on Sunday discussed further defense assistance to Ukraine, the presidential press service reported. Zelensky said that Kiev expects Germany to help Ukraine amid the conflict with Russia and called on Berlin to strengthen sanctions against Russia. Besides, Zelensky asked Germany to support granting Ukraine the status of an official candidate country to join the European Union. - - - - Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said in Tehran on Sunday that diplomacy is the only way to settle conflicts anywhere in the world, including in Ukraine, according to the state TV. Iran believes that the Ukraine crisis could be resolved politically and negotiations between Russia and Ukraine should lead to an immediate ceasefire, said the senior diplomat, noting Iran is willing to play its role in this endeavor. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Liang Jun) Kang Dong-yeob, who ran for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's primary for a county lawmaker seat in Daegu's Dalseong-D District, poses as he registers as a hopeful in this April 19 photo at the Dalseong-gun Election Committee in Daegu. Courtesy of Kang Dong-yeob By Jung Da-min Teenage hopefuls have declared their bids for the upcoming June 1 local elections. It is the first time in the 74-year history of the Public Official Election Act that teens are running for public office. Last December, the National Assembly passed revisions to the act to lower the age limit for those running for the National Assembly and local assembly elections from 25 to 18. Kang Dong-yeob, 18, who participated in the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) primary for a county lawmaker seat in Daegu's Dalseong-D District, was among those who received media attention. Kang ranked first in open interviews for young hopefuls held early April by the DPK Daegu branch's youth chapter. But in late April, Kang did not pass the party's nomination screening process. After failing to get the ticket for the local elections, Kang said in recent media interviews that he will continue to seek another opportunity. "Even though some young hopefuls failed to become the final candidates, our attempts themselves were worthwhile as we could grow as potential candidates," Kang said in an interview with University News Network published on Saturday. "I believe young hopeful's challenges will bring a refreshing shock to the nation's political circles." Choi Jeong-hyeon, who registered as a hopeful of the main opposition People Power Party to be a city assembly lawmaker representing Namyangju-E District, speaks during an interview with Hankook Ilbo, the sister paper of The Korea Times at a cafe in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, in this April 5 photo. Korea Times file Amy Klobuchar questioned if women want Texas Senator Ted Cruz making their healthcare decisions in lashing out against Republicans who support the overturn of Roe v. Wade following the leaked draft opinion. The criticism from the Minnesota senator comes as Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer prepared to file cloture Monday and bring a floor vote on codifying the landmark abortion case on Wednesday. Democrats do not have the votes to overcome a filibuster on the matter and moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin already rejected in February a previous version of an abortion protection bill. 'With this leaked opinion, the court is looking at reversing 50 years of women's rights and the fall will be swift. Over 20 states have laws in place already,' Senator Klobuchar told ABC's This Week host Martha Raddatz on Sunday. 'I think the question that voters are going to be asking when 75 percent of people are with us on this, is who should make this decision?' 'Should it be a woman and her doctor or a politician?' she posed. 'Should it be Ted Cruz making this decision or a woman and her family? Where are women's equal rights?' Schumer, although aware that he doesn't have the votes to codify Roe v. Wade into law, said Sunday that he wants to put every senator on record on where they stand on abortion. Most, however, have not been shy about sharing their stance. 'I'm standing with elected officials and women's rights advocates in NY because the Supreme Court's reported decision is an abomination,' Senator Schumer tweeted on Sunday along with an image of pro-abortion activists and officials holding signs. 'The Senate will vote this week on the Women's Health Protection Act to protect abortion rights,' Schumer previewed. 'We will see where every single senator stands.' Senator Amy Klobuchar questioned Sunday if women want Texas Senator Ted Cruz making healthcare decisions for them as Democrats lashed out at draft Supreme Court opinion that overturns Roe v. Wade Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer posted an image Sunday showing him at a pro-choice event with elected officials and pro-abortion advocates pushing for Congress to codify the 50-year-old landmark abortion rights case Schumer said he will bring a vote on abortion to the Senate floor on Wednesday after filing cloture on Monday. Although Democrats don't have the votes to pass abortion legislation right now, he wants to make it so Americans 'see where every single senator stands' Klobuchar questioned during her Sunday interview why women's rights to an abortion should be different from state to state again, specifically calling out Cruz's state of Texas. 'Wouldn't these laws simply reflect the majority of the people in those states?' Raddatz questioned. 'Why should a woman in Texas have different rights and a different future and a different ability to make decisions about her body and her reproductive choices than a woman in Minnesota?' the senator asked in comparing her state to a deep red one. 'How can that be in this country, that we'd have a patchwork of laws?' she continued. 'It isn't always easy to put yourself in someone else's shoes.' Republicans, on the other hand, are in favor of giving the powers back to states from the federal government to better reflect the desires of constituents in their red states that want greater restriction on abortion. WHAT IS ROE V. WADE? The Roe v. Wade decision nearly 50 years ago recognized that the right to personal privacy under the US Constitution protects a woman's ability to terminate her pregnancy. On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court decided that the constitutional right to privacy applied to abortion. Roe was 'Jane Roe,' a pseudonym for Norma McCorvey, a single mother pregnant for the third time, who wanted an abortion. She sued the Dallas attorney general Henry Wade over a Texas law that made it a crime to terminate a pregnancy except in cases of rape or incest, or when the mother's life was in danger. Roe's lawyers said she was unable to travel out of the state to obtain an abortion and argued that the law was too vague and infringed on her constitutional rights. Filing a complaint alongside her was Texas doctor James Hallford, who argued the law's medical provision was vague, and that he was unable to reliably determine which of his patients fell into the allowed category. The 'Does', another couple who were childless, also filed a companion complaint, saying that medical risks made it unsafe but not life-threatening for the wife to carry a pregnancy to term, and arguing they should be able to obtain a safe, legal abortion should she become pregnant. The trio of complaints - from a woman who wanted an abortion, a doctor who wanted to perform them and a non-pregnant woman who wanted the right if the need arose - ultimately reached the nation's top court. The court heard arguments twice, and then waited until after Republican president Richard Nixon's re-election, in November 1972. Only the following January did it offer its historic seven-to-two decision - overturning the Texas laws and setting a legal precedent that has had ramifications in all 50 states. Advertisement Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell went one step further, suggested that a federal abortion ban is 'possible' if the Supreme Court rules to overturn Roe v. Wade and Republicans retake a majority in the November midterm elections. 'If the leaked opinion became the final opinion, legislative bodies - not only at the state level but at the federal level - certainly could legislate in that area,' the Kentucky senator told USA Today on Thursday. 'And if this were the final decision, that was the point that it should be resolved one way or another in the legislative process. So yeah, it's possible.' New Hampshire Democrat Senator Maggie Hassan, who is up for reelection, blasted out a news release responding to McConnell's comments. 'Mitch McConnell is already making it clear that if Republicans retake the Senate majority, they will quickly move to criminalize abortion nationwide and roll back reproductive freedom for women all across this country, including in New Hampshire,' Hassan said. McConnell remained cautious when addressing whether Republicans would pass legislation entirely banning abortion if they were to win back the Senate. Klobuchar admitted that the issue of abortion isn't likely to lead to a different outcome in the 2022 midterms, claiming voters are more mobilized to go to the ballot box over economic and national security concerns. Democrats have been calling on President Joe Biden to try and enact such a law ahead of the November elections, which pundits predict will see his party face a wipeout at the hands of the GOP. 'With regard to the abortion issue, I think it's pretty clear where Senate Republicans stand,' McConnell said. 'And if and when the court makes a final decision, I expect everybody will be more definitive. But I don't think it's much secret where Senate Republicans stand on that issue.' Conservative Justice Samuel Alito's draft opinion written in February reveals that the court has voted to strike down the landmark 1973 ruling Rove v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. The official opinion won't be released until June. Five of the six conservative justices signed onto the opinion, with only Chief Justice John Roberts dissenting with the three liberals on the bench. Roberts does, however, support a ban on abortion at the 15-week point of a pregnancy. The draft opinion, which was published by POLITICO last Monday evening, comes amid nearly 50 years of federal abortion protections and could change before the ruling is finalized in coming weeks. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured at the Capitol on Tuesday) says a federal abortion ban is 'possible' if the Supreme Court rules to overturn Roe v. Wade Democrats have expressed great disapproval of the SCOTUS opinion, alleging overturning Roe v. Wade would be 'one of the worst and most damaging decisions in modern history'. Klobuchar said Sunday that Alito is brining the U.S. all the way back to the 1850s. 'He actually cites the fact that abortion was criminalized back when the 14th Amendment was adopted,' she noted of the Justice's opinion during her ABC interview on Sunday. President Biden, in a statement issued hours after the leak, said women have a 'fundamental' right to an abortion and called on American voters to 'elect pro-choice officials this November.' He also pledged the White House would be 'ready when any ruling is issued.' Biden reasserted his position after SCOTUS confirmed the draft was authentic late on Tuesday morning, telling reporters it was 'really quite a radical decision' and 'a fundamental shift in American jurisprudence.' President Joe Biden (pictured in Ohio on Friday), in a statement issued hours after the leak, said women have a 'fundamental' right to an abortion and called on American voters to 'elect pro-choice officials this November' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (left) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (right) issued a joint statement alleging the 'Supreme Court is poised to inflict the greatest restriction of rights in the past fifty years' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday issued a joint statement addressing abortion rights. 'If the report is accurate, the Supreme Court is poised to inflict the greatest restriction of rights in the past fifty years - not just on women but on all Americans,' the pair penned. 'The Republican-appointed Justices' reported votes to overturn Roe v. Wade would go down as an abomination, one of the worst and most damaging decisions in modern history.' Schumer then said on Tuesday he would force a vote this upcoming week to codify Roe v. Wade. 'A vote on this legislation is not an abstract exercise. This is as urgent and real as it gets. We'll vote to protect a women's right to choose,' he tweeted. However, analysts predict the vote will fall short because the measure doesn't have the necessary 60 votes to advance. Regardless, Democrats remain eager to get the GOP's votes on record ahead of the midterms, likely to further their efforts to sway Americans to vote blue. Similarly, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee issued a statement Saturday citing McConnell's USA Today interview in an effort to fire up its base. 'Mitch McConnell confirmed what voters have long known: Republicans will use every tool they can, from the courts to Congress, to make abortion illegal everywhere and strip away a woman's right to make our own decisions,' the statement read. 'For voters, the stakes of protecting and expanding our Democratic Senate majority in 2022 have never been higher.' Abortion-rights protesters hold signs during demonstration outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday Anti-abortion protesters hold a demonstration across the street from the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday Meanwhile, abortion rights protesters rallied across the U.S. on Saturday, vowing to fight to ensure that abortion remains a legal option for women nationwide. In the nation's capital, abortion rights protesters stood outside the Supreme Court, holding signs that said abortion is a human right, or 'Abort the Court.' Protesters who opposed abortion demonstrated across the street. In Maryland, demonstrators rallied outside the homes of conservative Justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh, shouting 'you don't care if people die' and 'keep abortion safe and legal.' Liberal group ShutDown D.C. already plans to host a 'Vigil for Abortion Rights' outside of Justice Alito's house on Monday. Next Saturday, America is expecting a 'massive' day of action with nationwide rallies organized by Planned Parenthood, UltraViolet, Women's March and MoveOn. The protest, dubbed Bans Off Our Bodies, will feature marches in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington D.C., as well as hundreds of demonstrations in other cities across the U.S. Demonstrator Hannah Yost shares personal testimony on Thursday as she rallies with other people for abortion rights after an anti-climb protective fence was installed outside of the U.S. Supreme Court building in D.C. Police surround an anti-abortion demonstrator on Wednesday as abortion-rights advocates protest outside the Supreme Court Building in D.C. Demonstrators in support of reproductive rights protest outside of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland on Saturday Protesters gathered outside Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house on Saturday, screaming: 'We will not go back!' Furious pro-choice protesters screamed 'you don't care if people die' while picketing the house of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Saturday The leaked draft was written by Justice Samuel Alito, one of the six justices appointed by a Republican president who sit on the court, and repudiated both Roe v Wade and the 1992 Planned Parenthood vs Casey Decision. If and when the draft is made final, the decision removes the federal right to abortion in America, leaving it up to elected officials in each state to decide whether or not women should have access to abortions. Twenty-six states are likely to ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is formally overturned, essentially outlawing abortion in more than half of the country. Eighteen states already have restrictive abortion laws in place. The news sent shock waves throughout Washington D.C. with Democrats vowing to codify the legal right to an abortion into law and Republicans demanding an investigation into the leak, claiming it was done to try and influence the high court ahead of its formal ruling. Perhaps anticipating backlash, the Supreme Court building initially was barricaded Monday night before being watched by security. Protesters eventually headed toward the gates in large numbers, with some standing up and chanting, while others sat outside the building and lit candles in silence. A small number of counter-protesters also gathered. 'Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,' Alito writes in the draft opinion, which was crafted in February and circulated among the court members. 'We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,' he continues in the document, titled 'Opinion of the Court.' 'It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people's elected representatives.' Aside from Alito, four other judges voted in favor of overturning the law: Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, all of whom were nominated by Republican presidents. This is also the first such case in modern history of a Supreme Court draft decision being leaked to the public while the case was still pending. Sometimes drafts are circulated by one justice in the hopes of swaying fellow judges but this is believed to be the first time a draft has been leaked. A draft is not final until the court formally announces its decision in a case, meaning the ruling could be changed. The court is expected to issue its final ruling before its term is up in late June or early July. Republican appointed-Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett all voted to strike down Roe with Samuel Alito The co-founder of a neo-Nazi group who is accused of being a member after it was banned has told a court his political aim is to repatriate ethnic minority and Jewish people from the UK. Alex Davies, 27, is on trial accused of being a member of the proscribed organisation National Action (NA), after it was banned on December 16 2016. Barnaby Jameson QC, prosecuting, has told Winchester Crown Court that the UK Government banned the group after it had 'terrorised' towns across the country with its call for an 'all-out race war'. Davies then set up 'continuity' group NS131, which stood for National Socialist Anti-Capitalist Action, and was also banned by the Government, it was claimed. He told the court that NS131 was not set up as a continuation of NA and had different aims and processes 'along the lines of the Conservative Government's Rwanda policy'. Davies told a jury that the group's aim was to have an 'overwhelmingly white Britain' and cited Priti Patel's new scheme for sending failed asylum seekers to Rwanda. Alex Davies, 27, (pictured) is on trial accused of being a member of the proscribed organisation National Action (NA) after it was banned on December 16 2016 Davies told a jury that the group's aim was to have an 'overwhelmingly white Britain' and cited Priti Patel's (pictured) new scheme for sending failed asylum seekers to Rwanda, which is set to start nect week During a four-minute video shown in court last month, a man alleged to be Davies is seen briefly in a hoodie flanked by masked men holding banners reading 'Britain is ours - the rest must go' and carrying out 'Sieg Heil' Nazi salutes Asked by Mr Jameson if the repatriation of ethnic minorities would be enforced, he said: 'It would be compulsory, I imagine. 'I imagine it would be run along the lines of the current Conservative Government and their sending asylum-seekers to Rwanda.' He said the deportation would not be of all ethnic minorities and Jews, adding: 'There are certain Jews that do essential jobs, just as there are black, Asian and ethnic minority people who do essential jobs, and to send them back would be doing harm to ourselves.' He went on: 'If we were to take power, our aim is to have an overwhelmingly white Britain as it more or less has been for centuries. Davies, from Swansea, denies membership of a proscribed organisation between December 17 2016 and September 27 2017, and the trial at Winchester Crown Court (pictured) continues 'It's only in the past 50/60/70 years we have had mass immigration, it would be to return to the status quo of before the Second World War.' Asked if he would repatriate Jewish families with British heritage dating back 'thousands of years', he replied: 'Yes, that's how repatriation would work.' Davies denied he is a violent person and said that training camps he attended had not been paramilitary-style training events. He added that he had been quoting former BNP leader Nick Griffin when he sent a message to a potential recruit in April 2017 which stated: 'We need to be smart but ready to use well-directed boots and fists, if needs be. No pacifist movement is going to go anywhere.' The court has heard that Davies was photographed in May 2016 giving a Nazi salute and carrying an NA flag in the execution chamber at the Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany, where 56,000 Jews were murdered in the Second World War Davies said that, after the ban, he was involved in 'advancing the cause of national socialism, not the cause of a continuity NA'. 'After proscription all I am interested in is pursuing legal political activities,' he said. He said he estimated that he had previously known about '10 to 12' of the 30/40 members of NS131. Davies previously told the court that he denied continuing being a member of NA after the ban, and said he had not attempted to defy it. He said of the ban: 'I felt it was an unprovoked move, but in some respects, given the provocative nature of the organisation, I understood the thinking behind the proscription 'I understood why people in the Home Office would be concerned about what National Action was involved in, not so much what it was doing at the time but the trajectory it was on.' Davies, who said that it was his idea to set up NA in the summer of 2013 before he went to Warwick University to study philosophy, also told the court he had not attempted to challenge the proscription, although others had. He said: 'I felt it was an opportunity to reassess what we had been doing and to start with a blank slate and come up with ways of doing things that would be more productive.' He said that he left after one year after his link to an NA demonstration in Liverpool was exposed by an undercover reporter for the Sunday Mirror. Davies told the court that he had previously been involved in several other organisations which included Ukip, the BNP, the Hunt Saboteur Association and British Movement. He was also a member of Western Spring, which he described as an 'organisation that aims to create white communities'. Alex Davies, co-founder of neo-Nazi group National Action, allegedly held a protest dubbed the 'Battle of Liverpool'. Pictured: Evidence shown to the court Davies said that he set up NA because as a 'national socialist' he was 'politically homeless' after the BNP had 'imploded'. He said that he did not believe in 'fomenting a race war' because it would 'create harm to my own people'. Davies said the aim of the group was to 'bring young people into nationalism' and to create a 'nationalist Britain which would be a white Britain'. He admitted that he posed carrying out a Nazi salute for a photo in the execution chamber at Buchenwald concentration camp in May 2016. Davies said that he was 'ashamed' of his actions and added: 'It was a disgraceful thing to do where people have died and desecrate their memory, whatever side of the political spectrum they may have fallen on.' He said that he had not agreed or been involved with Twitter posts put out by NA accounts which 'celebrated' the murder of MP Jo Cox in June 2016. The defendant, from Swansea, said: 'I felt bad that she died, I feel sorry for her kids, I feel sorry for her husband.' Davies, from Swansea, denies membership of a proscribed organisation between December 17 2016 and September 27 2017. The trial continues. The pair are not related but are thought to be 'lovers' according to police The escaped murderer and former prison guard are still on the run Casey was charged with a host of violent crimes and other serious felonies He also claimed his client wanted to die when he was arrested back in 2015 Bryant says the April 29 escape was 'far too thorough and too far-thinking' He claims the escape is 'not Casey's MO' and his crimes are often 'shortsighted' ale Bryant was Casey White's defense attorney when he was sentenced in 2019 US Marshals are searching for an escaped murderer and his jail guard lover in rural Indiana after authorities located a vehicle that was reported stolen in Tennessee. The vehicle was reported missing just hours after Casey White and Vicky White - who are unrelated but are said to be lovers - abandoned her SUV in Florence, Tennessee, on April 29. Investigators located it Monday in Evansville, Indiana, a small city along the Ohio River that borders Kentucky, WAAY reported. Police are working to determine if the vehicle is connected to the couple. Confessed murderer Casey, 38, broke out of Lauderdale County Detention Center in Alabama on April 29, aided by 57-year-old prison guard Vicky White. The pair are still on the run from authorities 11 days after they were supposed to arrive at an Alabama courthouse for a 'mental health evaluation'. Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said he 'really had hoped that we would have had them in a couple of days, three days max.' Discovery of the stolen vehicle followed a declaration from Casey's former attorney that Vicky was likely the mastermind behind the inmate's prison break. Confessed murderer Casey White, 38 (left) broke out of Lauderdale County Detention Center in Alabama on April 29, aided by 57-year-old prison guard Vicky White (right). Casey's former attorney believes the jail guard was likely the mastermind behind his escape Dale Bryant was the defense attorney for Casey when he was sentenced in 2019. He claims that while Casey has a lengthy criminal history and escaped from jail before, his most recent getaway - which took place 11 days ago - was 'far too thorough and too far-thinking' Former correctional officer Vicky White (pictured) was seen checking out of the Quality Inn in Florence, Alabama, the morning she was seen helping her convict 'lover' escape jail Timeline of Vicky White and Casey White's disappearance April 18: Jail guard Vicky White sold her Lexington home. Public records revealed she sold the property for $95,550, which was below market value. She started living with her mother after the sale. April 28: Vicky submits retirement paperwork to officials at Lauderdale County Jail. According to Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton, she had been discussing her retirement for many months and 'talked about going to the beach'. Pre-prison break: In the week ahead of the escape (specific dates unknown) Vicky purchased men's clothing at a Kohl's store and visited a sex shop. It is unclear if she bought anything at the adult toy store. Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly claims she also withdrew $90K in cash out of a series of bank accounts. April 29 at 5.21am: Vicky checks out of a Quality Inn Florence, Alabama. 8.47am: Transport Van 5 leaves the Lauderdale County jail with seven inmates escorted by two deputies 8.56am: Transport Van 2 leaves the jail with five inmates also escorted by two deputies 9.20am: Assistant Director Vicky White tells a deputy to prepare inmate Casey White for transport to courthouse. Deputy removes White from his cell, takes him to booking and handcuffs him and shackles his legs. 9.41am: Vicky leaves detention center with Casey and head to the courthouse for a 'mental health evaluation.' She told the booking officer that she is the only deputy available who is firearm-certified and that she's dropping him off to other deputies at the courthouse. Vicky says she's then going to Med Plus for a personal appointment. 9.49am: Surveillance video shows Vicky's police cruiser parked at the nearby Florence Square shopping center parking lot eight minutes after leaving the jail. 'There was not enough time for them to even attempt to try to come to the courthouse,' Sheriff Rick Singleton said. 11.34am: A Florence Police Department officer spots her cruiser. 3.30pm: Booking officer reports to administration that they've been trying to contact Vicky to check on her, and that her phone is going directly to voice mail. The officer also says that Casey was not returned to the detention center with other inmates. Approximately 11pm: College Grove, Tennessee resident Jackie Adams finds Vicky's SUV - with tinted windows and no tags - abandoned by her home. She reported the vehicle to the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, which had it towed. May 1: Us Marshals offer a $10,000 bounty - now up to $25,000 - for Casey May 3: US Marshals issued a warrant for Vicky. charging her with permitting or facilitating escape in the first degree in connection with capital murder May 4: Vicky and Casey were seen driving around Florence in a police cruiser on gas station surveillance May 6: Tennessee cops discover the impounded SUV belonged to Vicky, spurring a force of US Marshals, Williamson County Sheriff's Officers, and SWAT members to circle back to Adams' property. Drones and helicopters descended on Adams' home - where they remained for hours and into the evening. 2.15pm: The Williamson County Sheriff's Office tweets 'there is NO sign the two are still in our area.' May 7: Connolly reveals investigators' theory that Vicky is rolling Casey, dressed as a woman, around in a wheelchair. Officials also suspect Vicky might be disguising herself as an elderly woman with a grey wig. May 9: US Marshals search for the couple in Evansville, Indiana after authorities locate a vehicle that had been reported stolen in the area of Tennessee where Vicky's SUV was abandoned. The couple is then caught after a brief car chase in Evansville, Indiana. Casey White surrenders. Vicky White is taken to the hospital with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Source: WAAY-TV, Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office, NewsNation, TODAY and DailyMail.com Advertisement Dale Bryant was the defense attorney for Casey when he was sentenced in 2019 on counts of attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, burglary and other felonies dating back to 2015. Bryant claims while the 6ft 9in inmate has a lengthy criminal history and escaped from jail before, his most recent getaway - which took place 11 days ago - was 'far too thorough and too far-thinking'. 'That is not Casey's MO,' Bryant told Newsweek on Sunday. 'None of his crimes were planned. They are all short sighted; in the moment crimes.' He added: 'Even his prior escape attempt from the same county jail was spontaneous.' The attorney also noted footage of their escape suggests jail guard Vicky White, who was in a more than two-year relationship with Casey, looks more worrisome than him. 'If you notice in the video of the two leaving the jail, Casey's body language does not look like someone that is hiding something,' Bryant said. 'Her body language looks more hurried and anxious.' Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton, who worked with Vicky for many years, echoed the lawyer's claim, saying the escape was 'well-planned and thought out'. He revealed that in the week leading up to the jailbreak Vicky purchased men's clothing at a Kohl's store and visited a sex shop. It is unclear if she bought anything at the adult toy store. 'We just confirmed that this was well-planned and thought out,' Singleton told the TODAY Show Monday. 'Obviously, she bought some clothes for him. The adult store thing? I don't know what that was about.' Bryant also believes Casey may attempt 'suicide by cop'. He claimed his former client wanted to die when he was arrested back in 2015 and suggested Casey could likely shoot at police officers to elicit a deadly response. 'Casey wanted to die... He was trying to get the officers to shoot him and that is kind of my fear, how this situation is going to end,' Bryant told WAFF last week. 'I'm afraid that Casey may try to shoot them [police officers] to try and get them to shoot him. I want to say in his interview after his arrest and in my conversations with him, he wanted to die that day.' Bryant went on to declare the escaped suspected murderer is actually a 'decent person' when on appropriate medication, but warned he 'can't function in the real world' and is prone to self-medication with dangerous substances. 'Casey suffers from a mental illness... When he's on medication and in a supervised environment... he's a decent person. When he gets out of incarceration, he self medicates by smoking methamphetamine or taking other illegal substances,' Bryant said. Bryant's comments came as a woman living in Tennessee discovered Casey and Vicky's getaway car had been abandoned outside her home. 'It's eerie that they were here,' College Grove resident Jackie Adams told DailyMail.com Saturday after coming across the suspicious vehicle on the evening of April 29, roughly 100 miles from the jail the pair had fled earlier that day. Adams, 41 who drives a school-bus in the rural town, said she was coming home from one of her other jobs when she saw the then-unidentified SUV with tinted windows and no tags, which belongs to former corrections officer Vicky. 'I went ahead and called the sheriff's office to have it towed. We know all of our neighbors and I immediately knew it wasn't anybody's car.' The car - which contained contained Vicky's jail radio, handcuffs and keys - was towed later that day, with sheriffs seemingly unaware of the vehicle's connection to then burgeoning manhunt. The car sat in a Tennessee tow lot for an entire week, but cops on Friday realized the impounded vehicle belonged to Vicky, spurring a force of US Marshals, Williamson County Sheriff's Officers and SWAT members to circle back to Adams' property Friday morning - a week after she had reported the vehicle. 'It was pretty intense yesterday,' the school bus driver recalled Saturday to DailyMail.com. She said officers searched her property, the properties around her home, and nearby woods relentlessly into the night, for any clues as to the location of the pair - whom police believe are romantically involved. Speaking to DailyMail.com just hours after drones and helicopters descended on the home - where they remained for hours and into the evening, according to Adams - the homeowner said she hopes the duo are long gone. 'I would hope that the people aren't here but I hope that they find them soon so that people around here can sleep peacefully,' Adams said, adding that the car turning up in the usually quiet neighborhood left her and others feeling on edge. 'We know everybody on our road and we watch out for each other.' Jackie Adams - who discovered the abandoned getaway car of fugitive prison guard Vicky White and convicted killer Casey White last Friday - says she felt unease after finding the vehicle outside her Tennessee home, just hours after the duo had escaped an Alabama prison Vicky, who was an assistant director of corrections at Lauderdale County, used a police vehicle to ferry Casey out of the maximum-security facility, under the guise that she was taking the con to a scheduled mental health evaluation. The pair then switched to Vicky's orange Ford Edge (pictured), which was found in Tennessee Adams was coming home from one of her other jobs when she saw the then unidentified SUV parked outside the house. The car - which contained Vicky's jail radio, handcuffs and keys - had no tags, so cops had it towed, not knowing it belonged to the at-large corrections officer She added: 'We have children and we like to trust that our kids are safe in their yards but now we can't trust that.' Cops say Vicky, a 57-year-old prison guard at Lauderdale County Jail in Alabama with a spotless record, helped confessed murderer Casey White escape custody the morning of April 29, the day she was scheduled to retire. Vicky, who was an assistant director of corrections at the facility, used a police vehicle to ferry Casey out of the maximum-security jail, under the guise that she was taking the con to a scheduled mental health evaluation. The pair then switched to Vicky's orange Ford Edge - the car Adams would discover on her property hours later. Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton said at a press briefing Friday that the couple's escape vehicle was abandoned roughly two hours away from the jail. 'I think this was a very well thought out plan,' said Singleton. 'We're sort of at a loss.' Singleton noted that Vicky was divorced but continued living with her ex-husband, who died of Parkinson's disease earlier this year. He wonders if grief at the loss of her former partner may have triggered her recent actions. The Marshals have released various photos of the couple, showing off Casey's tattoos - many which have references to white supremacy - and what they would look with different hairstyles New video released Wednesday shows Vicky and Casey driving to the Florence Square shopping center on Friday where they abandoned the sheriff's car used during the escape The sheriff of Williamson County, where the SUV was discovered, said in a tweet earlier Friday that 'there is NO sign the two are still in our area.' Investigators have also learned that Vicky had sold her home in the weeks before the escape, and had withdrawn about $90,000 in cash from several banks in the area, Singleton said. He also noted that Vicky had used an alias to purchase the SUV and was likely to try to do that again. The US Marshals Service, a federal agency specialized in fugitive manhunts, also said in a report Friday that Vicky might have darkened her hair. The agency released composite images of what she would look like, as well as photos of Casey White's tattoos - including one associated with a white supremacist prison gang. Their report also noted the couple's stark difference in size, with Casey standing a full foot taller than the former corrections officer. The reward for information leading to the couple's arrest has been increased to $25,000, Singleton said. A plane that crashed in 2019 in South Dakota, killing nine family members on a pheasant hunting trip, was dangerously overloaded and caked with ice, factors that contributed to the wreck, a federal report says. The single-engine Pilatus PC-12, piloted by Kirkland Hansen, the executive of the wellness company Kyani, barely cleared the runway, climbing only 460ft during a blizzard at the Chamberlain airport on November 30 before it stalled and crashed into a cornfield. The accident killed the pilot, his brother Jim, who was a co-founder of Kyani, their father Jim Hansen Sr; Kirk Hansen's children, Stockton and Logan; his sons-in-law, Kyle Naylor and Tyson Dennert; and Jim Hansen's son, Jake, and grandson, Houston. The extended family of 12 (all pictured) who went on a hunting trip in South Dakota before a fatal plane crash that left nine of them dead, and three fighting for their lives have been identified Kirk Hansen, the pilot in the fatal crash, seen here trying to de-ice the plane in blizzard conditions Snow and ice had accumulated on the wings and tale of the single-engine Pilatus PC-12 before takeoff The plane carrying the Hansen family, who were on their annual pheasant hunting trip, only made it to 460 feet off the ground before stalling and crashing Miraculously the pilot's son Josh, Jim's son Matt and a son-in-law Thomas Long all survived Miraculously the pilot's son Josh, Jim's son Matt and a son-in-law Thomas Long all survived. They were in South Dakota for their annual Thanksgiving pheasant hunt. The National Transportation Safety Board investigation into the crash found that Kirk Hansen was in a hurry to take off in blinding snow storm and tried to de-ice the plane in freezing temperature using rubbing alcohol he bought from a local store. Crash investigators conclusions Contrary to guidance in the airplane flight manual, the pilot attempted to remove snow and ice from the airplane outdoors while frozen precipitation was falling, and he did not completely remove snow and ice accumulations from the vertical and horizontal stabilizers. There were more people on the aircraft than available seats The airplane was loaded 107 lbs. above the maximum gross weight The plane was loaded between 3.99 and 5.49 inches aft of the aft center of gravity limit, significantly lessening the longitudinal stability of the aircraft The pilot initiated the takeoff rotation at about 88 knots, 4 knots slower than the prescribed rotation speed with the ICE PUSHER MODE active, decreasing the margin of the stall warning rotation Advertisement According to report, he stayed behind on the hunting trip with one other family member used a step ladder and ice scraper to clear the ice and snow caked on the wings and tail outside in the elements instead of taking the plane inside a hanger to clear it off. 'It's coming off pretty good,' Hansen told the Chamberlain Airport manager Dustin Hrabe, who told investigators he saw the pilot 'chipping away' at the ice for three hours after two inches had falling overnight. Carey Story, the owner of the Thunderstik Lodge where the family was staying, urged them not to fly, offering to put them up for another night, but Kirkland said that they 'had to get home' to Idaho Falls, Idaho where they're from. 'The pilot told him that the airplane was 98% good and the remaining ice would come off during takeoff,' according to investigators. The plane didn't even have enough seats for all the passengers aboard, and two people were likely seated in the aisles when it crashed shortly after takeoff. The report said the plane was about 107 pounds overweight, according to the NTSB. The aircraft's center of gravity was off because some of the passengers had to sit in the aisles. But the report said that ten minutes before takeoff there were visible icicles hanging from the plane's horizontal stabilizer, and snow was falling heavily. Video from the crash, and a transcript of communications with the tower indicate the runway was at least partly covered with snow. Previously, the NTSB said three of the Pilatus PC12 plane's warning systems the stall warning, stick shaker and stick pusher activated within seconds of liftoff. The plane only managed to climb 460 feet into the air before it crashed less than a mile from the Chamberlain airport. The family said the Traveler's Prayer just before takeoff, according to a transcript from the voice recorder. Jim Hansen Jr (left) and his brother Kirk (right), died when their plane went down in a field near Chamberlain, South Dakota, on the way back from a hunting trip Kirk Hansen's children, Stockton (right, pictured with his partner) and Logan, were killed when the plane went down in a heavy snowstorm Kirk sons-in-law, Kyle Naylor (right with his wife) and Tyson Dennert (left with his wife) were also killed in the crash 'It don't look good to me I don't know what you guys are thinking,' the airport manager told the pilot as the plane taxied on the runway. Cockpit recordings show the family joked about the airport taking too long to clear the strip for takeoff. Jim Hansen Sr was also killed in the crash 'In my pickup, I could have done it in 30 minutes,' one of the family members says. The airport manager give a final warning to the pilot before the wheels came up. 'You guys are crazy,' he said. 'I got berms on this thing.' He said referring to the snow piling up. 'That don't look good to me.' Witness Scott Lewis, whose mother-in-law lives at the end of the runway, said that he saw the plane take off, but it never flew over the house. 'I was putting my daughters car in her garage and was sweeping snow off of it when I heard the plane take off,' Lewis told investigators. 'It was snowing so hard I could not see the plane.' The Hansens were executives with Kyani, which markets nutritional, health and wellness products, as well as with petroleum products distributor Conrad & Bischoff and KJ's Super Stores. The group had been on a hunting trip to South Dakota, one of the nation's top destinations for pheasants, when their plane crashed, according to East Idaho News. A photo showed the family posing together after their hunt. Brian Wood, owner of a funeral home in Idaho Falls, lamented the deaths on Facebook. He called the Hansens 'pillars of our community' and wrote that they had offered many times over the years to help pay expenses for someone who might not be able to afford it. 'Our community has a dark cloud over it now,' Wood wrote. 'They will never know the many lives they touched.' A man has been found guilty of murdering a woman and attempting to kill her elderly aunt in a stabbing frenzy more than 30 years after he was acquitted of the crimes. Rickie Tregaskis, 53, was originally acquitted by a jury in 1991 of killing Barbra Griffin, 59, and attempting to kill Emma Anton, then 85, at Mrs Griffin's home in St Helier, Jersey. But Tregaskis, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, is now facing life in prison for his crimes after being convicted on Friday following a change in the law in Jersey that allowed him to be re-tried. This is a landmark case in Jersey, where legislation in respect of 'double jeopardy' was not aligned with the rest of the UK until 2019. Around 20 double jeopardy prosecutions have taken place in the UK since its change of the law in 2003. The court heard Tregaskis had sneaked into Mrs Griffin's ground floor flat on the night of August 2, 1990, on the Le Geyt Flats estate in St Helier. Rickie Tregaskis, 53, was originally acquitted of killing Barbra Griffin, 59, in 1991 and attempting to kill Emma Anton, then 85, but he has now been convicted with new evidence Tregaskis began stabbing elderly Ms Anton in her sleep during the home invasion. He was then confronted by Mrs Griffin, who fought to defend her visiting aunt. Ms Anton miraculously survived after being stabbed repeatedly in her left side but Mrs Giffin received a fatal wound to her heart while rushing to her rescue. Although police arrested Tregaskis and charged him with the murder and assault five days later on August 7, 1990, a jury unanimously found him not guilty in his 1991 trial. But Tregaskis was finally brought to justice on Friday when he was convicted of murder and attempted murder following a 2012 cold case review into his crime. The change in the law in 2019 allowed the case to be referred to the Jersey Court of Appeal, who subsequently quashed the acquittal, beginning a new trial on April 26 2022. Speaking after the verdict, Deputy Chief Officer, Stewart Gull, said: 'Today we can finally see justice done as Tregaskis is convicted for his heinous crime committed over 30 years ago. 'I would like to firstly commend the family of Barbara and Emma who have supported officers through both the initial investigation, and this second re-trial. 'They have demonstrated courage, grace and immense dedication in securing justice for their loved ones. The court heard Tregaskis fatally stabbed Barbra Griffin, 59, in her ground floor flat in St Helier, Jersey in 1991, as she fought to save her elderly aunt from his attack Mrs Griffin's aunt Emma Anton, 85, miraculously survived after being stabbed repeatedly in her left side 'Despite the challenges faced, and sheer length of time, SoJP officers, along with the support of the LOD, have conducted a painstaking yet extremely professional review into this case, which has indeed paid off. 'Recognition must be paid to Lee Turner and Clyde Till, who led this review. 'I hope that today's outcome has given Barbara and Emma's family and friends some closure and sense of justice and that the two ladies can now finally rest in peace.' Outside the court Cheryl Lowe, the daughter of Mrs Griffin, said her mother could now 'rest in peace'. She said: 'We've waited 30 years for this, 32 years almost. It means everything, my mother can now rest in peace, we've waited all this time and now everybody knows who murdered my mother.' Tregaskis will be sentenced on June 28. A second set of human remains have been discovered at Lake Mead reservoir over the weekend, days after a man's body was found in a barrel exposed by a drought. Lindsey and Lynette Melvin reportedly found the skeletal remains at Callville Bay within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada around 2 p.m. Saturday, KTNV reported. Photos of the grisly discovery show a skull, complete with teeth, nestled into the dirt and sand near the lake's shore. Other bones are seen sticking out of the sand at various angles. It is not known if the remains were uncovered because of the receding waters. But police warned that more bodies could turn up after a man's remains were found in a metal barrel last week that was exposed amid an ongoing drought. The water level of Lake Mead has dropped so much that a water intake valve which supplies Las Vegas has become visible for the first time since 1971. Park rangers responded to the scene on Saturday and recovered the human remains, the National Park Service said in a statement. The Clark County Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The investigation is ongoing, officials said. No further details were provided. Photos of the grisly discovery show a skull, complete with teeth, nestled into the dirt and sand near the lake's shore Lindsey and Lynette Melvin reportedly found the skeletal remains at Callville Bay within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area around 2 p.m. Saturday 'At this time homicide is not responding,' Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Jason Johansson said Saturday night, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. 'The coroner's office is handling.' The grisly discovery comes nearly a week after remains were found in a metal barrel on May 1 on the receding shoreline of the country's largest reservoir, located on the border of Arizona and Nevada. Photos taken by Lindsey and Lynnette Melvin show a close up shot of human teeth found as part of a skull that was discovered on the show of Callville Bay at Lake Mead It is not known if the remains found Saturday were uncovered because of the receding waters, but police warned that more bodies could turn up after a man's remains were found in a metal barrel last week when it was exposed due to the drop in water levels More human remains were discovered at Callville Bay (pictured) within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area on Saturday, less than a week after a man's body was found in a barrel The metal barrel discovered last week was spotted because of dropping water levels in the lake, officials said. 'The water level has dropped so much over the last 30 to 40 years that, where the person was located, if a person were to drop the barrel in the water and it sinks, you are never going to find it unless the water level drops,' Homicide Lt. Ray Spencer of the Las Vergas Metropolitan Police said in an interview Monday. 'The water level has dropped and made the barrel visible. The barrel did not move.It was not like the barrel washed up.' Lake Mead and Lake Powell upstream are the largest human-made reservoirs in the U.S., part of a system that provides water to more than 40 million people, tribes, agriculture and industry in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and across the southern border in Mexico. The skeletal remains of the body were visible through a corroded opening in the rusted metal barrel. The victim's shirt and belt were still clinging to their bones The barrel was found embedded in mud along Lake Mead's receding shoreline. Police say that as water levels continue to drop it is likely that more bodies will be exposed The barrel containing the remains was discovered by people strolling along the Lake Mead shore last week. Police believe the man was a gunshot from victim and that the killing probably happened between the mid-1970s and the early 1980s because the victim was wearing shoes that were manufactured during that period, Lt. Spencer said. The death-by-gunshot announcement bolsters Spencer's earlier comments to the New York Times that investigators would 'definitely not rule out' the possibility that the skeleton in the barrel was the victim of a mob related murder. The Las Vegas strip was notoriously dominated by mob-run casinos from the late '40s through the '80s. 'It's really odd in the sense that had the lake never receded, we would never have discovered the body,' Lt. Spencer said. The beach where the barrel was found was roped off by park rangers after it was discovered by park-goers on May 1 Taken in March 2022, this image shows the reservoir, the largest in the US, down to very low level - with just 30 per cent capacity The rusted barrel embedded the in mud was found along the shoreline by passersby, and when they peered into a corroded opening they discovered the skeletal corpse. 'We were docking our boat to go home and heard a woman scream,' Shawna Hollister, who witnessed the discovery, told KLAS-TV, 'My husband walked over and found the body. His shirt and belt were the only thing we could see over his decomposing bones.' Spencer said that investigators have already set to work identifying the victim, and will be combing through missing persons cases from the 1970s and '80s, but that the process could take years as they are starting 'at square one.' 'In the 1980s, we did not have any of the DNA databases, so there was no DNA collection,' Spencer said, adding that if DNA is able to be extracted from the bones the genealogy work required to identify the victim will be extensive. If the drought persists and the lake waters continue to recede, Spencer said it is not unlikely that more bodies will be exposed. The water level in Lake Mead have reached their lowest heights since 1971. The reservoir's water provides drinking water and and electricity for 40million people Many of the problems facing Lake Mead come from the ongoing drought in the region, that has caused the Colorado River basin to become extremely low 'I would say that as the water level drops there is a very good chance that we are going to find additional human remains,' he told KLAS. Water levels in Lake Mead - the largest reservoir in the US, which is formed by the Hoover Dam River and sits about 24 miles from Las Vegas - have reached their lowest level since 1971. Levels have been declining for the past few years, as a result of the ongoing megadrought in the southwestern US, as well as increasing demand for water. The water line in the reservoir now sits at 1,055ft above sea level, well below the maximum capacity of 1,229 ft, and worryingly close to the 1,050ft limit for pumping water out to 40 million people. The record low water levels are a result of the worst drought in centuries, with human-caused climate change making it 72 per cent worse, studies have shown. With weather patterns expected to worsen, experts say the reservoir may never be full again. Jill Biden urged President Joe Biden to keep supporting the Ukraine after making a surprise Mother's Day visit to the war torn nation. The first lady called the president from her car as she returned from her secret visit to a Ukraine public school where she met with her counterpart Olena Zelensky and made art projects with the children. She told reporters in Slovakia on Monday that she said to her husband: 'I said just how much I saw the need to support the people of Ukraine.' She also said she told him about the 'horrors and the brutality that the people I had met had experienced.' Biden was on the last leg of her four-day trip to Europe where she focused on humantarian crisis caused by Russia's invasion of the Ukraine. She said she will carry with her the stories of the mothers and children she met on her trip. 'I am returning home to the United States carrying with me the stories of the mothers and children I met. As a Romanian mother said: "our hearts have no borders,"' Biden wrote on Twitter. 'We are committed to supporting Ukraine, the Ukrainian people, and our Allies and partners.' Before she boarded her plane to head back to the United States, Biden met with Slovakia's President Zuzana Caputova at that nation's presidential palace. Caputova is the first female president of the country. Biden left a note in the guest book emphasizing the ties between the two countries: 'During my time in this beautiful country, I have seen firsthand the shared values that united Slovakia and the United States as friend, partners, and Allies. This includes our common devotion to helping those most in need. We stand with Slovakia as it stands with the people of Ukraine.' First Lady Jill Biden waves as she boards her plane to head back to the United States; she was a four-day trip to Europe where she focused on the humantarian crisis Jill Biden (left) signs the Golden Book as Slovak President Zuzana Caputova looks on inside the Presidential Palace in Bratislava The note Jill Biden left in the guest book On the last day of her four-day trip to Europe, Jill Biden had tea with President of Slovakia Zuzana Caputova, who is the first female president of her country Biden became the highest profile member of President Joe Biden's administration to visit the Ukraine when she made her secret visit there on Sunday. 'I wanted to come on Mother's Day. I thought it was important to show the Ukrainian people that this war has to stop and this war has been brutal and that the people of the United States stand with the people of Ukraine,' she said. The visit wasn't announced due to security reasons. The first lady traveled by vehicle to the town of Uzhhorod, about a 10-minute drive from a Slovakian village that borders Ukraine. She spent about two hours in Ukraine. Biden always planned to visit a school in the Ukraine as part of her trip, her spokesperson Michael LaRosa told reporters traveling with the first lady but Ukrainian officials suggested Mrs. Zelensky would want to meet her. That part of the visit came together in the past 10 days. Biden gave Zelensky, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a bouquet of flowers. This is the first time Zelensky has appeared in public since Feb. 24, the date that Russia invaded. The two first ladies have exchanged correspondences in the last few weeks, the White House said. It began when the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. gave Biden a letter from Mrs. Zelensky at the State of the Union, when she was one of the first lady's guests. Zelensky sent Biden another letter in April expressing concerns about the toll of the war having on the mental health of children, soldiers and families. 'First of all, I would like to thank you for a very courageous act,' Zelensky said through a translator when she and Jill Biden met together at the school 'Because we understand what it takes for the US First Lady to come here during a war when the military actions are taking place every day, where the air sirens are happening every day even today,' she said. She and her children have been in a secure location during the war. 'We all feel your support and we all feel the leadership of the U.S. president but we would like to note that the Mother's Day is a very symbolic day for us because we also feel your love and support during such an important day,' Zelensky said. The two also met privately for about 30 minutes. LaRosa said the first lady asked Zelensky how she was doing as a mother and how she handling the war. Zelensky said she was grateful she 'is able to hold her children's hands every night even though she can't be with her husband.' The first ladies visited a public school in Uzhhorod that is being used as temporary housing and shelter for 163 displaced Ukrainians, including 47 children. They joined kids who were working on art projects for their mothers. The children were crafting cardboard and tissue paper bears, which represent the symbol of the Zakarpattia Oblast. Both women worked on crafting their own bears, using white and yellow tissue paper. President Joe Biden has said he would like to visit the Ukraine but is not allowed - likely due to security reasons. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had been the most high-profile members of the administration to date to visit the Ukraine. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress also have visted and met with President Zelensky in Kyiv. Jill Biden's visit came a few hours before President Zelensky was scheduled to speak with President Biden and western allies in a G7 virtual meeting. The first lady was in the Western part of the country as officials feared dozens of Ukrainians had been killed by a Russian airstrike in eastern Ukraine, where the fighting is at its strongest. Jill Biden was never in any danger. Jill Biden and Olena Zelensky, wife of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky Jill Biden with Olena Zelensky - this is the first time Zelensky has appeared in public since Feb. 24, the date of the Russian invasion Jill Biden and Olena Zelensky join a group of children in making tissue-paper bears Jill Biden and Olena Zelensky have corresponded in the past few weeks, the White House said First Lady Jill Biden reaches out to hug Olena Zelenska, spouse of Ukrainian's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, at the end of their visit to School 6, a public school that has taken in displaced students in Uzhhorod, Ukraine Jill Biden spent about two hours in the Ukraine on Sunday, where she met with Olena Zelensky, and visited a school Jill Biden's secret visit came after the first lady spent Mother's Day comforting Ukrainian women and children in Slovakia and touring the border region where refugees escape the war with Russia. 'The hearts of the American people are with the mothers of Ukraine,' she told refugees. The trip showcased Jill Biden's soft diplomatic touch, focusing on women and children, areas of interest to the first lady, who is a teacher. It featured words of compassion and many hugs. She said she was inspired to make the trip by the images of refugees on television. 'Like most Americans watching the TV, we saw all those mothers gathering their children, kissing their husbands goodbye, and then leaving the country,' Biden told MSNBC's Symone Sanders in an interview conducted before shshe left for Europe. 'And it just was so emotional and just so heart-wrenching. And I said to Joe, 'I can't sit by, I just can't sit by and do nothing.'' During her trip on Sunday, Biden met a mother who struggled to explain the Russian invasion to her children, walked the line of the border along chain-length fence to tour the tent city that offered humantarian assistance, gave hugs and met with students. At a bus station in Kosice the first lady met Viktoriia Kutocha, a refugee and fellow teacher, who said she struggles to explain the war to her three children. Her seven-year-old daughter Yulie was at her side. 'I cannot explain because I dont know myself and Im a teacher,' Kutocha told Biden. 'They come to our land. They kill us, but they say we protect you.' 'It's so hard to understand,' Biden said. She patted Kutocha arm when the mother got choked up and couldn't continue. 'Thank you for talking with me,' the first lady said. Kutocha shared her emotional journey out of her war-torn homeland and said her husband remains there where he has joined the fighting. 'How I can explain this to child? It's impossible,' she said. 'I try to keep them safe. It's my mission.' 'It's senseless,' Biden said. Yulie then hugged the first lady, who brought in her mother for a group hug. The 24-hour facility is one of six refugee centers in Slovakia. It provides services to approximiately 300 to 350 people daily - offering food, showers, clothing, emergency on-site accommodations and other services, according to information provided by the White House. The vast majority of arriving refugees transit through Kosice and move onward to other countries or other Slovak cities. Biden also visited the Vysne Nemecke crossing at the Ukraine-Slovakian border, where refugees receive basic services before moving on to other processing centers further inside Slovakia. Humanitarian organizations also use the area to transport assistance into the Ukraine. About 2,000 people per day cross at the area, down from over 10,000 per day immediately following Russia's further invasion of Ukraine - and a large portion of that flow is daily cross border traffic. First lady Jill Biden talks with Ukrainian refugees Victorie Kutocha and her daughter Yulie Kutocha, 7, at a city-run refugee center in Kosice, Slovakia Biden hugs Victorie Kutocha and her daughter Yulie Kutocha Jill Biden speaks with Slovakia's Prime Minister Eduard Heger as she walks from Vysne Nemeck, Slovenia, near the border with Ukraine Jill Biden attended mass in a tent on the Ukraine-Slovenia border Jill Biden thanks volunteers and first responders during her visit to the border Jill Biden meets with Slovak and Ukrainian mothers and their children as the families participate in a Mother's Day activity in Kosice, Slovakia Biden is the highest profile member of the administration to visit the border region. President Joe Biden visited refugees in Poland but was 60 miles away from Ukraine. The first lady attended mass in a tent during her visit to the border. She wore a pink and white flower corsage sent to her by the president in honor of Mother's Day. And she was accompanied by Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger and his wife Lucia Hegerova. 'We pray for the people of Ukraine,' the priest said in the opening blessing. She visited the series of tents, a few hundred yards from the Ukraine border, that were set up by various NGOs to assist the refugees. She met volunteers who provide psychosocial support services to refugees and a tent operated by Slovak Catholic charities with food and other supplies. The tent was stacked with gently used toys and pre-loved stuffed animals for children along with boxes of baby formula. Biden also dropped in at the Tomasikova Street School, a Slovakian public school that has taken in displaced students. About 60 Ukrainian students attend there, which has offered Slovak language classes to support greater integration. She was offered bread dripped in salt upon her arrival, which is a traditional Slovak welcome. She ate the bread and watched the students perform a song. 'I just wanted to come and show you our support,' Biden said. The kids were making art projects for Mother's Day and one by offered the first lady a drawing. It included a cat and Biden told him: 'I have a cat.' Jill Biden hugs a Ukrainian child during her visit to a school in Slovakia Jill Biden arrives at a primary school on Tomasikova street, Kosice, Slovakia A little girl shows Jill Biden her art work Jill Biden is on a four-day trip to Europe to highlight the humantarian situation A Ukrainian mother cries after meeting and talking to Jill Biden The women said they speak to their husbands back in the Ukraine every day using video conferencing. One woman, when asked what it meant to have the first lady there, said: 'It means support for us. We are very tired. This is emotional support for us.' Biden is wrapping up a four-day trip to Europe where she is visiting with displaced Ukrainians. More than six milllion have fled the Ukraine since Russia attacked in February. She kicked off her tour with stops in Romania and returns to the United States on Monday. A stunned Florida hiker spotted a huge eight-foot alligator climbing over a chain-link fence before it disappeared into a murky swamp. Lavonne Phillips, of Bartow, was hiking through the Circle B Bar Reserve when she noticed the alligator climbing over the fence and back into the swamp on May 4. The scary part, Phillips said, was that she didn't even notice the apex predator behind her until she heard a 'heavy clomping sound.' 'I didnt actually spot the big gator, thats the scary part. I had my back turned to the opposite side of the bridge and stopped to look at a great blue heron when I heard the noise. 'So I turned around and saw him halfway up on the bench inside the fenced area where [humans] usually are. [And I thought to myself]: "How did it get there? Did we walk past each other? Did it walk behind me when my back was turned or was he already there?"' she told the Miami Herald. The 20-second video she posted to her Facebook feed shows the large animal climbing on the bench, slowly putting one paw in front of the other as it leveraged itself up to the railing. An eight-foot long alligator was seen climbing a chain-link fence in Florida at the Circle B Bar Reserve on May 4 The giant animal was seen nose-diving into the swamp (pictured) after it managed to climb up onto bench and over the railing as the stunned hikers watched on. The animal was later found under the bridge hissing Eventually, the alligator hooks his arms around the railing and nosedives into the swamp surrounding the bridge. Phillips said the silence afterward was discomforting as she and another hiker were unsure where the gator would pop up next. Eventually, they found the animal hiding under the bridge. 'We walked out on the fenced area to look for it and it was sitting right there, hissing just under the bridge,' Phillips told the Miami Herald. The native Floridian said she thought the experience was 'cool,' but still found herself being more aware of her surroundings afterward, even if she has 'seen a lot of gators' in her time. She said: 'Seeing the climb and the strength and willpower, I walked away more cautious.' Although it is uncommon for alligators to climb high objects, such as fences or trees, the animal does have the ability to do so. The reptile can climb ladders, staircases, trees, and fences with ease, according to Experience Kissimmee Florida, a Florida travel guide website. Lavonne Phillips, of Bartow, (pictured) spotted the eight-foot beast and shot the video In addition, the scary reptiles can even jump five feet in the air. They use their tails to push themselves off the ground and typically jump to gather food from low hanging branches, the travel guide website said. A whopping 1.3million gators are roaming the wetlands of Florida across 67 counties, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The largest gator ever to be found in the sunshine state was more than 14 feet long and the weight record is 1,043 pounds, according to the FWC. Casey White is a dangerous survivalist with no regard for human life, more likely to go out in a hail of bullets than surrender, DailyMail.com can reveal. This is the view of a man who served time with White, 38, and has spent time with him both in and out of prison. Robert McBay, 29, spoke exclusively to DailyMail.com as the manhunt for White and former corrections officer Vicky White, 56 (no relation) enters its eleventh day. McBay, who was born and raised in Limestone, Alabama, served time with Casey in 2015 when the fugitive was arrested after a violent crime spree that spanned two states and involved a kidnapping and armed robbery and a shooting that left a family dog dead. According to McBay: 'I know what this dude is capable of. He is very dangerous, has no regard for human life. He is elusive and can move very quickly [and] very quietly for a man of his size.' Corrections officer Vicky White, 57, (left) remains on the run with confessed murderer Casey White, 38, (right) after helping him flee Lauderdale County prison in Tennessee on April 29. The pair - who are not related - shared an intimate relationship dating back to 2020, cops say Robert McBay, 29, who served time behind bars alongside Casey White in 2015, told DailyMail.com he believes the fugitive is likely to go out in a 'suicide by cop' rather than surrender In 2015 McBay was serving 11 months in jail for a drug offense when he was placed in the same pod as Casey in Limestone County Jail. During that time, he said, he witnessed the older man's violence and terrifying flashes of psychosis. McBay said: 'When Casey gets like that [psychotic] he will stay up for days and is very paranoid, very untrusting, very violent, quick and prone to snap. 'When he gets in these phases, he has no regard for human life; no man, no woman, child or dog is safe. Whatever gets in Casey White's way is going to get destroyed.' On one occasion during his incarceration, McBay claimed, Casey and a fellow convict were put on lockdown for a brutal assault on another prisoner. 'They beat the c**p out of that guy. Casey was put on rack down, [which is] when they take you and put you in a cell and you're not allowed out but for one hour a day for exercise and showers,' he said. 'No visitation, you can't buy anything from commissary, or vending machines. It's probably one of the worst things. We call it going to jail in jail.' Within 24 hours of being on lock down, McBay said, Casey's behavior 'became radically different.' He said: 'He was moving kind of jerky, beating on the door, threatening corrections officers when they came past. 'At one point they came and took him out of the pod and placed him on suicide watch because he said if they didn't let him out he was going to kill himself. Inmate Casey White, pictured in orange prison scrubs in a handout photo, is wanted by police after breaking out of jail April 29. Former fellow prisoner McBay claims Casey is 'utterly ruthless' and 'can move very quickly [and] very quietly for a man of his size' Pictured body shackles and hand shackles hanging on a wall in the maximum security wing of the Lauderdale County Jail Casey White escaped from the Lauderdale County Detention Center in Florence, Alabama 'They took all of the bedsheets out of the cell, everything, then they put him in a canvas and Velcro suit and took him out and that's the last I saw of Casey White at that facility.' According to McBay, who hosts a podcast 'Love on the Run: The Search for Casey and Vicky White', White is utterly ruthless and 'would rather die' than go back to prison. 'He was already facing 75 years in jail, and he still hasn't faced capital murder charges involving the murder of Connie Ridgeway,' he said. White was charged on two counts of capital murder for the 2015 killing of Ridgeway, having confessed to the crime. Ridgeway, 58, was found stabbed to death in her apartment in Rogersville, Alabama, when a neighbor called for a welfare check. White claimed that he was paid to commit the crime. Now McBay says, 'all the females in Casey's life are terrified of him,' and, he believes that Vicky White is in danger too. He said: 'Vicky is definitely in trouble. She may not know it but at some point she is going to piss him off and it is not going to end well. US Marshals have released various photos of the couple, showing off Casey's tattoos - many of which have references to white supremacy McBay, who showed off his prison tattoos, said he witnessed White's violence and terrifying flashes of psychosis during their time in jail, and warned he had no 'regard for human life' 'If Vicky gets cornered, I believe she will try to escape. But if it is Casey who is cornered, he will go out suicide by cop. If you corner Casey, you are going to have to kill him.' Former assistant director of corrections Vicky sprang White from Lauderdale Corrections Center in Alabama on Friday April 29, under the guise of taking him for a mental health check. Vicky's bronze Ford Edge SUV in which the pair made their get-away was discovered some 100 miles north in College Grove, rural Tennessee that same day. School-bus driver Jackie Adams found the then-unidentified vehicle abandoned near her home. 'I went ahead and called the sheriff's office to have it towed. We know all of our neighbors and I immediately knew it wasn't anybody's car,' she said. The car, which had been left by the roadside without any tags, sat in a Tennessee tow-lot for a week before authorities realized its significance. Today, McBay said he believes that White may have been headed for Nantahala National Forest some 236 miles east of where the car was abandoned. New video released last Wednesday showed Vicky and Casey driving to the Florence Square shopping center on April 29 where they abandoned the sheriff's car used during the escape School-bus driver Jackie Adams was coming home from one of her other jobs when she saw the couple's escape vehicle, a rust-colored SUV parked outside the house T Vicky, who was an assistant director of corrections at Lauderdale County, used a police vehicle to ferry Casey out of the maximum-security facility, under the guise that she was taking the con to a scheduled mental health evaluation. The pair then switched to Vicky's orange Ford Edge (pictured), which was found in Tennessee He said: 'He definitely has the survival skills and can live out there. He can walk into the woods and be okay. They can disappear easily. 'People need to watch their fields, their backyards, their gates, any water supplies they might have. They can't go get gas at this point, they can't stop for food, water, or get any supplies of oil or anything. 'Everything they get now is either going to be scavenged or they already had it. They definitely have some type of survival gear that they are running off. 'In the next one or two weeks that supply is going to dwindle, and they are going to start to get desperate and the next time we see Casey and Vicky is going to be a desperate situation.' According to McBay: 'Casey is a survivalist, this was his lifestyle. When he was out, he went camping a lot and went caving a lot. 'Getting caught is not an option for them. They're not going to give up and even if she wants to, he's not going to let her. 'If it comes to that, he'll take her as hostage. Casey wants to die.' McBay added: 'Hopefully this ends peacefully but knowing him and knowing what she has done she just threw away her whole life. This is all or nothing. Former correctional officer Vicky White (pictured) was seen checking out of the Quality Inn in Florence, Alabama, the morning she was seen helping her convict 'lover' escape jail Vicky is pictured 'waddling' into the jail and opening an interior door on Friday. Casey is believed to have been in the hallway at the time Surveillance video previously released showed Vicky helping Casey escape from the Lauderdale County Jail, where he had been incarcerated. The pair then fled together 'There's not taking it back. When she pulled the trigger, and she opened that door on that sally port in that jail she made her decision and there was no taking it back. You can't un-rob a bank. 'So, they are going to be desperate. If anybody sees them, I beg you remove yourself from that situation immediately. If they walk into a store play it cool do not look nervous. Jackie Adams - who discovered the abandoned getaway car of fugitive prison guard Vicky White and convicted killer Casey White last Friday - says she felt unease after finding the vehicle outside her Tennessee home, just hours after the duo had escaped an Alabama prison 'He has the mental capacity to understand what's at stake and what's going on and I don't think he's going to have any problem killing anyone who gets in his way.' Officers of Williamson County Sherriff's department conducted door to door enquiries and searched a creek bed Monday morning. DailyMail.com was present when officers arrived and has exclusively learned that the search was in response to reports of buzzards circling and 'the strong stench of death' coming from an abandoned shed near to where Vicky's SUV was abandoned. Officers scoured the previously unsearched area. According to one local, law enforcement descended on the area Saturday, but they did not search the stretch of creek bed around which buzzards were circling, focusing instead on the other side of the small rural road on which the car was left. The left after close to one hour of searching. Dale Bryant was the defense attorney for Casey when he was sentenced in 2019. He claims that while Casey has a lengthy criminal history and escaped from jail before, his most recent getaway - which took place 11 days ago - was 'far too thorough and too far-thinking' Earlier on Monday local news station WAAY31 reported investigators are working to determine if a stolen vehicle located in Evansville, Indiana - a small city along the Ohio River that borders Kentucky - is connected to the couple. The discovery of the stolen car came after Casey's former attorney revealed he believed Vicky was likely the mastermind behind the inmate's prison break. Dale Bryant was the defense attorney for Casey when he was sentenced in 2019 on counts of attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, burglary and other felonies dating back to 2015. Bryant claims while the 6ft 9in inmate has a lengthy criminal history and escaped from jail before, his most recent getaway - which took place 11 days ago - was 'far too thorough and too far-thinking'. 'That is not Casey's MO,' Bryant told Newsweek on Sunday. 'None of his crimes were planned. They are all short sighted; in the moment crimes.' He added: 'Even his prior escape attempt from the same county jail was spontaneous.' The attorney also noted footage of their escape suggests jail guard Vicky White, who was in a more than two-year relationship with Casey, looks more worrisome than him. Officers of Williamson County Sherriff's department conducted door to door enquiries and searched a creek bed in College Grove, Tennessee Monday morning DailyMail.com was present when officers arrived and has exclusively learned that the search was in response to reports of buzzards (pictured) circling and 'the strong stench of death' coming from an abandoned shed near to where Vicky's SUV was abandoned Pictured: A large group of buzzards flying over property on Banner Adams Road in College Grove 'If you notice in the video of the two leaving the jail, Casey's body language does not look like someone that is hiding something,' Bryant said. 'Her body language looks more hurried and anxious.' Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton, who worked with Vicky for many years, echoed the lawyer's claim, saying the escape was 'well-planned and thought out'. He revealed that in the week leading up to the jailbreak Vicky purchased men's clothing at a Kohl's store and visited a sex shop. It is unclear if she bought anything at the adult toy store. 'We just confirmed that this was well-planned and thought out,' Singleton told the TODAY Show Monday. 'Obviously, she bought some clothes for him. The adult store thing? I dont know what that was about.' Singleton also noted that Vicky was divorced but continued living with her ex-husband, who died of Parkinson's disease earlier this year. He wonders if grief at the loss of her former partner may have triggered her recent actions. CIA director William Burns has warned Vladimir Putin 'doesn't believe he can afford to lose' in Ukraine. The former ambassador to Russia and one of Biden's most trusted international fixers also said the West 'can't take lightly' Kremlin threats about nuclear warfare. Speaking to the Financial Times , the ex-deputy Secretary of State said he feared back in November that Russia would launch its invasion after meeting with Putin. CIA director William Burns has warned Vladimir Putin 'doesn't believe he can afford to lose' in Ukraine The intelligence chief said Putin's narrowing inner circle and has grip on power have both tightened, making him more isolated and paranoid He said: 'I had dealt with and watched President Putin for many years and what I've seen, especially over the last decade, is him in a way stewing in a very combustible combination of grievance and ambition and insecurity [that] are all kind of wrapped together.' The intelligence chief said Putin's narrowing inner circle and has grip on power have both tightened, making him more isolated and paranoid. Ukraine became his focus because he believes Russia cannot be a major power without a 'deferential' Ukraine, and he believed his military was sufficiently modernised and the economy strong enough to secure a quick victory and withstand sanctions, Burns said. He added: 'I don't think this means Putin is deterred at this point because he staked so much on the choice that he made to launch this invasion that I think he's convinced right now that doubling down still will enable him to make progress.' The intelligence chief said Putin believed Russia's military was strong enough to secure a quick victory. Pictured: a destroyed Red Army tank in Mariupol When asked about the nuclear threat, Burns said: 'Given the kind of sabre-rattling we've heard from the Russian leadership, we can't take lightly... those possibilities.' Burns' belief that Putin will double down and continue his savage invasion was backed up by the Russian's comments today at the Victory Day parade in Moscow. Seeking to re-frame his war in Ukraine as a war between Russia and the West, he declared NATO to be the aggressor and said he is trying to deescalate the situation with a 'special military operation' against a 'neo-Nazi' regime in Kyiv, declaring that launching the attack was 'the only right decision' he could have taken. He also sought to twist the truth of what is happening on the ground in Ukraine, hailing a day of 'great victory' despite Russia's battlefield defeats and telling his men they are fighting a just war despite plentiful evidence of war crimes in occupied territories. Smoke is seen today after shelling on an oil refinery near Lysychansk, eastern Ukraine, as Russia refocuses on the Donbas 'Everything indicated that a clash with the neo-Nazis, the Banderites [Ukrainian Nazi sympathisers], backed by the United States and their junior partners, was inevitable,' he said. 'We saw military infrastructure being ramped up, hundreds of military advisers working and regular deliveries of modern weapons from NATO. (The level of) danger was increasing every day. Russia preventively rebuffed the aggressor. It was necessary, timely and ... right. The decision of a sovereign, strong, independent country.' Russian troops in Donbas are fighting on 'their land', he claimed, peddling his warped world view in which Ukraine is not a real country and Ukrainians are simply Russians waiting to be reintegrated into the motherland. But he stopped short of what many had feared: An official declaration of war on Kyiv which would have allowed him to mobilise Russia's military reserves and conscript civilians in order to escalate fighting across the border. Shortly after the outbreak of the war, the CIA boss said Putin had planned to take Kyiv within two days of launching his invasion. Giving evidence before Congress, he said Putin was angry and frustrated. 'You know, this is a matter of deep personal conviction for him,' he said. 'He's been stewing in a combustible combination of grievance and ambition for many years.' 'Instead of seizing Kyiv within the first two days of the campaign, which was what his plan was premised upon, after nearly two weeks they still have not been able to fully encircle the city,' said Burns. Later, Russia abandoned its plans to seize the capital and is instead refocusing its war efforts on the Donbas. Putin had made four key miscalculations when it came to planning his swift victory over Ukraine, Burns said in early March. The Russian leader thought Ukraine was easily intimidated and that Europe, particularly France and Germany, was distracted by internal politics and was 'risk averse.' Third, he believed he had 'sanction-proofed' his economy and fourth that he had overhauled his armed forces so that they were capable of a quick, decisive victory. 'He has been proven wrong on every count,' said Burns. 'Those assumptions have proven to be profoundly flawed over the last 12 days of conflict.' Outgoing President Moon Jae-in appealed for the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue Monday as he delivered a farewell address on his last day in office amid heightened tensions over North Korea's repeated weapons tests. "Peace is a condition for survival for us, a condition for prosperity," Moon said. "I sincerely hope that efforts for denuclearization and institutionalization of peace will continue with the resumption of dialogue between the South and the North." Taking a look back on his five years as president, Moon touted his role in converting the 2017 crisis, when North Korea conducted a nuclear test and launched ICBMs, into dialogue and diplomacy. Moon said he turned a "crisis of war on the Korean Peninsula" in 2017 into a "phase of dialogue," and it raised hopes for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. The outgoing president, who met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un three times in 2018, put his top priority on engaging with the North, and brokered summits between Kim and then U.S. President Donald Trump. Since the second summit between Kim and Trump ended without a deal, however, North Korea has shunned talks on its nuclear weapons program. So far this year, North Korea has carried out 15 weapons tests, including the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. Concerns have persisted that North Korea could continue to carry out more provocations, such as another ICBM launch or even a nuclear test. (Yonhap) Nearly half of Britons believe Sir Keir Starmer should resign if fined by police over his Beergate row, a new poll has found. According to a YouGov survey, 46 per cent of voters believe the Labour leader should quit if Durham Constabulary found he broke Covid rules over his boozy curry with colleagues in April last year. Less than one-third (32 per cent) said Sir Keir should remain in his role if he is handed a Fixed Penalty Notice, while around one-fifth (22 per cent) said they did not know. The poll even found that a higher proportion (48 per cent) of those who backed Labour at the last general election thought Sir Keir should quit if fined by police. This compared with 40 per cent among those who backed the Conservatives in 2019. Sir Keir has repeatedly insisted an event on 30 April last year was in line with Coronavirus restrictions at the time. According to a YouGov survey, 46 per cent of voters believe the Labour leader should quit if Durham Constabulary found he broke Covid rules The poll found that more than half of Britons (54 per cent) thought Sir Keir probably or definitely broke Covid rules Sir Keir has repeatedly insisted an event on 30 April last year was in line with Coronavirus restrictions at the time The Labour leader was filmed swigging a beer in a room with others at Durham Miners Hall at 10.04pm that Friday night, which came in the week before council elections and the Hartlepool by-election. It has since emerged that a curry order - which could have allegedly fed as many as 30 people - was pre-arranged with no work planned for afterwards. This contradicts Sir Keir's previous claim that it was a spontaneous meal while conducting Labour business, with aides resuming their duties after the curry 'break'. At the time of the event, England was in the 'Step 2' rules that banned people from gathering indoors with people not from your own household. However, there was an exemption for 'work purposes'. The YouGov survey found that more than half of Britons (54 per cent) thought Sir Keir probably or definitely broke Covid rules, compared to 21 per cent who thought he probably or definitely did not breach restrictions. A quarter (25 per cent) said they didn't know. Sir Keir has repeatedly called for Boris Johnson to resign over the Partygate scandal. Both the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were fined last month over a 56th birthday bash for Mr Johnson in June 2020. YouGov found 57 per cent of voters thought the PM should resign over his police fine, with 29 per cent thinking he should remain in his role and 14 per cent saying they didn't know. Downing Street is braced for Mr Johnson to receive further police fines as the Metropolitan Police continue their Operation Hillman investigation into the Partygate allegations of Covid rule-breaking in Number 10. Finland and Sweden are set to reveal later this week whether they will join NATO. The two Nordic countries have reversed decades of military neutrality since Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Finland's president and the country's MPs will announce their decision on Thursday, with Sweden's ruling party set to follow suit on Sunday. President Sauli Niinisto and parliamentarians in Helsinki are more than likely to confirm the country's entry to the Western military alliance on May 12. Swedish prime minister Andersson (left) and Finnish PM Sanna Marin (right) have not disclosed whether they are in favour of their countries joining NATO, but are thought to be supporters The Finnish and Swedish leaders (left and right, respectively) visited German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at his Meseberg retreat outside Berlin last week. Mr Scholz said the two countries can 'count on our support' if they decide to join NATO. Sweden's entry decision on May 15 is considered less certain than Finland's, but remains highly likely. NATO Secretary Gen. Stoltenberg said the countries are the bloc's 'closest partners' Finland and Sweden have historically avoided NATO membership despite close Western alignment in an effort to appease nearby Russia. But public opinion in both countries has swung in favour of joining since the invasion of Ukraine. Finnish PM Sanna Marin said last week: 'Russias invasion of Ukraine has changed the security policy situation in such a way that there is no going back to the way things were.' NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the two countries will be 'welcomed with open arms' - and could become members 'quickly'. All 30 NATO countries must assent to any new member joining the bloc. In most cases, that requires a vote in the nations' parliaments. But Mr Stoltenberg told a press conference in Brussels last month: 'I am confident that there are ways to bridge that interim period in a way which is good enough and works for both Finland and Sweden.' Finland would become the sixth NATO member to share a land border with Russian territory, joining Estonia, Latvia and Norway, plus Kaliningrad annex neighbours Poland and Lithuania He also described the countries as 'our closest partners', adding: 'They are strong and mature democracies. Why are Sweden and Finland not in NATO? Both Finland and Sweden have been militarily non-aligned since WWII. Sweden maintained its policy of neutrality - which had begun in the early 19th century - throughout the war wanting to avoid being drawn into a conflict that was engulfing the nearby powers of Germany and the Soviet Union. Instead, Sweden profited from its neutrality by exporting iron ore to the Nazis and sharing military intelligence with the Allies and training their refugee soldiers. Meanwhile Finland changed sides in the conflict, first being invaded by Joseph Stalin and assisting the Nazis, before fighting against Hitler's troops. When NATO was formed in 1949 for a Western military alliance, Sweden decided not to join and continue its neutrality, introducing a security policy that secured its non-alignment in peace and neutrality in war. In 1994, Stockholm decided to join the NATO programme Partnership for Peace (PfP), aimed to build trust between member states and other European countries, but until now it has not signalled a desire to fully join the alliance. Finland is also a PfP member but has similarly stated its desire to remain neutral since the war. The EU member state was part of the Russian Empire and won independence during the 1917 Russian revolution but it nearly lost it fighting the Soviet Union in World War Two. Having been invaded by Russia in 1939 and sharing a long border with the superpower, Finland wanted to stay out of future conflicts, giving it the freedom to maintain a strong relationship with Moscow and the West while enjoying a free market economy. Advertisement 'Their armed forces meet NATO standards and are interoperable with NATO forces. 'We train together, we exercise together, and we have also worked with Finland and Sweden in many different missions and operations.' Sweden has been politically neutral in Europe since Viking traders needed Russian permission to use its rivers for business dealings. Stockholm has not been involved in a war since 1814, the longest period of peace of any nation. Finland has been technically neutral since 1956. Yet both countries have provided military aid to Ukraine since the start of Moscow's invasion. Finland shares an 810-mile border with Russia. Sweden does not border Russia. But its entry bid concerns the Kremlin as Russia will be losing a neutral country in its proximity. If Russia launched military campaigns in either country once they have joined NATO, it would trigger collective defence clause Article 5. This means all NATO countries have been invaded. The clause states: 'The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all...' President Niinisto revealed on Friday that Finland's NATO decision is getting 'finishing touches'. Swedish prime minister Magdalena Andersson is thought to be in favour of NATO entry. She told party members within a week of Russia's invasion that 'Sweden will be more vulnerable if we do not become members.' Ms Andersson added: 'If Sweden is attacked then we have better opportunities to get support from other countries, but you also give security guarantees.' Putin has promised 'consequences' and said he will move Russian nuclear weapons to the nearby Baltic Sea in retaliation. A Russian lawmaker warned last month Finland would be asking for 'the destruction of their country'. Senator Vladimir Dzhabarov said the move is a 'terrible tragedy'. Kremlin foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in April: 'Finland and Sweden should not base their security on damaging the security of other countries. 'Their accession to NATO can have detrimental consequences and some military and political consequences.' Ms Zakharova also said last month: 'Under the auspices of the US, Brussels has been pulling Sweden and Finland into its structures for a while. 'We made all our warnings - both publicly and via bilateral channels. They know about this, so there are no surprises. They were informed about everything, what it will lead to.' Ex-president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev, who is now deputy chairman of Putin's influential Security Council, suggested Russian nukes will be moved to Russian Baltic annex Kaliningrad, between Poland and Lithuania. Ms Andersson (left) and Ms Marin (right) met for NATO discussions in Stockholm on April 13 Russia has vowed to move nukes to Baltic annex Kaliningrad if Finland and Sweden join NATO Mr Medvedev said: '[If Finland and Sweden join NATO] there can no longer be talk about the Baltics non-nuclear status.' And Putin warned in December that further NATO integration would prompt a 'military-technical' by the Kremlin. NATO's Article 5 clause The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognized by Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area. Any such armed attack and all measures taken as a result thereof shall immediately be reported to the Security Council. Such measures shall be terminated when the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to restore and maintain international peace and security. Source: NATO Advertisement He told a meeting of defence ministers: 'If our Western colleagues continue the obviously aggressive stance, we will take appropriate retaliatory military-technical measures and react harshly to unfriendly steps.' President Putin added that Moscow did not want 'armed conflicts or bloodshed' but that Russia 'has every right' to defend itself against perceived security threats. Finland, Sweden and Denmark have had their airspaces violated repeatedly by Russia since the beginning of 2022. Moscow military excursions into the countries have increased since the invasion of Ukraine. Last week a Russian Mi-17 transport chopper flew 2-3 miles inside the Finnish border, according to the country's Ministry of Defence. 'The aircraft type is a Mi-17 helicopter and the depth of the suspected violation is about four to five kilometres', a ministry spokesman told AFP. Moscow forces also flew into Denmark earlier this month, prompting Copenhagen's foreign minister to summon the Russian Ambassador. Minister Jeppe Kofod tweeted on May 1: 'Another Russian violation of Danish airspace. That is completely unacceptable and extremely worrying in the current situation.' An uptick in Russian cyberattacks is also considered likely if Finland and Sweden join NATO. President Niinisto warned in March that Helsinki could face mass cyber attacks and border violations if it enters the bloc. The president said: 'We dont even know all the possibilities for hybrid influencing that someone may invent. The entire world of information technology is vulnerable.' New Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa's father has told of his joy after his son became the first black actor to star in the lead role as the timelord. Gatwa's incredible success is the latest chapter in a remarkable journey for a man who was a toddler when his parents fled to the UK from Rwanda to escape the genocide that killed more than one million people in an horrific civil war. When his mother arrived in Scotland with her three children on Guy Fawkes night in 1994 and, having just escaped one war zone, she said she scared of the bangs, believing they were guns going off. Speaking from the family's 300,000 home in Dunfermline, Scotland, Tharcisse Gatwa told Mailonline: We are very proud. We have congratulated him. Thats all we can do. We are just so pleased. That is all we can say. Beaming Tharcisse, a journalist who lives at the family home with Gatwa's mother Josephine, added: There is nothing else we can add. We are not allowed. He has his profession and we have ours. 'So we do not do any comments regarding this but we are, of course, very proud of him. As parents we are, of course, proud of Ncuti, of our children. Ncuti Gatwa's father Tharcisse (pictured) says he and wife Josephine are very proud of their son's accomplishments Ncuti Gatwa and his mother Josephine pictured at the Newport Beach Film Festival in January 2020 Gatwa shared a childhood picture on Instagram as he celebrated his 28th birthday Gatwa's early life in Scotland was blighted by a torrent of racist abuse when pupils at his school in Dunfermline launched a social media campaign urging his classmates; Get the N***** out the school. The Sex Education star, 29, revealed how being subjected to racial abuse was standard while he was growing in Dunfermline and that it took him a long time to learn to love Scotland. However Gatwa went on to become a rising star after he was cast as gay black teenager Eric Effiong in the hit Netflix comedy drama. He revealed: It was so normal for me to have racial abuse spat at me and then when I moved to Dunfermline, there was a group of boys that made up a racist social media page geared at me. It was like, Get the n***** out the school. I remember coming home that day and when my mum came home that day it wasnt the most empathetic responses. I remember she was like, get on with it. Gatwa posted a picture after an emotional visit back to Rwanda He revealed: I was like, you cant know me and not like me. I was actually quite confused! I was like, what? These people dont like me? I was like, thats never happened before. So I was like, OK, fine. Im just going to carry on being myself and theyre going to fall in love with me sooner or later. And they did. Incredibly he became friends with the boys who set up the page. It was really a good lesson to me about the difference between hate and ignorance, he explained. Obviously their behaviour was inexcusable. But at the same time, I was the first black person that they probably saw in real life. They ended up apologising profusely for what they had done and Ncuti puts his own resilience down to his mother. My mum really toughened me up. I grew up watching her move to this country with three kids on her back. She couldnt speak the language, didnt know the culture, no money, no nothing and she raised all three of us. As cheesy as it sounds, Ive been watching strength from young. My mum has dealt with so much s**t. He said the abuse made him so isolated he believed he was the only black person in Scotland. Gatwa went on to become a rising star after he was cast as gay black teenager Eric Effiong in the hit Netflix comedy Sex Education (Pictured: Ncuti Gatwa as Eric alongside co-star Asa Butterfield as Otis in Sex Education) Gatwa has attended this year's BAFTA TV Awards ceremony alongside returning Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies after it was confirmed that he will take over from Jodie Whittaker as the Time Lord in the hit BBC series. It was revealed that the 29-year-old will become the 14th Doctor on the popular sci-fi show, after Whittaker announced last July she will be leaving the role this autumn. Gatwa is the first black actor to take on the leading role as The Doctor, after Jodie made history as the first permanent female Time Lord in 2017. Jo Martin played the first black incarnation of the Time Lord in a January 2020 episode, Future of the Judoon, as Ruth Clayton, but Gatwa has become the first black Doctor to be cast as the series lead. The new Dr Who said he could not find the words to describe his joy at landing the role. He said: There aren't quite the words to describe how I'm feeling. A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared. This role and show means so much to so many. The actor said the racism he experienced while living in Fife made it difficult for him to fit in, but he says he now considers himself Rwandan-Scottish. He said: I thought I was the only black Scottish person in the world. I definitely felt growing up that I wasnt seen as the same as anyone around me because no one around me looked like me. There were no black Scottish role models. Like I said I thought I was the only black Scottish person in the world. I was born in Rwanda. Landscape wise it looks like Scotland. We came because of the genocide that happened in Rwanda in 94. Ncuti Gatwa, 29, at the British Academy Television Awards yesterday (left) and attending the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in July 2019 (right) Yeah, we were refugees coming to the UK and I definitely now view myself as a Rwandan Scotsman. Ive always been a bit scared to say that Im Scottish because its almost as if people wouldnt believe me or people wouldnt buy that from me or people wouldnt accept it. And so now I think nobody has got the right to tell you what you are. You just are who you are. Gatwa talked about his experiences in a 2019 BBC documentary Black & Scottish, made by Ugandan-Scottish filmmaker, Stewart Kyasimire. He said his upbringing saw him negotiate the difficulties of living parallel lives bible study at home while getting up to all the usual teenage mischief when he was out of the house. His talent for acting saw him join the Dundee Rep while at school and he ended up studying for a BA in acting at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow. After enjoying some initial success in a TV adaptation of the Ian Banks novel Stonemouth, Ncuti returned from a tour in the USA to find himself out of work and out of luck in his new home of London. In an interview with The Big Issue, he revealed the agonies he endured as his dreams appeared to be fizzling out. Moving into a new place meant paying the deposit and first months rent, he said. I started temping but had to take time off to audition for roles I wasnt getting. When I didnt get enough temping work, I fell behind on my rent. By the end of my second month of unemployment, I was out of savings. Being a 25-year-old man with no money or job affected my sense of self-worth. Rejection became unbearable. Auditions werent just acting jobs, they were lifelines. His sense of desperation was made more acute knowing the sacrifices his parents had made for him. I couldnt tell my parents because I already felt like a mess up, he said. Id been warned that acting was an unstable profession and knew my parents couldnt support me financially. I had assured them I was going to work as hard as possible to make this career happen so their hard work, as immigrants who fled Rwanda and sacrificed everything for me, wouldnt be in vain. But I was falling short on my promise. I felt guilty, ashamed, a bit pathetic. He was helped by two incredible friends who gave him sofas to sleep on and money for food but the kindness couldnt stop him slipping into depression. Sofa surfing is tough, he said. No matter how nice your friends are there is a limit. I could see the strain I was putting on them. It felt awful being that guy using the electric and water but not contributing. And sharing a bed with someone youre not intimate with, no matter how close you are or how nice they are, gets annoying. I developed depression. But I never let people know how down I was feeling. That would have been another burden for my friends to take on. His fortunes changed when he landed the part of Eric Effoing, a gay teenager from a Nigerian-Ghanaian background and best friend to Otis, a student turned sex therapist in Netflixs Sex Education. It became a huge cult hit and after flying back from the New York launch Ncuti went from having fewer than 1,000 followers on Instagram to over 200,000. As well as adding followers, the show gave him money in the bank. Accounts for his company Gemini Moon Limited show he amassed assets of more than 775,000 last year. Now his future seems secure with the announcement by the BBC that he will be the 14th person to star as Dr Who. Speaking about landing the iconic role, he said: There aren't quite the words to describe how I'm feeling. A mix of deeply honoured, beyond excited and of course a little bit scared. This role and show means so much to so many, including myself, and each one of my incredibly talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility and privilege with the utmost care. I will endeavour my utmost to do the same. The Manhattan Museum of Jewish Heritage has banned Ron DeSantis from speaking at an event because he 'doesn't align' with their values after signing the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill. Elliott Abrams and Eric Cohen, the CEO of Tikvah and co-chairmen of the Jewish Leadership Conference, called out the institution for canceling the June 12 conference where the Florida Governor was due to speak. They slammed bosses in a May 5 Wall Street Journal piece that claimed staff would not air views of someone who did not align with their 'message of inclusivity'. But on Friday the museum hit back and claimed the story was 'a factually inaccurate opinion piece about a proposed rental event'. It blasted the Tikvah Fund for 'trying to create a fight where none exists', adding it was a 'contractual and logistical decision' rather than a 'free speech or censorship' one. It comes after DeSantis signed into law the Parental Rights in Education Bill, which forbids discussing homosexuality or transgender issues for children in Florida. The Manhattan Museum of Jewish Heritage bans Florida Governor Ron DeSantis from speaking at an upcoming event because the museum claims he 'doesn't align with their values' after he signed the controversial so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bill The museum shot back on Twitter on Friday, in response to their alleged claims, calling the WSJ story 'a factually inaccurate opinion piece about a proposed rental event.' 'Let us be clear: No one was banned or cancelled. No contract with the Tikvah Fund was ever signed for this rental event to be held at the Museum and no deposit was ever made,' the post read. The museum continued: 'This is not a free speech or censorship issue. The Tikvah Fund is trying to create a fight where none exists. This was simply a contractual and logistical decision' Abrams and Eric Cohen wrote in the Wall Street Journal: 'We were working closely with the museum on the details for the June 12 event, until, out of the blue, we were told by the museum staff that Mr. DeSantis didn't 'align with the museum's values and its message of inclusivity.' They added: 'Either we disinvite the governor, they said, or our event was unwelcome.' But the museum were quick to dispute the claims, posting a scathing thread about the discussions on Twitter. They said: 'Let us be clear: No one was banned or cancelled. No contract with the Tikvah Fund was ever signed for this rental event to be held at the Museum and no deposit was ever made. 'This is not a free speech or censorship issue. The Tikvah Fund is trying to create a fight where none exists. This was simply a contractual and logistical decision.' Tikvah describes itself as a philanthropic foundation, educational and cultural institution that has been around for more than two decades. Their mission is to help develop and support the next generation of leaders for the Jewish people and the Jewish state. The museum has hosted other politicians, including then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and then-Mayor Bill de Blasio. In April the museum hosted a conversation with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Both Adams and Cohen said they chose DeSantis because they said 'a remarkable Jewish renaissance is under way in Florida.' And, they wanted him to discuss the 'Florida model' since it has contributed to the growth and vitality of Jewish life in his state. They also spoke of how DeSantis supports the Jewish community and pointed out that they weren't getting that same type of community support from their political leaders when they lived in New York. 'Our family is part of that renaissance. We moved from New York to Florida in January in large part because of the governor's leadership. 'COVID policies were at the forefront of our decision, but DeSantis fighting woke nonsense in schools and putting parental rights at the top of his agenda have also been positive.' They added: 'And our governor takes the safety and security of Jews in his state very seriously.' When both Adams and Cohen asked for the museum for more details on why DeSantis was canceled, they were told by the museum's CEO: 'We don't do politics, whether left or right.' Both argue that in 2018 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, then a Democratic candidate for Congress, was a featured speaker at an event at the museum, sponsored by the Immigrant Arts Coalition. In 2018 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (pictured last week), then a Democratic candidate for Congress, was a featured speaker at an event at the museum, sponsored by the Immigrant Arts Coalition The event that drew widespread media attention including public criticism towards the museum for giving giving Ocasio-Cortez, a critic of Israel, a prominent to speak at a Jewish institution. Yet the event went on as planned. 'Does that 'align with the museum's values'? Is this the ideology we must all be forced to adhere to before renting space at the museum?,' they asked, The New York Post reported. The museum said that DeSantis along with other elected officials were invited to visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage, A Living Memorial to the Holocaust for a tour of our new exhibition, 'The Holocaust: What Hate Can Do,' when it opens this summer. The 'Don't Say Gay Bill' that was signed in March 28, states that public school teachers in Florida will be banned from holding classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity after from kindergarten through grade 3. 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 The museum has hosted other politicians, including then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and then-Mayor Bill de Blasio. In April the museum hosted a conversation with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, who recently described America as a society plagued by white supremacy and lauded America's re-entry into the anti-Israel Human Rights Commission. Adams and Cohen said their event will go on but just at a different venue. 'The Jewish Leadership Conference won't be canceled, and the governor of the state with America's third-largest Jewish population will speak. We will hold our event as planned, at a different, secular venue. But it is sad to see that the misguided leadership of a Jewish museum won't allow alternative ideas a seat at the Jewish table,' they wrote in the WSJ. When DailyMail.com contacted the Museum of Jewish Heritage they were unavailable for comment. DeSantis has become the face of the so-called Don't Say Gay Bill which has caused controversy in certain circles. His Parental Rights in Education bill has pitted him against Disney, Democrats and even the White House which decided to intervene. It forbids discussion of homosexuality or transgender issues for children from kindergarten to third grade. The bill passed through the state legislature despite protests from the LGBTQ community and from some Disney employees. It was signed into law by Ron DeSantis, the Republican governor, on March 28 and comes into effect on July 1. In response to the bill, Disney announced it would pause making campaign donations in Florida. The company also said it hoped that the law was repealed or struck down by the courts. A federal lawsuit has already been filed by a group of LGBTQ advocates while President Joe Biden described the bill as 'hateful'. DeSantis, angered by the response, suggested reviewing Disney's special status in the state that allowed it to be self-governing. This was passed last month but he is now being sued by four people in neighboring states - which could be hampered with paying off Disney's $1billion debt. Meanwhile the company claims he has no right to strip it of its special status - known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District - and vowed to challenge it. A pregnant woman who was expecting her second child was among at least 35 people who were killed in the alleged gas leak explosion that ripped through an iconic five-star hotel in Cuba on Friday. The Health Ministry confirmed the death of Yanisleidy Morales Almenteros, 34, as rescue workers with dogs searched through the rubble for people still missing at the Hotel Saratoga in La Habana on Sunday. Sandra Gonzalez told Univision that she ran into Morales Almenteros as they were about to leave their homes for work Friday morning. 'I gave her a kiss. I told her we would see each other in the afternoon,' she said. 'She leaves behind a five-year-old child, a boy.' The ministry announced Monday it had identified three of the four bodies that were recovered during a search that took place before dawn. Yanisleidy Morales Almenteros was killed in the alleged gas leak explosion at the Hotel Saratoga in Cuba on Friday. The blast left 35 people dead, including four children, the youngest a 10-year-old boy Rescue workers continued the search for people missing at the Hotel Saratoga on Sunday Firefighters and rescue workers remove debris from the ruins of the Saratoga Hotel in La Habana, Cuba Health Ministry also identified 29-year-old Spanish tourist, Cristina Lopez-Ceron Ugarte, among the victims who were killed in the blast just a block away from the Capitol building. Lopez-Ceron Ugarte and her boyfriend, Cesar Roman, 30, were walking near the hotel when the blast destroyed the front entrance's facade, Spanish newspaper El Correo Gallego reported. The couple arrived in La Habana on Thursday. She was declared dead at the scene and Roman was rushed to a hospital where he underwent surgery and is listed in critical condition. Cristina Lopez-Ceron Ugarte (left) is among the 35 people who were killed by the Cuba hotel blast Friday. Her boyfriend, Cesar Roman (right), was injured and remains hospitalized The Health Ministry said that 54 people were injured and 24 remain hospitalized. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the blast at the 96-room hotel owned by Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA. A large crane was used Saturday to remove the charred gas tanker. The explosion caused damage to other nearby building, including the historic Marti Theater and the Calvary Baptist Church. The death toll from an accidental explosion at a luxury hotel in central Havana rose to 35 on Sunday Emergency personnel work at the Hotel Saratoga Hotel after Friday's explosion, which killed 35 people Firefighters and rescue workers use sniffer dogs in the search for bodies at the Hotel Saratoga The church said on its Facebook page that the building suffered 'significant structural damage, with several collapsed or cracked walls and columns (and) the ceiling partially collapsed.' None of the church work workers were injured. The Hotel Saratoga has been shut down for two years and was scheduled to open its doors Tuesday. Some of the victims were buried during the weekend while other families were searching for the missing loved ones and demanding answers from the government. Angela Acosta told The Associated Press her relatives still haven't gotten any news regarding Maria de la Concepcion Alard, who lived at an apartment next to the hotel. 'We are hoping that something will be known about my cousins's mother,' Acosta said. Advertisement Jen Psaki finally said Monday that President Joe Biden condemns protesters who descended on churches and Supreme Court Justices' homes over the weekend as demonstrations became increasingly threatening and violent including Antifa throwing a Molotov cocktail into a pro-life office. '[President Joe Biden] strongly believes in the Constitutional right to protest,' the outgoing White House press secretary tweeted on Monday after warning materialized of violent protests. 'But that should never include violence, threats, or vandalism,' Psaki continued in her tweet. 'Judges perform an incredibly important function in our society, and they must be able to do their jobs without concern for their personal safety.' Republicans claimed that Psaki's comments are too little, too late. 'A little late, don't you think - now that leftists are firebombing prolifers and threatening the safety of Supreme Court Justices and their families,' Missouri Senator Josh Hawley tweeted on Monday. 'Joe Biden could have condemned this violence & harassment and instead encouraged it,' he added. Hawley said that President Biden 'should be held responsible' for the actions of those attacking, threatening and carrying out violence in the name of the pro-choice movement. 'The White House is playing word games,' Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton said in response to Psaki's tweet. 'Biden needs to clearly condemn the mob for *showing up at private homes* at night (with kids present) to intimidate the Justices.' He added in his tweet: 'This intimidation is unlawful and unamerican.' South Carolina Republican Representative Ralph Norman said in his own post: 'It should not have taken this long to condemn the vicious harassment of churches and our Supreme Court justices by radical pro-abortionists.' Christina Pushaw, press secretary for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, wrote on Twitter: This is a good statement, but it's way too late.' 'The Press Secretary had the opportunity to condemn this abhorrent behavior before it started last week and in declining to condemn it, she & the Biden Administration condoned it,' she added. 'Shameful.' A group called 'Ruth Sent Us' doxxed the Washington, D.C.-area addresses of the six conservative Supreme Court Justices and organized 'walk-bys' of their residences this week to protest the impending opinion that will overturn Roe v. Wade. Furious Pro-abortion demonstrators arrived outside the homes of Chief Justice John Roberts and fellow conservative Brett Kavanaugh on Saturday just days after a massive, un-scalable fence was erected around the Supreme Court Building for the safety of staff. Protesters also appeared outside churches over the weekend and violence ensued at the office of pro-life groups. Antifa vandals hurled at least one Molotov cocktail into offices of Wisconsin Family Action in Madison, an anti-abortion group in the state. The group also scrawled a chilling message on the wall that read, 'If abortions aren't safe you aren't either,' as well as the Antifa Symbol a capital 'A' inside a circle and the number 1312, which is a code that stands for ACAB, meaning 'All Cps are Bastards.' Republicans are claiming it's too little too late after outgoing White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki (pictured Friday, May 6, 2022 speaking with press on Air Force One) condemned threats and violence against Supreme Court justices after the leak of a draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade Psaki tweeted on Monday that while President Joe Biden does 'believe in the Constitutional right to protests,' she added it 'should never include violence, threats, or vadalism' Far-left Antifa protesters threw at least one Molotov cocktail into the offices of a pro-life group in Madison, Wisconsin over the weekend - discovered on Mothers' Day Sunday The extremist group wrote in graffiti on the outside of the building a warning: 'If abortions aren't safe then you aren't either' The candalism and destruction was signed by Antifa with it's 'A' symbol in a circle along with 1312, which is a code for the letters ACAB, meaning All Cops are Bastards Protesters also showed up outside the D.C. suburb homes of conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (pictured on Saturday) and Chief Justice John Roberts An officer with a megaphone outside the home of Kavanaugh in Chevy Chase, Maryland on Saturday tells pro-abortion demonstrators to steer clear of the front of the justice's home during protests The damage was discovered on Mother's Day morning Sunday when a passerby called police and reported seeing smoke coming from the headquarters of the pro-life group. Julaine Appling, president of the lobbying and advocacy organization, told the Wisconsin State Journal that a window was broken, books were burned, and there was graffiti on the walls, but the full extent of the damage is not yet known. The organization lobbies against legalized abortion and gay marriage, according to their website. 'What you're going to see here is a direct threat against us,' Appling said after the Supreme Court leak rocked the nation and mobilized pro-abortion and leftists protesters into action. 'Imagine if somebody had been in the office when this happened. They would have been hurt.' Warnings of potential violent events and demonstrations at the homes of Justices emerged last week, but were repeatedly dismissed by the administration as a constitutional right to protest. Psaki said Friday that President Biden 'believes in peaceful protest' when asked if activists should try and influence conservative Justices into not overturning Roe v. Wade. She also refused to condemn on Thursday plans for protesters to show up at the homes of the right-leaning justices, after a leaked draft of an opinion suggested they planned to overturn the landmark 1973 abortion case - throwing the decision of whether abortion is legal back to the states. Psaki, holding her final press gaggle on board Air Force One, was asked by a reporter Thursday: 'Does the president want protesters to influence Supreme Court justices so they uphold Roe?' She pointed to Biden's belief in peaceful protest, while adding that he also believes in the 'the independence of the third branch of government.' 'So I wouldn't say he has a view on that,' Psaki responded. 'He believes in peaceful protests, but they're going to make the decisions they make and we're not going to prejudge a final opinion.' At Thursday's press briefing - where Psaki's successor Karine Jean-Pierre was officially announced - the outgoing press secretary was asked by Fox News Channel's Peter Doocy about pro-choice activists with 'Ruth Sent Us' publishing the likely home addresses of Justices Kavanaugh, Roberts, Amy Coney Barrett, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch. Pro-life demonstrators showed up outside the home of conservative Justice Samuel Alito in Alexandria, Virginia on Thursday to show support for his draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which was leaked last Monday Supreme Court Police officers stood watch outside the home of Justice Alito on Thursday, May 5, 2022 as warnings of violence against the justices ensued Google made the map of addresses unavailable, claiming: 'This map is no longer available due to a violation of our Terms of Service and/or policies.' Ruth Sent Us is named after the late liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was replaced by Barrett when Donald Trump nominated her in the final month's of his presidency. The group announced a so-called 'walk-by Wednesday' for May 11, 2022, saying marches will take place 'at the homes of the six extremist justices, three in Virginia and three in Maryland.' 'Look, I think the president's view is that there's a lot of passion, a lot of fear, a lot of sadness from many, many people across this country about what they saw in that leaked document,' Psaki told Doocy on Thursday. 'We obviously want people's privacy to be respected.' She added to the query: 'I don't have an official U.S. Government position on where people protest.' Democratic Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy also denounced threatening violence against Supreme Court Justices on Sunday. 'No one should be threatening violence against any Supreme Court Justice or member of Congress,' Murphy told Fox News Sunday host Bret Baier. The comments come after demonstrators showed up at the homes of conservatives Justices in Maryland and Virginia on Saturday after their addresses were doxxed by a group with the moniker 'Ruth Sent Us.' Murphy says he think the abortion issue will 'push a lot of people to the polls this November' in the 2022 midterms. Some experts warn, however, that while abortion might tighten the margins, it won't stop a Republican bloodbath this fall. From May 8-15, Ruth Sent Us has planned several protests, marches and demonstrations to protest a leaked draft opinion that showed an impending overturn of Roe v. Wade. Furious pro-choice protesters outside the homes of Roberts and Kavanaugh over the weekend claimed in chant that the justices 'don't care if people die'. But even Democrat Senator Murphy says threatening these justices should never be tolerated. It is a crime to threaten members of Congress or the Supreme Court. Democratic Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy denounced on Sunday pro-abortion groups and activists that are threatening Supreme Court Justices and staging protests outside their homes in the D.C.-area Pro-choice protesters descended on the homes of justices on Saturday after the conservative members' addresses were doxxed online by activist group with the moniker Ruth Sent Us. Pictured: Demonstrators rally outside Kavanaugh's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland on Saturday, May 7, 2022 Dozens of demonstrators on Saturday gathered in the rain in DC and marched towards the homes of Roberts and Kavanaugh in response to the leaked Supreme Court draft decision. Roberts has said that he doesn't support a full overturn of Roe v. Wade, but claimed he would be in favor of ruling to make abortion illegal at the 15-week point of a pregnancy. Images of coat hangers were chalked on the street outside the justices' homes, an apparent attempt to reinforce the pro-choice argument that overturning Roe v. Wade will not put an end to abortion, but instead will end safe abortions. 'Keep abortion safe and legal,' the pro-abortion protesters chanted while they stood in the streets holding candles and signs. Others shouted: 'Your life is a lie!' and 'We will not go back!' Cops stood guard outside the justices' homes and, after what appeared to be a clash with demonstrators, ordered the activists to leave. At least one officer threatened to arrest and charge the protesters for violating Maryland law. The Supreme Court draft opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito and published by POLITICO, was leaked on Monday. The document revealed the court has voted to strike down the landmark 1973 ruling Rove v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. Protestors across the nation started assembling just hours after the opinion was leaked. Pro-choice rallies, spearheaded by organizations like Planned Parenthood, are slated to continue the upcoming week and weekend. Liberal group ShutDown DC already has plans to host a 'Vigil for Abortion Rights' outside Alito's house on Monday. Scroll Down For Video: Furious pro-choice protesters screamed 'you don't care if people die' while picketing the house of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Saturday Protesters gathered outside Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house, screaming: 'We will not go back!' Images of coat hangers were chalked on the street outside the justices' homes, an apparent attempt to reinforce the pro-choice argument that overturning Roe v. Wade will not put an end to abortion, but instead will end safe abortions Protesters in DC hold signs arguing in favor of Roe v. Wade Alito's draft does not necessarily represent the sentiments of other justices who did not pen the opinion, but it's been suggested that the court's 6-3 conservative supermajority, which include Justices Roberts and Kavanaugh, will likely deliver on the historic reversal. Protestors carrying signs that read 'An abortion saved my family' and 'Abortion is Healthcare, Healthcare is a right' first arrived at Justice Roberts' home where protestors drew multiple chalk outlines coat hangers, a famous symbol of illegal abortions. Protestors chanted 'Keep abortion safe and legal!' and 'Pro-life is a lie! You don't care if people die!' Then as the sun went down the pro-choice advocates lit candles and marched to Justice Kavanaugh's home where they packed the streets slowing down traffic and were captured shouting multiple chants angrily. A woman holds a pro-abortion sign while posing for a photo next to a chalked coat hanger An officer clashes with a protester, alleging the demonstrators are violating Maryland law and could face charges Law enforcement arrives to confront the demonstrators Later on more protesters appeared to arrive and were heard loudly chanting: 'We will not go back!' At one point, an officer was seen explaining to protestors that they would have to clear the area before cop cars showed up and protestors eventually dispersed, calling it a night. The protests came after the White House said it encourages 'peaceful protests,' would not tell abortion activists to avoid the justices' homes. 'The president, for all those women, men, others who feel outraged, who feel scared, who feel concerned, he hears them, he shares that concern and that horror that he saw in that draft opinion,' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday. She said President Joe Biden's message to those angered by the draft is to 'participate in peaceful protest'. 'Ensure it's peaceful. Have your voice heard peacefully. We should not be resorting to violence in any way, shape or form,' Psaki added. Demonstrators in support of reproductive rights protest outside of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland Pro-abortion protestors gathered outside the homes of Justices Kavanaugh and Roberts, holding up signs and chanting 'Keep abortion safe and legal' before cops arrived and forced them to leave On Saturday dozens of pro-abortion protestors gathered in the rain in DC and marched towards the homes of conservative Justices Kavanaugh and Roberts Protestors chanted 'Keep abortion safe and legal!' and 'Pro-life is a lie! You don't care if people die!' outside of Supreme Court Justice John Robert's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland Fox News reporter Peter Doocy, who has a history of clashing with Psaki, questioned an earlier statement from Joe Biden, alleging the 'MAGA crowd' was the 'most extreme political organization' in recent history. 'Do you think the progressive activists that are now planning protests outside some of the justices' houses are extreme?' he asked the press secretary. 'Peaceful protest, no. Peaceful protest is not extreme,' Psaki answered. 'We certainly encourage people to keep it peaceful and not resort to any level of violence.' 'The president's view is that there's a lot of passion, a lot of fear, a lot of sadness, from many, many people across this country about what they saw in that leaked document.' When further pressed about the planned residential protests, Psaki declined to discourage the demonstrations. 'I don't have an official U.S. government position on where people protest,' she said. 'We want it of course to be peaceful, and certainly the president would want to people's privacy to be respected. But I think we shouldn't lose the point here. 'The reason people are protesting is because women across the country are worried about their fundamental rights that have been law for 50 years, their rights to make choices about their own bodies and their own health care, are at risk. That's why people are protesting - they're unhappy, they're scared.' In Maryland, where the protesters assembled on Saturday, it is a violation of state law to picket 'before or about residences and dwelling places' if the demonstration 'causes emotional disturbance and distress to the occupants,' according to state code. A cop who responded to the scene also warned picketers they could face charges for violating a separate picketing law that protects judicial and government officers. It is unclear if any protesters were arrested Saturday as officials did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Abortion-rights protesters hold signs during demonstration outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday Anti-abortion protesters hold a demonstration across the street from the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday Members of the Boston Red Cloaks gather near the Park street train station on Saturday as they protest the possible overturning of Roe vs. Wade. The organization is one of several that has called for nationwide protests on May 14 Demonstrators in support of reproductive rights march to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland on Saturday Saturday's protests seem to just be the start as liberal group ShutDown DC already plans to host a 'Vigil for Abortion Rights' outside of Alito's house on May 9. 'Justice Alito thinks he can take away our rights. But our rights are fundamentally ours. We're showing up to tell him in person,' the group said. 'The evening of Monday, May 9, we will hold a vigil for all these rights that Alito is threatening to take away. Because it's been impossible to reach him at the Supreme Court (especially now with the enormous fences), we will do it at his home,' the event description said. 'At 7:30 pm we will gather at a nearby location and walk together to his house. At the foot of his driveway, on the public street, we will light candles and speakers will share their testimony. We will hold a moment of silence for the rights we know are ours, then walk back together to the meeting location.' In Alito's leaked document, conservative Justice Alito wrote that Roe v Wade - the 1973 Supreme Court ruling which found that excessive state regulation of abortion is unconstitutional - was 'egregiously wrong from the start' and 'must be overruled'. Alito, who was nominated to the court in 2006 by George W Bush, argues that Roe's 'reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. Far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.' But there were few signs that the new ruling will do anything to heal those divisions, with protesters gathering outside the court in Washington DC last night. If the ruling is overturned by the conservative-dominated court - with Republicans having a 6 - 3 majority - it would give individual states the power to decide on whether to ban abortion. The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice research group, has said that 26 states are 'certain or likely' to ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Then as the sun went down protestors lit candles and marched to Justice Kavanaugh's home where they packed the streets slowing down traffic and were captured shouting multiple chants angrily Protesters outside Kavanaugh's home arrived and were heard loudly chanting: 'We will not go back!' Liberal group ShutDown DC already has plans to host a 'Vigil for Abortion Rights' outside of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's house on May 9 Abortion rights have been under threat in recent months as Republican-led states move to tighten rules - with some seeking to ban all abortions after six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant. These include Arizona, where the Republican Governor in March signed a bill banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy; and Idaho where the governor signed a six-week abortion ban that allows family members of the fetus to sue providers who perform abortions past that point, similar to a Texas law enacted last year. As it stands in the US, abortion can take place until about 24 weeks into pregnancy - but the exact period varies between states. For example, Texas bans abortion after about six weeks but Florida has a 15-week abortion ban. Just hours after the stunning leak of draft opinion emerged, hundreds of pro-choice and anti-abortion activists gathered in front of the US Supreme Court on Monday night. Squaring off on either side of the white marble building a stone's throw from the Capitol, the pro-choice and anti-abortion groups railed at each other. 'Roe v. Wade is going to go,' anti-abortion protesters taunted, while the pro-choice crowd yelled: 'My body, my choice.' The two groups chanted and waved placards in the plaza in front of the steps to the Supreme Court, with barriers and a few uniformed police officers barring access to the colonnaded building. Saturday's demonstration was not the first time Kavanaugh was targeted at his home because of his stance on abortion. Demonstrators are pictured outside his house on Sept. 13, 2021 Protestors held up a sign that read 'repro freedom for all!' in front of Justice Kavanaugh's home in Maryland on Sept. 13, 2021 Dozens of protestors marched outside Justice Kavanaugh's home in September 2021 Saturday's demonstration was not the first time Kavanaugh was targeted at his home because of his stance on abortion. Dozens of left-wing protestors gathered in front of his house in September 2021 to protest his decision to reject a challenge to Texas' controversial abortion law. Dubbed by president Biden as an 'unprecedented assault on a woman's constitutional rights under Roe v. Wade' five conservative justices, including Kavanaugh, backed the law known as the 'Texas Heartbeat Act' that bans abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is normally after six weeks and before many women even know they are pregnant. The law makes no exceptions for rape or incest and allows Texans to report people, including Uber drivers, who help or take women to get abortions. The only exemption is if there is a danger to the woman's health. Public school toilets across New South Wales are in such a deplorable state that many students are refusing to use them, an inquiry into NSW public school infrastructure has been told. The Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations highlighted unhinged doors, missing toilet parts, uncleanliness, broken taps and lights, odours emanating from grout and graffiti affecting student toilets at the inquiry on Monday. P&C vice president Yvonne Hilsz went into further detail on the problems and the health issues it has subsequently caused public school students as a result. Public school toilets across New South Wales are in such a deplorable state that many students are refusing to use them, an inquiry into NSW public school infrastructure has been told The Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations highlighted unhinged doors, missing parts for toilets, uncleanliness, broken taps and lights, odours emanating from grout and graffiti as major issues 'Unclean. Doors unhinged. Vandalism left right through it ... Soap dispensers don't work, they can't wash their hands,' she said. 'You've got plumbing issues. Security issues of doors not locking properly. Toilet seats yanked off and not replaced. It is absolutely disgraceful, the toilets our children have to go to the bathroom in.' Ms Hilsz revealed that several students had developed bladder infections as they refused to use the toilets. 'We have parents complaining their children have (urinary tract infections), bladder issues, because children refuse to go to the toilet during the day,' she said. Ms Hilsz added that other students were going home dehydrated and ill because they refused to drink the water. P&C Federation says the problems have gotten so bad they've had to resort to raising money to try and fix bathrooms at multiple schools themselves as nothing was being done on a government level. Research conducted by the Federation found that parents in the North Shore and Sydney's inner west were most concerned by the facilities at their kids' school. P&C vice president Yvonne Hilsz revealed that several students had developed bladder infections as they refused to use the toilets at public schools An inquiry into NSW public school infrastructure heard on Monday that students at Concord High School refuse to eat or drink so they can avoid using the 'absolutely disgraceful' toilets (pictured, toilets at Concord High School) In its submission to the committee, Concord High School Parents and Citizens Association noted their school was short of toilets and demountable bathrooms had been installed, with no plan to replace them. Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW vice president Yvonne Hilsz (pictured) told the inquiry disgusting toilets, overcrowding, demountable classrooms and a lack of consultation is influencing parents to send their children to private schools A submission said had a severe shortage of toilets for female students and the ones already at the school were deemed 'dirty and unsafe'. It also stated the toilets were so bad many students chose not to eat food or drink water to avoid using them. Volunteers had managed to secure a $150,000 grant from the government to upgrade bathrooms, and were informed that was enough to upgrade just four toilets, which could take up to a year. The school has one wheelchair accessible toilet, on the second floor of a building where the lift does not work. Demountable classrooms were also being used to address overcrowding in growing catchments, encroaching on school ovals and preventing children from exercising, the inquiry heard. Ms Hilsz said the multiple problems surrounding toilets at public schools has influenced parents to send their children to private schools. A black Subaru worker is suing for racism after his former boss allegedly mocked George Floyd's murder by sharing a photo of a white man being smothered by a black woman's breasts. Tobias Ray, the finance manager of Lithia Subaru of Oregon City, alleged his then-General Manager Tony Jimenez and another employee subjected him to a disturbing slew of racist remarks and images. Ray says another colleague, general sales manager Ryan Vaughn, cracked jokes with him about a customer called Rodney King and referenced the beating of a black man with the same name by LA cops that triggered 1991 race riots. He claims Vaughn also joked that it would be hard to see Ray in the dark because of his skin tone, with the African-American worker also likened to rapper Tupac Shakur and Denzel Washington. Ray continues to work at the dealership, but both Jimenez and Vaughn have left their positions there. Tobias Ray, (pictured) the finance manager of Lithia Subaru of Oregon City, alleged his then-General Manager Tony Jimenez and other employees subjected him to racist remarks since he was hired in October 2018. These remarks and image include: being compared to Tupac and actors in New Jerk City and a stick figure drawing with 'Afro hair' with the caption: 'I love watermelon' on the breakroom whiteboard Jimenez reportedly spread around a photo of a white man being smothered by a black woman's boobs (pictured) to 'select employees,' with the caption: 'This white man can't breathe. But you won't see that on news.' 'Defendant Lithia and its manager, Defendant Jimenez, both authorized and fostered a racially discriminatory and hostile work environment when permitting Defend Jimenez and others to comment negatively about Plaintiff's race, thereby, disadvantaging Plaintiff's opportunities and affecting the terms and conditions of his employment. 'Defendant Jimenez and other employees of Defendant Lithia engaged in a pattern of racially hostile conduct and retaliation without any lawful purpose or business justification,' the lawsuit read. Some of the 'racially hostile conduct' included the smothering picture, which Jimenez reported texted 'select employees' - which did not include Ray - in June 2020. It was sent shortly after George Floyd's suffocation murder at the hands of white Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, and has been included in Ray's lawsuit. 'The image and its meaning stunned, angered, and disheartened Ray, as he learned his General Manager harbored racial animus, which explained why Jimenez excluded Ray from the distribution list,' the lawsuit read. 'The meaning of the text picture message was also clear: Jimenez distributed a disparaging commentary that referenced the then-recent murder of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement.' General Sales Manager Ryan Vaughn also reportedly assigned Ray to handle the financing of a customer named Rodney King in August 2020. He allegedly told Ray to ask the customer: 'Can't we all just get along' and later asked if King was 'slow' and 'hit in the head with a club one too many times'. The lawsuit alleges that was a reference to another Rodney King - the black man beaten by the LAPD with batons after a high-speed chase in 1991. That attack triggered huge riots across the California city. The financial manager also stumbled across a doodle of 'stick figure with an Afro hairstyle' with the caption: 'I love watermelon,' on the breakroom whiteboard in June 2020, it is claimed. Ray reported found the image 'embarrassing' and 'high offensive,' as it was a 'trope based on racial stereotypes of African American people.' In addition, the whiteboard could be seen by 'all employees.' Text messages between Jimenez and General Sales Managers Ryan Vaughn revealed the alleged racist comments. The group reportedly referenced pop culture that showed black men and violence, including New Jerk City and American Gangster 'Lithia's dealership management obviously tolerated this racial image by allowing it to remain on the whiteboard,' the suit said. Jimenez also reportedly had an issue with the clothing Ray wore to work in July 2020. Texting General Sales Managers Vaughan and Cory Fay: 'Any chance Tobias has a shirt that covers tattoos and follows dress code? If Tobias is going to insist on wearing his day off outfit from New Jack City, can someone close his door and turn the light off :).' Fay replied he would 'remind him now,' while Vaughn replied: 'lol New Jack City. Are you implying we couldn't see him in the dark? :).' There is no suggestion that Fay made any racist remarks or did anything wrong, and he hasn't been named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Jimenez also texted the pair, in what is believed to be near the time Ray was hired in October 2018, where he suggested the other two asked him: 'Am I my brother's keeper?,' which is a line from the movie said by gang members repeatedly. The other participants in the chat apparently replied with a picture of Denzel Washington in American Gangster, where the actor played a crime leader. He also reportedly compared Ray to the famous musician Tupac, who was killed by gun violence. Jimenez wrote: 'Someone needs to send Val a pictured of Tupac, our new finance guy.' Ray filed a formal complaint on October 30, 2020 and participated in the 'internal investigation by Lithia, which determined his complaints to have merit.' Ray and Fay remain employed at the dealership (pictured). Jimenez left the dealership at an unknown time and for an unspecified reason and it appears Vaughn is not longer employed there as well, according to the company website. 'While the company provided diversity awareness training, the company failed to initiate significant disciplinary action against the offending employees, nor did the company deter further acts of racial discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. 'As a direct and consequential result of Defendants' acts of disparagement, racial bias, and discriminations, Ray sustained damages in the form of lost earnings, advancement, and professional growth opportunities, as well as suffering emotional distress and legal expenses,' the lawsuit claimed. Ray and Fay remain employed at the dealership. Jimenez left the dealership at an unknown time and for an unspecified reason and it appears Vaughn is not longer employed there as well, according to the company website. DailyMail.com has contacted Ray and his representatives for comment. Former policeman Goncalo Amaral, 62, was taken off the Madeleine McCann investigation after a 27 year police career. He published his book The Truth of the Lie in 2008, suggesting her parents were responsible for her disappearance Madeleine McCann's parents will find out later this year if they have won their rollercoaster legal battle against a former Portuguese detective who suggested they were responsible for their daughter's disappearance. Kate and Gerry, both 54, took against Goncalo Amaral, 62, for slurs in his book The Truth of the Lie and they have been locked in a bitter courtroom fight ever since it was published in 2008 a year after Madeleine went missing. They are appealing to the European Court of Human Rights in the French city of Strasbourg after Portugals highest court threw out their long running libel claim against Amaral, who suggested they were involved in her disappearance. Initially they had won the first round and an injunction was granted to prevent further sales of the book, which was written by Amaral who was taken off the investigation after a 27 year police career. He later appealed the decision and after years of litigation which also at one point involved him paying the McCanns 429,000 in compensation won the case in 2017. This was after Portugals highest court ruled he was entitled to freedom of expression but in a last throw of the dice the McCanns immediately went to the European Court of Human Rights and have been waiting ever since for a decision. Technically the case being considered by the court in Strasbourg is against Portugal and Portuguese justice, and not Amaral himself. If the McCann's lose, they could be forced to pay considerable costs. Madeleine McCann's parents, Kate and Gerry, mark the 15th anniversary of their daughter's disappearance from Portugal at a vigil in their home village of Rothley. They will find out this year if they have won their lengthy legal battle against the former policeman It may even involve them dipping into their Madeleines Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned account which according to the latest accounts has a balance of 931,500. Paperwork lodged at the court shows Kate and Gerry are claiming the allegations in his book and a subsequent documentary infringed their right to respect for their private life and their right to presumption of innocence. They complained that the Portuguese ruling failed to take into account criteria set out in case law and judges at the Strasbourg court sent out detailed questionnaires to the Portuguese state asking the McCanns for further observations and if an out of court settlement was possible. A source in Strasbourg said the Portuguese had refused the offer and other documents in the case reveal Amaral made more than 350,000 from the book and DVD, plus another 20,000 from various TV and newspaper interviews. In their argument the couple detail the pain they have been through since then three-year-old Madeleine disappeared during a family holiday in Praia da Luz on Portugals Algarve coast in May 2007. They go on to describe the anguish they endured after being made suspects or arguidos by the Portuguese police a few months after she disappeared. Lawyers say Amarals book incriminated innocent citizens, accused of terrible crimes they never committed. It goes on to say they are trying to protect not only their reputation but that of the child as well. They also say Amarals book was extravagant and damaged the good reputation of the McCann family. Last year, Amaral wrote a follow up book called Maddie: Enough Lies in which he said prime suspect Christian Brueckner, named in 2020 by German police, was merely a scapegoat Amaral argued in his defence that the books allegations came from his and his teams investigation. Last year Amaral wrote a follow up book called Maddie: Enough Lies in which he said prime suspect Christian Brueckner, who was named in 2020 by German police as the man responsible for her kidnap and murder was merely a scapegoat. He says German investigators have turned convicted rapist and paedophile Brueckner, into a man made Frankenstein and he accuses them of a botch job as part of their discredited desire to link Brueckner, 45, to the crime. In the 294 page book he also again repeated his theory the McCanns, from Rothley, Leicestershire were responsible, but they have always steadfastly denied it. A spokesperson for the European Court of Human Rights told MailOnline: 'The application is scheduled to be examined in the first semester of 2022, a ruling being expected before the end of the summer. Officials said lawyers for both parties would be aware of the timings and that no one would have to give evidence in person before the court unless the panel specifically requested it. 'You have just arrived on the Moon... your hands become fish... You discover a new planet. Here, plants have taken power.' You might be forgiven for thinking these words were plucked straight from the fever-dreams of a madman, but in fact they greeted EU politicians at a summit in Strasbourg today to conclude the Conference on the Future of Europe. The project - a year-long consultation on how the EU can improve based on the suggestions of citizens - had gone largely ignored until today, when a 10-minute opening performance by group Danse l'Europe caught people's attention. However, the performance's French organisers may wish the routine had gone unnoticed after online commentators branded it: 'Proof that Brexit was a good idea.' European politicians attending the final day of the Conference on the Future of Europe were treated to 10 full minutes of interpretive dance as proceedings opened today The bizarre spectacle unfolded in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, where people had gathered to conclude the Conference on the Future of Europe. Conceived late in 2019, the project invited citizens and especially young people to propose reforms on an equal footing with suggestions from European institutions. After a year of work, a folder containing 49 proposals was due to be presented to EU leader under the watchful eye of Emmanuel Macron who was in attendance because France currently holds the rotating EU presidency. Danse l'Europe - conceived by France as part of its presidency - opened the session, which was timed to coincide with Europe Day. The project, led by contemporary choreographer Angelin Preljocaj, is intended to bring together 'bodies moving in unison throughout Europe'. As music played into the auditorium, the dancers began their interpretative movements accompanied by a soft string track and Preljocaj whispering in French. 'You have just arrived on the Moon, to look at the Sun, on the other side, you look at the Earth shining. Come back and face the Sun,' he told conference delegates. As he spoke the dancers continued moving under the eyes of politicians - some bemused, others determinately looking away. The tip of your fingers caress the back of your neck as they go, your hands become fish avoiding each other, from one side of your body to the other,' Preljocaj added. Politicians watched as dozens of young people performed the contemporary routine, while the voice of choreographer Angelin Preljocaj told them: 'You have just arrived on the Moon' Danse l'Europe - the company which performed the routine - is a French initiative designed to represent 'bodies moving in unison throughout Europe' Online viewers were quick to mock the clip, with one quipping: 'Alexa show me, via the medium of interpretive dance, why Brexit was a good idea..' Another added: 'This is the first convincing proof I've seen that perhaps Brexit was for the best.' Striking a more serious tone, a third said: 'When future historians look back at this period and see interpretative dance in EU parliament while on the brink of world war, economic collapse, civil unrest... they will be astonished at how the people let the elite live in a fantasy world and still remain in power.' Around an hour after the dance took place, delegates were treated to another performance - this time by youth orchestra DEMOS. Made up of musicians from each member state, they performed part of Beethoven's Ode to Joy - the European anthem - to parliament. Speaking at the end of the summit, EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola, said: 'Citizens - especially young people - are at the heart of our vision for the future of Europe. They have directly shaped the outcome of the Conference. Conference on the Future of Europe is a year-long project to develop proposals for EU policy based on the feedback of citizens Emmanuel Macron - as holder of the rotating EU presidency - addressed the conference, pledging to create a tiered system of European nations 'We are at a defining moment of European integration and no suggestion for change should be off-limits. 'We should not be afraid to unleash the power of Europe to change people's lives for the better.' President Macron added: 'Through the crises that we have gone through collectively in recent years, Europe has changed. We must continue this development and ensure that the Union lives up to the aspirations and expectations expressed by the citizens. The Conference on the Future of Europe, which we are closing today, is a unique exercise and unprecedented in its scope, a breath of fresh air for our continent. Its conclusions constitute a very rich source of proposals, which each institution must examine within the framework of its competences. The Council will have the opportunity to express itself in the coming weeks. 'As this exercise is coming to an end under the French Presidency, I thank the previous presidencies for their commitment and am happy to hand over the follow-up to be given to the conclusions of the Conference to the Czech and Swedish presidencies.' The National Assembly adopted a confirmation hearing report on defense minister nominee Lee Jong-sup, Monday, a day before President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol takes office. The National Assembly Defense Committee unanimously approved Lee's nomination following last week's hearing, saying he has leadership and plenty of experience and expertise in national defense policies and military operations. Lee, a former three-star Army general, graduated from the Korea Military Academy and served as the Joint Chiefs of Staff vice chairman from 2017 to 2018. He is the fifth out of a total of 18 Cabinet nominees to get Assembly approval. (Yonhap) Disturbing audio has emerged of a phonecall between a Russian machine gunner and his mother who took great pleasure in laughing about the torture and murder of Ukrainian civilians. The call, intercepted and published by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, was shared by a soldier of Russia's 11th Army Corps - identified as Konstantin Solovyov - and his mother Tatiana Solovyova. After a brief exchange of small talk and jokes about taking food from local villagers near Kharkiv, Solovyov quickly begins describing, in graphic detail, a variety of heinous torture methods used by members of Russia's security service (FSB). Some of the tactics included the '21 roses' - stripping the skin back from a man's fingers, toes and penis like the petals of a flower - and the 'barrel' method, when a line of barbed wire is inserted into a prisoner's anus via a tube before being slowly and painstakingly ripped back out. Solovyov, whose unit is deployed near the eastern front in Kharkiv according to Ukraine's MoD, also explained how he and his colleagues in the FSB beat an old man to death for taking photos of Russian troop positions, and excitedly recounted conversations he shared with a prisoner whose legs he had broken to prevent him from running away. When asked by his mother whether he enjoyed taking part in the torture, the soldier replied: 'I like it... I don't know.' Incredibly, Tatiana responded in kind: 'I always told you that, in principle, I'm holding myself back. If I had ended up there I would also be enjoying it. We're the same.' The call, intercepted and published by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, was shared by a soldier of Russia's 11th Army Corps - identified as Konstantin Solovyov (pictured) - and his mother Tatiana Solovyova When asked by his mother whether he enjoyed taking part in the torture of Ukrainian civilians, the soldier replied: ' I like it... I don't know.' Incredibly, Tatiana (pictured) responded in kind: ' I always told you that, in principle, I'm holding myself back. If I had ended up there I would also be enjoying it. We're the same' An elderly lady gets assisted while crossing the Irpin river, under a bridge that was destroyed, as civilians flee the town of Irpin, Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022 Alla, 42, hugs her son Savelii, 10, as she stands next to the grave of her husband Ihor Krotkih, on May 1, 2022 in Irpin, Ukraine. Ihor Krotkih was a Ukrainian soldier who was killed during the Russian occupation of Irpin A new grave for people killed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is seen at a cemetery in Irpin, Kyiv region, Ukraine April 19, 2022 Solovyov also said he felt 'not a smidge of regret' for his harrowing crimes, alleging Ukrainian forces would do the same in his position and because some of the captives did not give into their torturers. He later added: 'I'm not even feeling remorse anymore. After more than 20 [murders], I stopped feeling anything.' Tatiana meanwhile appears to offer her full support for her son's war crimes, at one stage of the conversation directing an expletive-laden tirade at Ukrainian civilians for resisting the Russian abuse before later joking about her son breaking a man's fingers 'so he can't point or pick his nose'. Ukraine's MoD published a link to the pair's social media profiles along with the unedited audio of their disturbing call - the profiles have since been deleted. Solovyov is said to be aged just 20 years old, having been born in 2002, while his mother is aged 50. The Ukrainian MoD posted a link to Solovyov's profile on Russian social media platform VKontakte, but it has since been deleted The unsettling conversation, initially published by the Ukraine's MoD on May 3, is one of several in which Russian soldiers have admitted to committing grave war crimes on Ukrainian soil. Widespread reports of rape, torture and brutal violence carried out on civilians first began flooding out of Ukraine after authorities discovered the horrors committed in towns north of Kyiv such as Bucha, Irpin and Borodyanka. Survivors who witnessed the tragedy unfold in their communities before the Russians withdrew to focus their assault on the east of Ukraine told of how their countrymen and women had been treated with savagery by the invaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the Russian army as 'the most barbaric and inhuman in the world' in light of these accounts, and said Russia will be stained 'as a source of absolute evil for generations'. 'A Russian passport will mean only one thing in any country: Unequivocal condemnation from all decent people,' Zelensky warned in April. The Ukrainian leader also drew a number of comparisons between infamous Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a 15-minute-long video published yesterday to mark VE Day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the Russian army as 'the most barbaric and inhuman in the world' in light of the accounts of rape, torture and murder of Ukrainian civilians, and said Russia will be stained 'as a source of absolute evil for generations' (Zelensky pictured visiting the mass grave sites in Bucha in April) A Ukrainian policeman walks by a pit in the village of Motyzhyn, Ukraine, April 3, where the town mayor and her family were thrown after being murdered by Russian forces A total of 25,500 Russian soldiers have been killed in bitter fighting, while Putin's forces have lost 1130 tanks, 199 planes, 156 helicopters, 509 artillery systems and 2741 armoured personnel carriers, the Land Forces of Ukraine claim The Ukrainian MoD's Main Intelligence Directorate has also intercepted calls between Russian soldiers and their families in which the invaders open up about the true scale of the losses suffered by Putin's troops on the front lines. New figures published at the weekend by the Land Forces of Ukraine suggest that more than 25,000 Russian servicemen have now been killed in action since the invasion began on February 24 - the Kremlin by contrast has not given any death toll since early in the war, when it admitted that several hundred of its soldiers had died. Western estimates put the scale of Russian losses somewhat lower than the figure given by Ukrainian authorities, but well over 15,000 of Putin's fighters are thought to have died. A total of 25,500 Russian soldiers have been killed in bitter fighting, while Putin's forces have lost 1130 tanks, 199 planes, 156 helicopters, 509 artillery systems and 2741 armoured personnel carriers, the Land Forces of Ukraine claimed on Sunday. It came as Russia lost its 39th high-ranking officer on the battlefield. Lt-Col Fezul Bichikaev, 36, was killed in a skirmish near Ukraine's second city Kharkiv, where Ukrainian forces have mounted a counter-offensive to take a number of nearby towns. An intelligence update posted on Saturday by Britain's Ministry of Defence said several of Putin's senior commanders are being forced onto the battlefield 'to take personal leadership of operations' due to 'faltering Russian performance on the frontline'. Sean Armstead, 36, is the NYPD cop who shot his wife's lover and then himself Sunday Investigators probing a suspected murder-suicide in upstate New York believe the gunman was a jealous NYPD cop who gunned down a love rival outside a Buffalo Wild Wings before turning the weapon on himself. DailyMail.com has learned that off-duty officer Sean Armstead tailed his 35-year-old spouse, Alexandra Vanderheyden, and her 20-year-old suspected lover Edward Wilkins to a La Quinta hotel on the opposite side of a parking lot to the Buffalo Wild Wings. The pair jumped in their car to flee but the veteran cop sped after them in his grey Dodge Charger and slammed into them right outside the bar. A guest at the neighboring Super 8 hotel said she heard the smash and saw two men emerging from the cars, one chasing the other. After a volley of gunshots, the younger man slumped to the floor in a parking spot. 'I heard eight shots. The cop shot him multiple times until he was dead,' said the shaken guest, who would only give her first name, Jennifer. 'Then the cop, in shooting himself, landed on top of the body. They were both on top of one another in the same spot in a pool of blood. 'The woman was screaming and running in and out of Buffalo Wild Wings. She was crying hysterically, it looked like she was going to pass out. 'People were still there cleaning up the blood at 4:30am.' DailyMail.com has learned that off-duty officer Sean Armstead tailed his wife Alexandra Vanderheyden and a man he suspected she was having an affair with as they drove through Wallkill, 80 miles north of New York City late on Sunday night. Armstead and his wife are pictured together Police at the home of Police officer Sean Armstead in Port Jervis, New York, after he killed his wife's lover and turned the gun on himself A police detective was seen roping off the front of NYPD Officer Armstead's driveway with police tape Monday morning Off-duty NYPD officer Sean Armstead tailed his wife and a man he suspected she was having an affair with Sunday night. He shot the man dead in the parking lot of this Buffalo Wild Wings Armstead's wife was not thought to have been harmed in the shooting that unfolded around 10:40pm. The couple's marital $450,000 home in Port Jervis, 40 miles from Wallkill, was being guarded by multiple police cars Monday morning. Vanderheyden, who grew up in Illinois and runs her own dog walking business, was being comforted today by family. Her older brother Joseph told DailyMail.com that his heart goes out to the families of the two dead men. This has been a very devastating tragedy for the victims and the families involved,' he said. 'Our family in particular has been directly impacted by the traumatic events that occurred.' Alexandra Vanderheyden told investigators she believes that Armstead tracked her through her cell phone. Wilkins's loved ones gathered at his home in nearby Mamakating, New York but declined to comment when approached by DailyMail.com. Vanderheyden told investigators she believes that Armstead tracked her through her cell phone A front desk worker at La Quinta said she was not allowed to discuss the harrowing incident. The Town of Wallkill Police Department said in a statement that officers responded to a report of a shooting at 567 Route 211 East at 10:34pm Sunday. 'Upon arrival, officers discovered two deceased males in the parking lot,' the statement said. The first victim was identified as Armstead, 36, and the second, Wilkins, of Wurtsboro, New York. 'A Glock 19 handgun and several spent shell casings were found at the scene,' the statement added. Local reports suggest the incident began with a search for a shooting suspect but soon transitioned into a murder inquiry as two bodies were covered over with tarps. It's believed multiple agencies, including the New York state Police and the Orange County Sheriff's Office are assisting the probe and that the NYPD has been briefed on the double fatality. Online records state Armstead has been a cop for 11 years and was on a salary of $105,000. The veteran officer, in his mid-30s, racked up five complaints involving his use of physical force and alleged abuse of authority but none were upheld, according to publicly available disciplinary records. Armstead also made the news in June 2016 when he was mugged while walking his dog in Harlem. The off-duty cop was punched and beaten by four men who fled with his wallet and NYPD identification card. A neighbor who identified himself only by first name, Gary, said he was shocked to hear about the allegations. He said of Sean and his wife, 'Both were always friendly, always waving to say hello. I never heard yelling or anything to suggest something was wrong.' 'They we're always coming and going, always seemed to be doing something,' he said. 'They weren't the types to just sit on the couch.' As he spoke on his deck, police set up yellow crime tape to keep traffic away from Armstead's residence. Armstead tailed his 35-year-old spouse, Alexandra Vanderheyden, and her 20-year-old suspected lover Edward Wilkins to a La Quinta hotel on the opposite side of a parking lot to the Buffalo Wild Wings Sources say Armstead cornered the pair outside a Buffalo Wild Wings on Route 211 before chasing down the mystery 'lover' and shooting him dead Meanwhile, another local man stopped by with a pickup truck to drop off plastic barrels to block the road. The man told DailyMail.com that Sean's wife herself called him with the request. 'She called for a little help to keep people away,' he said. Sean Armstead was living with his wife in a log cabin for the past five years, according to Gary. They had set up a dog boarding business on their property. Dogs could be heard yelping in the background. 'He would hire local kids to walk the dogs,' Gary said. Gary said Sean had told him he was a police officer, and Gary noted he too has cops in his family. 'It just doesn't make any sense,' he said of the apparent murder-suicide. 'People just don't take time to reflect if something upsets them.' They live in a sleepy rural town nearly two hours from NYC. 'It doesn't matter where you live,' Gary said. 'You just can't get away from the craziness.' Advertisement Boris Johnson has joined former PMs and politicians at Westminster Cathedral today for a memorial service to celebrate the life of Tory MP James Brokenshire who tragically died last year following a four-year battle with lung cancer. Today, the PM was joined by senior figures including Priti Patel, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Liz Truss, and Sajid Javid for Mr Brokenshire's remembrance service held at St Margaret's Church in London. Dame Eleanor Laing, the Conservative MP for Epping forest, former Prime Minister, Theresa May and Mr Brokenshire's former special advisor, Peter Cardwell, each did a reading to celebrate the late minister's life and work - whilst others took to Twitter to pay their respects. Caroline Nokes, Tory MP for Romsey and Southampton North, tweeted: 'Such a lovely tribute to my colleague James Brokenshire today with his memorial service at St Margaret's Westminster - he is much missed.' Irish minister Charles Flanagan said: 'Pleased to attend Westminster Service of Thanksgiving for the life & work of former Northern Ireland Secretary of State James Brokenshire. 'A man of integrity and decency, dedicated to public service and the challenging work of peace and reconciliation. May he rest in everlasting peace.' Nick Thomas -Symonds, the Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade and Welsh Labour, also wrote a touching tribute about the 'kind' MP who was 'well respected across Parliament' and said his thoughts were with Mr Brokenshire's wife Cathy and three children, Sophie, Jemma, and Ben. He said: 'Such a moving service remembering James Brokenshire today. The eulogies captured James remarkable life of public service but also his dry humour and kindness that led to him being liked and respected across Parliament. My thoughts are with Cathy, Sophie, Jemma and Ben.' Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer did not attend the memorial after the Labour leader made an extraordinary vow to resign if he is fined by police over Beergate this afternoon. Mr Brokenshire - who was a Conservative minister for housing, security and Northern Ireland under David Cameron and Theresa May until he was sacked by Mr Johnson in 2019 - passed away aged 53 on October 7 at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, close to his Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency. Boris Johnson (pictured) has joined former PMs and politicians at Westminster Cathedral today for a memorial service to celebrate the life of Tory MP James Brokenshire who tragically died last year following a four-year battle with lung cancer Today, Mr Brokenshire's wife Cathy and three children, Sophie, Jemma, and Ben, were joined by the PM, family, friends and senior figures including Priti Patel (pictured) The Secretary of State Sajid Javid attended the remembrance service for James Brokenshire at St Margaret's church today The Foreign Secretary Liz Truss was pictured leaving the memorial at Westminster Cathedral with other senior ministers Mr Brokenshire - who was a Conservative minister for housing, security and Northern Ireland under David Cameron and Theresa May until he was sacked by Mr Johnson in 2019 - passed away age 53 on October 7 at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, close to his Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency. Pictured: The Minister of State for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency Jacob Rees-Mogg Pictured: Lord Barwell (left) and the Conservative MP for Tunbridge Wells, Greg Clark (right), leave St Margaret's church Dr Therese Coffey, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, also attended this afternoon's memorial service Yvette Cooper (left), Labour's Shadow Home Secretary, and Holly Lynch (right), the Labour MP for Halifax, were attended the memorial at St Margaret's church, Westminster Mr Brokenshire, the Conservative MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, who previously served as Northern Ireland secretary and security minister, announced he had been diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018 and had surgery to remove the upper lobe of his right lung. At the time, non-smoker Mr Brokenshire said he had been prompted to see his GP after coughing up a small amount of blood. He became vocal in calling for national screening for lung cancer, and in April 2018 used a debate in Parliament to call for a national programme to improve poor survival rates. Mr Brokenshire said much stigma surrounds lung cancer, with many people incorrectly believing it is only caused by smoking. In August last year he posted a heartbreaking tweet saying his 'cancer had progressed', along with a photo of him with his wife Cathy. Mr Brokenshire, the Conservative MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, previously served as Northern Ireland secretary and security minister Pictured: Robert Buckland (middle), the Conservative MP for South Swindon, attended the remembrance ceremony Chris Grayling (pictured), Conservative MP for for Epsom and Ewell, leaves St Margaret's church in Westminster after a thanksgiving church service for James Brokenshire earlier today Alok Sharma, President for COP26 and Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, was pictured leaving St Margaret's church in Westminster this afternoon The Old Bexley and Sidcup MP stood down as security minister last July to focus on his health after a recurrence of his illness. But in a statement his family announced that he had died in hospital with his family by his side after a sudden deterioration in his condition last October. In a statement, James Brokenshire's family said: 'James died peacefully at Darent Valley Hospital with family members by his bedside. He had been in hospital since Sunday after his condition rapidly deteriorated. 'James was not only a brilliant Government minister as both Security and Immigration Minister at the Home Office and Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office and Ministry for Housing, Communities & Local Government, but a dedicated constituency MP, first for Hornchurch from 2005 to 2010, and then for Old Bexley & Sidcup for the past 11 years. In his last tweet on August 31, Mr Brokenshire shared a picture of himself on a walk with his 'amazing' wife Cathy, and said that his lung cancer had 'progressed'. He died in October 2021 Mr Brokenshire, pictured with wife Cathy, stepped down as Northern Ireland secretary in January 2018 on his 50th birthday, after his cancer diagnosis 'But most importantly, he was a loving father to his three children, a devoted husband to Cathy and a faithful friend to so many. 'We would like to thank all the NHS staff, particularly those at Guy's & St Thomas' in London, who cared for James with such warmth, diligence and professionalism over the past three-and-a-half years. 'We would also ask that our privacy as a family is respected at this time.' Mr Brokenshire's funeral was attended on October 21 by senior politicians, family and friends in Bexley and around St John the Evangelist Church. Fellow Tory MP Sir David Amess - who was killed during a constituency surgery in Essex just a week after his colleague's death - and his family were also remembered during prayers in the packed church. Mr Brokenshire was described by Reverend Scott Lamb as 'unassuming' and the 'most decent of men'. Ex-PM Theresa May, in whose government Mr Brokenshire held two Cabinet roles, gave a Bible reading from Mark's Gospel and, referring to the passage, Rev Lamb said Mr Brokenshire also 'came not to be served but to serve'. A Queens mother who was fighting for her life after being pinned between two parked cars by a hit-and-run driver has now died in the hospital. Florence Ngwu, 49, was smashed against two vehicles on Sunday in front of her young daughter. She was taken to the hospital but died of her injuries, it was confirmed on Monday. 'This is the third time and they werent able to revive her. Were all just devastated,' her niece told The New York Post. Police are still looking for the driver of the truck, which had been reported stolen by Pawar Builders in Elmhurst, Queens. The truck was found abandoned about a mile-and-a-half away. The Nigerian mother-of-four is an aide at a nursing home, her family says. A neighbor says she worked night shifts there As the truck took off, Ngwu's young daughter screamed, 'Mommy! Mommy!' 'The doctors are basically saying they don't want to give us false hope,' her niece Nnenna B, 29, told the New York Post. 'They came to my uncle and said it's up to him what he wants to happen now, because we saw what she looked like and we could see for ourselves that things are looking terrible.' A neighbor, who has lived next door to Ngwu for six or seven years, remembered Ngwu as a 'very nice lady.' 'I would see her every morning because I was going to go swimming when she was coming home,' Robert Brown told the Post. 'She worked nights, she was a nurse.' Traffic violence is becoming an epidemic in New York City, which has reported a more than 41 percent increase in overall crime so far this year. Horrific footage showed the moment the mother was crushed between two cars by a fleeing truck while her daughter watched. 'Mommy! Mommy!' Florence Ngwu's daughter screamed as the stolen truck, which had hit multiple parked cars while attempting a U-turn, travelled down the Queens street on Sunday. The 49-year-old woman, who crossed between two park cars in an effort to prevent the driver from fleeing, was trapped as the truck hit a silver car from behind, ramming it into her and jamming her against yet another parked car. Two other pedestrians fell to the ground. The truck driver sped off down the road as Ngwu screamed in apparent agony. That vehicle had been reported stolen a few hours before Sunday's horror unfolded. Police are searching for the driver, who remains at large. Nnenna B, Ngwu's niece, says doctors have left her uncle with the choice of what to do with her body as it looks like she will not survive the accident. 'He told the doctor to please keep fighting,' Nnenna told the Post. 'My aunt is a very strong woman. Shes a strong lady, strong-willed and strong-hearted person. He said please keep fighting for her until she gives up herself.' She said doctors have had a hard time stopping the bleeding and that some blood vessels 'are completely damaged beyond repair.' Nnenna said her aunt had gone down to see what the commotion was all about. 'I understand people may panic out of nowhere, but the way he went about it,' she said. 'He hit my cousin's car first and that's why my auntie came downstairs, to see what was going on. 'So, him trying to get away and him trying to - all of it to me is just so inhumane,' she said. 'I don't understand it.' Her family says Ngwu worked at the SilverCrest nursing home in Briarwood, Queens. Staff at the nursing home could not immediately confirm her employment to DailyMail.com on Sunday night. One neighbor described the gruesome scene, which ended with Ngwu sprawled out on the pavement after being crushed between the fleeing truck and a parked car. 'We went like, "Yo, you hit the car,'" the unidentified man told the Post. 'All of a sudden he just rammed the silver car there. The silver car hit us. She was further back to the green car, so she fell. She couldn't get up fast enough. 'Pinned her head on the bumper,' he said. One of the vehicles hit belongs to one of Ngwu's daughters. The white BMW sedan suffered damage to the hood and front bumbper. One police source said: 'That was horrible and it happened in front of the daughter on Mother's Day. You never recover from that. Whenever Mother's Day rolls around, thats how she'll remember her mother. That's horrific. 'I was heartbroken watching that video,' the source added. No more information on what led to the confrontation that sparked the horrific incident has been shared, besides cops revealing that the truck had earlier been stolen. One neighbor described the accident. 'She was further back to the green car, so she fell. She couldn't get up fast enough. Pinned her head on the bumper,' he said The truck left Ngwu trapped between two cars. 'He hit my cousin's car first and that's why my auntie came downstairs, to see what was going on,' Ngwu's niece recalled to the New York Post The driver of a Ford F-550 truck struck Ngwu at 8.33am on Sunday after attempting a U-turn at 167th Street and 120th Avenue in the South Jamaica neighborhood. Video shows the truck, sporting the words Pawar Builders on the side, hit multiple vehicles while it turns at the intersection. 'Oh my God, this cars hitting all these cars, bro,' a resident, who captured the crash on camera, is heard saying. Residents ran into the road, attempting to stop the driver from leaving the scene. But the suspect continued on. 'Oh my goodness. No!' the bystander screamed as the truck slammed into another parked car and pinned the mother between two vehicles. The suspect then sped off down the street and fled as the woman's family rushed towards her while she screamed out in pain. Her daughter was also yelling. The truck had been reported stolen about two hours before the incident and was later found by police about one-and-a-half miles away from the accident site, near 164th Place and 108th Drive. However, the driver was nowhere to be found. One of the cars that was hit by the stolen truck in Queens belongs to the daughter of victim Florence Ngwu. It appears to have suffered damage to the front bumper and hood A group of pedestrians go into the street in an effort to prevent the truck driver from fleeing. The 49-year-old Queens mom is among these individuals The woman's family members rushed towards her as she screamed, as seen in video captured at the scene Sunday morning The woman is seen trapped between the two vehicles. Police say she was transported to Jamaica Hospital in critical condition and is not expected to survive The suspect sped off down the street as the mother screamed in agony. Police later recovered the truck near 164th Place and 108th Drive, however the driver was nowhere to be found Police are searching for the driver, whose silhouette is captured above. Pawar Builders in Elmhurst reported the car stolen before the crash The stolen truck that hit a woman on mothers day was abandoned in front of a church on 108th Street and 164th Place in Queens Police are searching for the driver of the stolen truck, who remains at large as of Sunday night Traffic violence is becoming an epidemic in New York City, which has reported a more than 41 percent increase in overall crime so far this year. So far this year, the Big Apple has seen 7,634 felony assaults, a nearly 20 percent increase from last year, 470 shooting victims, a 4.4 percent increase, 509 rapes, a 10.7 spike, and 4,844 robberies, a rise of nearly 45 percent. On Saturday, around 8.15pm, an elderly man was killed after being struck by a minivan in the Bronx. John Dellacava, 72, was attempting to cross E. Tremont Avenue at Roosevelt Avenue in his battery-powered wheelchair when he was struck by a 25-year-old woman driving a Toyota Sienna minivan. NYPD said his initial injuries had appeared minor and paramedics transported him to Jacobi Medical Center in stable condition. However, he later died at the hospital from severe internal injuries. Police said Dellacava lived less than a mile from the scene of the accident. The driver, who remained on scene after hitting him, has not been charged and the incident remains under investigation. John Dellacava, 72, was fatally struck while attempting to cross E. Tremont Avenue at Roosevelt Avenue in the Bronx in his battery-powered wheelchair on Saturday night Ben Wallace today accused Vladimir Putin of spouting 'fairytale claims' about the threat posed by NATO. The Russian president used a speech at a military parade to paint his invasion of Ukraine as a necessary response to Western policies. But Mr Wallace accused Putin and his 'utterly complicit' generals of 'hijacking' the memory of Russian troops repelling the Nazis in the Second World War. He also swiped that the dictator had already suffered a long-term defeat because his precision weapons are running out and he will not be able to restock. During an event at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, the Defence Secretary pointed out that Russia has a 'real challenge' to get more hi-tech ordinance. During an event at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace pointed out that Russia has a 'real challenge' to get more hi-tech ordinance Russian president Vladimir Putin (right) used a speech at a military parade to paint his invasion of Ukraine as a necessary response to Western policies In Moscow, Mr Putin claimed that his attack on Russia's neighbour was necessary to ward off 'an absolutely unacceptable threat just next to our borders' In Moscow, Mr Putin claimed that his attack on Russia's neighbour was necessary to ward off 'an absolutely unacceptable threat just next to our borders'. He reportedly added at the Victory Day celebrations that the West has been 'preparing for the invasion of our land, including Crimea'. But, asked by journalists after a speech at London's National Army Museum in Chelsea, south-west London, Mr Wallace bluntly denied that Nato and western allies have ever planned to attack Russia. 'President Putin has made a number of fairytale claims for months and years now,' the Cabinet minister said. 'If it wasn't so tragic it would be amusing, but it isn't. 'One of his claims is that he is surrounded. Nato accounts for 6% of his land border. That's not being surrounded if only 6 per cent of your land border is Nato countries. 'I think he is believing what he wants to believe a slight shine of desperation. But let me put on the record categorically: Nato, Britain, eastern Europe is not planning to invade Russia and never has done.' Mr Wallace accused the Russian regime of 'mirroring (the) fascism and tyranny' of Nazi Germany as the Moscow parade to celebrate the 1945 victory over Hitler's forces was under way. Downing Street backed the allegation, with the Prime Minister's official spokesman arguing it was 'valid' given the 'rhetoric being wrongly used by Putin today'. Boris Johnson accused the Russian leader of waging an 'unwinnable' war 'solely for his own vanity'. The PM told the Standard newspaper: 'Russians are right to commemorate their heroic role in the defeat of Nazism. But Putin's brutal attack on Ukraine shames Russia. His unwinnable war is being fought solely for his own vanity. 'He is now expending senselessly the lives of young Russians as well as innocent Ukrainians to avoid humiliation. I have always said Putin must fail and Putin will fail because this is an ego-driven mistake.' The Defence Secretary also said Russian suffering was used under the Soviets 'as it is now, to cover up the inadequacy of those ruling in safety and comfort from behind the Kremlin walls'. 'Fear and sycophancy dictated behaviours then, and today's Russian armed forces still carry that Soviet imprint the imprint of amorality and corruption,' he said. 'They are the ones who truly insult the memory of the Immortal Regiment. So let's call out the absurdity of Russian generals resplendent in their manicured parade uniforms, weighed down by the gold braid and glistening metals. 'They are utterly complicit in Putin's hijacking of their forebears' proud history of defending against the ruthless invasion, of repelling fascism and sacrificing themselves for higher purpose. 'And now they are the ones inflicting needless suffering in the service of lowly gangsterism and for them, and for Putin, there can be no victory day, only dishonour and surely defeat in Ukraine.' Responding to questions from the media after the speechMr Wallace said: 'He (Vladimir Putin) is running out of his precision stock fairly quickly. 'You know, that's the lesson for us all. I mean, we mustn't forget that they are showing us lessons, sadly at the expense of what's happening Ukraine. 'We all have highly complex weapons that, funny enough, don't take a couple of days to replace, it can take months. Monday's Victory Parade was designed to project an image of Russian strength, despite the war in Ukraine grinding towards a stalemate The 69-year-old appeared to be walking with a limp as he descended from a podium and walked to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier 'Once you fire them all in the way Russia has done, they have a real challenge and I think in the long term my point about 'has Putin already won or lost in the long run', you know, Putin trying to refurbish that armed forces is going to be incredibly hard. A lot of the components come from the West, he won't be able to get hold of those.' Mr Wallace's speech came after Foreign Secretary Liz Truss accused Russia of war crimes over the bombing of a school in eastern Ukraine where civilians were sheltering. Up to 60 are feared dead after the school in Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine was bombed and caught fire on Saturday. On Sunday, G7 leaders including Mr Johnson and US President Joe Biden held talks with Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky. The Prime Minister told his counterparts 'the world must go further and faster to support Ukraine' against the Kremlin's invading forces. The UK has pledged an extra 1.3 billion in military support to Ukraine, in a dramatic escalation of assistance for Mr Zelensky's forces. It is the highest rate of UK military spending on a conflict since the height of the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lord Sugar has today slammed working from home culture after PricewaterhouseCoopers announced it was giving its accountants Friday afternoons off. The big four company said 6,000 workers will be able to log off at Friday lunchtime from June until August after a successful pilot scheme last summer. It is thought to be a move to encourage workers to stay on with better hours amid fierce competition within the City to retain staff. But in an angry missive on Twitter, Lord Sugar wrote: 'This is a bl***y joke. The lazy g**s make me sick. 'Call me old-fashioned but all this work from home BS is a total joke. Lord Sugar is a longstanding critic of working from home and took issue with PwC offering its workers Friday afternoons off, writing: 'This is a bl***y joke. The lazy g**s make me sick' PwC has given 6,000 workers the chance to clock off at lunchtime on Friday fron June to August, as it competes with city rivals for ways to keep workers 'There is no way people work as hard or productive as when they had to turn up at a work location. The pandemic has had long lasting negative effect.' PwC piloted the summer working hours scheme last year when it allowed staff to leave early in July and August, City AM reports. The company claimed it was a success after over 90 per cent of workers responded positively to the scheme in an internal survey, with nearly three quarters (73 per cent) adding that the scheme had improved their personal wellbeing. A massive 93 per cent their day-to-day experience at work was better, and 74 per cent agreed they had extra time to spend with friends and family. Kevin Ellis, chairman and senior partner at PwC UK said: 'We've had another exceptionally busy year and as we approach the summer holiday period, we hope our policy gives people more time for themselves, their friends and their families.' PwC is facing ever increasing competition to recruit and retain staff, with better working times and huge salaries often used as perks. Deloitte announced in June last year it would allow its 20,000 freedom to choose 'when, where and how they work' after the popularity of home working during the Coronavirus crisis. UK stockbroker FinnCap has meanwhile vowed to give unlimited holiday to its employees. Treasury staff have also been warned their passes will be tracked to make sure they come into the office as part of the latest attempt to force civil servants back into Whitehall. Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who leads the department, has made it clear he expects his officials to be in the office at least some of the time, but has not yet dictated a minimum. Meanwhile, it has emerged the Bank of England is only requiring its employees to be in the office one day a week - demonstrating the uphill battle facing ministers who have been trying to persuade mandarins to kick their WFH habit. The Treasury is believed to be the only department to announce it will monitor its staff using their security passes, the Telegraph reported. Although it says it has seen a 'significant increase' in office occupancy, it appears to have accepted many staff will continue on a hybrid model - with job adverts for senior roles stating that applicants would be required to come in between 40 and 60 per cent of the time. Meanwhile, the Bank of England is planning to increase the amount of time staff are required to come in to 40 per cent from next month, with plans to eventually increase this to 50 per cent. A California mother of six died one day before Mother's Day after she rear-ended her boyfriend's car during a lovers'-spat-turned-car-chase in Anaheim and was thrown from her vehicle, according to police. Didiana Lomeli, 38, was killed chasing after her beau, Joe Trujillo, on Santa Ana Canyon Road in the City of Orange on May 7 just before 6 a.m. during a domestic row. When her green 1997 Acura rammed his black 1994 Acura from behind at Orange Olive Road, she lost control and hit the raised median, causing her car to roll over, according to the Orange Police. She was ejected from the vehicle and landed in the roadway. Lomeli, who has one child with her current boyfriend, was declared dead at the scene. He suffered minor injuries. Didiana Lomeli, 38, pictured here was told to get out of her relationship, but she chased down her boyfriend and was killed in a car crash Didiana Lomeli, 38, a mother of six was remembered as a loving mother who tragically died on the day before Mother's Day The child was not in either vehicle. The deceased mom had been with Trujillo for four years, but family members had urged her to leave him. 'It was jut very toxic there was a lot of domestic violence issues, we told her to just leave it. She went after him,' cousin Suzzette Lomeli said. Her family started a Gofundme page after the crash, asking the public's support to pay for funeral costs. 'They were always fighting,' the cousin said. 'The kids were told to keep quiet.' She said that the children, who ages range from 21 to 2 and a half, were asleep at the time and don't know why they were fighting this time. Didiana Lomeli and Jose Trujillo fought on May 7 before she rammed his car, causing her own vehicle to flip and eject her into the roadway. She died at the scene Jose Trujillo, pictured here, fled the couple's Anaheim home on Saturday during a domestic dispute. Relatives said that their relationship was toxic Corrales could not be reached for comment. There has been a lot of tragedy in the Lomeli family. The father of two of her middle children, ages 14 and nine, died last year from health issues. Drugs and alcohol were not initially determined to be a factor in the crash, according to the Orange Police Department, which is investigating the accident. Suzzette Lomeli remembered her cousin as a loving and caring mother. 'Yesterday we lost a daughter, sister, niece, aunt, cousin, grandmother and an amazing mother that left behind 6 kids in a tragic accident,' she wrote on the fundraising page. 'Didi was such a happy and loving person always willing to help everyone and anyone she could. It is with a heavy heart that I ask for any help for my uncles so they may lay their daughter to rest.' Emmanuel Macron has warned it could take decades for Ukraine to join the EU as he proposed a new political organisation on the continent. During a speech marking Europe Day in Strasbourg, the French president said 'we all know perfectly that the process of allowing (Ukraine) to join would take several years, in fact probably several decades.' He added: 'That is the truth, unless we decide to lower the standards for accession. And rethink the unity of our Europe.' He also said that Europe must learn from its past mistakes to ensure Russia is not 'humiliated' in peace negotiations. Macron spoke after the bloc's executive arm, the European Commission, said it aims to deliver a first opinion in June on Ukraine's request to become a member of the bloc. Meanwhile European Council president Charles Michel had to run for cover during a visit to Odesa today as Russian missiles started raining down on the port city. Emmanuel Macron has warned it could take decades for Ukraine to join the EU as he proposed a new political organisation on the continent He and Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmygal were forced to hide in a shelter during the high-level talks. One Ukraine's candidate status is granted, the process of EU membership usually takes years and any single member-state can veto not only any final accession deal, but also the opening and closing of individual negotiation chapters. The 27 EU nations have been fully united in backing Ukraine's resistance to Russia's invasion, adopting unprecedented economic sanctions against Moscow since the start of the war. But leaders are divided on how fast Brussels could move to accept Ukraine as a member, and how swiftly the bloc could sever energy ties with Moscow. Macron also warned there could be dire consequences if the West seeks overly punitive measures against the Kremlin, referencing the harsh response to Germany after WWI which helped fuel the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. Speaking to reporters in European Parliament today, Macron described Vladimir Putin's WWII anniversary speech in Moscow's Red Square to mark Russia's Victory Day today as 'intimidation' and 'warlike'. European Council president Charles Michel was forced to hide in a shelter in Odesa with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal Vladimir Putin congratulated his troops on a 'day of great victory' as he addressed a Victory Day parade in Moscow today Addressing massed ranks of service personnel on Red Square on the 77th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany, Putin condemned what he called external threats to weaken and divide Russia. Macron said on the one hand, Putin had sought to 'show force, intimidation' and deliver a 'resolutely warlike speech', while on the other the EU was working on deepening a peaceful project led by the people, Macron said. 'I believe that this project of peace, of stability, of prosperity ... (we) must continue to make it more democratic, more united, more sovereign,' he said. However, he warned that while Europe was now helping Ukraine, there would come a point when Moscow and Kyiv would seek peace and at that point neither side should be humiliated or excluded as had happened to Germany in 1918. 'We must have this standard because we know that the coming weeks and months will be very difficult,' Macron said, adding that the 27-nation European Union would continue to impose new sanctions on Russia. Charles Michel said Russia would fail to 'execute' Ukraine's 'freedom' on a surprise trip to Odessa European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said that she discussed 'EU support and Ukraine's European pathway' with Volodymyr Zelensky today. For now, Ukraine only has an 'Association Agreement' with the EU, which is aimed at opening the country's markets and bringing it closer to Europe. It includes a far-reaching free trade pact and is intended to help modernize Ukraine's economy. Eastern European countries warmly support speeding up Ukraine's membership bid, but EU officials have stressed the process could take years due to the outstanding reforms that still need to be achieved before the war-torn country meets EU criteria. Macron said a fast-track procedure for Ukraine would lead to lowering standards, an idea he refuses. 'The European Union, given its level of integration and ambition, cannot be the only way to structure the European continent in the short term,' he said. Instead, Macron proposed what he called a 'European Political Community' which would be open to countries that haven't joined the EU, or, like the United Kingdom, have left it. Zelensky, who joined their talks by video conference, thanked Michel for visiting Ukraine on Victory Day 'This new European organisation would allow democratic European nations that adhere to our core values to find a new space for political cooperation, security, energy cooperation, transport, investment, infrastructure, movement of people,' Macron said. Macron added that joining the new organisation would not guarantee future EU membership. Meanwhile, Charles Michel said Russia would fail to 'execute' Ukraine's 'freedom' on a surprise trip to Odessa. 'The Kremlin wants to execute your spirit of freedom and democracy,' Michel said in a video on Twitter. 'I am totally convinced they will never succeed,' he added, promising that the EU will help Ukraine 'build a modern, democratic country.' The EU chief said people in Ukraine are 'tortured, raped and executed in cold blood,' saying Ukrainians are 'resisting with courage.' Michel was forced to take shelter during an air raid as he talked with the Ukrainian prime minister. 'It was an air raid during the first meeting with the PM. They simply continued their tete-a-tete in the shelter,' a member of his entourage said. Zelensky, who joined their talks by video conference, thanked Michel for visiting Ukraine on Victory Day, the anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. 'I am very pleased that today the European Union, at the highest level, supports Ukraine at a time when manifestations of Nazism, unfortunately, exist and are being revived,' he said in a statement from his office. A dance student who suffered hearing loss will be paid 240,000 after a tanning salon lost its bid to overturn a ruling made by a Scottish court to make the payout. Haesel Mcdonald, 26, suffered devastating damage to her hearing after fire alarms in the Dundee Indigo Sun Retail Ltd shop went off in December 2015 when she was 19. Then a student, and working part-time, she told her manager, Stephen Campbell, at around 9am, shortly after the ringing started. He told her to stay put and he would be there and for the next two hours the alarm continued to sound. For relief from the sound she spent a total of around 15 minutes, on separate occasions, standing on the pavement outside the salon. Mr Campbell returned at 11am, put tape around the alarm, and said he'd phone an engineer and she should keep working in the shop. The 26-year-old now needs hearing aids and had to abandon her dance career. She was awarded damages of 241,277 which Indigo Sun appealed and lost. Haesel Mcdonald, pictured, 26, suffered devastating damage to her hearing after fire alarms in the Dundee Indigo Sun Retail shop went off in December 2015 when she was 19 Then a student, Ms Mcdonald, pictured, and working part-time, told her manager, Stephen Campbell, at around 9am, shortly after the ringing started. McDonald, of Inverness, had alerted her manager, Steven Campbell, who ordered her to stay on duty after he had used tape to try and muffle the sound of the alarm The salon challenged the decision at the Sherriff Appeal Court and claimed there had not been a breach of duty and that her tinnitus and hearing loss had not been caused by exposure to noise that day. They also argued against the sheriff's approach to quantification of loss, particularly in relation to the cost of privately purchased hearing aids, estimated at 4,000 every few years, throughout her life. Sheriff Principal Mhairi Stephen QC has now upheld the original ruling and said the damages should be paid. McDonald, of Inverness, had alerted her manager, Steven Campbell, who ordered her to stay on duty on 12 December 2015 after he had used tape to try and muffle the sound of the alarm. 'It was painful to her ears,' the Sherriff court found in March 2021. 'She was distressed. The noise could be heard by persons within their properties on the other side of the street. 'She had hoped that the alarm could be turned off or that she would be told to close the shop and go home. Had she done so without permission she was reasonably fearful that she would have lost her job. 'The potential for harm to the pursuer from exposure to noise from the fire alarm ought to have been apparent to Mr Campbell.' She completed her shift in a 'distressed' state and suffered from a 'headache and ringing' in her ears, according to court documents. The tinnitus became 'intermittent and fluctuating' and suffered problems for months afterwards and complained of being unable hear properly at college and when speaking to others. Experts said she had been exposed to an average noise levels of between 87.5 and 82.3 decibels. The 25-year-old now needs hearing aids and had to abandon her dance career and despite Mr Campbell's appeal she should receive damages of 241,277 (pictured, the Indigo Sun in Strathmartine Road, Dundeee) She moved back to her home in Inverness and consulted doctors in 2016 before senior medics confirmed she would need to use hearing aids. A consultant otolaryngologist working diagnosis was that she 'had sensitive inner ears and that most of her hearing loss had been caused by her exposure to noise, in particular, the fire alarm', the court heard. McDonald graduated with first class honours in contemporary dance but abandoned pursuing it as a career due to a loss of confidence. She launched legal action against Indigo Sun - claiming she suffered loss, injury and damage through their negligence. The appeal court heard she will require hearing aids costing 3,999 which will require to be replaced every three years. In a written judgment, Sheriff Stephen said in the appeal court: 'We are satisfied that the sheriff fulfilled his function to assess what was fair and reasonable compensation given Ms Mcdonald's age, loss and circumstances leading to an award of damages which can be justified on the material available to him. 'The appeal has been refused on all grounds advanced by the appellant who shall be liable to the respondent in expenses of the appeal as taxed.' Wilfred McClay is Professor of History at Hillsdale College and author of Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story We are living through a teachable moment. The lessons on offer are familiar ones, but in urgent need of review. The first lesson is from Ronald Reagan, the guy whom all the smart people have dismissed as passe, who taught us repeatedly, and never more memorably than when he told us that 'Freedom is never more than one generation from extinction.' The message is that freedom is fragile, perishable, ever in need of protection. We need to remember the lesson, once again. The second lesson is that the principal effort to shut down American freedom today is coming from the political left in our own country. Usually, we assume that the extinction threat will come from the outside, from some dark and unblinking enemy, like the Soviet Union or China. Or that if there is an internal threat, it surely must come from the fever swamps of the fascist right-wing. But today, we find the threat coming from elements in our society that have long declared their affinity for freedom and have had a creditable record of fighting for it in years past. The leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion, suggesting that a majority of the justices are on the verge of overturning the most controversial decision in modern history, has unleashed leftist rage and illustrated the movement's worst anti-democratic impulses. President Joe Biden and his administration have made it clear that they will not condemn the unprecedented breach of high court's deliberative process. Instead, they have expressed sympathy with it and are determined to capitalize on it. The leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion, suggesting that a majority of the justices are on the verge of overturning the most controversial decision in modern history, has unleashed leftist rage and illustrated the movement's worst anti-democratic impulses. (Above) Demonstrators in support of reproductive rights march to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Robert's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S., May 7, 2022 Pro-choice demonstrators identified and swarmed the homes of sitting justices. At least one Catholic church was vandalized. (Above) Pro-abortion graffiti on the doors of Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Boulder, Colorado, on May 4, 2022 Biden, who constantly calls on Americans 'to prove democracy works,' couldn't muster a defense of the judiciary branch. He ignored the pro-life movement's 50-year history of dignified and nonviolent protest and tenuously linked the news with his contemporary political opponents, whom he labelled the 'most extreme political organization' in recent history. Pro-choice demonstrators identified and swarmed the homes of sitting justices. At least one Catholic church was vandalized. The purpose of these protests is less an exercise in free speech than an effort to destroy the independence of judges and institutions that should be protected from politics. Of course, the men and women who run today's left all want to convince you otherwise. When they seek to undermine institutions, shut down free speech or suppress 'disinformation,' they do it in the name of democracy. What we see from the political left today is a rising tide of intimidation, coercion and censorship, epitomized by the Biden administration's creation of a Disinformation Governance Board, but also by the decision of numerous powerful and politically aligned Big Tech companies, such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, and the like, to disfavor or suppress speakers and viewpoints with which they disagree. Even the venerable American Civil Liberties Union, which once defended the right of Nazis to march through a Chicago-area neighborhood inhabited by Holocaust survivors, has caved to pressure, and now uses political litmus tests in its selection of cases. When they seek to undermine institutions, shut down free speech or suppress 'disinformation,' they do it in the name of democracy. (Above) Nina Jankowicz, head of the Department of Homeland Securitys Disinformation Governance Board And the egregious Southern Poverty Law Center has arrogated to itself the right to brand organizations, as proponents of 'hate speech,' and to do so with complete impunity. Leftists celebrate Banned Books Week without any sense of ironyas if they were not the ones who are banning books today and inhibiting the expression of disapproved opinions! They pick at the motes in others' eyes, while failing to note the gigantic beam in their own. Human nature is prone to such perversity. Any form of righteousness can turn, over time, into something very ugly. That is one lesson of the times, and it is a perennial truth. But our particular moment is offering us an additional lesson -- the difference between liberalism and leftism. We often confuse the two, and that is a grave error. What we are seeing before our eyes is a demonstration that if we are to keep and cherish freedom, we must defeat the tyrannical excesses of our out-of-control left. As a first step, we must recover the true meaning of 'liberalism.' It has nothing in common with the radical Jacobinism that now seems to have taken over many formerly 'liberal' circles. Nor is it the philosophy upholding the idea of a large and ever-expanding state, directing the economy and culture with a controlling hand. Instead, liberalism is a philosophy that affirms our freedom and our rights of conscience, one in which these fundamental liberties are taken to be inherent rights, a part of who and what we are. These liberties are even, as our Declaration of Independence says, unalienable rightsmeaning, rights that cannot be taken away, and cannot even be given away. And it is a philosophy that solidly supports the free exchange of ideas, not only as a right of expression but as a necessary tool for the work of self-government. What we should also understand is that this change is not entirely new. The progressive Left has always had a problem with free speech. President Woodrow Wilson mounted an extensive propaganda campaign in support of the nation's involvement in the First World War, and brutally suppressed most criticism of the war effort, through measures that included the jailing and deportation of dissidents. Ever since the 1960s, the effort to control discourse and dictate acceptable vocabulary, the practice often decried as 'political correctness,' has been one of the recurrent concerns of the campus left. The Left's urge for control springs from its' confident belief in its capacity to remake the world in its own imagethe image of a utopian world based on complete equality of condition. Freedom is not the goal. Hence it is not sufficient for government to give individuals the freedom to speak for themselves, as classical liberalism does. Instead, those individuals must be supplied with the correct opinions and made to say the right things. They can't be allowed to express opinions that do not support the governing powers. They must, in the chilling but sincere words of French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, be 'forced to be free.' Author, Wilfred McClay is Professor of History at Hillsdale College and author of Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story. Until the world is re-created in the Left's image, nothing can be loved or respected simply for what it is, only for what it could be made to be. Even at its bestand the left has often been an admirable force for goodit can never accept and love the world as it is. Here is the core of the new puritanical ideology: the entire human past must be seen as a nightmare, from whose clutches only we few have at last finally awakened. This is light-years removed from the generous original spirit of liberalism, which accepts people as they are, protects and values their voice in the public square, denies the authority of any party to silence them, and gives them the right to do as they please, within the limits of laws that enable their liberties rather than suppressing them. The Left consistently reverts to the urge to control and remold. Liberalism, in its original sense, stands against that urge. We need to affirm the second and reject the first. That is the lesson to be learned, and it is just that clear. Can we do it? Let's hope we can. Our future as free men and women may depend upon it. Justice Minister nominee Han Dong-hoon answers to the question during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, Monday. Yonhap By Lee Hae-rin Justice Minister nominee Han Dong-hoon contested prosecutorial reform laws that were passed by the ruling party and accused prosecutors of being politically influenced during the Moon Jae-in administration. During his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, Monday, the nominee said he believes the reform laws are unconstitutional and could harm the public's interests. "As an expert, I am convinced that the laws are unconstitutional," Han said as he answered questions by main opposition People Power Party (PPP) Rep. Kim Hyung-dong. "The laws are equivalent to separating those who study for an exam and those who are actually taking it." Han added that he will continue to raise questions on the validity of the laws, if and when he becomes the minister. The revised the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act were passed by the National Assembly dominated by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and were signed into laws by President Moon Jae-in last week, despite strong protests from the PPP and the prosecution. They are aimed at separating prosecutors' investigative powers from their authority to indict. Also, Han said that the prosecution had become politicized under the Moon administration, especially since the appointment of former justice minister Cho Kuk, who was Moon's close aide. "Prosecutors who do their jobs have been kicked out, while more amenable ones were allowed to take the posts," Han said. The nominee also denied any wrongdoing regarding suspicions that his mother attempted to dodge taxes while bequeathing a piece of real estate to Han. The remarks came after the morning session of his confirmation hearing was bogged down by inter-party bickering over Han's opening speech of the hearing, in which he said the prosecutorial reform bills have heightened the public's concerns. "They will make it difficult to punish corrupt politicians and public officials while resulting in clear harm to the people," said the nominee, a senior prosecutor and confidant of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol. "People want the prosecution to build a trustworthy system in which competent prosecutors can investigate corruption cases freely." Han made similar statements in April before the revisions were made, but the latest remarks elicited a strong response from DPK lawmakers. Justice Minister nominee Han Dong-hoon delivers opening remarks during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, Seoul, Monday. Joint Press Corp This is the incredible moment an elephant trumpeted in distress after an antelope fell into a pool in its enclosure. Footage shows the elephant, 60, in obvious distress and pacing up and down the side of the pool as the antelope struggled in the water at La Aurora Zoo, Guatemala City. Visitor Maria Isabel Diaz Ruiz de Llarena filmed as the huge animal wailed and even appeared to offer her trunk to pull the animal out of the pond. Maria posted the video on Facebook and wrote: 'Today, I was lucky enough to witness something very beautiful. An elephant seemed desperate to warn zookeepers that an antelope was drowning. The elephant was seen turning around and trumpeting in panic (left) before a brave rescue worker jumped in the pool and helped the antelope out by its horns (right) The elephant was seen turning around and trumpeting in panic before a brave rescue worker jumped in the pool and helped the antelope out by its horns 'In the end, it was rescued by a brave worker.' Several times the anxious tusker seems to offer the deer its trunk to try to pull it free But as the elephant paces around the edge of the pool, one heroic zookeeper dives into the water to lift the antelope out. Finally, the elephant seems to calm down as the deer runs off to rejoin its herd and onlookers let out a massive cheer. Zoo vet Alejandro Striedinger said Trompita appeared to show affinity toward the antelope as she shares her enclosure with the species. The zookeeper exposes himself to risk when he jumps into the water next to the flailing deer (left). Right: the antelope is freed from the water and able to roam around free But Striedinger added the antelope was never in any real danger as the pool has islands and shallow parts so the animals can always get out by themselves. He said the incredible scene was 'very beautiful'. Trompita is 60 years old and has been at the Guatemalan zoo for 14 years. She was rescued from a local circus where she was raised and forced to perform routines. Trompita's amazing feat follows images of a Sri Lankan baby elephant appearing to leap onto the back of its friend to take a rest. Photographer Pathum Bandara said he was amazed by the sight. Mr Bandara, 34, gushed: 'Baby elephants are very playful, and whilst I was observing a heard of over 200 elephants I spotted these two messing around. 'The little elephant looked like he was trying to steal a free ride as he rested on another! He looks so mischievous as he looked in my direction.' A French woman was on Monday fighting for her life in hospital after her long-term partner stabbed her in both eyes in an apparent bid to kill her, prosecutors said. The man was arrested but has himself now been hospitalised due to his psychological state, they added. The victim is in critical condition after the suspect repeatedly stabbed her on Sunday in the town of Maisons-Alfort to the southeast of Paris. Police arrested the suspect on Sunday afternoon, but released him 'as a result of the forced hospitalisation', said the public prosecutor's department in the Paris suburb of Creteil. A man stabbed his long term partner in both eyes on Sunday in the town of Maisons-Alfort to the southeast of Paris. He was arrested but later hospitalised due to his mental condition The alleged perpetrator, around 40 years old, was not known to the police. The couple have four children, who were not present at the time of the attack. A resident of the same apartment block speaking to Le Parisien said the couple had no history of violence. The judicial police of the Val-de-Marne department is handling the investigation. There has been mounting concern about femicides in France with 102 women killed by their current or former partners in 2020 and 146 in 2019, according to France's Interior Ministry. More than 200,000 women are victims of violence within relationships each year in France, according to the ministry. While liberal states like New York are promising to receive abortion-seeking patients from other states with open arms if Roe v. Wade is overturned, Texas lawmakers are pushing for a bill to ban residents looking to end their pregnancy in another state from doing so. Though it's unsurprising the 6-3 conservative majority on the high court would look to overturn Roe, a leaked Supreme Court draft opinion last week revealed a majority of justices are in favor of overturning the 1973 landmark abortion case sent shockwaves across the nation and spurred local lawmakers into action. Here's a look at what states have been doing in anticipation of abortion rights being tossed back to the states: Texas Texas already bans abortions at six weeks, bypassing Roe by allowing private residents, not the state, to sue those who aid and abet anyone in receiving the procedure. But it also has a 'trigger law' on the books that would make performing an abortion a felony within 30 days if Roe was overturned. Unlike the current law which is civilly enforced, the trigger law comes with traditional criminal penalties. Pregnant women would still be exempt from charges, but doctors could face up to life in prison. Leaders and members of the state legislature say they are refocusing their attention on investing in foster care and adoption services and strengthening the social safety net for mothers and children. But some of the more conservative members have begun to discuss ways to make sure Texans aren't just traveling to another state to have the procedure. 'I think I can speak for myself and other colleagues that align with my policy beliefs we'll continue to do our best to make abortion not just outlawed, but unthinkable,' said Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, a member of the far-right Freedom Caucus, according to the Texas Tribune. Cain said he is interested in going after abortion funds that raise money to help pregnant women with travel costs to get the procedure in another state. In March, he sent cease-and-desist letters to such organizations based on a pre-Roe statute that made it a crime to 'furnish the means for procuring an abortion.' Roe made these abortion statutes unconstitutional. Pro-Life speakers and a pro-choice demonstrator (C) confront each other outside the State House during a Pro-Choice Mother's Day Rally in Boston, Massachusetts on May 8 Pro-choice demonstrators rally outside the State House during a Pro-Choice Mother's Day Rally in Boston, Massachusetts on May 8 Texas also already bans obtaining a medication abortion by mail, but the ban is difficult to enforce since it does not go after the woman - it only makes it a felony to provide the pills. If the provider is in a state or country where mailing abortion pills is legal, the law is difficult to enforce. For better enforcement, University of Texas at Austin reproductive law expert Elizabeth Sepper predicts anti-abortion lawmakers could go after pregnant women next. 'I think it's entirely possible and perhaps likely that the next step for anti-abortion legislators will be to come after medication abortion and impose criminal penalties not only for dispensing medication abortion, but for taking medication abortion,' Sepper told Texas Public Radio last week.'But we're not there yet,' she added. New York In New York, where abortion is legal up until birth if the patient's vaguely defined 'life or health' are at risk, Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a letter to Congress that the state expects an '11 to 13% increase in out-of-state patients traveling to New York for abortion care,' if Roe is overturned. Hochul said the state is preparing to accommodate out-of-state abortion seekers, and Congress must repeal the Hyde amendment and provide federal money to help New York do so. New York is one of 15 states that covers abortions with state Medicaid dollars and the state has already passed a law that requires health insurance providers to cover the procedure without cost sharing, Hochul noted. But lawmakers have been working to expand access and support even further. On Monday, New York attorney general Letitia James announced legislation that would allow taxpayer money through the state's health department to be distributed to abortion providers and cover costs for the uninsured. The state senate proposed a bill that would allow taxpayers to contribute to abortion funds on their tax returns and another one that would require maternity care coverage to include abortions. California In anticipation of the potential Supreme Court decision, the California state legislature proposed a set of 13 bills in January that would make the Golden State a 'sanctuary' for abortion seekers. And since the leaked opinion California assemblywoman and chair of its women's caucus Cristina Garcia said lawmakers are aggressively trying to move up the timeline of the bills' passing. Garcia told ABC News the women's caucus is identifying which of the bills are most urgent and expects them to become law by July 1. Among the package of bills is a move to protect the privacy of abortion providers and seekers so they can't face consequences in the patient's home state. Another would set up a website where out-of-state abortion seekers could go to request help with travel costs, child care and other needs while coming to California for an abortion. A Demonstrator dressed as a handmaid from The Handmaid's Tale claims she wants 'bodily autonomy' for Mother's Day Demonstrators dressed as handmaids from The Handmaid's Tale, walk to the Capitol on May 8 Another bill which has already passed eliminates co-pays, deductibles and any cost-sharing requirements for abortion procedures for all state-licensed health care plans. After the leak was reported last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Twitter that his state was proposing an amendment to 'enshrine' the right to an abortion in its constitution. Louisiana Less than two days after the leaked draft decision, Republicans in the Louisiana state house advanced a bill that made abortion a homicide from 'the moment of fertilization' and allowed prosecutors to go after both pregnant women and providers. Anti-abortion lawmakers thus far have generally avoided prosecuting pregnant abortion seekers, but Louisiana lawmakers have taken it a step further. The bill passed 7-2 out of a House committee last week and has a good chance of making it to the governor's desk. Oklahoma Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a Texas-style abortion ban last Tuesday, allowing private citizens to take legal action against abortion providers after 6 weeks, or whenever cardiac activity is detected in a fetus. Similar to Texas, the bill entitles those who bring a suit forward to up to $10,000 in damages. Mississippi Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban is at the heart of Jackson Women's Health Organization v. Mississippi, the case that could prompt the overturning of Roe. Mississippi argues that Roe was wrongly decided, and it justices agree the 15-week ban will be upheld in addition to abortion rights being tossed back to the states. Florida has a similar 15-week ban that will take effect beginning July 1, replacing the previous 24-week ban. States where abortion rights will be restricted Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma, and Wyoming all have 'trigger laws' on the books that would automatically outlaw abortion if Roe were overturned. A total of 26 states are expected to implement an abortion ban if Roe is overturned. Twenty-three of those states have amendments, pre-Roe rules or trigger laws on the books that would effectively ban abortion quickly if Roe was overturned. Three others are considered hostile territory for abortion rights. In Arkansas, abortion will be immediately outlawed after Roe is overturned so long as the state attorney general certifies the decision. 'It will be my honor and a privilege of my lifetime to do just that,' Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said after the leaked opinion. In Missouri, the state attorney general said he would be prepared 'immediately' to put out the opinion to put the state's trigger law into effect. Pro-life demonstrators showed up outside the home of conservative Justice Samuel Alito in Alexandria, Virginia on Thursday to show support for his draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, which was leaked last Monday Protesters also showed up outside the D.C. suburb homes of conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (pictured on Saturday) and Chief Justice John Roberts Protesters in DC hold signs arguing in favor of Roe v. Wade Pro-choice protesters descended on the homes of justices on Saturday after the conservative members' addresses were doxxed online by activist group with the moniker Ruth Sent Us. Pictured: Demonstrators rally outside Kavanaugh's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland on Saturday, May 7, 2022 South Dakota already has a trigger law in place, but Gov. Kristi Noem promised to call for a special legislative session to implement further restrictions if Roe is overturned. Idaho, in addition to its trigger law, is pursuing Texas-style legislation that allows civil lawsuits against abortion providers. In Ohio, state legislators are considering two trigger ban rules they could enact before Roe is overturned. Gov. Mike DeWine said he would have the state's attorney general seek to revive a 2019 law that banned abortion after fetal cardiac activity is detected, around six weeks. The law was blocked by the courts shortly after DeWine signed it. 'I'm asking him to immediately go into court and ask the federal court to lift the stay that is on the bill that I have already signed,' DeWine announced right after he won his primary race. States where abortion access will be expanded At least eight states - California, Connecticut, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Washington, and Vermont, along with Washington, DC - are expected to expand abortion rights without Roe, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. Twenty states in total have legal protections for abortion at the state level. States where abortion rights are up in the air In New Hampshire, New Mexico and Virginia, abortion is accessible but there are no legal protections in place. Abortion rights will depend on the political winds in these swing states. A majority of Americans believe there should be a federal law protecting abortion rights, a new CBS poll found, with most women of reproductive age worried overturning Roe v. Wade could lead to more restrictions on birth control. The CBS poll found that 64% want the Supreme Court to keep Roe v. Wade the law of the land while 36% want it overturned. Nearly as many Americans - 58% - also want Congress to pass a federal law codify a women's right to an abortion. And asked to describe their feelings about having Roe v. Wade overturned, two-thirds of Americans said they were 'discouraged,' 'angry,' and 'scared.' Abortion has returned to the forefront of the political debate after Politico published a draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn the case that made abortion legal in America. Pro abortion rights protesters take the streets and march for abortion rights in Chicago, Illinois Abortion-rights protesters hold a demonstration outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday as protesters gathered across the nation to show their support for Roe v. Wade Supporters rallied in cities around the United States on Saturday and staked out the Washington D.C. houses of Supreme Court justices this weekend to protest the issue. Women, in particular, are concerned, the CBS poll found. A majority of women under the age of 50 - 66% - thought overturning Roe V. Wade will lead to more restrictions on the use of birth control and other family planning materials. Among the Americans who want to keep abortion as law of the land, 84% said overturning the case would move the country in the wrong direction while 82% said it would be a danger for women. The Senate will vote on legislation to codify abortion rights into law on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Sunday. 'Every American will see how every senator stands,' Schumer said during a news conference in New York. Republicans 'can't duck it anymore. Republicans have tried to duck it.' 'Choice should not be up to a handful of right-wing justices. Choice should not be up to a handful of right-wing politicians. It's a woman's right. Plain and simple,' he said. But Schumer's move will likely fail. Democrats do not appear to have the votes to overcome a filibuster on the matter. It takes 60 votes to advance legislation in the Senate, which is split 50-50 among the two parties. Even if Democrats managed to remove that requirement, moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin already rejected in February a previous version of an abortion protection bill. Republicans argue the issue should be up to the states, which is where it would end up if the draft Supreme Court decision is adopted by the high court. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell went one step further, suggested that a federal abortion ban is 'possible' if the Supreme Court rules to overturn Roe v. Wade and Republicans retake a majority in the November midterm elections. 'If the leaked opinion became the final opinion, legislative bodies - not only at the state level but at the federal level - certainly could legislate in that area,' the Kentucky senator told USA Today on Thursday. 'And if this were the final decision, that was the point that it should be resolved one way or another in the legislative process. So yeah, it's possible.' Protesters also showed up outside the D.C. suburb homes of conservative Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (pictured on Saturday) and Chief Justice John Roberts Abortion rights opponents showed up outside the home of conservative Justice Samuel Alito in Alexandria, Virginia on Thursday to show support for his draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade Far-left Antifa protesters threw at least one Molotov cocktail into the offices of a pro-life group in Madison, Wisconsin over the weekend - discovered on Mothers' Day Sunday Conservative Justice Samuel Alito's draft opinion written in February and published by Politico last week reveals that the court has voted to strike down the landmark 1973 ruling Rove v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. The official opinion won't be released until near the end of the court's term - in late June or early July - and could be changed until then. Five of the six conservative justices are said to support the opinion with only Chief Justice John Roberts dissenting with the three liberals on the bench. Roberts does, however, support a ban on abortion at the 15-week point of a pregnancy. President Joe Biden, in a statement issued hours after the leak, said women have a 'fundamental' right to an abortion and called on American voters to 'elect pro-choice officials this November.' He also pledged the White House would be 'ready when any ruling is issued.' Meanwhile, abortion right protests have sprung up around the country. Demonstrators arrived outside the homes of Chief Justice John Roberts and fellow conservative Brett Kavanaugh on Saturday just days after a massive, un-scalable fence was erected around the Supreme Court Building for the safety of staff. Protesters also appeared outside churches over the weekend and violence ensued at the office of pro-life groups. Antifa vandals hurled at least one Molotov cocktail into offices of Wisconsin Family Action in Madison, an anti-abortion group in the state. The group also scrawled a chilling message on the wall that read, 'If abortions aren't safe you aren't either,' as well as the Antifa Symbol a capital 'A' inside a circle and the number 1312, which is a code that stands for ACAB, meaning 'All Cps are Bastards.' The White House finally condemned the protests on Monday after coming under fire from Republicans for remaining silent on the issue. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that President Biden condemned the protests. '[President Joe Biden] strongly believes in the Constitutional right to protest,' she tweeted. 'But that should never include violence, threats, or vandalism,' Psaki continued in her tweet. 'Judges perform an incredibly important function in our society, and they must be able to do their jobs without concern for their personal safety.' A Miami mother arrested for beating a little boy with a belt after he fought with her child was seen leaving jail covering her face in shame on Sunday. Kady Sewell, 33, was arrested on Saturday after walking into her child's school and beating Nehemiah Johnson, 13, with a belt. Other kids from the school say Sewell's child is a 'bully' who picks on other children and that he 'fat shamed' Nehemiah so he 'picked him up and dropped him'. Kady Sewell, 33, was arrested on Saturday after walking into her child's school and beating Nehemiah Johnson, 13, with a belt on Thursday. The attack was caught on surveillance footage Sewell, 33, was arrested after the incident Sewell is said to have entered the school to attack the child because her son told her he'd been fighting with him. Surveillance footage at the school caught the beating the boy on Thursday morning at Bethel Junior Academy in Florida City. The boy told Local News 10 that the child suffered injuries to his lip and arm. Nehemiah's mother, Zendre Pollard, said: 'It was hard to watch. 'I dont want anybodys child to go through anything like this. 'It was very hard to watch. 'Im at the point where my child should have been protected. Sewell tried to cover her face with a piece of paper as she left jail on Sunday 'How can a parent get that far and start swinging at my child?' She called the police after her son told her what happened. It is unclear why no one at the school stopped her from attacking the boy. Sewell was booked on charges including child abuse, interference at an educational institution and trespassing at a school. She attempted to cover her face with a large sheet of paper as she left jail on Sunday. It's unclear when her next court date is, or if she has any other children. The school has not commented. Progressive Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren waded into a heated Texas Democratic primary on Monday, asking voters to donate money to the opponent of pro-life Democrat Rep. Henry Cuellar. In a fundraising email for the far-left Working Families Party (WFP), Warren accused Cuellar of siding with 'anti-choice extremists' and 'obstructionist Republicans' when the Lone Star state passed a law banning most abortions after six weeks and urged Texans to give at least $3 toward his opponent. Half the donation would go to WFP. Cuellar, a fixture of Laredo politics for decades, is running to keep his seat in Texas' 28th Congressional District against a challenge from attorney Jennifer Cisneros. The moderate lawmaker's race has underscored the growing divide between the centrist and progressive wings of the Democratic party. While he's backed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Cisneros has clinched endorsements from 'Squad' member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. In the WFP's email Warren called Cisneros 'a terrific progressive candidate who has a real chance to beat him and will fight tooth and nail for reproductive rights if elected to Congress.' Cuellar's anti-abortion stance recently took center stage in the race after an explosive Supreme Court draft opinion leaked last week suggesting the judicial body could overturn landmark case Roe v. Wade. 'Here's the deal: There's about to be a runoff election down in Texas for a congressional seat held by Henry Cuellar, who sided with anti-choice extremists when the Texas abortion ban was passed and voted against the Women's Health Protection Act to codify Roe v. Wade,' Warren said in the fundraising email. Cuellar is the only House Democrat to vote against Congress' bid to pass federal abortion protections. Elizabeth Warren (pictured at a protest outside the Supreme Court over a leaked draft opinion suggesting the body could overturn Roe v. Wade last week) is the latest progressive Democrat to campaign against longtime Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo, Texas 'The people of Texas' 28th Congressional District are ready for big, structural change and deserve a working families champion that will be on the side of working people; not the side of big money, anti-choice, and obstructionist Republicans. Jessica is that champion,' Warren stated. If more progressives like Cisneros are elected, Warren promised, Congress could succeed in passing abortion protections even without Roe v. Wade in place - and scuttle the Senate's filibuster to do it with just a simple majority rather than needing 60 votes. The veteran lawmaker and moderate Democrat is facing his toughest re-election battle in years, heading to a runoff race on May 24 after only coming out ahead of his challenger by 949 votes in March 'With stronger, pro-choice, working families majorities in the House and Senate and President Joe Biden in the White House, we can end the filibuster and pass a national law ensuring abortion rights,' the senator said. Later on Monday, Warren and Cisneros will appear side-by-side for a WFP call with supporters about the Supreme Court potentially overturning Roe v. Wade. Cuellar for his part released a statement early last week condemning the Supreme Court's conservative majority for positioning to overturn the landmark 1973 case. However, he also reiterated his stance that abortion should only have exceptions for 'rape, incest, and danger to the life of the mother.' Voters in Texas' 28th district will cast their ballots on May 24 in a runoff race after no candidate secured a 50 percent majority in the primary earlier this year. The district runs partially along the US-Mexico border. The initial March election saw Cuellar only leading Cisneros by 949 votes. Cisneros unsuccessfully challenged Cuellar for his seat in 2020, losing by just under 3,000 votes. Nearly 75,000 ballots were cast in total. The progressive lawyer for the first time expressed criticism over Pelosi backing Cuellar after the bombshell Supreme Court leak. It's the second time progressive attorney Jennifer Cisneros (left) is running against Cuellar, having lost by less than 3,000 votes in the 2020 Democratic primary 'I am calling on Democratic Party leadership to withdraw their support of Henry Cuellar who is the last anti-choice Democrat in the House,' Cisneros said last week. 'With the House majority on the line, he could very much be the deciding vote on the future of our reproductive rights and we cannot afford to take that risk.' Pelosi's endorsement of Cuellar appears to conflict with her sentiments in a letter to House colleagues on Monday accusing Republicans of trying to 'punish and control women for exercising their constitutional rights' and touting Democrats' passage of the abortion law that Cuellar opposed last year. But the current fight over abortion rights is not the first speed bump Cuellar's faced in this race. The FBI raided the veteran lawmaker's home in January as part of a federal probe into a group of US businessmen linked to the country of Azerbaijan, according to NBC. Cuellar said at the time that he is cooperating with authorities but denied any wrongdoing in the ongoing matter. In addition to backing Cisneros, the WFP released a statement in late March endorsing every member of the House's 'Squad' including Ocasio-Cortez and Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, and Jamaal Bowman. 'Our progressive coalition in Congress is growing, and so is our power. When we re-elect the Squad and elect more progressives to join them, well achieve the real working families majority we know is possible,' the left-wing minor political party said. WFP made national headlines earlier this year when it organized Tlaib's progressive response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union, in addition to the traditional minority party's response - in this case Republicans'. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is warning colleagues in a new letter that Republicans will push to 'criminalize' abortion with contraception and in vitro fertilization under threat following the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion. 'Republicans have made clear that their goal will be to seek to criminalize abortion nationwide,' Pelosi wrote in a 'Dear Colleague' letter as Democrats are facing pressure from their own base of supporters to push back with abortion rights under threat. 'Republican state legislators across the country are already advancing extreme new laws, seeking to arrest doctors for offering reproductive care, ban abortion entirely with no exceptions, and even charge women with murder who exercise their right to choose,' Pelosi wrote. 'These draconian measures could even criminalize contraceptive care, in vitro fertilization and post-miscarriage care, dragging our nation back to a dark time decades into the past.' 'Make no mistake: once Republicans have dispensed with precedent and privacy in overturning Roe, they will take aim at additional basic human rights. At this pivotal moment, the stakes for women and every American could not be higher,' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote colleages She called the draft leak the 'culmination of Republicans decades-long crusade against womens fundamental freedoms.' And she cautioned that Republicans will keep pushing for other long-held policy goals, after portions of Justice Antonin Scalia's draft opinion appeared to show efforts to narrow the ruling to striking Roe v. Wade. 'Make no mistake: once Republicans have dispensed with precedent and privacy in overturning Roe, they will take aim at additional basic human rights. At this pivotal moment, the stakes for women and every American could not be higher,' Pelosi wrote. 'It is urgent and essential that we remain disciplined and focused in sharing with the American people the dangers of the Republican agenda. While Republicans want to punish and control women for exercising their constitutional rights, Democrats believe that a womans health decisions are her own and we will fight relentlessly to enshrine Roe v. Wade as the law of the land.' Pelosi's salvo comes after Sen. Amy Klobuchar questioned if women want Texas Senator Ted Cruz making their healthcare decisions in lashing out against Republicans who support the overturn of Roe v. Wade following the leaked draft opinion. The criticism from the Minnesota senator comes as Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer prepared to file cloture Monday and bring a floor vote on codifying the landmark abortion case on Wednesday. Democrats do not have the votes to overcome a filibuster on the matter and moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin already rejected in February a previous version of an abortion protection bill. 'With this leaked opinion, the court is looking at reversing 50 years of women's rights and the fall will be swift. Over 20 states have laws in place already,' Senator Klobuchar told ABC's This Week host Martha Raddatz on Sunday. 'I think the question that voters are going to be asking when 75 percent of people are with us on this, is who should make this decision?' 'Should it be a woman and her doctor or a politician?' she posed. 'Should it be Ted Cruz making this decision or a woman and her family? Where are women's equal rights?' Schumer, although aware that he doesn't have the votes to codify Roe v. Wade into law, said Sunday that he wants to put every senator on record on where they stand on abortion. Most, however, have not been shy about sharing their stance. 'I'm standing with elected officials and women's rights advocates in NY because the Supreme Court's reported decision is an abomination,' Senator Schumer tweeted on Sunday along with an image of pro-abortion activists and officials holding signs. 'The Senate will vote this week on the Women's Health Protection Act to protect abortion rights,' Schumer previewed. 'We will see where every single senator stands.' Senator Amy Klobuchar questioned Sunday if women want Texas Senator Ted Cruz making healthcare decisions for them as Democrats lashed out at draft Supreme Court opinion that overturns Roe v. Wade Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer posted an image Sunday showing him at a pro-choice event with elected officials and pro-abortion advocates pushing for Congress to codify the 50-year-old landmark abortion rights case Schumer said he will bring a vote on abortion to the Senate floor on Wednesday after filing cloture on Monday. Although Democrats don't have the votes to pass abortion legislation right now, he wants to make it so Americans 'see where every single senator stands' Klobuchar questioned during her Sunday interview why women's rights to an abortion should be different from state to state again, specifically calling out Cruz's state of Texas. 'Wouldn't these laws simply reflect the majority of the people in those states?' Raddatz questioned. 'Why should a woman in Texas have different rights and a different future and a different ability to make decisions about her body and her reproductive choices than a woman in Minnesota?' the senator asked in comparing her state to a deep red one. 'How can that be in this country, that we'd have a patchwork of laws?' she continued. 'It isn't always easy to put yourself in someone else's shoes.' Republicans, on the other hand, are in favor of giving the powers back to states from the federal government to better reflect the desires of constituents in their red states that want greater restriction on abortion. WHAT IS ROE V. WADE? The Roe v. Wade decision nearly 50 years ago recognized that the right to personal privacy under the US Constitution protects a woman's ability to terminate her pregnancy. On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court decided that the constitutional right to privacy applied to abortion. Roe was 'Jane Roe,' a pseudonym for Norma McCorvey, a single mother pregnant for the third time, who wanted an abortion. She sued the Dallas attorney general Henry Wade over a Texas law that made it a crime to terminate a pregnancy except in cases of rape or incest, or when the mother's life was in danger. Roe's lawyers said she was unable to travel out of the state to obtain an abortion and argued that the law was too vague and infringed on her constitutional rights. Filing a complaint alongside her was Texas doctor James Hallford, who argued the law's medical provision was vague, and that he was unable to reliably determine which of his patients fell into the allowed category. The 'Does', another couple who were childless, also filed a companion complaint, saying that medical risks made it unsafe but not life-threatening for the wife to carry a pregnancy to term, and arguing they should be able to obtain a safe, legal abortion should she become pregnant. The trio of complaints - from a woman who wanted an abortion, a doctor who wanted to perform them and a non-pregnant woman who wanted the right if the need arose - ultimately reached the nation's top court. The court heard arguments twice, and then waited until after Republican president Richard Nixon's re-election, in November 1972. Only the following January did it offer its historic seven-to-two decision - overturning the Texas laws and setting a legal precedent that has had ramifications in all 50 states. Advertisement Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell went one step further, suggested that a federal abortion ban is 'possible' if the Supreme Court rules to overturn Roe v. Wade and Republicans retake a majority in the November midterm elections. 'If the leaked opinion became the final opinion, legislative bodies - not only at the state level but at the federal level - certainly could legislate in that area,' the Kentucky senator told USA Today on Thursday. 'And if this were the final decision, that was the point that it should be resolved one way or another in the legislative process. So yeah, it's possible.' New Hampshire Democrat Senator Maggie Hassan, who is up for reelection, blasted out a news release responding to McConnell's comments. 'Mitch McConnell is already making it clear that if Republicans retake the Senate majority, they will quickly move to criminalize abortion nationwide and roll back reproductive freedom for women all across this country, including in New Hampshire,' Hassan said. McConnell remained cautious when addressing whether Republicans would pass legislation entirely banning abortion if they were to win back the Senate. Klobuchar admitted that the issue of abortion isn't likely to lead to a different outcome in the 2022 midterms, claiming voters are more mobilized to go to the ballot box over economic and national security concerns. Democrats have been calling on President Joe Biden to try and enact such a law ahead of the November elections, which pundits predict will see his party face a wipeout at the hands of the GOP. 'With regard to the abortion issue, I think it's pretty clear where Senate Republicans stand,' McConnell said. 'And if and when the court makes a final decision, I expect everybody will be more definitive. But I don't think it's much secret where Senate Republicans stand on that issue.' Conservative Justice Samuel Alito's draft opinion written in February reveals that the court has voted to strike down the landmark 1973 ruling Rove v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. The official opinion won't be released until June. Five of the six conservative justices signed onto the opinion, with only Chief Justice John Roberts dissenting with the three liberals on the bench. Roberts does, however, support a ban on abortion at the 15-week point of a pregnancy. The draft opinion, which was published by POLITICO last Monday evening, comes amid nearly 50 years of federal abortion protections and could change before the ruling is finalized in coming weeks. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (pictured at the Capitol on Tuesday) says a federal abortion ban is 'possible' if the Supreme Court rules to overturn Roe v. Wade Democrats have expressed great disapproval of the SCOTUS opinion, alleging overturning Roe v. Wade would be 'one of the worst and most damaging decisions in modern history'. Klobuchar said Sunday that Alito is brining the U.S. all the way back to the 1850s. 'He actually cites the fact that abortion was criminalized back when the 14th Amendment was adopted,' she noted of the Justice's opinion during her ABC interview on Sunday. President Biden, in a statement issued hours after the leak, said women have a 'fundamental' right to an abortion and called on American voters to 'elect pro-choice officials this November.' He also pledged the White House would be 'ready when any ruling is issued.' Biden reasserted his position after SCOTUS confirmed the draft was authentic late on Tuesday morning, telling reporters it was 'really quite a radical decision' and 'a fundamental shift in American jurisprudence.' President Joe Biden (pictured in Ohio on Friday), in a statement issued hours after the leak, said women have a 'fundamental' right to an abortion and called on American voters to 'elect pro-choice officials this November' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (left) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (right) issued a joint statement alleging the 'Supreme Court is poised to inflict the greatest restriction of rights in the past fifty years' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday issued a joint statement addressing abortion rights. 'If the report is accurate, the Supreme Court is poised to inflict the greatest restriction of rights in the past fifty years - not just on women but on all Americans,' the pair penned. 'The Republican-appointed Justices' reported votes to overturn Roe v. Wade would go down as an abomination, one of the worst and most damaging decisions in modern history.' Schumer then said on Tuesday he would force a vote this upcoming week to codify Roe v. Wade. 'A vote on this legislation is not an abstract exercise. This is as urgent and real as it gets. We'll vote to protect a women's right to choose,' he tweeted. However, analysts predict the vote will fall short because the measure doesn't have the necessary 60 votes to advance. Regardless, Democrats remain eager to get the GOP's votes on record ahead of the midterms, likely to further their efforts to sway Americans to vote blue. Similarly, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee issued a statement Saturday citing McConnell's USA Today interview in an effort to fire up its base. 'Mitch McConnell confirmed what voters have long known: Republicans will use every tool they can, from the courts to Congress, to make abortion illegal everywhere and strip away a woman's right to make our own decisions,' the statement read. 'For voters, the stakes of protecting and expanding our Democratic Senate majority in 2022 have never been higher.' Abortion-rights protesters hold signs during demonstration outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday Anti-abortion protesters hold a demonstration across the street from the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday Meanwhile, abortion rights protesters rallied across the U.S. on Saturday, vowing to fight to ensure that abortion remains a legal option for women nationwide. In the nation's capital, abortion rights protesters stood outside the Supreme Court, holding signs that said abortion is a human right, or 'Abort the Court.' Protesters who opposed abortion demonstrated across the street. In Maryland, demonstrators rallied outside the homes of conservative Justices John Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh, shouting 'you don't care if people die' and 'keep abortion safe and legal.' Liberal group ShutDown D.C. already plans to host a 'Vigil for Abortion Rights' outside of Justice Alito's house on Monday. Next Saturday, America is expecting a 'massive' day of action with nationwide rallies organized by Planned Parenthood, UltraViolet, Women's March and MoveOn. The protest, dubbed Bans Off Our Bodies, will feature marches in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington D.C., as well as hundreds of demonstrations in other cities across the U.S. Demonstrator Hannah Yost shares personal testimony on Thursday as she rallies with other people for abortion rights after an anti-climb protective fence was installed outside of the U.S. Supreme Court building in D.C. Police surround an anti-abortion demonstrator on Wednesday as abortion-rights advocates protest outside the Supreme Court Building in D.C. Demonstrators in support of reproductive rights protest outside of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's home in Chevy Chase, Maryland on Saturday Protesters gathered outside Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house on Saturday, screaming: 'We will not go back!' Furious pro-choice protesters screamed 'you don't care if people die' while picketing the house of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Saturday The leaked draft was written by Justice Samuel Alito, one of the six justices appointed by a Republican president who sit on the court, and repudiated both Roe v Wade and the 1992 Planned Parenthood vs Casey Decision. If and when the draft is made final, the decision removes the federal right to abortion in America, leaving it up to elected officials in each state to decide whether or not women should have access to abortions. Twenty-six states are likely to ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is formally overturned, essentially outlawing abortion in more than half of the country. Eighteen states already have restrictive abortion laws in place. The news sent shock waves throughout Washington D.C. with Democrats vowing to codify the legal right to an abortion into law and Republicans demanding an investigation into the leak, claiming it was done to try and influence the high court ahead of its formal ruling. Perhaps anticipating backlash, the Supreme Court building initially was barricaded Monday night before being watched by security. Protesters eventually headed toward the gates in large numbers, with some standing up and chanting, while others sat outside the building and lit candles in silence. A small number of counter-protesters also gathered. 'Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,' Alito writes in the draft opinion, which was crafted in February and circulated among the court members. 'We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled,' he continues in the document, titled 'Opinion of the Court.' 'It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people's elected representatives.' Aside from Alito, four other judges voted in favor of overturning the law: Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, all of whom were nominated by Republican presidents. This is also the first such case in modern history of a Supreme Court draft decision being leaked to the public while the case was still pending. Sometimes drafts are circulated by one justice in the hopes of swaying fellow judges but this is believed to be the first time a draft has been leaked. A draft is not final until the court formally announces its decision in a case, meaning the ruling could be changed. The court is expected to issue its final ruling before its term is up in late June or early July. Republican appointed-Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett all voted to strike down Roe with Samuel Alito Two men who used a tracker device to ambush a father before stabbing him to death inside his Mercedes have been found guilty of murder. Donald Owusu, 25, Harvey MacFoy, 26, and an unidentified man attacked Albert Amofa after he arrived home in south Croydon, south London, with a girlfriend on the evening of December 15, 2019, the Old Bailey was told. Mr Amofa, 33, was stabbed repeatedly as the attackers, two wearing balaclavas, demanded his car keys in an alleged bid to steal 5,000 of cannabis they mistakenly thought was in the vehicle. Prosecutor John Price QC said the plan appeared to have been to abduct the occupants and take them from Drake Road in Croydon in the victims black Mercedes. Donald Owusu (left), 25, Harvey MacFoy (right), 26, and an unidentified man attacked Albert Amofa after he arrived home in south Croydon, south London, with a girlfriend on the evening of December 15, 2019, the Old Bailey was told But they were thwarted when they were unable to force Mr Amofa to hand over the keys. The court heard that the killing had followed a carefully organised plan to abduct the victim, having bought and fitted a tracker device to his car. MacFoy and a third defendant, Theo Brown, were accused of conspiring to pervert the course of justice by disposing of the hire car used by the attackers. Brown, who alone denied the charge, was said to have been involved in taking the Peugeot to Nottingham, where it was left in a residential street. A post-mortem examination found that Mr Amofa had five wounds to his back and thigh, one of which had penetrated the femoral vein and resulted in substantial blood loss. Investigators trawled through CCTV footage to track down the attackers, who had arrived in a Peugeot car. Mr Amofa (pictured), 33, was stabbed repeatedly as the attackers, two wearing balaclavas, demanded his car keys in an alleged bid to steal 5,000 of cannabis they mistakenly thought was in the vehicle It had been hired through an app which used GPS tracking, enabling police to recreate the defendants movements to and from the scene. The prosecution suggested the attackers believed their targets had a large consignment of cannabis in the Mercedes after the drugs were advertised on social media. As a result, bus driver Mr Amofa was ambushed within moments of parking outside his home. The court heard that Owusus DNA was found on the tracker fitted to the Mercedes. DNA under the victims fingernails was linked to MacFoy, jurors were told. MacFoy and a third defendant, Theo Brown (above), were accused of conspiring to pervert the course of justice by disposing of the hire car used by the attackers Owusu, the alleged knifeman, and MacFoy had denied being involved in the killing. In his evidence, Owusu claimed he had been asked to fit the tracker by a contact known only as 'Big S' as part of a business exposing cheating wives. The jury deliberated for 21 hours to convict Owusu and MacFoy, from south London, of murder on Monday. MacFoy had admitted perverting the course of justice and Brown, also of south London, was convicted of the same offence. Judge Alexia Durran adjourned sentencing to a date to be fixed in June. A violent scuffle broke out in the dock as Owusu and McFoy were remanded into custody. Pope Francis has postponed a trip to Lebanon initially planned for June over health concerns, Lebanon's tourism minister Walid Nassar said on Monday. Nassar did not elaborate on the 'health reasons' behind the postponement but the pope, who has suffered from pain in his knee, was seen using a wheelchair for the first time at a public event on Thursday. Nassar said: 'Lebanon received a letter from the Vatican officially informing it of the decision to postpone the scheduled visit of the Pope to Lebanon.' Pope Francis arrived on a wheelchair to meet with participants in the plenary assembly of the International Union of Superiors General at the Vatican on May 5 Pope Francis has postponed a trip to Lebanon initially planned for June over health concerns, Lebanon's tourism minister Walid Nassar (pictured) said on Monday He added the Pope's 'foreign visits and scheduled appointments have been postponed for health reasons'. The Vatican had never confirmed the visit but Lebanon's presidency in April said the 85-year-old pontiff would visit the country in June. Francis has been suffering for months with pain in his right knee that forced him to cancel numerous engagements and stopped him from presiding over religious celebrations. The Vatican has not said officially what the problem is, although sources said he has chronic arthritis. The Pope himself has also spoken of an injured ligament in his knee. He told Italian daily Corriere della Sera in an interview published last week that he would undergo an 'intervention with infiltration'. He was seen again in a wheelchair as he received an audience of students and teachers from the University of Macerata, in Vatican City on May 9 The Vatican has not said officially what the problem is, although sources said he has chronic arthritis Meanwhile, just last month the pontiff told a newspaper in Argentina he was treating his knee pain by putting ice on it and taking painkillers. His visit to Lebanon, following the country's parliamentary elections on May 15, would have been the third by a pope since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2012 to appeal for peace months after the start of the Syrian civil, while Pope John Paul II came in 1997. Lebanon is home to one of the largest Christian communities in the Middle East and has been gripped by an unprecedented economic downturn since 2019, with more than 80 percent of the population now living in poverty. Francis, who has received Lebanon's president and prime minister in the Vatican in recent months, had previously promised to visit the country and repeatedly expressed concern over its worsening crises. A heavy metal fan who went to a Metallica concert at 39 weeks pregnant has revealed she went into labor just as the band started playing Enter Sandman. Joice Figueiro went into labor as Enter Sandman blared out at Couto Pereira Stadium in Curitiba on Saturday night. The tattoo artist even joked she would name the boy James Ulrich after guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich. Metallica was three songs from wrapping up its concert and was in the middle of interpreting its hit song 'Enter Sandman' when Figuiero began to have contractions. Her husband Jaime Figuiero sought help from a team of paramedics at the concert venue and her doctor, who also happened to be at the show, immediately rushed to her seating area. She delivered a healthy Luan Figuiero at 11:15 pm local time. He weighed 6.7 pounds. Joice Figueiro (right) and her husband Jaime Figuiero (middle) welcomed their second child, Luan Figuiero (left) after the child was born at a Metallica concert in Curitiba, Brazil, on Saturday Luan Figuiero was born Saturday during the middle of Metallica's concert in Brazil as the band played Enter Sandman James Hetfield (left) and Lars Ulrich (right) of Metallica perform during the 'S&M2' concerts at the opening night at Chase Center on September 06, 2019 in San Francisco, California 'When would I have images that I would be at the @metallica show 29 weeks pregnant and this boy decides to be born right there,' Joice Figueiro wrote on Instagram. 'Every show I go to something has to happen, but this time I think I've outdone myself haha. 'Luan Figuiero came to the world on 05/07/2022 at 23:15 shaking all the metal structures haha.' Metallica share the news of the birth of their newest fan, Luan Figueiro, who was born at their show in Brazil on Saturday night Joice Figueiro and her husband initially purchased the Metallica concert tickets in April 2020, but the show dates were postponed on two occasions. A new date was announced in October 2021, but the family never figured they would welcome their second child as their favorite band performed. Luan Figuiero chose the perfect song to enter the world. His mother joked that she would name her child after James Ulrich, the band co-founder and drummer. 'The boy was born at the end of the show, (during) the last song, the most famous, the one that my father liked the most,' Jaime Figuiero told Brazilian news outlet G1. 'There was no better script for the story. I cried a lot with emotion. The song itself has a meaning because it was the one that my father like the most.' Her story was shared by Metallica on the band's Instagram page yesterday. President Yoon Suk-yeol's office at former headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul's Yongsan District, Monday. Yonhap Yoon to start presidency with briefing by Joint Chiefs of Staff at Monday midnight By Ko Dong-hwan President Yoon Suk-yeol will start his first day at the top job of the government very differently from that of his predecessors: his office is no longer in the secluded foothills of Mount Bugak. Instead, it's at the center of Seoul's crowded downtown Yongsan District near Samgakji subway station, an election promise emphasizing his willingness to make himself and his office open to the public. With the start of his term at the former headquarters of the national defense ministry in the bustling district, Cheong Wa Dae, which has been the office and residence of the country's presidents since 1948, becomes a public venue for tourists. The Era of Yongsan begins at midnight on Monday with Yoon receiving a phone briefing from the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the commander-in-chief at an underground bunker beneath his office building. The briefing signals the transfer of the country's military command from former president Moon Jae-in to Yoon. The bunker, under the Yoon administration, will also serve as the situation room of the national crisis management center. The control room had existed below Cheong Wa Dae and was used only during imminent national crises until the presidential office was relocated to Yongsan. Before Tuesday's inauguration at the National Assembly, Yoon will drop by the Seoul National Cemetery to pay homage to buried patriots. The inauguration begins at 11 a.m. and will continue for about an hour. His speech will comprise keywords, such as freedom, human rights, free market, fairness and alliance, according to those who are familiar with its content. Declining a car parade, which often accompanied inaugurated presidents, Yoon is expected to move to Yongsan shortly after the event and visit a community house for local elders as well as a city park for children. The rest of the day's schedule for Yoon includes attending an afternoon ceremony at the National Assembly and a dinner party with guests at Shilla Hotel in central Seoul. Journalists on Monday check out the facade of the National Assembly where preparations for the presidential inauguration the next day are taking place. Joint Press Corps. The guest list includes National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, Chief of Justice Kim Myeong-soo, Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Constitutional Court President Yoo Nam-seok, National Election Commission Chairperson Noh Jeong-hee and the heads of the country's big 5 conglomerates Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG and Lotte. Yoon met foreign dignitaries on Monday. Japan's former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and British Minister of State for Asia and the Middle East Amanda Milling are also expected to meet Yoon. The United States' second gentleman Doug Emhoff, China's Vice President Wang Qishan and Singaporean President Halimah Yacob are also among those in the country for state visits. Presidential life in Yongsan The president was unyielding in regards to his aim of relocating his office to Yongsan not only because he wanted to vacate Cheong Wa Dae for the public, but mainly because he wanted to get away from a place that he said shrouds an incumbent president with a sense of autocracy and discourages effective communication between the country's leader and his aides inside the office. It was Cheong Wa Dae's architectural style that divided spaces used by a president and staff members instead of connecting them, as Yoon pointed out. "Space dominates consciousness," said Yoon, as one of the reasons behind his relocation plan. "I will dismantle the existing organization and working styles inside the presidential office." Yoon said he wanted to work closely with his aides "in a mess" around the clock without spatial obstructions. That's why he dismissed using an elevator reserved for himself inside the office building as one of the measures to stay close to presidential staff members. Soldiers on Monday practice a cannon salute at the National Assembly for the presidential inauguration on May 10. Joint Press Corps. Squad queen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been at war with fellow Democrat Eric Adams for the last year after he warned supporters to beware of their party's woke fringe. Adams, a former cop and centrist, reportedly infuriated AOC - a hardline progressive who soapboxes about defunding the police - with a speech at a fundraiser in July 2021 that Ocasio-Cortez watched in-person. The pair haven't had any one-on-one time since, the New York Times reported, even though they're two of their parties most high profile figures. 'I'm no longer running against candidates,' Adams, whose main campaign tenets were being tougher on crime and bolstering the city's police force, said at the time. 'I'm running against a movement. All across the country, the [Democratic Socialists of America] socialists are mobilizing to stop Eric Adams. 'They realize that if Im successful, were going to start the process of regaining control of our cities,' the former police captain, who campaigned on tenets of addressing New York's crime problem and putting repeat offenders behind bars. Fueling the fire of their feud, observers say, is the fact that both have something to gain by having a foil from within the currently divided Democratic Party, as both seek to bolster their respective, vastly different audiences and gain fame in the political sphere. Political outsider Adams, who served as a captain for the NYPD and then the city's senate for roughly six years, recently attended the highly exclusive MET Gala - which costs $35,000 to attend - and has sought to gain support from the party's more moderate members. Since being sworn in in January, the new mayor has been seen partying with Cara Delevingne and rapper A$AP Rocky, and nixed vaccine mandates for athletes in a bid to gain favor with citizens peeved over pandemic policies that saw unvaccinated Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving barred from playing at the Barclay Center. AOC, meanwhile - who has seen a meteoric rise since being elected to congress in 2019 - is widely-regarded as America's most prominent Democrat Socialist of America, showing support for radically left-leaning policies and movement such as Black Lives Matter and Defund the Police. She is the leader of the so-called 'Squad' of hard-left Democrats, which also includes Reps Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib. The rep has also sought to achieve star status through a marked presence on social media, where she has tens of millions of followers. New York politicians Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Eric Adams have not spoken in nearly a year, reps for the at-odds Democrats have revealed, despite their shared place in the currently polarized political party The strong words - which were reiterated by Adams last week during an interview with ABC in which he blamed woke progressive policies for the city's crime rate - rubbed Ocasio-Cortez the wrong way, her reps said, spurring the current conflict. Since then, officials told The Times, the friction between the two had continued, despite their shared political party. The Dems have become increasingly fractured in recent years, with AOC and her fans claiming centrists like Adams are Republicans in all but name. Meanwhile, Adams and his supporters say AOC and her posse have dragged the party too far left on issues including race, gender and policing. They fear an anticipated midterms wipeout for the Democrats will be the result of traditional Democrat voters turning their back on the party's woke excesses. 'They are fundamentally arguing from the two sides of the Democratic Party,' Jefrey Pollock, a veteran Democratic strategist, told The Times of the tension and ongoing estrangement between the pair. 'And therefore, they are bound to be in conflict.' True to form, Ocasio-Cortez - and Adams, 61, have had no public events together. Reps for both teams said the pair have not spoken since the July 2021 fundraiser, where Ocasio-Cortez was in attendance. The pair have also managed to express their disdain for each other despite not speaking directly, trading barbs and hurling shade on social media and during public appearances. In September, for instance, Adams slammed the controversial 'Tax the Rich' dress Ocasio-Cortez donned during last falls Met Gala as irresponsible, saying it sent the wrong message to the city's business community, and wealthy residents whom pay the lion's share of the city's income tax. 'I'm a big believer that, you know, I think AOC and I believe we both want the same things, we just have different pathways to get there,' he told Squawk Box co-host Andrew Ross Sorkin at the time, pointing out the commonalities between the two and their respective upbringings. In September, Ocasio-Cortez earned the chagrin of a them campaigning Adams after she donned her infamous 'Tax the Rich' dress during last falls Met Gala. Adams called the wardrobe choice irresponsible and said it sent the wrong message to the city's residents Adams took another shot at the self-proclaimed democratic socialist through his wardrobe choice at this year's Met Gala, where he donned a Tuxedo emblazoned with a different message - 'End Gun Violence' - one more in line with the mayor's more moderate beliefs 'Her mother was a domestic worker, or did things on that level, [and] so was my mother. 'But when you talk about just blanketly saying tax [the] rich in this city, we may have 8.8 million people, but 65,000 pay 51 percent of our income taxes,' Adams continued. 'And if you say to those 65,000 to leave, then we're not going to have the firefighters, the teachers - all of those basic things.' Adams took another shot at the self-proclaimed democratic socialist through his wardrobe choice at this year's Met Gala, where he donned a Tuxedo emblazoned with a different message - 'End Gun Violence' - one more in line with the mayor's more moderate beliefs. In January, days after Adams was sworn into office, Ocasio-Cortez immediately honed in on the new mayor, criticizing him for referring to some city workers as 'low skill' in a speech where the newly crowned mayor pushed for office workers working remotely during the pandemic to get back to work to help save other businesses. 'My low-skilled workers, my cooks, my dishwashers, my messengers, my shoe-shine people, those who work at Dunkin' Donuts - they don't have the academic skills to sit in the corner office,' Adams said, fighting for the city to stay open. In response, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted: 'The suggestion that any job is "low skill" is a myth perpetuated by wealthy interests to justify inhumane working conditions, little/no healthcare, and low wages.' In January, days after Adams was sworn into office, Ocasio-Cortez immediately honed in on the new mayor, criticizing him for referring to some city workers as 'low skill' in a speech where the newly crowned mayor pushed for office workers working remotely during the pandemic to get back to work to help save other businesses 'Plus being a waitress has made me and many others *better* at our jobs than those whove never known that life,' the self-professed democratic socialist added. Adams then shot back by saying that the second-term congresswoman as well as her millions of followers were acting like the 'word police.' 'I know theyre perfect, and theres not much I can do about that,' the mayor sarcastically sniped in an interview addressing Oscasio-Cortez' comments. 'I can only aspire one day to be as perfect as they are.' The rift between the pair - while paling in comparison to other instances in-fighting seen by politicians of the same party, such as the highly-publicized animosity between former Mayor Bill de Blasio and disgraced governor Andrew M. Cuomo - could spell trouble for the Democratic Party, as members strive for party unity. "We are in a society where we have the words police," says @NYCMayor responding to @AOC. "I was a dishwasher. I went to school at night...low wage workers--they can't telecommute. They need the support of those who are part of our financial ecosystem." pic.twitter.com/vpDZGIMkrU Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) January 6, 2022 And despite both politicians being people of color raised in the Tri-State Area by working-class families - former bartender Ocasio-Cortez born in the Bronx and raised in Westchester; and Adams raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn - the differing demographics and opinions of their supporters has the two trying to appeal to largely different crowds. Adams, who campaigned on cleaning up the city streets, bolstering the city's embattled police force, and getting the city back to work after the pandemic, has a base rooted in the city's working class; while Ocasio-Cortez appeals to the state's college-educated liberals - and her fringe democratic socialist followers. 'The truth is, Adams won without them,' former de Blasio aide Peter Ragone told the Times of the generally younger, more progressive citizens who support Ocasio-Cortez. 'And if hes going to expand his base beyond working-class African American and Latino, its not going to be progressives.' The stark difference in ideologies between the two Democrats was capsulated in an exchange last June, when Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Defund the Police advocated Maya Wiley over Adams during the Democratic mayoral primary, arguing that she was best positioned to lead 'a city for and by working people.' Adams quickly offered a tart retort, accusing Ocasio-Cortez and Wiley of seeking to 'shrink the police force at a time when Black and brown babies are being shot in our streets,' and while hate crimes were increasing. 'They are putting slogans and politics in front of public safety and would endanger the lives of New Yorkers.' A veteran civilian employee of the NYPD was shot and killed inside a Queens apartment building Monday, allegedly by her boyfriend, who police say also wounded her neighbor when she rushed in to help. A manhunt is now underway for the gunman, 55, who fled the scene in a car after both women were shot around 8:15 a.m. inside a third-floor residence on Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood, Queens. Neither the NYPD worker killed nor the woman injured have been named. Police say the suspect shot his girlfriend, 51, who is a civilian employee of the NYPD, in the head during a domestic dispute Monday morning. The woman's 48-year-old neighbor heard the commotion, rushed upstairs and was also shot when she tried to intervene. The suspect went after the woman and shot twice in the torso, police said. The victims' names have not been released. A veteran civilian employee of the NYPD was shot and killed inside a Queens apartment building Monday, allegedly by her boyfriend, who police say also wounded her neighbor The shooting happened around 8:15 a.m. inside a third-floor apartment building on Fresh Pond Road in Ridgewood, Queens 'Preliminary investigation indicates that this began as a domestic incident between the 51-year-old female and a male in the third floor apartment,' NYPD Deputy Chief Julie Morrill, Commanding Officer Detective Bureau Queens, said Monday. 'During the dispute, the 48-year-old second floor neighbor went to check on the third floor occupants. She was then shot and fled back to her apartment. The male suspect followed her and continued shooting.' Both women were taken to a local hospital where the 51-year-old was pronounced dead. The neighbor is in critical condition. NYPD Deputy Chief Julie Morrill released new information at a presser Monday, stating that the investigation indicates that this began as a domestic incident between the gunman and victim The third-floor apartment is above an electronics store off Palmetto Street The deceased victim was a civilian NYPD employee with 11 years of service. She recently working for the information technology bureau based at police headquarters. Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell and other NYPD officials went to the hospital to meet with the victim's family. Police are still searching for the suspect. Accused serial teen rapist Bowen Turner has been arrested again - this time for disorderly conduct after being caught stumbling through his South Carolina hometown drunk while serving his probation sentence. The 19-year-old was booked into county jail on Monday morning in Orangeburg, but was released a short time afterwards after posting $257 in bond. Local newspaper The State cites sheriffs' department sources who say he was found stumbling down the middle of the street, reeking of alcohol. It's unclear if he has a court date yet. Accused serial teen rapist Bowen Turner has been arrested again - this time for disorderly conduct after being caught stumbling through his South Carolina hometown drunk DailyMail.com recently revealed how Bowen's family had been contacting the parents of one of the girls who reported him, asking them to stop speaking publicly about her suicide because it was 'dampening his bright future'. The teenager is currently serving a five year probation sentence for assault and battery. The sentence was part of a plea deal that he took in April instead of facing trial for sexually assaulting Chloe Bess. Chloe was the third girl to have accused Bowen of rape. The first had her case dropped and both were underage at the time so the details have never been made public. The second girl was Dallas Stoller. She accused Bowen of raping her at a party in 2018. Bowen is spotted in his hometown last month, going out fishing with a friend. He is serving a probation sentence The teenager is shown in his 2019 mugshot after being reported for rape three times He was arrested for that assault in 2019 but was granted bail pending a court date. While on bond for that alleged attack, Bowen attacked Chloe in June 2019. In April this year, after he was given a sweetheart deal for an attack on another girl, Bowen Turner was freed. Stoller's mother and father started receiving calls from his friends and family (shown). On April 16, Dallas' father received two missed calls from a number that gave Jennifer Turner's name as the caller ID Before her case went to trial, Dallas killed herself. After her death, prosecutors dropped the charges against him. Her family say they were told that the case was not worth pursuing without her testimony. In April this year, Bowen - whose father Walt previously worked for the DA - was given a plea deal which lowered the charge from one of sexual assault to assault and battery. He was given a probationary sentence, which outraged the victim and her family. In an interview with DailyMail.com, Chloe, describing the night he allegedly raped her, said: 'All I remember after that is being on the ground looking up at the stars, completely aware of whats going on. Bowen's parents Jennifer, left, and Walt, Turner. Walt previously worked as an investigator for the prosecutors' office Chloe Bess was 16 when Bowen attacked her at a house party in June 2019, while on bond for the alleged attack against Dallas 'I froze up. On the inside, I was yelling and wanting to kick and scream but it was like I was a dead body. It was an out of body experience. 'I was like I hope its quick so I can get up and run away. I then found myself in the bathroom I had leaves and twigs in my hair, my shirt was on wrong.' She and her family want him to face a stricter punishment. They are also campaigning for Dallas' case to be reopened. Dallas' sister Brette and her father Karl told DailyMail.com of the family's disgust when Bowen's parents and friends contacted them asking them to stop speaking about the case. 'Its deeply inappropriate. As if it wasnt enough with Dallas, the bullying is just continuing,' Dallas' older sister Brette Tabatabai said. A Change.org petition to reopen Dallas' case has now gathered more than 13,000 signatures. The head of President Joe Biden's new Disinformation Governance Board has a history of pushing now-debunked claims that there are ties between Russia and Donald Trump, old and recently resurfaced tweets reveal. Nina Jankowicz promoted several claims from Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign on Twitter, including allegations that are now being looked into by special counsel John Durham. In November 2016, Jankowicz, a Russian misinformation 'expert,' tweeted: 'Husband texted me 'you have news to wake up to.' Never thought it would be this. Confirms our worst fears about Trump. I am horrified.' She was reposting Clinton's tweet claiming 'it's time for Trump to answer serious questions about his ties to Russia,' along with a screenshot showing that the then-candidate had a 'secret service' he used to privately communicate with Putin-tied Russian Alfa Bank. 'Trump had not one, but two secret email servers to communicate with influential Russian bank. Unbelievable,' she followed up in another tweet with a link to an article by someone to whom opposition research firm Fusion GPS was feeding stories related to alleged ties between Trump's campaign and the Kremlin. Durham's team has cast doubt on Alfa Bank claims as has the FBI, CIA, special counsel Robert Mueller and a Senate Intelligence Committee probe. Democratic cybersecurity lawyer Michael Sussmann has been indicted by Durham for concealing the identity of his clients, including Hillary Clinton's campaign, when he reported the now-debunked Alfa Bank claims to the FBI. DHS Disinformation Governance Board head Nina Jankowicz (pictured) has an extensive history of pushing now-debunked claims linking Donald Trump and his campaign to Russia Several past tweets of Jankowicz show her pushing claims from Hillary Clinton and her 2016 campaign staff The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) new Disinformation Governance Board has faced intense backlash from Republicans who claim it will be used to target conservative voices. Donald Trump said at a Pennsylvania rally Friday that one of the highest priorities in getting Republicans elected to Congress is to now dissolve Biden's new Disinformation Governance Board. 'One of our highest priorities will be to cut down on left-wing censorship and restore free speech in America,' Trump said during a rainy, chilly and extremely muddy rally in Greensburg, Pennsylvania endorsing Dr. Mehmet Oz for U.S. Senate. 'We don't have free speech.' 'We don't have free speech and we have a totally crooked press, all of them back there,' Trump said, pointing to the cameras and press documenting the event. 'We will immediately terminate Joe Biden's so-called disinformation governing board, how about that one?' Trump said. 'A chilling and un-American power grab that we will not allow to stand.' Jankowicz has also come under fire for her previous comments that Republicans claim shows her bias. November 6, 2014, Jankowicz wrote that 'what started months ago as me making jokes about Donald Trump's 'bromance' with Putin has actually become an existential threat to our country.' She claimed at the time that after Trump loses the election, which he did not, 'we never have to talk about him again (until Putin grants him Russian citizenship).' The so-called Russian disinformation expert has cited Christopher Steele as a fellow disinformation expert and has made references to his dossier, many parts of which have questionable claims that have now been disproven. She has also cast doubt on the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, claiming it was a 'Trump campaign product'. Donald Trump said during a Friday rally in Pennsylvania that a top priority for Republicans is dissolving the DHS Disinformation Governance Board In September 2016, Jankowicz tweeted that 'Trump's Kremlin ties don't end at Manafort. This is serious people.' Included in that post was a news story quoting Clinton spokesman Glen Caplin. 'It's chilling to learn that U.S. intelligence officials are conducting a probe into suspected meetings between Trump's foreign policy adviser Carter Page and members of Putin's inner circle,' Caplin said in the article. Jankowicz shared a link on Twitter in June 2016 to a now-deleted Medium post that included a mural of Trump kissing Russian President Vladimir Putin and in July a piece about Trump's campaign titled 'Putin's Puppet'. 'But do we want a president that has so many shady and cozy ties with Russia? No. So yeah, this piece is a must-read,' Jankowicz wrote in the July tweet. In August of that year she tweeted: 'Manafort not Trump's only connection to #Russia and #Putin.' She shared a statement from the Democratic National Committee national press secretary Mark Paustenbach claiming Trump's campaign has 'strong ties to Russia and pro-Kremlin elements.' At least 40 migrants have crossed the English Channel and arrived in Dover by small boat today. The group, which included several women and at least one child, was escorted to the harbour in Kent shortly after 3.30pm on Border Force cutter Speedwell. According to Sky News, one man was seen in handcuffs as he was led along the gangway for processing by UK officials. Other migrants, including a child, covered their faces as they were escorted off the boat by soldiers dressed in camouflage fatigues and high-vis vests. While the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is yet to release the official figures, the latest arrivals are thought to bring today's total number of migrant crossings to more than 40. At least 40 migrants have crossed the English Channel and arrived in Dover by small boat today The group, which included several women and at least one child, was escorted to the harbour in Kent shortly after 3.30pm on Border Force cutter Speedwell Other migrants, including a child, covered their faces as they were escorted off the boat by soldiers dressed in camouflage fatigues and high-vis vests It comes as the first migrants slated for deportation to Rwanda will be told of the decision this week as Priti Patel battles to secure her flagship policy in the face of a deluge of legal challenges. The initial cohort are expected to be single men who crossed the Channel by small boat and who have been deemed to be economic migrants rather than refugees fleeing their homelands for safety. Boris Johnson has said he wants the first flight to leave by the end of the month - but six legal challenges mean the whole scheme may never get off the ground. The number of people chosen initially is likely to be in the dozens to reduce the number of further individual legal challenges. A group of migrants are brought ashore in Dover, Kent, after crossing the Channel on Friday Each person will be given a week to provide legal grounds for remaining in the UK, which will be assessed by government lawyers before the formal notification of deportation is sent. There is intense scepticism that the Prime Minister will meet his deadline for the first flight, with a Home Office source predicting it would be 'a couple of months' before the deportations begin. 'There is a lot to work through and we are doing it for the first time and have to make sure we get it right,' the source told The Times. 'There is a legal process we needed to follow and the priority is to do it properly.' It came as hundreds more migrants arrived by boat over the weekend, loading more pressure on Ms Patel to get the scheme up and running. Latest figures show that 169 would-be refugees crossed the Channel in 11 separate dinghies on Saturday, following 116 on Friday. Priti Patel and Boris Johnson have blamed 'liberal lawyers' for delaying the start of the Rwanda programme It takes the total for May to more than 1,000 as people-smuggling gangs took advantage of a spell of calm weather in the Dover straits, after stormy seas meant that no boats could set sail for 11 days at the end of April. The Government had wanted flights to Kigali to start by the end of May under the 120million deal it secured with the Kagame government last month. Under the partnership agreement, people arriving in the UK, including by crossing the Channel in small boats, will be flown 4,000 miles to East Africa if they are deemed to have travelled illegally for economic reasons rather than asylum. Mr Johnson has blamed 'liberal lawyers' for delaying the start of the scheme. The Home Secretary shakes hands with Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Birutaare after signing the migration agreement at a joint news conference in Kigali Last week two asylum seekers who came to Britain in the backs of lorries this year instructed lawyers to bring a legal challenge against the policy. A 11-day break in crossings in recent weeks was cited by some supporters of the scheme that it was already having a deterrence effect, but experts insisted it was purely due to poor weather. The MoD took over control of migrant operations in the Channel in April, when the Government also announced its Rwanda deal. A model who spent almost three months in jail wrongly accused of drug running has been awarded 20,000 compensation. Greta Gila, 22, was arrested by cops when they burst into her hotel at Rome airport after she had flown in from London for the dream of a lifetime assignment which quickly became a nightmare. She had been on a stopover in the Italian capital before heading onwards to Tokyo and was due to meet a costume designer who was going to travel with her. But unknown to Greta the woman had been intercepted by police in Brazil carrying 11 kilos of cocaine and officers had allowed her to continue as part of a 'controlled delivery' to see where the drugs ended up. A model who spent almost three months in jail wrongly accused of drug running has been awarded 20,000 compensation Greta Gila (pictured), 22, was arrested by cops when they burst into her hotel at Rome airport after she had flown in from London for the dream of a lifetime assignment which quickly became a nightmare Hungarian born Greta - a former Miss Universe entrant - had been promised 1,500 for the assignment by the London agency who hired her for the shoot in March 2019. As she sat in her hotel room chatting to her parents on the telephone armed cops burst in and arrested her on suspicion of being part of an international drugs courier network. She was held on remand for 74 days before eventually being released but had to spend a further six months in Italy signing on every day at a police station while the case was investigated. Lawyer Massimiliano Scaringella eventually managed to secure her freedom after she appeared in court and had the case against her thrown out by a judge for lack of evidence. They took the case to Rome's Supreme Court where they initially tried to sue the Italian Government for 85,000 claiming her life had been ruined by the experience. But they ruled she should be given 18,000 instead and she and Massimiliano have vowed to carry on fighting for adequate compensation. Hungarian born Greta - a former Miss Universe entrant - had been promised 1,500 for the assignment by the London agency who hired her for the shoot in March 2019 Greta told MailOnline: 'I'm obviously happy with the result and the victory but the compensation is nowhere near enough for what I had to go through. 'Of course morally I am also happy because the Court accepted that I did nothing wrong and I should not have spent 74 days in jail for something I didn't do. 'My life was on hold for almost a year because even after being released after almost three months in prison I had to spend another six months in Italy under house arrest while the case was investigated. 'My career suffered and I still haven't been able to get back to work properly and instead I am now a painter but modelling was always my first love and I would like to return to it. 'The whole experience was a nightmare for me and as far as I am concerned justice has not yet been fully achieved.' As she sat in her hotel room chatting to her parents on the telephone armed cops burst in and arrested her on suspicion of being part of an international drugs courier network She added: 'I can still remember vividly the whole thing. I was in the hotel room with a man who said he was representing the agency, he seemed nervous and on edge and he told me we were waiting for the stylist to arrive. 'There was a knock on the door and he told me to go to the bedroom and this woman walked in and a few seconds later armed police burst in and took us all away - I was on the phone to my patents at the time and they heard everything.' Mr Scaringella said: 'As Greta says we are happy with the result but the compensation is completely inadequate, my client suffered a great deal of distress throughout this experience. 'The absence of real compensation for unjust detention in the Italian legal system is undoubtedly a violation of human rights and we plan to take the case to the European Court of Human rights, to try and force a change in the law.' An SUV driver who plowed into a Times Square crowd and killed an 18 year-old tourist screamed 'I want to kill them all!' afterwards, a court heard. Richard Rojas' murder trial, which opened in New York Monday, also heard that the 31 year-old military veteran was well-aware of what he was doing during the 2017 carnage, despite his defense's claims that he wasn't of sound-mind. A Manhattan jury heard from prosecutor Alfred Peterson how in 2017 Rojas barreled into helpless tourists who were visiting the popular destination known as 'the crossroads of the world,' killing Alyssa Elsman, a tourist visiting from Michigan, and injuring 22 others. It was 'impossible for him not to know exactly what was happening,' Peterson said in his opening statement. 'But he didnt stop.' After Rojas crashed his car, his first words to a traffic agent were, 'I wanted to kill them all,' the prosecutor said. He is said to have been high on drug PCP at the time. Richard Rojas, 31, was well aware of the carnage he was causing by plowing through helpless tourists in 2017 visiting Times Square, the prosecutor said at trial on Monday Defense attorney Enrico DeMarco said in his opening that Rojas has a history of mental illness that made him unable to understand the consequences of his actions that day Defense attorney Enrico DeMarco said in his opening that Rojas has a history of mental illness that made him unable to understand the consequences of his actions that day. 'This a case about a 26-year-old who lost his mind,' DeMarco said. Rojas' trial, in state court in Manhattan, is expected to take several months and include testimony from victims who suffered severe injuries from what prosecutors labeled 'a horrific, depraved act.' Alyssa Elsman, an 18-year-old from Portage, Michigan, on an annual family trip was killed. Her 13-year-old sister, Ava, was among the injured. Jessica Williams, of Dunellen, New Jersey, was so badly hurt that her mother had to accept the diploma at her high school graduation while she remained in the hospital. Shocking photos show the moment the SUV plowed into pedestrians on the sidewalk in Times Square in 2017, killing an 18-year-old and injuring 22 others A smashed car sits on the corner of Broadway and 45th Street in New York's Times Square after an SUV barreled into the crowded area in 2017 Alyssa Elsman, an 18-year-old from Portage, Michigan, on an annual family trip was killed. Her 13-year-old sister, Ava, was among the injured Prosecutors say Rojas drove his car from the Bronx, where he lived with his mother, through Times Square on May 18, 2017, then made a U-turn. He then steered his car onto a sidewalk, and roared back up the sidewalk for three blocks before he crashed his car into protective barriers. Photographers snapped pictures of a wild-eyed Rojas after he climbed from the wrecked car and ran through the street waving his arms. At the time, the U.S. Navy veteran told police after his arrest that he had been smoking marijuana laced with the hallucinogenic drug PCP before the incident, authorities said. Photographers snapped pictures of a wild-eyed Rojas after he climbed from the wrecked car and ran through the street waving his arms At the time, the U.S. Navy veteran told police after his arrest that he had been smoking marijuana laced with the hallucinogenic drug PCP before the incident Rojas, of the Bronx, was taken to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation after his arrest Rojas pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in 2017 and has since been jailed at New York City's notorious Rikers Island jail complex. His lawyer said at the time that it was a 'terrible thing that happened' in Times Square. Rojas, now 31, has several prior criminal cases that paint a picture of a troubled man. Days before the Times Square incident he pleaded guilty to a harassment charge in the Bronx for pulling a knife on a notary in his home and accusing the person of trying to steal his identity. He also had two previous drunken driving cases. Rojas pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in 2017 and has since been jailed at New York City's notorious Rikers Island jail complex Rojas enlisted in the Navy in 2011 and served for part of 2012 aboard the USS Carney, a destroyer. Rojas spent his final months in the Navy at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida. In 2012, he was arrested and accused of beating a cab driver whom he said had disrespected him by trying to charge too much, according to the arrest report. The arresting officer said Rojas screamed, 'My life is over!' as he was being detained. After his arrest, Rojas told the officer he was going to kill all police and military police he might see after his release from jail, the Jacksonville sheriffs office report stated. Alan Ceballos, an attorney who represented Rojas in that case, said the state charges were dropped after the military stepped in to take jurisdiction over the criminal case. Navy records show that in 2013 Rojas spent two months at a naval prison in Charleston, South Carolina. He was discharged in 2014 as the result of a special court martial, a Navy official said. Four members of a family allegedly murdered in their home all died from 'sharp or blunt force trauma', a coroner has heard. NHS worker Dolet Hill, 64, and her partner Denton Burke, 58, were found dead in Bermondsey with Dolets daughter Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45, and granddaughter Samantha Drummonds, 27, last month. Joshua Jacques, 28, has been charged with all four of their murders. Senior coroner Andrew Harris told Southwark Coroners Court today that a pathologist has concluded all four died from 'sharp or blunt force trauma'. Joshua Jacques sits arms folded while appearing in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court, London, charged with the murders of four family members who were stabbed to death in a terraced house in south-east London Dolet Hill (in the multi-coloured dress), her daughter Tanysha Drummonds (with her arm around her) and her other daughter Tracey Henry (pictured in a white dress) However a second autopsy could take place after an application from Jacques defence team on April 28, the coroner explained. Several members of the family attended the brief inquest opening over video link. The coroner heard Ms Hill died of a 'sharp force injury to the chest', and Mr Burkes cause of death is 'blunt and sharp trauma to the head and neck'. Ms Drummond is said to have died from 'sharp force trauma to the trunk and neck' and Ms Ofori-Akuffo from 'sharp force trauma to the chest'. Detective Inspector Jonny Newell, from the Met Police, was asked to outline how the police were alerted to the deaths. He told the coroner: 'In the early hours of April 25, police received a call at 1.42am from a member of the public regarding a domestic disturbance at 14 Delaford Road. 'Police attended and gained entry to the premises. On gaining entry they found four people within, all of whom had sustained stab wounds. Those people are now confirmed as Dolet Hill, Denton Bruke, Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo and Samantha Drummonds. Joshua Jacques, 28, has been charged with all four of their murders 'All four lives were pronounced extinct at the scene. Subsequently a suspect by the name of Joshua Jacques was arrested at the address. He has since been arrested for all four murders and charged for all four murders.' Ms Hills daughter TraceyAnn Henry is said to have identified her mother, stepfather and niece for the coroner. Reading from her statements, the court heard Ms Hill was born in Saint Thomas, Jamaica, in 1958 and lived at an address near Forest Hill, south east London. Her granddaughter Ms Drummond was born in Southwark and also lived in Forest Hill, it was said. Mr Burke was born in Saint Ann, Jamaica, in 1963 and lived at the Delaford Road property, where the murders allegedly took place. Ms Ofori-Akuffo was identified by her husband Danny Ofori-Akuffo, who said she was also born in Saint Thomas and also lived in Delaford Road. Mr Harris said a solicitor firm instructed by Jacques had been in contact to ask whether a second autopsy could be carried out. He told the family: 'I have asked the solicitors to provide me with the reason for requiring a second autopsy and to date we havent had a reply. Im sure the family will want their loved ones to be released to them as soon as possible. I dont wish to interfere with the prosecution. 'In most instances there is no need to disturb the body again, but I dont have any information about the defence application so I propose to release the bodies to the family in ten working days unless we have information from the defence that they dont wish to proceed to an autopsy.' Mr Harris suspended his investigation until the criminal proceedings have been completed. President Joe Biden is suspending the 25% import taxes on Ukraine's steel to help boost the war torn country's economy during the Russian invasion. The Commerce Department said Monday that it would withdraw the tariffs, which were imposed during Donald Trump's presidency, for a year. Ukraine accounts for about 1% of U.S. steel exports. Some of Ukraine's largest steel communities have been among those hardest hit during the war, including the Mariupol mill that's the only part of the strategically important port city not under Russian control. 'We can't just admire the fortitude and spirit of the Ukrainian people - we need to have their backs and support one of the most important industries to Ukraine's economic well-being,' Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said. 'For steel mills to continue as an economic lifeline for the people of Ukraine, they must be able to export their steel.' Ukraine's steel industry employs 1 in 13 people in the country and many steel mills have 'continued to pay, feed, and even shelter their employees' through the war, the Commerce Department noted. President Joe Biden is suspending the 25% import taxes on Ukraine's steel to help boost the war torn country's economy Some of Ukraine's largest steel communities have been among those hardest hit during the war When Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal visited Washington last month, he asked the Biden administration to suspend the tariffs, a senior Commerce Department official told The New York Times. The steel levies were imposed in 2018 by the Trump administration, which deployed a little-used provision in U.S. trade law to call foreign steel a threat to American national security. Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on foreign steel and a 10 percent tariff on foreign aluminum. The move outraged U.S. allies, and critics said they did little address the real cause of stress for U.S. steel producers: massive overproduction by the Chinese, whose steel shipments to the U.S. are already limited by other trade barriers. The Biden administration has removed most of the tariffs on steel from the European Union, the United Kingdom and Japan, allowing their metals to come in duty-free up to a quota. No such quota applies to the Ukrainian imports in the move announced Monday. Biden's announcement came the same day Vladimir Putin used a Victory Parade on Russia's biggest patriotic holiday to again justify his war in Ukraine. Putin did not even declare a limited victory or signal where the conflict is headed, as his forces pressed their offensive with few signs of progress. His much-anticipated speech offered no new insights into how he intends to salvage the grinding war, and he instead stuck to allegations that Ukraine posed a threat to Russia, even though Moscows nuclear-armed forces are far superior in number and firepower. 'The danger was rising by the day,' Putin said. 'Russia has given a preemptive response to aggression. It was forced, timely and the only correct decision.' Biden's announcement came the same day Vladimir Putin used a Victory Parade on Russia's biggest patriotic holiday to again justify his war in Ukraine President Zelensky's prime minister asked Biden's administration to lift the steel tariffs He steered clear of battlefield specifics, failing to mention the potentially pivotal battle for the vital southern port of Mariupol and not even uttering the word 'Ukraine.' On the ground, meanwhile, intense fighting raged in Ukraine's east, the vital Black Sea port of Odesa in the south came under bombardment again, and Russian forces sought to finish off the Ukrainian defenders making their last stand at a steel plant in Mariupol. The White House will have to limit the next generation of COVID-19 shots to the Americans at highest risk for serious disease if Congress doesn't pass a new coronavirus funding package. On Monday, CNBC reported the warning, citing a senior Biden administration official. 'We will be able to get some vaccines of the new generation but it'll be a very limited amount and really only for the highest-risk individuals, but it will not be available for everybody,' the official told CNBC. President Joe Biden urged Congress on Monday to pass a COVID-19 funding bill warning, 'We will lose our place in line for America to order new COVID treatments and vaccines for the fall' A senior administration official warned to CNBC that only the most high-risk Americans will be able to get new COVID vaccines if Congress doesn't pass new funding The official told the network that the White House is worried there will be a COVID surge in the fall due to the current vaccines losing efficacy and because the omicron variant could mutate into variants that are even more contagious. Both Moderna and Pfizer are retooling their COVID vaccines to make them more potent against the omicron variant. The current crop of vaccines are still formulated to the original strain of COVID-19. While the vaccines work against preventing the worst outcomes, they've become less effective against mild disease and haven't prevented the spread of the coronavirus. The U.S. needs more money for vaccines, therapeutics and testing, the official said. The source added that Congress needs to pass a funding bill in the next few weeks to ensure that contract negotiations between the federal government and vaccine makers are at an advanced stage by July. The White House originally asked Congress for an additional $22.5 billion - which was cut down to $10 billion in the Senate, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Sen. Mitt Romney striking a deal in early April. However a number of Senate Republicans want the Biden administration to reinstate Title 42, a pandemic-related immigration restriction that allows for the swift deportation of those coming into the U.S. over the southern border, despite some migrants potentially having legitimate asylum claims. The policy is expected to end of May 23. On Monday, President Joe Biden gave Congress the green-light to pass funding to beef up the Ukrainian war effort seperately from the COVID-19 funding bill - but pushed lawmakers to pass the latter too. 'Without timely COVID funding, more Americans will die needlessly,' Biden said in a statement. 'We will lose our place in line for America to order new COVID treatments and vaccines for the fall, including next-generation vaccines under development, and be unable to maintain our supply of COVID tests.' 'In the fall, if we are hit by new variants, it will be too late to get the tools needed for protection critical treatments that will be available in Europe, but not the United States,' the president added. Biden asked Congress to pass the Ukrainian war funding bill 'in the next few days.' 'And then, I urge Congress to move promptly on the COVID funding bill,' Biden said. 'This virus knows no borders; we must continue to save lives here at home and around the world,' the president added. Spy chief nominee Kim Kyou-hyun / Yonhap Kim Kyou-hyun, a former deputy national security adviser and career diplomat, is likely to be incoming President Yoon Suk-yeol's first spy chief, a source said Monday. Kim, who served as the deputy national security adviser under former conservative President Park Geun-hye, has been chosen as director of the National Intelligence Service, according to the source. "It will be announced tomorrow or the day after," the source said. New York City's woke former Mayor Bill de Blasio has been accused of forcing out four NYPD officials because they were white. De Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray - who he appointed as a diversity officer in his administration - have been accused of orchestrating the departure of four white cops from the force as early as 2017. According to a complaint against the pair filed in New York City court, they forced Chief of Community Affairs Joanne Jaffe, Chief of Citywide Operations Thomas Purtell, Chief of Personnel Diane Pizzuti and Chief of Transit Joseph Fox to take early retirement. It was after the retirement of Chief of Department Carlos Gomez in 2017. De Blasio and his wife Chirlane McCray - who he appointed as a diversity officer in his administration - have been accused of orchestrating the departure of four white cops from the force as early as 2017 De Blasio, it is claimed in the complaint obtained by the New York Daily News, was worried that Gomez' departure would 'only exacerbate the demographic tensions'. He ordered the four white officials to take their retirement in an email to Commissioner James O'Neill, according to the complaint. Then, de Blasio allegedly ordered O'Neill that when their replacement was announced, she should use her maiden name in the press release about it to re-enforce her Hispanic heritage. 'Its really important that the press release say Nilda Irizarry Hofmann to get the point across. Unless she has a strong personal objection to that, it is important for the team. And Im happy to talk to her personally if needed,' de Blasio wrote in the email. He and his wife were interviewing the replacement - Nilda Hofmann (nee Irizarry) - months before Jaffe even knew she was being given the boot. Joseph Fox and Joanne Jaffe say they were forced to take early retirement by de Blasio's administration because they are white Thomas Purtell and Diane Pizzuti also say they were forced out early because of their race 'Why the mayor is interviewing people, I dont know. Why the mayors wife is interviewing three star chiefs is totally beyond me,' Jaffe's lawyer John Moscow told the News. When Nilda Hofmann was given her job, de Blasio wanted to use her Hispanic maiden name in press releases to re-enforce her heritage, the lawsuit claims The complaint also claims that McCray pushed for Gomez to be replaced by a black cop. The job was given instead to Terence Monahan as the new Chief of the Department. 'What they did was unethical. The mayor was increasingly tinkering in personnel decisions later in his eight years. It got so you could not promote deputy inspectors without checking with City Hall. 'But there was no explanation, no footnote, no press release that said why we needed to do this,' Fox, one of the plaintiffs said. The lawsuit accuses de Blasio of carrying out a 'cynical public relations move that put de Blasios political interests ahead of the law and the well-being of dedicated NYPD civil servants'. De Blasio and his wife have not yet responded to the most recent allegations. Ex-French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and his British wife have lost a bid to overturn their fraud convictions after a court found they created a fake parliamentary job that paid Penelope Fillon nearly 1million in public cash. The 'Penelopegate' scandal, revealed in a media report while Mr Fillon was the front-runner in the 2017 presidential race, torpedoed his political career and cleared a path for then relatively unknown Emmanuel Macron to win the race. Mr Fillon, a hard-nosed fiscal conservative, angrily denied claims he provided a fake parliamentary assistant job to his wife. He instead insisted she had done genuine constituency work while he was an MP for the western Sarthe department. But prosecutors insisted there was scant record of any actual work and noted she had rarely joined her husband at the lower-house National Assembly, which was a civil plaintiff in the case. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment, with three suspended, after being found guilty in 2020. That sentence was today changed to four years' imprisonment, three suspended, following an appeal. Former France's Prime Minister Francois Fillon and his wife Penelope arriving at the Paris' courthouse on November 15 last year The couple pictured before having dinner at the Elysee Palace, Paris, in June 2008 Mr Fillon has served no time in prison to date as his sentence was not enforced while his appeal was pending, but he is unlikely to spend any time behind bars in a country where short sentences for white collar crimes are often commuted to detention at home with an electronic tag. Penelope has now been handed a two-year suspended prison sentence for embezzlement and complicity in the misuse of public funds, down from three years suspended. However, the court has maintained fines of 375,000 euros for each of them. They were also ordered to repay 800,000 to the National Assembly, which reimbursed Penelope for the job as Fillon's assistant. The couple was not in court for the verdict, and their defence team said they would lodge a further appeal with France's supreme court. Mr Fillon's lawyers said: 'The court did not draw the conclusions of its own findings with regards to the evidence demonstrating the reality of Mrs Fillon's work.' They said that besides procedural issues, there were also major questions about the separation of powers in the case between judiciary, government and parliament. Lawyer Antonin Levy added: 'We are not saying that we suspect earlier rulings were politically motivated, but it takes strength from an appeals court to overrule a lower court. Fillon (right) was a front-runner in the 2017 French election as a party candidate for Les Republicains', but Penelopegate torpedoed his campaign Fillon pictured arriving at the Paris' Courthouse in Paris in February 2020 ahead of his trial for embezzlement 'Earlier rulings were so serious that they impacted French political life. That is what we hope the Cour de Cassation will consider.' When the scandal broke, Fillon denounced what he called a campaign of dirty tricks and denied having done anything illegal, though he later acknowledged making an error of judgment. But at the earlier November appeals hearings, prosecutors said there was clear evidence that Fillon and his stand-in as MP for the Sarthe department, Marc Joulaud, employed Fillon's wife Penelope in an 'intangible' or 'tenuous' role as a parliamentary assistant between 1998 and 2013. The court also today upheld the original three-year suspended sentence for Joulaud. Fillon, now 68, was widely tipped to win the 2017 presidency race when the Canard Enchaine newspaper reported that Penelope had been his parliamentary assistant for 15 years - earning some one million euros over the period. Ukrainians are being taken against their will into Russia, the U.S. has said, with some reports suggesting more than 1 million have been taken - including a mother who was separated from her four-year-old daughter. A senior defence official said Tuesday that the Pentagon has seen indications that Ukrainians caught up in Russia's invasion are being forcibly removed from their homeland and sent across the border by Vladimir Putin's forces. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said that camps were involved in the process. 'I can't speak to how many camps or what they look like,' Kirby told reporters. 'But we do have indications that Ukrainians are being taken against their will into Russia.' 'But we do have indications that Ukrainians are being taken against their will into Russia,' Kirby said. He called these actions 'unconscionable' and 'not the behavior of a responsible power.' The deportation of Ukrainians from their own nation - often to isolated or economically depressed regions of Russia, according to Kyiv - is another indication that Putin 'simply won't accept and respect Ukrainian sovereignty.' Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said back in early April, six weeks after Russia launched its deadly invasion, that thousands of Ukrainians had been sent to Russian territory. But that figure has since ballooned to more than 1.19 million, including at least 200,000 children, Ukraine's ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova said. Kirby stopped short of describing the deportations as ethnic cleansing, stressing it was not the Pentagon's place to make such determinations. But he said there was abundant evidence of 'Russian brutality' during the war. Moscow has had '75 days of brutalizing the nation of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people,' he said. 'And every time you think they just can't fall to a new low, they prove you wrong.' Civilians who have escaped the besieged city of Mariupol have described passing through Russian 'filtration' sites. There, several evacuees told AFP news agency they had been questioned, strip-searched, fingerprinted, and had their phones and documents checked. Ukrainians are demanding the release of the mother of a young girl who they say was snatched by Russian troops during the evacuation from the vast plant. Pictured left: Military doctor Victoria Obidina, who was allegedly taken by Russian soldiers during an evacuation on Sunday, May 8. Her daughter is shown right while the family was sheltering in Mariupol steel works US defence official John Kirby (pictured today) said Tuesday that the Pentagon has seen indications that Ukrainians caught up in Russia's invasion are being forcibly removed from their homeland and sent across the border by Vladimir Putin's forces 'They asked us if we wanted to go to Russia... or stay and rebuild the city of Mariupol,' said Natalia - an evacuee from Mariupol's Azovstal steel works. 'But how can I rebuild it? How can I return there if the city of Mariupol doesn't exist anymore?' she said. Natalia asked that her full name be kept private. Meanwhile, Ukrainians are demanding the release of the mother of a young girl who they say was snatched by Russian troops during the evacuation from the vast plant. Military doctor Victoria Obidina was allegedly taken by Russian soldiers during an evacuation on Sunday, May 8. Her four-year-old daughter is said to be safe, and is being looked after by a Ukrainian family from Zaporizhzhia for the time being. The youngster was separated from her mother as Ukrainians celebrated Mother's Day. Victoria's capture was reported by the Azov Regiment, which said: 'The mother remained in a filtration camp on the territory of the so-called DPR [Donetsk People's Republic]. 'Only the child arrived at the destination in Zaporizhzhia today, on Mother's Day, the mother's whereabouts are currently unknown!' Ukrainian media believe the mother is being held in a so-called 'filtration camp' in Mangush, which is under the administration of the pro-Russia DPR. The girl was found to be traveling on the evacuation bus to Zaporizhzhia alone. After the story was shared widely on social media, Ukrainian netizens have been calling for the mother's immediate release. Alice was already known among her fellow compatriots following a widely-viewed video showing her hiding with her mum in a bunker under the steelworks. At the time of the recording, the pair had been holed up there for over a month, and Alice said in the video that she wanted to go home. People evacuated from Mariupol arrive on buses at a registration and processing area for internally displaced people in Zaporizhzhia, on May 8, 2022 Depleted Ukrainian forces are currently bracing to defend the steelworks - their final bastion in the devastated city. Civilians who had been sheltering there have now been evacuated from Azovstal, witnesses said. An AFP reporter in the city of said Sunday that eight buses carrying 174 civilians - including 40 evacuated from Azovstal - had arrived in the Ukrainian-controlled city. 'The latest information that I have from both Ukraine and Russia is that there are no more civilians there (Azovstal), but we are not in a position to verify. We weren't inside the plant,' Osnat Lubrani, the UN's humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, said. More than 600 civilians have now been safely evacuated from the steelworks and other areas of Mariupol, the UN said. This leaves a small force of defenders holed up in Azovstal's sprawling network of tunnels and bunkers. 'We hoped everyday for an evacuation,' said Vladymyr Babeush, 41, an Azovstal evacuee who worked at the plant and was among those who arrived in Zaporizhzhia. 'And now we are done waiting. We're so thankful to everyone involved.' 'I'm very tired. I was in the bus for about 17 hours. But I feel happy because there's fresh air and I'm in Ukraine,' said 17-year-old Azovstal evacuee Dmytro, who was wearing one of the plant's workers uniforms. The complex - the final pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the city - has taken on symbolic value. Full control of Mariupol would allow Moscow to create a land bridge between the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, and eastern regions run by pro-Russian separatists. In one of those regions, Lugansk, Ukrainian forces are now mounting a last-ditch defence of Severodonetsk, formerly an industrial city of 100,000 people. Lugansk region governor Sergiy Gaiday said rescuers in Bilogorivka were searching for survivors in the debris left by the Russian attack on the school there, though the outlook was bleak. 'Bombs fell on the school,' he said on Telegram, 'and unfortunately it was completely destroyed.' A view shows an explosion at a plant of Azovstal Iron and Steel Works during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the southern port city of Mariupol, Ukraine May 8, 2022 This satellite image taken by Planet Labs PBC shows damage at the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol, Ukraine, Friday, May 6, 2022 Vladimir Putin had no victories in Ukraine to proclaim on Russia's Victory Day on Monday. Nor did his speech at the Red Square military parade offer any clear pictures of when a victory may come or how it would be achieved. Instead, the Russian president's address Monday seemed to suggest that the war that many expected would be brief and decisive could be a long and brutal grind. Victory Day commemorates another campaign of grisly determination: the Red Army's offensive against Nazi forces that eventually brought the Soviet troops to Berlin, ending the European theater of World War II. The suffering was immense on the battlefield and among civilians; the Soviet Union lost 27 million people in the war. The pain of all the deaths combines with the defeat of odious opponents to give Victory Day a deep emotional resonance in Russia. Putin on Monday tried to portray the war in Ukraine as having the same high moral purpose as the fight against Adolf Hitler's forces. He repeated his frequent contention that Ukraine is in thrall to Nazism and that this war, too, is necessary to repel a malign aggressor - even though Ukraine had made no incursions into Russia and is led by a president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish and lost relatives in the Holocaust. The strategy appears aimed in part at diverting attention from Russia's failure to overcome the smaller Ukrainian military. 'The regime has no more screws to turn. The brakes have clearly failed, and only one pedal is left: conflating what Russia is doing in Ukraine with the 1945 victory over Nazi Germany. 'This explains why the Kremlin continues to insist that in Ukraine it is fighting neo-Nazis cultivated by the West,' Andrei Kolesnikov, a fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, wrote shortly before Victory Day. A child and her family who fled from Mariupol arrive at a reception center for displaced people in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Sunday, May 8, 2022 'Every word is a lie, of course,' he added, 'but the regime has no other justification for what is happening in Ukraine. So the discourse has been reduced to agitprop and shouting,' Ahead of the holiday, expectations were wide that Putin would push for at least one unequivocal military success that he could flaunt in his speech. That might have been the city of Mariupol, but despite Russian forces laying waste to the city, a determined Ukrainian contingent still puts up resistance while holed up in a steel mill. Some speculated that recent explosions in Moldova's separatist region of Transnistria, where Russia has about 1,500 troops based, could be provocations to justify Russia trying to take control of that area by Victory Day. But Russia has only bombed a railway bridge in Ukraine that is the main transport link to Transnistria. The most intense speculation was that Putin would use Victory Day to declare the fight in Ukraine was a full-fledged war, rather than a 'special military operation' as the Kremlin insists it be called, and that this would prompt a general mobilization to bring in vast numbers of new soldiers. But he did not do that either. 'There seems an awareness of the political risks at home of national mobilization. So there is a real sense in which the Kremlin is faced with growing difficulties and dilemmas in this war that it has chosen to unleash,' Nigel Gould-Davies, a fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told The Associated Press. In any case, announcing a national mobilization would not foretell a swift end to the war. 'Mobilization isn't like a button you press and then suddenly Russia has more access to military power than before. It takes time to mobilize and not just to call up, but to conscript the population essentially, but also to supply them as well. And so it wouldn't make any immediate difference,' Gould-Davies said. The US government is criticizing Vladimir Putin's claim that his war on Ukraine is 'defensive' as Moscow celebrates its World War II victory over Nazi Germany on its May 9 Victory Day celebration. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki accused Putin of 'perverting history' in his speech holding up Russia's military even as the western world accuses the Eastern European nation of perpetrating war crimes in slaughtering thousands of civilians during its brutal invasion. State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters it was 'patently absurd' for Russia's autocrat leader to say his operation in Ukraine was not an aggressive attack. Meanwhile his counterpart at the Pentagon tore into the Russian government's accusations that Ukraine's government is run by Nazis. 'You know who's in Ukraine? Ukrainians. Not Nazis,' Defense Department press secretary John Kirby told reporters on Monday. It comes as Putin attempted to cast his bloody war in a positive light during the Kremlin's Victory Day celebration in the Red Square, during which the nation honors the 27 million lives lost by the Soviet Union during World War II. 'You are fighting for the Motherland, for its future, so that no one will forget the lessons of World War Two. So that there is no place in the world for hangmen, executioners and Nazis,' Putin addressed the assembled crowd. Asked about Putin's comments at a State Department press briefing, Price refused to 'respond directly to something that is so ahistorical, something that is so divorced from reality.' Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on during the Victory Day military parade marking the 77th anniversary of the end of World War II in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9 The autocrat leader told his troops and supporters that Russia was once again fighting Nazism - a claim that's been widely panned by the West 'It's an opportunity for us to be clear about the facts and the reality. Contrary to what we heard today in Moscow, Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a brutal war of choice. It was unprovoked, it was unjustified, it was premeditated and it has brought catastrophic loss of life across Ukraine,' he said. Price again accused Russia of committing war crimes in Ukraine, including the recent bombing of a school in eastern Ukraine, which is still under Moscow's occupation. 'To call this a defensive action is patently absurd,' he said. 'To call this anything other than a premeditated war of choice ... is an affront to the historical record,' he said. Putin told his troops and supporters at Wednesday's celebration that they were fighting 'a threat that was absolutely unacceptable to us (that) has been methodically created next to our borders.' 'The danger was rising by the day,' he claimed, adding that 'Russia has given a preemptive response to an aggression' in what he described as a 'forced, timely and the only correct decision by a sovereign, powerful and independent country.' The Russian leader has repeatedly accused Ukraine of harboring aggressive intentions, with support from the U.S. and its allies claims Ukrainian and Western officials have denied. State Department spokesman Ned Price (left) and Pentagon spokesman John Kirby (left) both condemned Putin's framing of his brutal invasion Putin again scolded the West for failing to heed Russian demands for security guarantees and a rollback to NATO's expansion, arguing that it left Moscow no other choice but to launch an action in Ukraine. Psaki said at her press briefing later that day, 'What we saw President Putin do is giving a version of revisionist history that took the form of disinformation that we have seen too commonly as the Russian playbook.' She added that the US and its European allies 'are aware of the disinformation factory that President Putin and the Kremlin seems to be.' 'But the suggestion that this war that was prompted - directed by President Putin - was prompted by Western aggression or Western plans is patently false, and absurd.' Like Price, Psaki accused Russian troops of committing 'war crimes' and 'atrocities' in Ukraine amid numerous reports and documented footage of slain civilians and accounts of Russian forces raping, torturing and killing innocents. The Pentagon's spokesman tore into Putin calling the war 'forced' and 'timely' during his own briefing with reporters on Wednesday. 'He talked about this being a justified military operation -- it's not, he still had diplomatic options on the table on February 24 and chose to ignore them,' Kirby said forcefully. 'Ukraine posed no threat - not only no threat to Russia, but no threat to anybody else.' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki repeated accusations that Putin's troops are committing war crimes in Ukraine amid dozens of accounts and images showing slaughtered civilians 'He said it was timely, that it needed to happen now - again, no it didn't, he had plenty of options available to him.' Kirby said Putin instead should have discussed 'plans to end the war' - but added the Pentagon did not expect him to do so. He also called the Russian autocrat's claim that Ukraine was imminently about to acquire nuclear weapons 'just not true.' Some in Ukraine and the West expected Putin to use his speech at the parade to switch from describing the Russian action in Ukraine that the Russian officials have called the special military operation to calling it a war. Putin didnt make any such shift in rhetoric or give any indication that the Kremlin may change its strategy and declare a broad mobilization to beef up the ranks. The Kremlin has focused on Ukraines eastern industrial heartland known as the Donbas, where Moscow-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian government forces since 2014. That conflict erupted weeks after Russias annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula. The Russian military has rearmed and resupplied its forces withdrawn from areas near Kyiv and other regions in Ukraines northeast and moved them to Donbas in an apparent attempt to encircle and destroy the most capable and seasoned Ukrainian troops concentrated there. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his own Victory Day address expressed hope that his forces will successfully repel Russia's attack - after more than seven weeks of war. 'On the Day of Victory over Nazism, we are fighting for a new victory. The road to it is difficult, but we have no doubt that we will win,' Zelensky said. US President Joe Biden acknowledged the former Soviet bloc's May 9 Victory Day by signing a new version of the World War II-era Lend-Lease agreement. The updated law will give him virtually unlimited authority to send arms and humanitarian aid to Ukraine in the name of upholding US national security. Franklin Delano Roosevelt previously signed the original iteration into law to help Europe's Allies fight Adolf Hitler without directly entering the war - which most Americans had been against until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor later that year. Authorities confirmed that two Molotov cocktails were used to firebomb the offices of a prominent Wisconsin anti-abortion lobbying group over the weekend. During the attack, vandals also spray painted the walls with the chilling message: 'If abortions aren't safe you aren't either.' No one has been arrested and there are no suspects in custody in the fire that was discovered early Sunday morning. It was spotted when someone driving to Madison's nearby airport noticed flames coming from the office building that is home to Wisconsin Family Action, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said at a news conference on Monday. Barnes added that there is no evidence that this act was an 'inside job.' One Molotov cocktail thrown into the Wisconsin Family Action office failed to ignite and the investigation is ongoing as to whether the second one did, the police chief said, although a room at the foundation was badly-damaged by fire. Wisconsin Family Action is a non-profit organization that supports pro-life measures. The attack comes just days after a leaked U.S. Supreme Court opinion revealed that the court may overturn the landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion across the country. The damage was discovered on Mother's Day morning when a passerby called police and reported seeing smoke coming from the headquarters of the anti-abortion group Vandals hurled at least one Molotov cocktail into offices of an anti-abortion group Wisconsin Family Action in Madison, Wisconsin, this weekend, and scrawled a chilling message on the wall that read: 'If abortions aren't safe you aren't either' No one has been arrested and there are no suspects in custody in the fire that was discovered early Sunday morning, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said Monday Vandals also spray painted the message 'If abortions aren't safe then you aren't either' on the exterior of the building. The Antifa symbol - a capital 'A' inside a circle - was also scrawled on the wall, as well as the numbers 1312 - a code for the letters ACAB, which stand for 'All Cops Are Bastards.' No one was hurt in the attack, but Barnes said had someone been in the office 'it could have gone differently.' Barnes said he was not aware of any threats to others, but he cautioned that the investigation could be lengthy. 'I do anticipate we will be able to solve this but we want to take our time to be sure we do it correctly,' he said. Investigators from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting with the investigation. Barnes encouraged anyone who may have seen anything to contact police. Area businesses were also being contacted to see if they have any evidence or captured anything on surveillance cameras, he said. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who is up for reelection in November, decried the attack Monday when asked about it at a groundbreaking event in a Madison suburb. 'It was a horrible, horrible incident,' Evers said, adding that whoever is responsible 'should be arrested and put on trial. This is unacceptable.' Julaine Appling, president of the lobbying and advocacy organization, said the suspect 'left their signature' with graffiti that depicted an Antifa A One Molotov cocktail thrown into the Wisconsin Family Action office failed to ignite and the investigation is ongoing as to whether the second one did, the police chief said 'Violence does not solve the issues were facing as a country,' Evers said. The president of the lobbying group, Julaine Appling, said she believed the vandalism was a direct response to the leak of the court's draft opinion. She said 'this attack fails to frighten us, and instead steels the resolve of law-abiding, common-sense, every-day folks to stand up and push back.' Wisconsin Family Action has been a prominent force in the state for years, advocating for laws to limit access to abortions, fighting to overturn Roe v. Wade and working on numerous other hot-button social issues. Politicians from both parties swiftly condemned the vandalism. Clinics that perform abortions have sometimes been targeted by vandals, too, including as recently as January when a Planned Parenthood clinic in Tennessee was hit by arson. The attack happened at the organization's Madison headquarters on International Lane Abortion rights protesters rallied in cities around the U.S. on Saturday, vowing to fight to ensure that abortion remains a legal option for women nationwide. Pro-life advocates took to the streets in opposition. Hundreds gathered in several major cities across the nation, including Chicago, Atlanta and Houston, to fight for and against abortion legislation. In Atlanta, demonstrators carried signs in favor of abortion rights as they marched through that city's downtown and chanted: 'Not the church and not the state, women must decide our fate.' In Houston, thousands attended a reproductive rights rally headlined by Democrat Beto O'Rourke, who is running for Texas governor. Texas is one of the states that will automatically ban abortion, leaving no exceptions for rape or incest, if the high court overturns the nationwide right to abortion. Wisconsin is also one of the states with a decades-old abortion ban predating Roe that would presumably take effect almost immediately after a formal Supreme Court reversal of the case. But even in those states, Democratic governors would have an opportunity to fight the change in their state courts. Furious pro-choice protesters screamed 'you don't care if people die' while picketing the house of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Saturday Protesters gathered outside Justice Brett Kavanaugh's house, screaming: 'We will not go back!' Protesters in DC hold signs arguing in favor of Roe v. Wade On Saturday, furious pro-choice protesters screamed 'you don't care if people die' while picketing the house of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Dozens of demonstrators gathered in the rain in DC and marched towards the homes of conservative Justices Roberts and Brett Kavanaugh in response to the leaked Supreme Court draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Images of coat hangers were chalked on the street outside the justices' homes, an apparent attempt to reinforce the pro-choice argument that overturning Roe v. Wade will not put an end to abortion, but instead will end safe abortions. Cops stood guard outside the justices' homes and, after what appeared to be a clash with demonstrators, ordered the activists to leave. At least one officer threatened to arrest and charge the protesters for violating Maryland law. The Supreme Court draft opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito and published by POLITICO, was leaked on Monday. The document revealed the court has voted to strike down the landmark 1973 ruling Rove v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States. Protestors across the nation started assembling just hours after the opinion was leaked. Pro-choice rallies, spearheaded by organizations like Planned Parenthood, are slated to continue the upcoming week and weekend. Liberal group ShutDown DC already has plans to host a 'Vigil for Abortion Rights' outside Alito's house on Monday. Liberal group ShutDown DC already has plans to host a 'Vigil for Abortion Rights' outside of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's house on May 9 Alito's draft does not necessarily represent the sentiments of other justices who did not pen the opinion, but it's been suggested that the court's 6-3 conservative supermajority, which include Justices Roberts and Kavanaugh, will likely deliver on the historic reversal. Protestors carrying signs that read 'An abortion saved my family' and 'Abortion is Healthcare, Healthcare is a right' first arrived at Justice Roberts' home where protestors drew multiple chalk outlines coat hangers, a famous symbol of illegal abortions. Protestors chanted 'Keep abortion safe and legal!' and 'Pro-life is a lie! You don't care if people die!' The protests came after the White House said it encourages 'peaceful protests,' would not tell abortion activists to avoid the justices' homes. 'The president, for all those women, men, others who feel outraged, who feel scared, who feel concerned, he hears them, he shares that concern and that horror that he saw in that draft opinion,' White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday. She said President Joe Biden's message to those angered by the draft is to 'participate in peaceful protest'. 'Ensure it's peaceful. Have your voice heard peacefully. We should not be resorting to violence in any way, shape or form,' Psaki added. A woman holds a pro-abortion sign while posing for a photo next to a chalked coat hanger Pro-abortion protestors gathered outside the homes of Justices Kavanaugh and Roberts, holding up signs and chanting 'Keep abortion safe and legal' before cops arrived and forced them to leave Saturday's protests seem to just be the start as liberal group ShutDown DC already plans to host a 'Vigil for Abortion Rights' outside of Alito's house on May 9. 'Justice Alito thinks he can take away our rights. But our rights are fundamentally ours. We're showing up to tell him in person,' the group said. 'The evening of Monday, May 9, we will hold a vigil for all these rights that Alito is threatening to take away. Because it's been impossible to reach him at the Supreme Court (especially now with the enormous fences), we will do it at his home,' the event description said. 'At 7:30 pm we will gather at a nearby location and walk together to his house. At the foot of his driveway, on the public street, we will light candles and speakers will share their testimony. We will hold a moment of silence for the rights we know are ours, then walk back together to the meeting location.' In Alito's leaked document, conservative Justice Alito wrote that Roe v Wade - the 1973 Supreme Court ruling which found that excessive state regulation of abortion is unconstitutional - was 'egregiously wrong from the start' and 'must be overruled'. Alito, who was nominated to the court in 2006 by George W Bush, argues that Roe's 'reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. Far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.' But there were few signs that the new ruling will do anything to heal those divisions, with protesters gathering outside the court in Washington DC last night. If the ruling is overturned by the conservative-dominated court - with Republicans having a 6 - 3 majority - it would give individual states the power to decide on whether to ban abortion. The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice research group, has said that 26 states are 'certain or likely' to ban abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Abortion-rights protesters hold signs during demonstration outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday Members of the Boston Red Cloaks gather near the Park street train station on Saturday as they protest the possible overturning of Roe vs. Wade. The organization is one of several that has called for nationwide protests on May 14 Abortion rights have been under threat in recent months as Republican-led states move to tighten rules - with some seeking to ban all abortions after six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant. These include Arizona, where the Republican Governor in March signed a bill banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy; and Idaho where the governor signed a six-week abortion ban that allows family members of the fetus to sue providers who perform abortions past that point, similar to a Texas law enacted last year. As it stands in the US, abortion can take place until about 24 weeks into pregnancy - but the exact period varies between states. For example, Texas bans abortion after about six weeks but Florida has a 15-week abortion ban. Next Saturday, America is expecting a 'massive' day of action with nationwide rallies organized by Planned Parenthood, UltraViolet, Women's March and MoveOn. The protest, dubbed Bans Off Our Bodies, will feature marches in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington D.C., as well as hundreds of demonstrations in other cities across the U.S. White House press secretary Jen Psaki warned Monday that the nation is at 'serious risk' of a nationwide abortion ban if Roe v. Wade is overturned. 'I think we're at serious risk,' the press secretary replied when asked how likely a ban on abortion across the nation was, apparently not optimistic about Democrats' chances in the midterms of holding on to power in Washington. 'You heard Mitch McConnell and other Republicans in Congress are talking about a national ban on a woman's right to choose,' she said. Republicans have a shot at picking up seats in the split 50-50 Senate and even better chances of taking back the majority in the House come November's midterm elections, but some Democrats have expressed hope that the Roe decision could mobilize voters who would have otherwise stayed home on Election Day. Last week, a leaked draft Supreme Court opinion showed that a majority of justices are in favor of turning Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 case that legalized abortion, and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 case that upheld abortion rights. 'I think we're at serious risk,' the press secretary replied when asked how likely a ban on abortion across the nation was, apparently not optimistic about Democrats' chances in the midterms of holding on to power in Washington Psaki said that the White House Counsel's Office, the White House Gender Policy Council, and the Department of Justice are looking at a 'range of considerations' to take 'every step we can to protect women's fundamental rights and protect rights beyond that.' On Sunday Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said a federal abortion ban was 'possible' if the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion becomes final and the high court overturns Roe v. Wade. 'If the leaked opinion became the final opinion, legislative bodies - not only at the state level but at the federal level - certainly could legislate in that area,' McConnell, of Kentucky, told USA Today on Thursday. 'And if this were the final decision, that was the point that it should be resolved one way or another in the legislative process. So yeah, it's possible.' McConnell, however, refused to say whether banning abortion would be a legislative priority if Republicans took back the House and Senate. 'With regard to the abortion issue, I think it's pretty clear where Senate Republicans stand,' he added. 'And if and when the court makes a final decision, I expect everybody will be more definitive. But I don't think it's much secret where Senate Republicans stand on that issue.' Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has set up a vote on abortion legislation for Wednesday. The bill is all but doomed, uncertain to garner even a simple majority, let alone the 10 GOP votes needed to break a filibuster. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., voted against the bill last time it came to the floor, and though it's been modified, he hasn't said whether he'll vote for it this time around. GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski have proposed their own bill to codify abortion rights, but Democrats say it doesn't go far enough. Psaki noted that 'dozens and dozens' of Republicans in the House and Senate had signed onto an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn both Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. Psaki then warned that access to contraceptives could soon be under attack. She noted that Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves refused to rule out going after birth control. Reeves appeared on CNN with Jake Tapper on Sunday, where Tapper referred to a bill in Louisiana making its way through the legislature that would make abortion a homicide. Tapper said: 'They're talking about not only criminally charging girls and women who get abortions as committing homicide, but they're also talking about defining the moment of conception as fertilisation, which would theoretically mean if you use an IUD [intrauterine device], you are committing murder. ' I'm not making this up. These are the conversations going on in legislatures in your area. So, just to be clear, you have no intention of seeking to ban IUDs or Plan B [morning-after pills]?' Reeves said: 'That is not what we're focused on at this time.' 'And as I have said repeatedly and I know where this question is ultimately going with respect to birth control and other measures I want to be clear. My view is that the next phase of the pro-life movement is focusing on helping those moms that maybe have an unexpected and unwanted pregnancy. 'The next phase of the pro-life movement is making sure that those babies, once born, have a productive life. And while I'm sure there will be conversations around America regarding [contraception], it's not something that we have spent a lot of time focused on.' Demonstrators gather in the rain outside of the U.S. Supreme Court to protest the potential overturn of the Roe vs Wade decision on Saturday Psaki warned that after Roe and Casey, Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 case that legalized same-sex marriage across the U.S., and 2003 Lawrence v. Texas, the case that made laws banning sexual acts between two people of the same gender unconstitutional, could be at risk. A new CBS poll found that 64% want the Supreme Court to keep Roe v. Wade the law of the land while 36% want it overturned. A majority of Americans - 58% - also want Congress to pass a federal law codify a women's right to an abortion. Women, in particular, are concerned, the CBS poll found. A majority of women under the age of 50 - 66% - thought overturning Roe V. Wade will lead to more restrictions on the use of birth control and other family planning materials. French President Emmanuel Macron today invited Britain to join a new European political community outside the EU. Mr Macron who was fiercely opposed to Brexit said this new status would allow the UK to enjoy full political integration within the 27-country bloc, and have a say in crucial decisions. In a keynote speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Monday, Mr Macron said he was all in favour of creating what I would call a European political community. This new European organisation would allow democratic European nations adhering to our core values to find a new space for political cooperation, and security. In a keynote speech to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Monday, Mr Macron said he was all in favour of creating what I would call a European political community. Joining it would not prejudge future membership of the European Union, and it would not be closed to those who have left the latter. During a trip to Berlin later in the day, Mr Macron confirmed that Britain would be invited to take its full place in the new community. Mr Macrons has previously suggested that Europe form an array of alliances making up 'concentric circles' and his new organisation would see the UK on the outer ring. Britain already rejected clsoer security ties with Europe as part of the Brexit agreemet - and Eastern European countries have been ciritical of plans for an apparently two-tier European Union. Mr Macron also said that Ukraines wish to join the EU could take decades, so the new political union might act as a stop-gap measure. Ukraine by its fight and its courage is already a heartfelt member of our Europe, of our family, of our union, said Mr Macron. Even if we grant it candidate status tomorrow, we all know perfectly well that the process to allow it to join would take several years indeed, probably several decades. Britain's departure from the EU was finalised on 31 January 2020 Mr Macron, who won a second five-year term in his own country last month, said he was also in favour of the revision of EU treaties, as proposed by the European Parliament. He said this would make it easier for the bloc to deal with emergencies such as the Ukraine War and the Coronavirus pandemic. However, 13 of the 27 EU countries have already made it clear that they are opposed to the launch of a procedure to change the treaties. It was Mr Macrons first speech on Europe since his re-election and came as Russian President Vladmir Putin celebrated Russias victory over Nazi Germany in Moscow with a military parade. Mr Macron is still in regular contact with the Russian head of state, despite condemning the war crimes associated with Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine. France currently holds the presidency of the EU, making Mr Macrons words particularly important. The United States Navy's latest reading list for its sailors does not include any woke books after last year's list sparked outrage among Republicans who blasted it for spreading 'anti-American' ideals. The Navy's Professional Reading Program list for 2022 comprises a dozen books mainly focusing on the Navy and military strategy. Among the books on this year's list are 'A Brief Guide to Maritime Strategy' by James Holmes, 'China as a 21st Century Naval Power' by Michael A. McDevitt and 'Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War.' That is a marked difference from last year's list of nearly 50 books, which included the controversial critical race theory tome 'How to Be an Antiracist' by Ibram X Kendi, as well as 'Sexual Minorities and Politics: An Introduction' by Jason Pierceson and 'The New Jim Crow' by Michelle Alexander. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday said in a statement that he chose the new books because 'a learning mindset is essential to accelerating our warfighting advantage.' 'A Navy that learns, adapts and improves the fastest will be the most successful,' he noted, adding that 'we must foster an organization that supports and empowers Sailors to have an independent quest for knowledge through reading and information sharing. 'What you know and how fast you learn is relevant in this era of strategic competition. Among the books on this year's Professional Reading Program are 'A Brief Guide to Maritime Strategy' by James Holmes and 'Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War' Last year's list, though, included more woke titles like 'How to Be an Antiracist' by Ibram X Kendi, as well as 'Sexual Minorities and Politics: An Introduction' by Jason Pierceson and 'The New Jim Crow' by Michelle Alexander Admiral Mike Gilday (pictured) said the books on this year's list encourage Sailors 'to have an independent quest for knowledge Last year's list, though, was criticized by Republican lawmakers, who argued in letters to Gilday that they promote 'a radical form of Marxist philosophy' and 'reinforce the view that America is a confederation of identity categories of the "oppressed" and their "oppressors." They also urged the removal of what the books, which they said could 'poison' the military. The US Navy's 2022 non-woke reading list To Rule the Waves by Bruce Jones A Brief Guide to Maritime Strategy by James Holmes China as a 21st Century Naval Power by Michael. A. McDevitt Not One Inch by Mary E. Sarotte The Sailors Bookshelf: Fifty Books to Know the Sea by Admiral James G. Stavridis Army of None: Autonomous Weapons and the Future of War by Paul Scharre Fortune Favors Boldness by Barry Costello The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour by James Hornfischer World War II at Sea: A Global History by Craig Symonds Ashleys War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield by Gayle T. Lemmon Dare to Lead by Brene Brown Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck Advertisement The first to speak out against the 2021 list was Rep. Jim Banks, a Republican from Indiana, who sent a letter to Gilday that February specifically taking aim at the inclusion of 'How to Be an Antiracist.' He argued in his letter that it was 'explicitly anti-American' and called on Gilday to explain the Navy's decision to include it on the list, FOX News reported at the time. 'The views promoted in "How to Be an Antiracist are explicitly anti-American,' Banks, a Naval Reserve Officer and the ranking member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies and Information Systems, wrote in his letter. 'According to Kendi, America is fundamentally racist, so anti-Americanism is a moral imperative.' 'In Kendi's own words, the defining idea behind the book is that "there is no such thing [as] a not racist idea" there are only "racist ideas and antiracist ideas." 'Although this sounds harmless, it's radically opposed to foundational American documents like the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause and more recent anti-discrimination protections like the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Banks argued that the ideas expressed in the book are 'divisive and will undermine morale and weaken our national security.' He also said he was left 'flabbergasted' by the Navy's decision to officially endorse 'such a harmful and subversive book' and called on Gilday to either provide him with a written response explaining how "How to Be an Antiracist" cultivates a culture of warfighting excellence' or eliminate it from the list. In the weeks that followed, Republican Reps. Doug Lamborn, of Colorado, and Vicky Hartzler, of Missouri, also wrote their own letter to Gilday. They argued that the three woke books 'reinforce the view that America is a confederation of identity categories of the oppressed and their oppressors, rather than a common homeland of individual citizens who are united by common purposes and fidelity to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and codified in the Constitution.' And Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas, a NAVY SEAL, also tweeted that 'I can't believe this is happening in the Navy I love: pushing overtly leftist propaganda on their OFFICIAL reading list, threatening the longstanding tradition of political neutrality. 'The Chief of Naval Operations needs to correct this,' he wrote. Rep. Jim Banks, a Republican from Indiana (pictured in April), slammed last year's list for its inclusion of 'How to Be an Antiracist' by Ibram X Kendi Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw, a Navy SEAL, also criticized last year's list on Twitter, saying it pushes 'overtly leftist propaganda' But Gilday refused to back down at the time, writing in a March 12, 2021 letter that he would not remove the books from his list because he wants all Navy personnel to achieve the same level of 'self-reflection,' FOX News reports. He said specifically of 'How to be an Antiracist:' 'It evokes the author's own personal journey in understanding barriers to true inclusion, the deep nuances of racism and racial inequalities.' Gilday also noted that some of the books on the list were recommended from Task Force One Navy, which he had commissioned 'to identify and remove racial barriers, improve inclusion efforts, create new opportunities for professional development and eliminate obstacles to enter the Navy.' 'While I do not endorse every viewpoint of the books on the reading list, I believe exposure to varied ideas improves the critical thinking of our Sailors,' he said at the time. 'My commitment to them is to continue to listen, make sure their voice is heard, and make the Navy a shining example of an organization centered on respect, inclusive of all.' Keir Starmer was accused of putting deeply inappropriate pressure on Beergate police last night. In a high-stakes gamble, the Labour leader said he would do the right thing and step down if Durham Constabulary fined him over his lockdown beer with aides. But his opponents said this had placed detectives in the difficult position of knowing their decisions could decapitate the official opposition and leave Labour looking for new leadership. Sir Keirs deputy, Angela Rayner, also said she would quit if she was fined over her role in the Beergate event in Durham on April 30 last year when all indoor socialising was banned. After a day of crisis meetings with advisers, Sir Keir gave a brief statement yesterday in which he repeatedly stated that no laws were broken and claimed that the allegations against him were politically motivated. However, the former director of public prosecutions confirmed he would quit if sanctioned over the event, saying: If the police decide to issue me with a fixed penalty notice I would of course do the right thing and step down. The Labour leader has said he would do the right thing and step down if Durham Constabulary fined him over his lockdown beer with aides Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pictured as he made a statement at Labour Party headquarters in London today Starmer arriving to issue a statement at Labour's headquarters in London on Monday The Labour leaders Shadow Cabinet immediately took to social media last night to proclaim him as a man of honesty and integrity. And Sir Keir appeared to give himself a loophole for avoiding resignation by fudging questions over whether he would still quit if Durham police found he did breach lockdown laws but stuck to its policy of not issuing Covid fines retrospectively. He also dodged questions over why the launch of the police probe was not enough on its own to trigger his resignation when he had explicitly called for Boris Johnson to quit at the start of the Scotland Yard inquiry into Partygate. A Government source said ministers were concerned that Sir Keirs intervention could place undue pressure on Durham Constabulary to clear Sir Keir, or at least refrain from fining him. Digital minister Chris Philp hinted at the unease last night saying it was deeply inappropriate that Sir Keir appeared to be attempting to pressure the police into clearing him. Barrister Francis Hoar also criticised the move, saying that to undermine the presumption of innocence and put the police under pressure is wrong. A former DPP should know that. Sir Keirs move echoes an intervention by Tony Blair, who is reported to have warned the police he would have to resign if he was interviewed under caution over the cash for honours scandal, causing the officers to back off. One ally of Sir Keir last night acknowledged that the move puts some pressure on Durham police but insisted it only balanced out pressure from the Conservatives to investigate the matter. As potential leadership hopefuls were warned they may need to be ready to launch their campaigns in weeks: A source at the Durham event disputed Sir Keirs claim that work continued after his late night beer and curry and said some of those attending were drunk; Evidence emerged showing that the room in which he and others shared a beer and a curry was so small that social distancing was impossible; A poll found that more than half of adults believe he probably or definitely has broken lockdown laws; It emerged that the Labour leaders office had invited 40 people to a Christmas party in breach of regulations, only to cancel at the last moment; The Labour Left twisted the knife, with John McDonnell saying Sir Keir would have to resign if Durham police found any wrongdoing. Starmer and deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner during a walkabout to help the launch the Labour Party's local election campaign in March Sir Keir - who faces a full-blown investigation by Durham Police - pulled out of an Institute for Government event today, where he was expected to take questions. Labour declined to say why he had withdrawn The Labour leader earlier ignored questions as he left his London home this morning - having cancelled a think-tank event where he would have been grilled by journalists Durham Constabulary announced on Friday that it was launching a fresh probe into Beergate after receiving significant new information. The move followed a string of revelations in the Mail about what really happened when Sir Keir gathered with MPs and officials in Durham Miners Hall in the run-up to last years local elections. This newspaper revealed that, despite denials stretching back three months, Mrs Rayner was also present, along with Durham MP Mary Foy. It has also emerged that the group, which may have comprised up to 30 people, shared 200 of curry when buffet-style meals were banned. And Labour has failed to produce any evidence that Sir Keir and others continued to work after the curry gathering at 10pm on a Friday. A source at the meeting has said no work was done afterwards, and that some of those present were getting p***** a claim denied by Mrs Foy. Labour strategists believe that if Sir Keir is cleared it will pile pressure on the Prime Minister to resign over his own Partygate fine. Mr McDonnell said that Sir Keir would have no choice but to go if there was a finding of fault. The former shadow chancellor questioned why it had taken the leader days to decide on what he now says is a matter of principle. A YouGov survey found that the public believe by a margin of 46:32 that Sir Keir should quit if fined and 54 per cent think he probably or definitely broke the rules. What Squirming Starmer DIDNT tell us yesterday Pressure on police Keir Starmer says it will be up to the police to determine whether he should be fined. But the former director of public prosecutions also stated his own view that no laws were broken. Privately, some advisers believe his gambit will pile pressure on Durham Constabulary to clear him. One ally of Sir Keir suggested it puts some pressure on Durham police who are being leant on in one direction. Former Home Office minister Chris Philp last night said Sir Keirs intervention placed deeply inappropriate pressure on the police. The loophole The Labour leader made much of his pledge to quit if he was fined, saying: If the police decide to issue me with a fixed penalty notice, I would of course do the right thing and resign. But he fudged questions about whether he would resign if Durham police found he did breach lockdown laws but stuck to their policy of not issuing Covid fines retrospectively. Sir Keir initially said that if youve made a law you should respect the law, and if youre found to be in breach of it you should step down. But pressed on the issue he backtracked, suggesting he would resign only if fined. A man of honour? The statement was strong on self-righteousness, with Sir Keir declaring: I believe in honour, integrity and the principle that those who make the laws must follow them. This is a matter of principle and honour for me. Its about who I am, what I stand for. What Sir Keir did not say was that he and his team had given out false statements about the evening when he was filmed enjoying a beer with activists, including claiming that deputy leader Angela Rayner was not present. And they have failed to provide evidence of other claims, such as what work was done after the 10pm event. Why he hasnt quit SIR Keir was quick out of the blocks in demanding that Boris Johnson resign over Partygate, calling for the PM to go as soon as Scotland Yard launched its investigation in January. He tweeted: Honesty and decency matter. After months of denials, the Prime Minister is now under criminal investigation for breaking his own lockdown laws. 'He needs to do the decent thing and resign. Sir Keir was asked twice yesterday why the launch of the Durham police probe did not trigger his own resignation, but dodged the question each time. Advertisement Keir's curry night staff 'were drunk' By Glen Keogh for The Daily Mail Labour staff at the Beergate event being probed by police were drunk and did no work after a curry was ordered, it was claimed yesterday. Hours before Sir Keir Starmer announced he would step down if fined over the alleged Covid breach, it was suggested the junior staff were p***** and obviously not working. The claims could throw the Labour leaders defence of the evening into disarray given he has consistently claimed that the meal was part of a work event and work continued afterwards. It can also be revealed that, despite a leaked memo urging Labour delegates to maintain social distancing at all times, Sir Keir, Durham MP Mary Foy and other attendees were filmed drinking in a kitchen measuring just 6.5ft by 16ft. Social distancing would have been impossible in a room so small it was described as a store on floor plans. Recounting what happened during the evening at Durham Miners Hall on April 30 last year, one source familiar with the event said that it crossed the line and broke the Covid rules in place at the time. The claims could throw the Labour leaders defence of the evening into disarray given he has consistently claimed that the meal was part of a work event Junior staffers were p***** and obviously werent working so I remember thinking, why are they here? the insider told news site Politico. They added: It was Friday night after nine oclock and some people were drinking. Of course it crossed the line. The source said the plan was to have a working dinner with Sir Keir where he and around 15 other people would have a curry while on a Zoom call with Labour activists. But the curry is said to have arrived late, after the Zoom call and work was finished. A message was, however, posted from Sir Keirs Twitter account at 10.13pm on the night in question, urging people in Hull to vote Labour after he spent the previous day campaigning in the city. It was also posted on Facebook three minutes later. The post could be said to back up Sir Keirs assertion that he had continued working if police conclude that the posting of a tweet constituted work. Labour was asked whether Sir Keir posted his own messages on Twitter and Facebook but did not respond. But the source, who said they would be willing to help any police investigation, told Politico: There was no work being done. There just wasnt. The Zoom events had finished. If the curry was on time during the Zoom call it wouldnt have been a breach. Durham Constabulary announced on Friday that it was launching a fresh probe into Beergate after receiving significant new information 'But it was late and work had finished. It wasnt work and there was no work afterwards that Im aware of. Labour figures in Durham have defended Sir Keir, but also agree that he has to go if he is found to have broken the rules. David Toner, treasurer of the North West Durham Labour Party, said: If he is found guilty of a crime then of course that has serious repercussions. 'I dont think he will be fined and I dont think he will be found to have committed an offence. 'The incident was completely different to Downing Street parties. You can see that it was a work event. Over the weekend, an attendee claimed that some others, including Mrs Foy and her staff, had turned up solely to socialise. They were just there drinking. This made some people feel uncomfortable because they knew there was a risk we could be accused of breaking the rules, they told The Sunday Times. Mary Foy and her staff were not working and I have not got a problem telling that to the police. They were just getting p*****. They were just there for a jolly. Its not something that I am prepared to defend. They just thought it was pretty cool to hang out with the leader and deputy leader of the Labour Party. I wouldnt say they were hammered but they were definitely a little bit tipsy by the end. The Mail on Sunday also reported that the dinner was planned and deputy leader Angela Rayner was always expected to be in attendance. Labour initially denied that she had been present but was forced to admit she was when presented with evidence by The Daily Mail. A spokesman said it had been an honest mistake. A Labour Party spokesman said: Keir was working, a takeaway was made available in the kitchen and he ate between work demands. No rules were broken. The body of a man wearing technical dive gear has washed up at a busy port with police suspecting he was trying to bring ashore a $20million-haul of cocaine using 'old school' smuggling tactics rarely used by modern drug syndicates. The unidentified diver was recovered from the water along with more than 50kg of cocaine off Heron Road, alongside the Port of Newcastle in NSW, on Monday morning. Australia's largest coal port has long been a beacon for international drug importers, with the nation's most lucrative market for illicit substances - Sydney - just a two-hour drive south. The route is often referred to among seasoned organised crime detectives as Australia's drug 'superhighway'. Police are now investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death including which crime cartel the man may have working for as they focus in on nearby Panama-flagged ship which sailed from Argentina. NSW Police investigator turned private sector consultant Peter Moroney recently revealed to Daily Mail Australia that an old tactic of drug traffickers was to train in deep-water scuba diving. The body of a man wearing technical dive gear (pictured) has washed up at a busy port with police suspecting he was trying to bring ashore a $20million-haul of cocaine using 'old school' smuggling tactics that are rarely seen by modern drug syndicates Port of Newcastle has long been a beacon for international drug importers with the nation's largest market for illicit substances - Sydney - just a two-hour drive south 'Someone would fly to places such as Indonesia, identify a cargo ship then dive down and secretly attach drugs to the hull of the vessel,' the veteran ex-cop of 25 years said. 'When it arrived and was under anchor they would then unattach it and bring it back to an Australian port.' He said the smuggling tactic is rarely seen anymore with drug lords now opting to move illicit product into Australia by using a 'mothership'. 'These days they send out a 'mothership' somewhere into the South Pacific where there's little attention from local authorities and a vast amount of ocean to patrol,' Mr Moroney said. The vessel will then meet a cruising yacht and fill it up with either Colombian cocaine or Mexican meth. Police said members of the public and NSW Ambulance paramedics tried desperately to save the man, but he died at the scene. The drugs were bricks of cocaine covered in thick plastic (pictured) in a bundle that had been secured with ropes and plastic 'The person was wearing full scuba gear and very technical scuba gear,' Detective Superintendent Rob Critchlow told 2GB radio. 'Port officials noticed what appeared to be a body. Water police came over to assist and then they located what appeared to be drugs, not far away from where the person was found.' The drugs were bricks of cocaine covered in thick plastic in a bundle that had been secured with ropes and plastic. He said the Australian Border Force are now closely examining a nearby ship and its crew. 'It is a ship that is registered in Panama and it last left port in Argentina before it came to Australia,' Detective Superintendent Critchlow said. 'We are talking to all the sailors on board and the Captain as well as offshore authorities.' He admitted the road between Newcastle and Sydney has become a major target of drug cartels able to hide their dangerous product amongst the constant flow of sea traffic. 'Anywhere we have large movements of shipping it makes it really open to organised crime,' Detective Superintendent Critchlow said. Police are now investigating the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death including who which crime cartel the man may have working for as they focus in on nearby Panama-flagged ship which sailed from Argentina. Pictured: Port of Newcastle Police are yet to reveal if the drugs were floating in the water or recovered from the hull of a vessel. But the various packages of white powder believed to be cocaine is in excess of 50kg with a potential street value of $20million. A large-scale investigation is now underway involving officers from Newcastle City Police District, specialist forensic teams, Marine Area Command, the Australian Border Force and Organised Crime Squad detectives. Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed something unusual in the area to come forward. 'At about midnight on Sunday, May 8, an inflatable boat - a rubber ducky for lack of a better description and a Quintrex runabout with a green stripe - was seen in the vicinity of the ship which was a berth 2 at Heron Road at Kooragang Island which is in the south arm of the Hunter River,' Detective Superintendent Critchlow said. 'So we are asking anyone who may have been in the port, in the river, who saw some strange activity on Sunday evening or Monday morning to call Crimestoppers.' Police divers will continue to scour the bottom of Australia's largest coal port on Tuesday. Time to ease regulations, nurture talent in high-tech industries Taiwan is flying high again, buoyed by its strong performance in the semiconductor industry. It is certain to overtake South Korea in terms of per capita GDP this year for the first time in 19 years. Last week, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen told a meeting of her Democratic Progressive Party that her country's GDP per capita will exceed $36,000 this year. Korea's per capita GDP was projected at $34,990. Korea began surpassing Taiwan in 2003 and the gap has since continued to widen. But the difference has become narrower over the last five years and the island country is poised to catch up this year. Tsai said Taiwan seized the opportunity presented by the global supply chain restructuring while successfully fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The Taiwanese economy grew 3.4 percent in 2020 and 6.3 percent last year. However, the South Korean economy contracted 0.9 percent in 2020 before managing to grow 4 percent in 2021. Without a doubt, Taiwan's comeback has been attributed to enterprises. TSMC, the country's flagship company, has led the economy by occupying half of the world's non-memory foundry market. Its market capitalization surpassed Samsung Electronics' in November 2019. Last year, semiconductors accounted for 37 percent of Taiwan's exports and 17 percent of its GDP. It was none other than Tsai who prompted Taiwanese companies to run again. She wooed businesses back to the country, offering a comprehensive financial and tax support package. In contrast, our companies regressed under the Moon Jae-in administration. The National Assembly passed a special law on semiconductors in January this year, but companies' wish to increase the enrollment quotas of university semiconductor departments in the Seoul metropolitan area was not realized. Their desire to make the 52-hour workweek system flexible for them was rejected, too. Taiwan has already set an example by showing how to revitalize the economy. The incoming Yoon Suk-yeol administration should learn the lessons from the policy failures of the outgoing Moon government and ease regulations and nurture talent in the high-tech industry. The last time the Heir to the Throne opened Parliament, Britain was still subjecting prisoners to hanging, drawing and quartering. A new ship, the Beagle, was taking shape in a dockyard in the Thames, from where it would eventually set sail carrying a young naturalist called Charles Darwin. And, as the future George IV addressed the Lords, announcing new measures against 'seditious practices' in British factories, his new-born niece was snoozing in her cot the future Queen Victoria. That underlines the significance of what we will see at Westminster this morning as the Prince of Wales reads the 'Gracious Speech' in the House of Lords. It will still be known as the Queen's Speech. They will not be her words, of course. Nor will they be the Prince's. They will have been written by the Government, as they always are. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Prince Charles, walks through the Royal Gallery before delivering her speech at the State Opening of Parliament. State Opening of Parliament, London, UK on 14 Oct 2019 However, inevitably, this historic moment will be seen by many as the first step towards a Regency, the point at which a Regent is appointed in the event that a monarch steps aside due to 'infirmity of mind or body'. The comparison is obvious. There will be those who point out, perfectly correctly, that when this happened last time, the Prince of Wales had been formally installed as the Prince Regent since 1810, following the advancing mental decline of his father, George III. So is history repeating itself? It must be stressed that this is emphatically not what is happening today. The Queen remains very much in charge as Head of the Armed Forces, Supreme Governor of the Church of England, Fount of Justice, Head of the Commonwealth and so on. The Prince of Wales will not be sitting on her Throne, but will sit in the Chair of State as he usually does when he attends this ceremony. None the less, some constitutional experts will argue that the signs are there. After all, in formulating today's arrangements, Palace and Government officials have invoked the Regency Act of 1937 and, specifically, Section 6 (1). It states: 'In the event of illness not amounting to such infirmity of mind or body as is mentioned in section two of this Act [the part which talks about 'total incapacity'] the Sovereign may, in order to prevent delay or difficulty in the despatch of public business, by Letters Patent delegate, for the period of that illness or absence, to Counsellors of State such of the royal functions as may be specified in the Letters Patent.' And, today, that function is to read the 'Gracious Speech'. Queen Elizabeth ll, Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne at the State opening of Parliament,Houses of Parliament in the 1970's In coming to this solution, the Queen has done something genuinely unprecedented. For this is not the first time that she has missed a State Opening. She did so in 1959 and 1963 because she was pregnant (with Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, respectively). On those occasions she appointed five Lords Commissioners (including the Lord Privy Seal and the most senior member of the Royal Household, the Lord Chamberlain) to open Parliament. It fell to the Lord Chancellor to read the actual speech. This was simply a case of following the precedent laid down when Queen Victoria decided not to open Parliament, as she did on many occasions between 1866 and her death in 1901. Although the Prince of Wales was present on most of those occasions, he did not read the speech either. Had he done so, it would immediately have given rise to talk of a Regency. So why has the Queen gone down this new and different route today? I have no doubt that it is more a case of a stoical monarch being pragmatic and moving with the times. For Parliament was a rather different creature the last time she missed this event. First, very little was televised. The optics matter so much more today. Second, she was still in the early phase of her reign during which she adhered rigidly to precedent. After all, it was not until 1967 that she felt sufficiently empowered to put her foot down and insist that Prince Philip's throne should be placed alongside her own so that he could sit next to her. Furthermore, the Lord Chancellor was then a very much more substantial figure. He (and it was always a he) was not only the Speaker of the Lords but also the head of the judiciary with far-reaching, ancient powers. Tony Blair's government changed all that in 2005. Initially, he tried to abolish the Lord Chancellor altogether, without first consulting the Queen. She was known to be extremely miffed, not least since one of the Lord Chancellor's functions and titles is 'Keeper of the Queen's Conscience'. And she was not happy about her conscience being abolished. Mr Blair softened his reforms, but that former role is now divided between the Lord Speaker, Lord McFall, and the current Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab, who also holds the title of Lord Chancellor (while not being a Lord). Given the prospect of all sorts of quibbling over which of those should or should not recite the 'Gracious Speech', the Queen has cut through any constitutional quarrels with her Letters Patent saying that the task will fall to the Prince of Wales. This is, in no sense, any sort of power grab. Considering that he is the longest-serving Heir to the Throne in history, Prince Charles has been scrupulously correct in not muscling in on his mother's territory. He has steadfastly refused to discuss any plans for his future reign for the simple reason that it would be disrespectful and bad manners. He has stepped up to the plate when requested, such as when he lays the Sovereign's wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday. I imagine that when we resume welcoming State Visitors to post-pandemic Britain, he may well take centre stage then, too. It is significant that he will now be accompanied by the Duke of Cambridge today, underlining that monarchy is, ultimately, about continuity and stability. Above all, however, royal watchers should pay careful attention to the position of the Crown itself today. It will not be placed before the Prince of Wales. Rather, it will sit in front of the vacant Throne of the Sovereign, making it clear where sovereign power resides. For all that, this is still a very historic day for the Crown and Parliament alike. Advertisement More than 100 inmates escaped after a prison riot in Ecuador that claimed the lives of 43 others, a senior police official said. A total of 108 were missing after another 112 escaped prisoners were recaptured after the outbreak at the Bellavista jail in the city of Santo Domingo, police chief Fausto Salinas told reporters. The riot broke out early on Monday as rival gangs clashed in a jail in the Ecuadorean city, the government said, in the latest episode of prison violence that has rocked the South American country. Authorities said the riot broke out after a gang leader was transferred to Santo Domingo's Bellavista prison following a court order, which may have caused unrest among prisoners. Both the interior ministry and the attorney general's office reported that 43 prisoners had died. Most of them had been stabbed to death, Interior Minister Patricio Carrillo said. Wounded inmates are transported on a truck to an ambulance after a riot, outside the Bella Vista prison in Santo Domingo. Both the interior ministry and the attorney general's office reported that 43 prisoners had died. Most of them had been stabbed to death, Interior Minister Patricio Carrillo said. Authorities said the riot broke out after a gang leader was transferred to Santo Domingo's Bellavista prison following a court order, which may have caused unrest among prisoners Relatives of inmates wait outside the Bella Vista prison after a riot, in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Ecuador, on May 9, Soldiers guard outside Bellavista prison where a deadly riot broke out overnight in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Ecuador A total of 108 were missing after another 112 escaped prisoners were recaptured after the outbreak at the Bellavista jail in the city of Santo Domingo, police chief Fausto Salinas told reporters Police remain outside the Bella Vista prison after a riot, in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Ecuador, on May 9, 2022 A relative of an inmate reacts outside the Bella Vista prison after a riot, in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Ecuador, on May 9 A soldier crosses the street as family members of inmates gather outside the Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas prison after Ecuadorean authorities reported that they managed to put out a riot and recaptured several inmates that had escaped Family members of inmates gather outside the Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas prison after Ecuadorean authorities reported that they managed to put out a riot and recaptured several inmates that had escaped, in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, May 9 A helicopter flies over the prison of Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Ecuador, 09 May 2022 Soldiers patrol outside Bellavista prison where a deadly riot broke out overnight in Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, Ecuador The riot was the latest incident of violence in Ecuadorean prisons, which the government attributes to fights between gangs over control of territory and drug trafficking routes. Last year, 316 prisoners died during riots in various prisons across Ecuador. Bellavista prison has now been brought back under control, police commander Fausto Salinas said, adding that a security fence was built around the jail's perimeter after prisoners escaped. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has said the system is blighted by state abandonment and the absence of a comprehensive policy, as well as poor conditions for inmates. The country's prisons house 35,000 people and are overcrowded at about 15% beyond maximum capacity. Conservative President Guillermo Lasso has promised to reduce prison violence through a gang pacification process, early release for prisoners and political and social reforms. A BBC Panorama documentary about global warming made a number of false claims, an internal investigation by the broadcaster has found. The programme Wild Weather, presented by climate editor Justin Rowlatt, said deaths worldwide were rising due to extreme weather caused by climate change whereas the opposite is true. It also claimed Madagascar was on the verge of the first famine caused by climate change despite other factors being involved. The programme, broadcast last November to coincide with the COP26 climate conference, sparked two complaints investigated by the BBC's Editorial Complaints Unit (ECU). A BBC Panorama documentary about global warming presented by climate editor Justin Rowlatt (pictured) made a number of false claims, an internal investigation by the broadcaster has found Last year Rowlatt's sister Cordelia was among a number of Insulate Britain activists arrested for staging a protest at junction 3 of the M25. Miss Rowlatt, who once appeared on TV advising her brother on how to be more environmentally friendly, pleaded guilty by post at Crawley Magistrates' Court. She was fined 300 with 85 court costs and a 34 surcharge for committing a public nuisance on a highway. The introduction of Wild Weather said 'the death toll is rising around the world and the forecast is that worse is to come'. The ECU said this risked giving the impression the rate of deaths from extreme weather-related events was increasing. In fact, as noted by a recent report from the World Meteorological Organisation, while the number of weather-related disasters such as floods, storms and drought has risen in the past 50 years, the number of deaths caused by them has fallen because of improved early warnings and disaster management. Cordelia Rowlatt was charged with a public order act on Waterloo Bridge in April. She pleated not guilty at court BBC News said 'it accepted the wording in the programme was not as clear as it should have been and a public acknowledgement was put on the BBC's Corrections and Clarifications website before the complaint reached the ECU'. The ECU said this was appropriate but 'an oversight meant the programme was still available on BBC iPlayer without a link or reference to the published correction, and for that reason the complaint was upheld'. The ECU also considered the language used in the programme about drought. It agreed the evidence showed southern Madagascar had suffered lower-than-average seasonal rainfall in recent years, and that climate change was one factor contributing to famine in the country. It also noted the reporter's language mirrored that used by the UN's World Food Programme. But the ECU added: 'The statement that Madagascar was on the brink of the world's first climate-induced famine was presented without qualification, whereas other evidence available prior to broadcast suggested there were additional factors which made a significant contribution to the shortage of food. The complaint was therefore upheld.' The first set of illegal migrants will be told this week that they could be deported to Rwanda, the Home Office said last night. Arrivals who crossed the Channel will be among those to be notified that they face a one-way trip to the east African nation. Officials said the Government has the power to detain individuals pending their removal from the UK. The first flights are expected to take place in the coming months, the Home Office said, adding lawyers for some of those affected will likely lodge claims to stop removal. Home Secretary Priti Patel said: The world-leading migration partnership means those making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys to the UK may be relocated to Rwanda to have their claims for asylum considered and to rebuild their lives there, helping break the people smugglers business model and prevent loss of life. This is just the first stage and we know it will take time as some will seek to frustrate the process and delay removals. Home Secretary Priti Patel pictured while making a statement to the House of Commons following the announcement of the UK's intention to provide those deemed to have arrived unlawfully with a one-way ticket to Rwanda A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, following a small boat incident in the Channel last month The controversial policy is facing a number of legal challenges by charities questioning its lawfulness, with several pre-action letters already sent to the Home Office. Miss Patel signed the deal in the Rwandan capital Kigali in April. The first group will be notified that they will be relocated under the new migration and economic development partnership in which their claims will be processed in Rwanda. It is unclear when they will be put on flights. If successful, they will be granted asylum or given refugee status in the country. Those with failed bids will be offered the chance to apply for visas under other immigration routes, but could still face deportation. At least 7,739 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel this year so far. It is more than three times the amount in the same period in 2021 (2,439). Police will be given powers to stop eco-protesters blocking roads and inflicting fuel shortages on motorists. A law to tackle disruptive action by groups such as Extinction Rebellion will be announced in the Queens Speech today. Ministers have made the Public Order Bill a priority and it will start its journey through the Commons tomorrow. The Government had attempted to bring in the measures in January, but they were blocked by Labour and others in the House of Lords. A law to tackle disruptive action by groups such as Extinction Rebellion will be announced in the Queens Speech today. Priti Patel visiting the Metropolitan Police specialist training centre in Gravesend, Kent Flurry of Bills set for Queen's Speech Brexit Freedoms Bill Ministers will be able to repeal hundreds of pieces of EU legislation, making it easier to slash regulatory red tape. Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill Councils will get new powers to rejuvenate high streets by forcing landlords to rent out empty shop units. Media Bill Channel 4 will be privatised. Ofcom is expected to be given regulatory powers over content broadcast by streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+. Energy Bill Up to eight new nuclear reactors will be built along with boost to wind, hydrogen and solar energy production. Railways Bill The franchising system for train operating companies will be scrapped, with the creation of a new publicly-owned company called Great British Railways. Advertisement A criminal offence of locking on will be created to prevent activists chaining themselves to buildings, vehicles and other protesters. It will carry a maximum penalty of six months and an unlimited fine. Stop and search powers will allow police to detain campaigners carrying bike locks and other equipment designed to make themselves difficult to remove. A new offence will also be introduced to specifically ban the obstruction of key national infrastructure such as airports, railways and newspaper printing presses, which will be punishable by up to 12 months in prison and an unlimited fine. It will also be illegal to obstruct major transport works, including disrupting the construction or maintenance of projects such as HS2. And new Serious Disruption Prevention Orders will allow police to ban suspected troublemakers from attending specified events. Groups such as Extinction Rebellion, Insulate Britain and Just Stop Oil have used guerrilla tactics to wreak havoc in recent years stopping people getting to work and costing taxpayers millions because of the mammoth police operations. The raft of measures come after Priti Patel visited the Metropolitan Police specialist training centre in Gravesend, Kent yesterday. During the tour, public order instructor Sergeant Adam Nash showed the Home Secretary some of the tactics and equipment demonstrators use to maximise disarray. Last night Miss Patel said: The law-abiding, responsible majority have had enough of antisocial, disruptive protests carried out by a self-indulgent minority who seem to revel in causing mayhem and misery for the rest of us. The Public Order Bill will give the police the powers they need to clamp down on this outrageous behaviour and ensure the British public can go about their lives without disruption. The legislation will be one of 38 Bills to be announced in the Queens Speech. Other measures will include a Schools Bill making it compulsory for teachers to take registers of absent children so the authorities can identify who is not receiving a full-time education. Home Secretary Priti Patel is shown an item used by protesters by Public Order Instructor Sergeant Adam Nash A Procurement Bill will give small and medium-sized businesses a better opportunity to compete for Government contracts. Reform of the Official Secrets Act is planned to make it easier to prosecute and deport foreign agents. No-fault evictions will be stopped under a Renters Reform Bill that will also create a national landlord register. And a Gene-editing Bill will let scientists develop techniques to genetically alter livestock, making them resistant to diseases. Boris Johnson is hoping to use the occasion to show he is focused on concerns over issues such as the rising cost of living following a bruising set of local election results. The Prime Minister said last night: This Queens Speech will get our country back on track, and I will strive and this Government will strive night and day to deliver it. During the Kent tour, public order instructor Sergeant Adam Nash showed the Home Secretary some of the tactics and equipment demonstrators use to maximise disarray. Pictured, an item used by protesters Because in spite of everything we have been through, we are going to ensure that over the two years we have left in this parliament, we spend every second uniting and levelling up this country, exactly as we said we would. In an address to MPs this afternoon, Mr Johnson will argue the best way to address the cost of living crisis is to grow the economy. He will say: We will get the country through the aftershocks of Covid, just as we got through Covid, with every ounce of ingenuity and compassion and hard work. By urgently pressing on with our mission to create the high-wage, high-skilled jobs that will drive economic growth across our whole United Kingdom. That is the long-term, sustainable solution to ease the burden on families and businesses. April 18: Jail guard Vicky White sold her Lexington home. Public records revealed she sold the property for $95,550, which was below market value. She started living with her mother after the sale. April 28: Vicky submits retirement paperwork to officials at Lauderdale County Jail. According to Lauderdale County Sheriff Rick Singleton, she had been discussing her retirement for many months and 'talked about going to the beach'. Pre-prison break: In the week ahead of the escape (specific dates unknown) Vicky purchased men's clothing at a Kohl's store and visited a sex shop. It is unclear if she bought anything at the adult toy store. Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly claims she also withdrew $90K in cash out of a series of bank accounts. April 29 at 5.21am: Vicky checks out of a Quality Inn Florence, Alabama. 8.47am: Transport Van 5 leaves the Lauderdale County jail with seven inmates escorted by two deputies 8.56am: Transport Van 2 leaves the jail with five inmates also escorted by two deputies 9.20am: Assistant Director Vicky White tells a deputy to prepare inmate Casey White for transport to courthouse. Deputy removes White from his cell, takes him to booking and handcuffs him and shackles his legs. 9.41am: Vicky leaves detention center with Casey and head to the courthouse for a 'mental health evaluation.' She told the booking officer that she is the only deputy available who is firearm-certified and that she's dropping him off to other deputies at the courthouse. Vicky says she's then going to Med Plus for a personal appointment. 9.49am: Surveillance video shows Vicky's police cruiser parked at the nearby Florence Square shopping center parking lot eight minutes after leaving the jail. 'There was not enough time for them to even attempt to try to come to the courthouse,' Sheriff Rick Singleton said. 11.34am: A Florence Police Department officer spots her cruiser. 3.30pm: Booking officer reports to administration that they've been trying to contact Vicky to check on her, and that her phone is going directly to voice mail. The officer also says that Casey was not returned to the detention center with other inmates. Approximately 11pm: College Grove, Tennessee resident Jackie Adams finds Vicky's SUV - with tinted windows and no tags - abandoned by her home. She reported the vehicle to the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, which had it towed. May 1: Us Marshals offer a $10,000 bounty - now up to $25,000 - for Casey May 3: US Marshals issued a warrant for Vicky. charging her with permitting or facilitating escape in the first degree in connection with capital murder May 4: Vicky and Casey were seen driving around Florence in a police cruiser on gas station surveillance May 6: Tennessee cops discover the impounded SUV belonged to Vicky, spurring a force of US Marshals, Williamson County Sheriff's Officers, and SWAT members to circle back to Adams' property. Drones and helicopters descended on Adams' home - where they remained for hours and into the evening. 2.15pm: The Williamson County Sheriff's Office tweets 'there is NO sign the two are still in our area.' May 7: Connolly reveals investigators' theory that Vicky is rolling Casey, dressed as a woman, around in a wheelchair. Officials also suspect Vicky might be disguising herself as an elderly woman with a grey wig. May 9: US Marshals search for the couple in Evansville, Indiana after authorities locate a vehicle that had been reported stolen in the area of Tennessee where Vicky's SUV was abandoned. The couple is then caught after a brief car chase in Evansville, Indiana. Casey White surrenders. Vicky White is taken to the hospital with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Source: WAAY-TV, Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office, NewsNation, TODAY and DailyMail.com Earth's carbon dioxide levels have hit the highest recorded level in human history, new data shows. For the first time on record, monthly average carbon dioxide (CO2) levels exceeded 420 parts per million (ppm) in April, their highest peak since accurate measurements began 64 years ago. They even reached 421.33 ppm on one day last week, as greenhouse gas emissions continue to soar around the world. Teenage climate campaigner Greta Thunberg said that if the levels were confirmed then it would be 'truly groundbreaking to say the least. And I don't mean that in a good way...' The finding comes from long-running records taken at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s weather station on Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Earth's carbon dioxide (CO2) levels have hit the highest recorded level in human history, new data shows. For the first time on record monthly average CO2 levels eclipsed 420 parts per million in April (pictured), their highest peak since accurate measurements began in 1958 Instruments on the mountaintop observatory also recorded last year as the first to have atmospheric CO2 surpass pre-Industrial Revolution levels by more than 50 per cent Teenage climate campaigner Greta Thunberg said that if the levels were confirmed then it would be 'truly groundbreaking to say the least. And I don't mean that in a good way...' Atmospheric CO2 is one of major causes of climate change and has been driven in large part by the burning of fossil fuels worldwide (stock image) CO2 AT MAUNA LOA Positioned atop a barren volcanic mountain in the middle of the Pacific, the Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory is perfectly suited to take benchmark carbon dioxide readings. The location makes it ideal for sampling well-mixed air such that is undisturbed by either local sources of pollution or vegetation. This allows it to produce measurements that can represent the average state of the atmosphere in the Earth's northern hemisphere. Atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements have been consistently taken atop Mauna Loa since 1958. Despite being on a volcano, the readings are not distorted by Hawaiian eruptions, Dr Tans explained noting that the occasional CO2 plume does need to be removed from the data. Advertisement Data collected by instruments on the mountaintop observatory also reveals that last year was the first in which atmospheric CO2 surpassed pre-Industrial Revolution levels by more than 50 per cent. Its highest month, May, hit 419.13 ppm, while 20 years ago the highest month of the year had 375.93 ppm. In 1958, when scientists first began collecting CO2 data at Mauna Loa, the highest month of the year had just 317.51 ppm. These CO2 levels fluctuate throughout the year, with highs around late spring. This is because of the Northern Hemisphere's seasons as the northern summer comes in, increased plant growth pulls a lot of carbon out of the atmosphere, dropping levels lower. Atmospheric CO2 is one of major causes of climate change and has been driven in large part by the burning of fossil fuels worldwide. NOAA said CO2 is currently rising about 100 times faster than other periods in geological history that have seen more natural increases in carbon dioxide. This is all despite a temporary reduction in global emissions in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, when lockdowns across the world enforced a global shutdown. Although Earth saw a huge spike in carbon dioxide emissions during the pre-industrial era, the recent analysis suggests our modern world is much worse. 'It is easy to forget just how much and just how fast fossil fuel emissions are affecting our planet,' Professor Simon Lewis, from University College London, has previously said. 'It took over 200 years to increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 25 per cent, and just 30 years to reach 50 per cent above pre-industrial levels. 'This dramatic change is like a human meteorite hitting Earth.' CO2 accelerates planetary warming because more carbon in the atmosphere means less heat can escape and the hotter the planet gets. Ongoing CO2 recordings began on Mauna Loa thanks to the efforts of Scripps Institution of Oceanography scientist Charles David Keeling. Since 1974, these measurements have been complemented by independent observations taken by researchers from NOAA. This image shows the hourly (red circles) and daily (yellow circles) averaged CO2 values from Mauna Loa, Hawaii from March to April Meteorologist Steve Bowen tweeted last month about how atmospheric carbon dioxide levels had reached a then daily record of 421.21 parts per million. That figure has since been eclipsed Positioned atop a barren volcanic mountain in the middle of the Pacific, the Mauna Loa Atmospheric Baseline Observatory (pictured) is perfectly suited to take benchmark carbon dioxide readings. The location makes it ideal for sampling well-mixed air such that is undisturbed by either local sources of pollution or vegetation According to climatologist Pieter Tans of NOAA's Global Monitoring Laboratory, the findings show that reducing fossil fuel usage, deforestation and other practices that lead to carbon emissions must be a top priority to avoid 'catastrophic climate change'. 'We are adding roughly 40 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution to the atmosphere per year,' Dr Tans said last year. 'That is a mountain of carbon that we dig up out of the Earth, burn and release into the atmosphere as CO2 year after year.' Carbon dioxide, he added, is by far the most abundant human-caused greenhouse gas and it can persist in the atmosphere and oceans for thousands of years. According to scientists, the amount of carbon present now in the Earth's atmosphere is equal to that which would have been seen some 4.14.5 million years ago, during a time which scientists refer to as the 'Pliocene Climatic Optimum'. At this time, the sea level was a whopping 78 feet (24 meters) higher than in the present day, while the average global temperature stood at 7F (3.9C) higher than it was before the Industrial Revolution. In fact, the temperature was so warm during this period of time that large forests occupied areas of the Arctic which today are barren, chilly tundra. The finding comes from long-running records taken at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s weather station on Mauna Loa, Hawaii (pictured) With more than one billion people using the app each month, TikTok has quickly become one of the most popular social media platforms since launching in 2016. But a new study has highlighted how some people are becoming addicted to the app and claims lonely women are the most likely to become dependent. Researchers from the University of Trinidad and Tobago analysed 173 TikTok users to identify the most definitive signs of addiction to the app. 'Although most users appear to use TikTok in a non-problematic manner, the study demonstrates that the risk of overuse and possible problematic use exists and is associated with maladaptive behaviours that can potentially negatively impact the daily lives of sufferers,' they wrote in their study. A new study has highlighted how some people are becoming addicted to TikTok and claims lonely women are the most likely to become dependent (stock image) Signs of TikTok addiction The most definitely signs of addiction were: - User becoming nervous - User becoming irritable - User becoming anxious - Showing strong feelings of sadness when deprived of access to the app Advertisement While previous studies have assessed the psychological impacts of other apps including Facebook, until now there's been fairly little research on TikTok. In their study, the team set out to investigate whether measures of Facebook addiction were also relevant to TikTok. The study analysed data from 354 university students, including 173 TikTok users, and 313 Facebook users. The students completed a questionnaire about Facebook or TikTok, which assessed six criteria having obsessive thoughts about the app, feeling an urge to use the app, using the app to forget about personal problems, trying to cut down on the use of the app without success, becoming restless or upset when prohibited from using the app, and using the app so much that it negatively impacts school or work. The results revealed that 6.4 per cent of the TikTok users were at-risk of being addicted to the app. These users tended to score higher on loneliness and extraversion, while females were also more likely to be at-risk than males. Speaking to PsyPost, Troy Smith, who led the study, said: 'Although most users appear to use TikTok in a non-problematic manner, the study demonstrates that the risk of overuse and possible problematic use exists and is associated with addiction-like behaviours that can potentially negatively impact the daily lives of sufferers.' Meanwhile, Facebook users were more likely to score highly for low self-esteem. 'While similarities exist between the addictive process occurring in Facebook and TikTok there are significant differences in manifestation, predictors, and usage intensity associated with average vs problematic use,' Smith added. 'As such, a user can exhibit problematic use on a specific platform and not have the same maladaptive response with the broader category of social media.' The results revealed that 6.4 per cent of the TikTok users were at-risk of being addicted to the app For both apps, the most definitive signs of addiction were that the user became nervous, irritable, anxious, or showed strong feelings of sadness when deprived of access to the app. The researchers hope their findings will spark further studies into TikTok addiction. 'Current literature on problematic use of TikTok is limited, however, the validation of a problematic use scale for TikTok creates an opportunity for other researchers to study the phenomenon,' Smith concluded. 'This is important since the use of a valid scale adds credence to future work and a standard measure means that studies can be compared and patterns more easily identified.' Shipping poses an increasingly 'significant threat' to the endangered whale shark, marine biologists have warned. They found that ships are killing large numbers of the sharks, which are the biggest of any fish species alive on Earth today. Their numbers have been declining across the world in recent years but experts were bemused as to why. Now scientists from the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and the University of Southampton have led ground-breaking research which indicates that lethal collisions of whale sharks with large ships are 'vastly underestimated' and could be the reason why populations are falling. Shipping poses an increasingly 'significant threat' to the endangered whale shark, marine biologists have warned. Pictured is a whale shark that has been injured by a ship collision Whale shark numbers have been declining across the world in recent years but experts were bemused as to why Now scientists from the Marine Biological Association and the University of Southampton have led ground-breaking research which indicates that lethal collisions of whale sharks with large ships are 'vastly underestimated' It has previously been suggested that because whale sharks spend a large amount of time in surface waters and coastal regions that a significant number of deaths could have been caused by collisions with ships. However, there had been no way of monitoring this threat until now. Scientists from 50 international research institutions and universities tracked the movements of both whale sharks and ships across the globe to identify areas of risk and possible collisions. The team mapped shark 'hotspots' which overlapped with global fleets of cargo, tanker, passenger, and fishing vessels the types of large ships capable of striking and killing a whale shark to reveal that over 90 per cent of whale shark movements fell under the footprint of shipping activity. The study also showed that whale shark tag transmissions were ending more often in busy shipping lanes than expected, even when they ruled out technical failures. The team concluded that loss of transmissions was likely due to whale sharks being struck, killed and sinking to the ocean floor. University of Southampton PhD Researcher Freya Womersley, who led the study as part of the Global Shark Movement Project, said: 'The maritime shipping industry that allows us to source a variety of everyday products from all over the world, may be causing the decline of whale sharks, which are a hugely important species in our oceans.' The team mapped shark 'hotspots' which overlapped with global fleets of cargo, tanker, passenger, and fishing vessels to reveal that over 90 per cent of whale shark movements fell under the footprint of shipping activity Scientists from 50 international research institutions and universities tracked the movements of both whale sharks and ships across the globe to identify areas of risk and possible collisions Satellite tracked movement data from nearly 350 whale sharks was also submitted into the Global Shark Movement Project, led by researchers from the Marine Biological Association (MBA). Whale sharks are slow-moving ocean giants which feed on microscopic animals called zooplankton. They typically grow to be bigger than a double-decker bus: between 20 to 52 feet (6 to 16 metres), but can be up to 65 feet (20 metres) long. Whale sharks help regulate the ocean's plankton levels and play an important role in the marine food web and healthy ocean ecosystems. Professor David Sims, senior research fellow and University of Southampton and founder of the Global Shark Movement Project said: 'Incredibly, some of the tags recording depth as well as location showed whale sharks moving into shipping lanes and then sinking slowly to the seafloor hundreds of metres below, which is the "smoking gun" of a lethal ship strike.' Whale sharks are slow-moving ocean giants which feed on microscopic animals called zooplankton They typically grow to be bigger than a double-decker bus: between 20 to 52 feet (6 to 16 metres), but can be up to 65 feet (20 metres) long He added: 'It is sad to think that many deaths of these incredible animals have occurred globally due to ships without us even knowing to take preventative measures.' At present there are no international regulations to protect whale sharks against ship collisions. The research team say that this species faces an uncertain future if action is not taken soon. They hope their findings can inform management decisions and protect whale sharks from further population declines in the future. Womersley said: 'Collectively we need to put time and energy into developing strategies to protect this endangered species from commercial shipping now, before it is too late, so that the largest fish on Earth can withstand threats that are predicted to intensify in future, such as changing ocean climates.' The findings were published in the journal PNAS. Lewis Hamilton said he did not understand why Mercedes wanted him to make a strategic decision in Sunday's Miami Grand Prix. Hamilton's race engineer Peter Bonnington asked his driver whether he wished to take on new tyres while behind a safety car late in the race. The seven-time world champion elected to stay out, while George Russell, who started 12th, took advantage of the period to make his sole tyre switch. Lewis Hamilton's disappointing season continued as he finished sixth in the Miami Grand Prix Russell was able to fight his way past Hamilton to finish one place ahead of his team-mate in fifth. 'In that scenario, I have no clue where everyone is, so when the team say 'it is your choice', I don't have the information to make the decision,' said Hamilton. 'That's what your job is. Make the decision for me as you have all the details and I don't. I rely on the guys for that, but today they gave the decision to me and I didn't understand it. The 37-year-old questioned why his team left the decision to change tyres or not down to him George Russell did change his tyres and then overtook Hamilton to finish fifth in the race 'When you are given that responsibility it feels like gambling and I don't like that. It was just a bit unfortunate.' Russell and Hamilton went wheel-to-wheel for the first time as Mercedes team-mates. Russell was instructed to give Hamilton back the place after an illegal off-track move before getting his man on the following lap. Hamilton said: 'George was on the best tyre to start with, and in hindsight maybe I could have started on the hard tyre. But he did a great job to recover from his starting position. It was the first time that Hamilton and Russell went wheel-to-wheel as Mercedes team-mates 'He was fair and had fresh tyres so I was a bit of a sitting duck. I am waiting for a change in fortune, but until then I will keep working as hard as I can.' Russell, who has amassed 23 more points more than Hamilton after five races, said: 'Obviously you leave a bit more room when you're battling with your team-mate than you ordinarily would do. 'I was told I had to swap positions back and that was a little bit frustrating as I was catching the guys ahead. Fortunately we all came home in one piece.' New president should restore democracy President Moon Jae-in spent his last day at Cheong Wa Dae on Monday, serving out his single five-year term. His retirement meant an end to five years of liberal rule and the start of conservatives' return to power. Now it is hard for the Moon administration to get high scores for what it has done. On the March 9 election, voters chose Yoon Suk-yeol, former prosecutor general, as the nation's new leader. This showed how much people were craving change for the better, expressing their disappointment with a set of Moon's policy failures. Moon got off to a good start with overwhelming public support following the impeachment and ouster of his predecessor, Park Geun-hye, who was convicted of corruption and abuse of power. But he failed to meet the people's aspirations for fairness and justice. He reneged on his promise to create a fair and just society with equal opportunities. In his farewell address, Moon expressed his hope that the new administration will inherit the accumulated outcome of the previous government and develop it further to maintain the success story of the country. He called on the nation to move toward national unity. He also appealed for the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue and continued efforts for denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula. President Moon's achievements and mistakes should be assessed in a fair and objective way. He deserves credit for making efforts to improve inter-Korean ties by holding three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and brokering denuclearization talks between Kim and then U.S. President Donald Trump. Regrettably, however, his peace initiative had failed to bear fruit, inviting criticism for allowing Pyongyang to buy time to complete its nuclear weapons development. One of Moon's critical mistakes was his failure to bring soaring housing prices under control. He only proved that suppressing demand with heavier taxes and a tighter control on mortgages cannot fight property speculation effectively. His policies based on leftist ideology were out of touch with reality. A case in point was his "income-led growth policy" which led to a decrease in jobs and hurt smaller businesses. Another example was Moon's much-avowed nuclear phase-out policy which has dealt a serious blow to the country's atomic energy industry with power generation costs running high. The Moon government has divided the nation sharply between progressives and conservatives, deepening social and political conflicts. It pitted its supporters against its opponents by appointing Moon's confidant Cho Kuk as justice minister amid the prosecution's investigation into corruption and fraud allegations surrounding his family. Moon's government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) have been slammed for using double standards. They had resorted to divisive politics and unilateralism, instead of promoting bipartisanship, compromise and national harmony. In a nutshell, the country has suffered setbacks in the rule of law and democracy under Moon's rule. His government and party had weakened the prosecution in the name of prosecutorial reform in order to prevent it from investigating corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. The DPK railroaded two controversial bills to deprive the prosecution of its investigative powers, and President Moon signed them into law with only six days before his retirement. All these represented a retreat from democracy and degeneration into outdated politics. Now the Yoon government should learn from the policy failures of its predecessor. It needs to make a difference by sticking to the basic principles of democracy. Yoon should not repeat the same mistakes of Moon. He must keep his promise to end the country's "imperial" presidency and bring the people together for national unity. It is also imperative for him to forge cooperative ties with opposition parties. We hope Yoon will be a successful president. Channel 10's political editor Peter van Onselen will front the network's election night coverage with The Project anchor Waleed Aly on May 21. It will be a 'joint The Project/10 News First' broadcast, with newsreader Sandra Sully also lined up to co-host alongside a panel consisting of journalist Jan Fran, Social Services Minister Anne Ruston, NSW Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes, and Labor politicians Stephen Jones and Ed Husic, reports The Australian's Media Diary. PvO's on-air reunion with Aly is notable considering he is rumoured to have a frosty relationship with the other presenters on The Project - namely Lisa Wilkinson and Carrie Bickmore, who publicly chided van Onselen, 46, in January over a column he wrote criticising former Australian of the Year Grace Tame. Front and centre: Channel 10's political editor Peter van Onselen (pictured) will front the network's election night coverage with The Project anchor Waleed Aly on May 21 Aly and van Onselen last co-hosted 10's election night coverage in 2019. They infamously called an early victory for Labor leader Bill Shorten before his eventual loss to Scott Morrison. 'There's no way that Scott Morrison can win it and I'm happy to have that replayed time and time again to my shame if he does win it,' van Onselen said at the time. Aly also said on the night: 'I'm expecting it to fall around 81 [seats for Labor]. I'm basing that on things I've heard from people who should know.' Back in the fold: PvO's reunion with Aly (pictured) is notable considering he is said to have a frosty relationship with the other presenters on The Project - namely Carrie Bickmore and Lisa Wilkinson, who publicly chided him in January over a column he wrote criticising Grace Tame Back in January, Bickmore and guest journalist Amy Remeikis tore shreds off van Onselen live on The Project after he wrote a column for The Australian criticising Grace Tame for her 'immature' behaviour around Scott Morrison at The Lodge. Tame, 27, a left-wing activist and advocate for survivors of sexual assault, had scowled and refused to look the PM in the eye while meeting him and wife Jenny at a morning tea for this year's Australian of the Year finalists. Van Onselen said Tame should have just stayed home if she couldn't be polite, but Bickmore and Remeikis felt this was not an acceptable opinion and questioned why he'd written the piece. Angry: Back in January, Bickmore (right) and guest journalist Amy Remeikis tore shreds off van Onselen (left) live on The Project after he wrote a column for The Australian criticising Grace Tame for her 'immature' behaviour around Scott Morrison at The Lodge Scowl: Van Onselen, reflecting the view of mainstream Australia, said Tame (right) should have just stayed home if she couldn't be polite, but Bickmore and Remeikis felt this was not an acceptable opinion and questioned why he'd written the piece After the tense segment aired, fellow Project presenter Wilkinson publicly sided with Tame in a gushing Instagram post. 'Thank you, Grace. Thank you for always speaking your truth. Thank you for never wavering from your passionate fight for justice for survivors of sexual assault,' she wrote. 'Thank you for doing everything within your power to make sure over the last 12 months that those in charge were listening, and acting on much-needed change.' 'Thank you for always speaking your truth': After the tense segment aired, fellow Project presenter Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) publicly sided with Tame in a gushing Instagram post She continued to thank both Tame and fellow advocate for survivors of sexual abuse Brittany Higgins for their tireless campaigning. 'Grace, the imprint you leave as Australian of the Year will be felt for generations to come,' Wilkinson said. 'Finally, and most importantly, Grace, thank you for making noise just like you promised you would.' Wilkinson's post came amid 'swirling industry rumours of historical tension' between her and van Onselen, according to News.com.au. Speaking out: A third Project presenter, Tommy Little (pictured), weighed in on the dispute on the Hit Network radio show he co-hosts with Bickmore. He said van Onselen's take was 'stupid' A third Project presenter, Tommy Little, later weighed in on the dispute on the Hit Network radio show he co-hosts with Bickmore. During a debrief with Remeikis two days after her on-air clash with van Onselen, Little asked: 'Is this exactly what the bigger problem is all the time in that there are real issues at play here, and then you've got guys chiming in and diverting attention away to stupid things by saying somethings immature?' He has also been named in a lawsuit by former 10 press gallery journalist Tegan George in her action against the network alleging she was subjected to a toxic culture of bullying during her time under van Onselen at the Canberra bureau. He is one of several senior employees named in the lawsuit which claims the station failed to provide a safe working environment. Gogglebox star Jenny Newby missed out on the star-studded BAFTA Television Awards on Sunday after heading to hospital just days before for an operation. The unlucky timing meant that the 66-year-old star was missing from the stage while the show bagged the Constructed Reality award. In true Gogglebox fashion, Jenny had to watch the joyous moment on TV - but this time from hospital as she recovers from the 'minor' operation. Under the weather: Gogglebox star Jenny Newby, 66, was forced to watch the show's BAFTA win on Sunday from hospital, after being rushed for a minor operation just days before According to The Sun, Jenny's co-star Lee Riley explained backstage: 'Jenny was supposed to be here, but she's had to have a minor operation. 'It came this week and she couldn't turn it down. She's actually still in hospital so she'll be watching from there from her hospital bed.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Jenny and Gogglebox for comment. Lee appeared on stage without Jenny on Sunday afternoon to accept the award, but was joined by his other cast-mates and crew. No show: The unlucky timing meant that the star was missing from the stage while the show bagged the Constructed Reality award Crew: However, the show's production team and other cast-members were out in full force to accept the award Op: According to The Sun, Jenny's co-star Lee Riley explained backstage: 'Jenny was supposed to be here, but she's had to have a minor operation Showing his gratitude for the win, he said: 'It's a pleasure to be stood here this evening. To collect this award for past and present families who have been on Gogglebox. 'It's an honour to get it for them. We'd like to thank Channel 4, as usual - thank you so much. And of course, Studio Lambert, and the production team. The crews who go up and down the country every weekday to make us look better than what we are. So thank you.' Lee looked dapper for the ceremony, donning a satin blazer with gold embellishing covering one half. Bed-ridden: Lee explained that Jenny is 'actually still in a hospital bed' (pictured together last year) Dressed up: Lee looked dapper for the ceremony, donning a satin blazer with gold embellishing covering one half Proud: The production team took to the backstage red carpet to pose for a snap after winning the award Gogglebox creator Stephen Lambert then took the stage to explain that the channel took a 'chance' on the show, and urged the government to keep it public. But despite the speech, fans were confused as to why Jenny wasn't on stage - taking to Twitter to express their wonder. Some also asked why other stars of the show were missing, such as Pete and Sophie Sandiford. A pair who did grace the BAFTA stage was couple Mica Ven and Marcus Luther - who sported matching ensembles for the evening. They posed for a series of red carpet snaps with Lee, as they held onto their newly acclaimed trophy. Confused: But despite the speech, fans were confused as to why Jenny wasn't on stage - taking to Twitter to express their wonder Nine News reporter Jerrie Demasi is expecting her first child with husband Michael Genovese. Jerrie announced the happy news on Instagram on Friday, sharing a photo of herself revealing her growing bump in a loose linen shirt while holding a papaya. 'Been busy growing a papaya-sized human. We can't wait to meet you little one,' she wrote in the caption. Expecting: Nine News reporter Jerrie Demasi has announced she is expecting her first child The journalist, who is six months pregnant, also wrote an essay for 9Honey in which she addressed common mistakes people make when dealing with pregnant women. She criticised people for taking up her personal space, and said it was particularly annoying when strangers think it's acceptable to touch her tummy. 'I've spent the last 34 years being beaten over the head by society warning me that it's not acceptable for a person to come up and put their hands on my body unannounced,' she said. No touching: The journalist, who is six months pregnant, also wrote an essay for 9Honey in which she addressed common mistakes people make when dealing with pregnant women 'So why, pray tell, does everyone think it's okay to touch my stomach now that it's a bloated cranky ball of baby?' Jerrie also said it wasn't acceptable to comment on a pregnant woman's appearance. 'Imagine telling a woman pre-pregnancy, "You are HUGE" or "You're tiny - are you sure you're eating enough?"' she said. Body matters: Jerrie said it wasn't acceptable to comment on a pregnant woman's appearance Following her baby announcement on Instagram, Jerrie was inundated with well-wishes from her friends at Channel Nine. 'Gorgeous woman! You look incredible! Can't wait to meet bubba,' Perth reporter Natalia Cooper commented. 'Congratulations to you both,' Today show weatherman Tim Davies added. 'Yeeeew! This is going to be one good looking baby! Congratulations, cuties!' Scherri-Lee Biggs wrote. Congratulations: Following her baby announcement on Instagram, Jerrie was inundated with well-wishes from her friends at Channel Nine. (Pictured with her husband Michael Genovese) Jerrie famously criticised Western Australia premier Mark McGowan in January when he backflipped on his promise to reopen the borders. The LA-based journo tweeted: 'Heartbroken. I may now missed my sister's wedding. 'Triple vaxxed. Negative PCR. We've done everything you asked, Mark McGowan.' She's very close to her wildlife-loving family. And on Sunday, Bindi Irwin shared a sweet tribute to her one-year-old daughter Grace Warrior as she celebrated Mother's Day in Australia. The conservationist, 23, posted a photo on Instagram of herself with her baby girl, and wrote: 'Grateful every minute of every day that this beautiful girl chose me to be her mama.' Proud mum: Bindi Irwin shared a tribute to her 'beautiful' daughter Grace Warrior as she celebrated Mother's Day in Australia on Sunday 'Grace Warrior, I'm in awe of your kind heart, thoughtful mind and strong soul. You're going to achieve incredible things in this world, my little love,' she added. 'I'm thankful that I get to walk beside you on your journey. And I'll always be here to hold your hand along the way. I love you.' Bindi's husband Chandler Powell also posted a gushing message for his wife to mark the special day. Gratitude: 'Grateful every minute of every day that this beautiful girl chose me to be her mama. Grace Warrior, I'm in awe of your kind heart, thoughtful mind and strong soul. You're going to achieve incredible things in this world, my little love,' she wrote 'It's only your second Mother's Day and yet it feels like you've been Grace's mama forever. We love you so much and appreciate the selfless things you do for us every day. Grace and I love you so much,' he wrote on Instagram. Bindi and Chandler welcomed their daughter on March 25, 2021, which coincidentally was the couple's first wedding anniversary. 'March 25, 2021. Celebrating the two loves of my life. Happy first wedding anniversary to my sweetheart husband and day of birth to our beautiful daughter,' the proud mum said at the time. Family: Bindi and her husband Chandler Powell welcomed their daughter on March 25, 2021, which coincidentally was the couple's first wedding anniversary Bindi also paid tribute to her mum Terri Irwin in a Mother's Day post on Instagram. She shared a throwback image of herself as a child alongside her 57-year-old mother. 'The strongest, most loving and caring woman in the world,' Bindi wrote in her caption. 'Mum, I love you more than I can possibly describe. 'I am forever in awe of the remarkable person you are. Thank you for being my best friend from the moment I can remember.' Strictly's Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington were seen stepping out of their hotel during the professionals tour in Birmingham on Sunday - before dazzling in steamy dance on stage together. Dancer Nadiya, 32, looked chic in a nude dress and white coat as she headed out in the morning, followed by Kai, 26, a short while after. It comes after earlier this week the pair were pictured involved in what looked like a very heated conversation as they stepped out amid the ongoing tour. Fun: Strictly's Nadiya Bychkova and Kai Widdrington were seen stepping out of their hotel during the professionals tour in Birmingham on Sunday - before dazzling in steamy dance on stage together On Sunday Nadiya cut a stylish display in her figure-hugging dress which she teamed with the long coat. She completed her outfit with comfy white trainers while accessorising with sunglasses and wearing her blonde tresses in loose waves. Meanwhile Kai looked very casual in a black tracksuit and appeared to be in a sombre mood while carrying his coffee. Stars: During the Birmingham part of the tour on Sunday night the pair dazzled as they danced together in a steamy routine Stepping out: Dancer Nadiya, 32, looked chic in a nude dress and white coat as she headed out in the morning, followed an hour and a half after Kai, 26 Oh no: It comes after earlier this week the pair were pictured involved in what looked like a very heated conversation as they stepped out amid the ongoing tour Earlier this week the pair seemed less than amused as they arrived at their hotel in Birmingham for the tour. The two Strictly Come Dancing Stars stars, who are thought to have been dating since January, seemed to be entangled in a heated conversation. Nadiya held her head low as she looked visibly distressed, while Kai walked ahead of her pushing suitcases and looking back over his shoulder. Here she is: On Sunday Nadiya cut a stylish display in her figure-hugging dress which she teamed with the long coat The pair exchanged a number of glum glances at one another, as Nadiya furrowed her eyebrows. Kai then reportedly ran ahead into the hotel with his luggage, while his girlfriend hung back walking slower. Others seemed to be walking alongside them, with Kai repeatedly turning around to face a seemingly upset Nadiya. Tired? Meanwhile Kai looked very casual in a black tracksuit and appeared to be in a sombre mood while carrying his coffee The dancing duo have been travelling the UK for the tour, and they were set to perform in Birmingham's Symphony Hall on Sunday. The display came just a day after Kai and Nadiya were spotted hand-in-hand enjoying a stroll through Liverpool. Reports have even said that the pair have taken the next step in their relationship and moved in together after going Instagram official with their romance earlier this month. Wow! The stars of the BBC One dancing show have been touring the UK with their moves Dazzling: Fans have been delighted by the professionals tour show in recent weeks Seven News is a regular ratings winner for Australia's leading television network. But the free-to-air broadcaster suffered an embarrassing publicity fail last week when one of its electronic billboards was rolled out with a glaring mistake. The sign over Sydney's Parramatta Road showed newsreader Mark Ferguson's face alongside the Latin text 'LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET CONSEC ETUR.' Faux pas: Channel Seven suffered an embarrassing publicity fail when one of its billboards was rolled out with a glaring mistake. (Pictured: Seven News Sydney anchor Mark Ferguson) The text, which comprised a nonsensical Latin phrase, is commonly used as placeholder copy in graphic designs, reports The Australian. It is almost always intended to be replaced before the final product is displayed; however, an apparent oversight saw the billboard rolled out over the busy thoroughfare without the text having been substituted. Channel Seven insiders said it was 'a stuff-up from the billboard company' rather than the fault of the network. Whoops! The sign over Sydney's Parramatta Road showed newsreader Mark Ferguson's face alongside the words 'LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET CONSEC ETUR'. The text, which comprised a nonsensical Latin phrase, is commonly used as placeholder copy in graphic designs. The mix-up was reportedly the fault of the billboard company, not Channel Seven The Parramatta Road mix-up comes after Seven News topped Sunday's ratings with 879,000 metro viewers. But Channel Nine scored a rare overall win thanks to strong showings from Lego Masters Australia (664,000) and 60 Minutes: The Leaders' Debate (641,000). Last week was a different story, however, with Nine's flagship breakfast show Today losing another ratings battle. Low views: Nine's flagship breakfast show Today came third behind Channel Seven's Sunrise and ABC News Breakfast every day last week, reported The Guardian. (Pictured: Ally Langdon) The program came third behind Channel Seven's Sunrise and ABC News Breakfast every day last week, reported The Guardian. The ratings slide was documented by OzTAM, marking more bad news for the show. It comes after reports Karl Stefanovic and Allison Langdon were told to 'shape up or ship out' ahead of the new ratings season. Big year: It comes after reports Karl Stefanovic (left) and Allison Langdon (right) were told to 'shape up or ship out' ahead of the new ratings season According to The Sunday Telegraph, executives planned to throw 'everything but the kitchen sink' at the flagging program. A source said Nine bosses intended to make a number of changes, including bringing in Perth reporter Scherri-Lee Biggs as a full-time weather presenter. Brooke Boney could also be made a 'roving reporter' for the show. Just weeks after hosting the Oscars, Amy Schumer is revealing the one joke The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences wouldn't let her say. The 40-year-old comedienne performed at the Netflix Is A Joke: The Festival in Los Angeles where she revealed a sexually-charged joke that worked in a number of Oscar-nominated films. This is actually the second joke that the Academy wouldn't let her tell, revealing last month that an Alec Baldwin joke was not to be told during her monologue. Joke: Just weeks after hosting the Oscars, Amy Schumer is revealing the one joke The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences wouldn't let her say Oscars: This is actually the second joke that the Academy wouldn't let her tell, revealing last month that an Alec Baldwin joke was not to be told during her monologue Schumer was performing in Los Angeles on Friday, clad in a white top and a black knee-length skirt and heels when she told the joke the Academy wouldn't allow. 'This was a bit that the Oscars did say no, I couldn't say, and I loved it, so, OK, here it is, I don't know why they said no,' Schumer said to the crowd. 'So my husband was going down on me,' she began, as the audience immediately laughed at the bit. Performance: Schumer was performing in Los Angeles on Friday, clad in a white top and a black knee-length skirt and heels when she told the joke the Academy wouldn't allow Going down: 'So my husband was going down on me,' she began, as the audience immediately laughed at the bit 'Or as he calls it, Squid Game. So, he's in my Nightmare Alley, my House of Gucci, and I say, C'mon C'Mon,' she adds, referencing the Oscar-nominated movies. 'He goes tick... tick... BOOM! He Belfast, I say get off my Dune, and that's how our son was born,' she concluded. She added, 'What do you think?' as the crowd applauded, adding, 'Could you believe they said no to that? Can you even believe it?' Joke: 'Or as he calls it, Squid Game. So, he's in my Nightmare Alley, my House of Gucci, and I say, C'mon C'Mon,' she adds, referencing the Oscar-nominated movies Believe it: She added, 'What do you think?' as the crowd applauded, adding, 'Could you believe they said no to that? Can you even believe it?' The joke comes just weeks after she set the record straight about another joke she claimed in a Las Vegas performance that her lawyer told her not to say. 'Dont Look Up is the name of a movie, more like dont look down the barrel of Alec Baldwins shotgun,' Schumer said in Vegas, referencing the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the Alec Baldwin movie Rust. She also added jokes about Joe Rogan and James Franco before adding, 'I wasn't allowed to say any of that [at the Oscars], but you can just come up and [clock] someone,' referencing Will Smith's now-infamous slap of Chris Rock. Record: The joke comes just weeks after she set the record straight about another joke she claimed in a Las Vegas performance that her lawyer told her not to say Schumer set the record straight on Instagram days later, revealing, 'I also was never going to say the Alec Baldwin joke at the Oscar's [sic]. But I am saying anything I want at my live shows. Hope you come out.' 'Link in bio for tickets to my shows. I'm touring august through the holidays!' she added on Instagram. Just a day after telling that joke, Schumer also revealed that she had to cancel her Saturday performance at the festival because she tested positive for COVID-19. Never: Schumer set the record straight on Instagram days later, revealing, 'I also was never going to say the Alec Baldwin joke at the Oscar's [sic]. But I am saying anything I want at my live shows. Hope you come out' Molly-Mae Hague shared a gushing post to wish her boyfriend Tommy Fury a happy birthday on Saturday. The boxer was celebrating turning 23, as the pair headed to amusement park Six Flags Magic Mountain in California, continuing their USA getaway. Sharing a post with her beau to Instagram, 22-year-old Molly-Mae wrote: 'Happy born day baby! I love you !' Happy Birthday! Molly-Mae Hague shared a gushing post for Tommy Fury's 23rd birthday on Saturday The pair were ever the tourists in the shots, posing in front of the iconic Hollywood sign before sharing a kiss. The influencer also shared the post to her story, writing 'my boy is 23 today'. It was a day of food as the pair celebrated the sportsman's birthday, starting the day off at iHop, Tommy's favourite stateside restaurant. Day out: The pair spent the day at Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park in California to celebrate, as they enjoy a US holiday Sweet: The pair were ever the tourists in the shots, posing in front of the iconic Hollywood sign before sharing a kiss Loved up: Gushing over her beau in the caption, Molly-Mae wrote: 'Happy born day baby' After enjoying a feast, which included pancakes, eggs and a burger - Tommy and Molly-Mae headed to Six Flags. They shared their typical amusement park lunch to Instagram, including chicken tenders, chips, onion rings and a stacked burger. Before ending the day at Cheesecake Factory, where Tommy posted a natural snap of his girlfriend across the table. Pancakes: It was a day of food as the pair celebrated the boxer's birthday, starting the day off at iHop, Tommy's favourite stateside restaurant Simple pleasures: The pair enjoyed a typical theme park lunch at Six Flags, which included chicken tenders, chips, onion rings and a burger Space for dessert: They then ended the day at Cheesecake Factory, where Tommy posted a bare-faced snap of his girlfriend across the table Detailing moments from the day, Molly-Mae shared that she had 'always wanted' to visit the theme park, revealing that they went on every ride. Tommy took to his own Instagram grid, telling his 4million followers that he was 'blessed' - as he posed beside their rental car in Los Angeles. The couple, who appeared on Love Island in 2019, jetted off to the US earlier this week to enjoy a well-deserved holiday after Tommy's intense training for his fight against Daniel Bocianski. Thrill seekers: The couple had a ball at the amusement park, admitting they went on every ride Pose: Taking to his own Instagram grid, Tommy posed in front of the Hollywood sign by their rental car for some snaps Grateful: The boxer said he was 'blessed' in the caption as he celebrated his special day The boxer was in training for the fight alongside his heavyweight champion brother Tyson Fury, as both brothers took home a win at Wembley. Taking the chance for some quality time together, Tommy and Molly-Mae have been hitting all the US theme-parks - visiting Universal Studios on Thursday. Molly-Mae described the trip to Universal as 'one of the best days of my life', as they shared a slew of snaps from the day. Dream: Detailing moments from the day, Molly-Mae shared that she had 'always wanted' to visit the theme park With acting royalty for parents, outsiders might assume the only child of Dame Judi Dench and her late husband Michael Williams would have the world at her feet. Not so, says Finty Williams and she knows who is to blame. Miss Williams, 49, joked that she has spent three decades struggling to get a role with the Royal Shakespeare Company because her mother has already played them. Ive never worked there, she told the My Time Capsule podcast. Not for want of trying but, you know, its the big dream, Ill still hang on to it. Mummy's girl: Finty Williams (right), 49, joked that she has spent three decades struggling to get a role with the Royal Shakespeare Company because her mother has already played them Ive been working for 32 years now and they still dont want me, which is absolutely fine. When asked if she is owed a role with the Stratford company, she said: Well Im not sure. I also do think a certain member of my family has got in there and played all the parts that I could now play. And amazingly rather well. Dame Judi, 87, made her RSC debut as Anya in The Cherry Orchard in 1961 before starring in Twelfth Night and Macbeth. She later carved out an equally stellar film career. Old school: Dame Judi, 87, made her RSC debut as Anya in The Cherry Orchard in 1961 before starring in Twelfth Night and Macbeth Miss Williams grew up in Charlecote, outside of Stratford-upon-Avon, where her mother made her RSC debut. Stratford is an extraordinary place and my best friend still lives there and two great friends of mine live in Stratford and its very odd whenever I go back, she said. I honestly feel like Im going home. I havent lived there since I was 12, but its so familiar and theres just a feeling about it thats like a little bubble of wonderfulness that sits over that town that is just extraordinary. And my dad and three of my grandparents are now buried in the graveyard next to Charlecote Park. Sad: Dame Judi had her daughter admitted to rehab in 2001, two weeks after the death of her father which saw her turn to alcohol to cope Miss Williams has enjoyed a handful of television roles as well as starring alongside her mother in films including The Importance of Being Earnest, Mrs Brown and Ladies in Lavender. Dame Judi had her daughter admitted to rehab in 2001, two weeks after the death of her father which saw her turn to alcohol to cope. Speaking about it, Miss Williams said: I have been sober for 16 years. I got to a stage where I had to go to rehab. I had to do something about it. I was told about this place in Arizona called Cottonwood du Tucson. The unit is a holistic health centre which treats mental health and substance use disorder. He's set to welcome his first child with his fiancee Tegan Kynaston. And Kyle Sandilands debuted his edgy new mohawk hairstyle as he strolled through Perth Airport with Tegan on Saturday after they enjoyed a romantic getaway ahead of the arrival of their baby. The radio host, 50, sported a new mohawk as he pushed a large cart loaded with his luggage. New look: Kyle Sandilands debuted an edgy mohawk hairstyle as he strolled through Perth Airport with his heavily pregnant fiancee Tegan Kynaston on Saturday Hairstyle: The radio host, 50, sported a new mohawk as he pushed a large cart loaded with his luggage Kyle dressed casually for the flight in black shorts, a matching coloured jumper and black sneakers. Meanwhile, Tegan covered her growing baby bump in a green jumper as she pushed a suitcase alongside her beau. The blonde beauty, 26, completed her ensemble with tiny black shorts and a pair of white chunky sandals. Casual: Kyle dressed casually for the flight in black shorts, a matching coloured jumper and black sneakers Style: Tegan covered her growing baby bump in a green jumper as she pushed a suitcase alongside her beau The couple, who got engaged in Port Douglas over the Christmas holidays, announced Tegan was expecting in February. 'We're having a baby!' Kyle declared on air on February 14, as the entire KIIS FM studio cheered. That same month, they held a lavish gender reveal party on a yacht on Sydney Harbour with guests including John Ibrahim and Kyle's KIIS FM co-host Jackie O. Accessories: The blonde beauty, 26, completed her ensemble with tiny black shorts and a pair of white chunky sandals The expectant couple hired a superyacht for the occasion and arranged for planes flying overhead to release blue smoke indicating they're having a baby boy. Kyle had previously said on air he wanted to have a girl or a 'little gay son'. He also praised his partner's 'beautiful, big, meaty t***ies' since becoming pregnant. Before dating Tegan, Kyle was with ex-girlfriend Imogen Anthony for eight years until they called it quits in 2019. Exciting news: The couple, who got engaged in Port Douglas over the Christmas holidays, announced Tegan was expecting in February By Deauwand Myers Conservatives across advanced democracies share a similar ideology. They believe in "less government," smaller social safety nets, neoliberal economic policies, and are hostile to workers' rights while fetishizing concentrated wealth and free markets. But no conservative political party in any democratic country is as radical and unhinged as the American Republicans (henceforth called the GOP, or Grand Old Party). In George R. Tyler's excellent book, "Billionaire Democracy," he quotes two economic scholars, progressive Thomas Mann and conservative Norman Ornstein, about this startling transformation of the GOP circa the Reagan era onwards. They argue, "We have no choice but to acknowledge that the core of the problem [of wealth inequality in America] lies with the Republican Party ... The GOP has become ideologically extreme; contemptuous of the inherited social and economic policy regime; scornful of compromise; unpersuaded by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition." Chillingly accurate, and this text was written in 2012. What a difference a decade makes. Now, you have GOP elected officials believing or feigning the belief in disgraced ex-President Trump's "Big Lie" that the 2020 election was "stolen;" that the Jan. 6 attack on the Capital was minor, when it really was a violent, deadly coup attempt to prevent President Biden and Vice President Harris from assuming office; that climate change is fictional or overblown; that white, ethno-fascist racists are acceptable, and that global adversaries like President Putin are "smart" and admirable. It all would be laughable if it weren't for the fact that the GOP is one of the two major political parties in America the most consequential, wealthy, powerful nation in world history. (Trump, after all, had full access to the nuclear launch codes). I suggest a few additions to Tyler's book. First, yes we can argue that Reaganomics ravaged the middle classes of America and turbocharged concentrated wealth (often through tax policies, which as someone who owns stock, I can see every year where any passive income from my stocks and dividends is taxed at 15 percent, while most regular workers in America are taxed at much higher rates). The wealthiest Americans mainly get their income through stocks via dividends and the trade of stocks therein. Yes, President Reagan demonized the poor, and since then, poverty in America has been seen as a sin of the individual, instead of what it actually is: a sin of the state. But to place all the blame on Reagan and Trump is ahistorical at worst, or incomplete at best. The GOP was against all the social welfare programs championed by Franklin D. Roosevelt generations ago, and at least since the failed presidential bid of anti-civil rights icon Senator Barry Goldwater, expressed a virulent disdain of civil rights and the social progress of people of color and women. Republican President Nixon's Southern Strategy was a subtle and diabolically effective play to address white angst and fear of the progressive changes of the 1960s. Effectively, the GOP became what some Democrats were in earlier years: a party of white nationalism, xenophobia, anti-Blackness, and increasingly, greed. Trump simply married the social and economic leanings of the party in a distilled and exceedingly unpolished fashion, unleashing the slimy bile that's been percolating across vast swaths of America for a very, very long time. The low quality of democracy in America owes itself through more than the string of bad GOP presidents. From the start, American politicians were wary of majoritarian rule, and that, along with the many concessions given to Southern states to accommodate chattel bondage (the enslavement of people as property), makes meaningful policy changes difficult to achieve. This situation is why America is the only advanced democracy in the world not to have universal healthcare, childcare, paid parental leave, and generous unemployment benefits. All of these programs are wildly popular with the American people, but, particularly in the GOP, not so popular with hyper-wealthy donors and business lobbyists who give the party a great deal of money. These dynamics are how a young democracy like Korea can impeach and imprison a corrupt president, while Trump is still free. We have in the GOP a party that's power-hungry, venal, mendacious, cruel and unsympathetic to even the basic needs of the vast majority of the electorate even of their own constituents. Worse, the false claims of voter fraud have made all elections seem "fraudulent" (of course, only if the Republican candidate loses). This situation means, for the foreseeable future and for 35 to 40 percent of all voting Americans, any Democratic president or Congress will be deemed illegitimate by the GOP. This situation is deadly for a democracy a concern shared by far too few GOP officials in states and in Washington. Income inequality, weak democratic institutions, and poor policy outcomes are the results of more than just billionaires, but in aggregate, at least half of American government has been absorbed by the wealthy and big business and their interests. There's a word for that: captured. Deauwand Myers (deauwand@hotmail.com) holds a master's degree in English literature and literary theory, and is an English professor outside of Seoul. She has been banned from Instagram several times because of her raunchy content. And OnlyFans model Mikaela Testa pushed the envelope once again on Sunday when she stripped down to a barely there bikini on TikTok. The influencer, 21, struggled to contain her ample assets as she showcased her hourglass figure while bouncing around her bedroom. Flawless: Influencer and OnlyFans model Mikaela Testa stripped down to a tiny green bikini in a racy video shared on TikTok on Sunday The tiny two-piece drew attention to her eye-popping cleavage, curvy hips and flat stomach as she sashayed in front of the camera. She performed a number of suggestive twists and turns. Mikaela opted for a glossy makeup palette and styled her long dark hair in waves for the pulse-racing clip. Pulses racing: The tiny two-piece drew attention to her eye-popping cleavage, curvy hips and flat stomach as she sashayed in front of the camera It comes after Mikaela came clean about her various cosmetic surgeries. She posted a link to a video of Gold Coast surgeon Dr Mitchell Kim explaining the procedures he had performed on her. 'Mikaela showing off her body contouring perfection,' Dr Kim explained. Sultry: Mikaela opted for a glossy makeup palette and styled her long dark hair in waves 'Vaser lipo to her midsection and arms, and a fat transfer to her hip dips to create this jaw-dropping silhouette,' he said. Vaser liposuction uses ultrasound technology to break apart fat cells and loosens them from deeper tissues. It is considered more targeted than traditional forms of liposuction. Oh, my! The bombshell certainly wasn't shy as she modelled the slinky swimwear Mikaela previously had her Instagram account deleted due to her raunchy content with boyfriend Atis Paul, who later begged for it to be reinstated. 'My girlfriend's Instagram account has been deleted again. Does anyone here have true connections to someone at Instagram? If you do, please HMU,' he wrote. The 21-year-old crypto bro followed this up with a second post that read: 'Please no one message me saying you know someone that's gotten accounts back, they're all BS [bulls**t]. Please only HMU if you have a real connection.' Blacklisted: Mikaela previously had her Instagram account deleted due to her raunchy content with boyfriend Atis Paul, who later begged for it to be reinstated According to Instagram's terms of service, accounts that violate the platform's community guidelines may be permanently banned without warning. Mikaela, who makes more than $162,000 per month selling X-rated images and videos on OnlyFans, is no stranger to having her social media accounts deactivated. In 2020, she was banned from TikTok for breaching 'multiple community guidelines'. She publicly disputed the ban, telling News Corp she hadn't done anything wrong and insisting she had been unfairly penalised by TikTok's 'automatic scanner'. She is expecting her first child with her husband Alex in June. And Olivia Bowen, 28, looked every inch the gorgeous mother-to-be as she showcased her growing baby bump in a skimpy blue bikini on Sunday. The former Love Island star's defiant snap comes after she revealed that she'd been shamed for posting pregnancy snaps in her underwear. Blooming love;y: Olivia Bowen, 28, looked every inch the gorgeous mother-to-be as she showcased her growing baby bump in a skimpy blue bikini on Sunday Olivia was simply glowing as she displayed her pregnancy figure in the swimwear while promoting a fake tan range. The TV personality tenderly cradled her burgeoning bump while posing for a duo of bathroom snaps. Olivia sported glamorous make-up and bronzed skin for the images, while her cropped blonde locks were left to loosely fall about her shoulders. In her caption, she noted that the application of fake tan made her 'feel good' and gave her an 'extra confidence boost' amid her pregnancy. Gorgeous: Olivia was simply glowing as she displayed her pregnancy figure in the swimwear while promoting a fake tan range It comes after Olivia revealed that she has been shamed by cruel trolls for posting pictures in her underwear throughout her pregnancy. The TV personality recently opened up about the harsh judgement she has received for sharing snaps to social media of herself in lingerie while pregnant. She admitted she felt judged from the moment she announced her pregnancy as she said there are always people who criticise her and her husband Alex's decisions. Speaking to the C&G baby club for their #LoveDontJudge campaign, Olivia said: 'You get judged as soon as you announce your pregnancy and there are always people who aren't so happy for you, and we were judged, straight away.' Critical: It comes after Olivia revealed that she has been shamed by cruel trolls for posting pictures in her underwear throughout her pregnancy as she spoke alongside Alex The expectant mother admitted she is no stranger to judgement, having experienced trolling ever since leaving the Love Island villa, as she spoke about being slammed for her underwear snaps. She said to Alex: 'We've had it for a long time haven't we? Being judged about different things. 'The one that annoys me the most that I had quite early on in my pregnancy was 'you shouldn't be posting in underwear'.' Alex, who also appeared in the campaign, admitted he has been criticised for DJing, saying people have told him he won't be able to continue when his baby is born, despite his plans to pursue music as a career. Olivia also spoke about other decisions that parents are judged for, including giving their baby a dummy, as she added: 'The list is actually endless of what you get judged for.' Hate: She admitted she felt judged from the moment she announced her pregnancy as she said there are always people who criticise her and her husband Alex's decisions She went on to urge people to 'think twice' before writing a judgemental comment on social media. While Alex added: 'I think it's time to be more supportive and less judgemental.' In the video, Oliver and Alex spoke in front of a white wall with several comments written across it in support of C&G baby clubs latest awareness campaign. From a study, seven in 10 parents said they feel judged on a regular basis on how they choose to give birth and raise their child. The reality stars are helping promote #LoveDontJudge, which aims to raise awareness of the damaging effects of parental judgement and provide tips, impartial advice, and support through articles and a dedicated careline. Harsh comments: Olivia admitted that cruel trolls' critical comments have made her feel 'scared' and question her ability as she called for people to be less judgemental Olivia shared the happy news she was pregnant with her first child with Alex on New Year's Day. The couple previously revealed they are not finding out the sex of the baby before it is born in June, and wanted their nursery to be 'gender neutral'. Earlier this year, Olivia told MailOnline of her pregnancy: 'I'm so excited to become a Mum. 'It feels very surreal still to even say it, but we both can't wait for the next part of our lives. Alex is going to be the best dad - he's so caring, kind and a big kid at heart. Exciting: Olivia shared the happy news she was pregnant with her first child with Alex on New Year's Day Birth: The couple previously revealed they are not finding out the sex of the baby before it is born in June, and wanted their nursery to be 'gender neutral' 'My pregnancy is going really fast; We still both can't quite believe it's happening. 'We're having to stop ourselves buying all the baby clothes at the moment, we just get too excited. 'Our family and friends were so shocked when we told them, but I just knew very early on, you know your body. We're not going to find out what we're having, I think the surprise will make it extra special.' Olivia and Alex, formerly a sales executive and scaffolder respectively, soared to fame in 2016 when they appeared on the ITV2 reality show, where she was an original star and he, a late and extremely popular entrant. After leaving the villa their romance soon when from strength to strength and Alex popped the question in New York in 2016. Loved-up couple Olivia and Alex tied the knot in a luxurious Essex ceremony two years after meeting on Love Island during series two. TV veterans were reportedly unimpressed to learn they would be sharing the screen with D-list reality stars on Seven News Spotlight: The Fame Game, which aired on Sunday night. The show, which explored the ups and downs of fame and featured a host of stars from across the celebrity spectrum, brought together the likes of Rowena Wallace and Tony Barber with MAFS stars Melissa Rawson and Bryce Ruthven, former Biggest Loser host Ajay Rochester and socialite Brynne Edelsten. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the 'showbiz elders' objected to appearing alongside lesser stars, and were especially unhappy to learn that Bryce and Melissa had been put up at a 'swankier hotel'. Drama: TV veterans were reportedly unimpressed to learn they would be sharing the screen with D-list reality stars on Seven News Spotlight: The Fame Game. (Pictured: Rowena Wallace) What's more, all the participants were reportedly paid just $1,000 each to appear on the special, regardless of their showbusiness pedigree. Ruthven, 32, has since denied these claims, telling Daily Mail Australia all interstate guests were put up at the same hotel during production. 'Rowena was in the room next to us and she was the biggest name there,' he said. 'They were all lovely too us as well. They were fascinated by our story and how it all worked out for us.' Claims: According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the 'showbiz elders' objected to appearing alongside lesser stars, and were especially unhappy to learn that MAFS stars Melissa Rawson (right) and Bryce Ruthven (left) had been put up at a 'swankier hotel' Report: All the participants were reportedly paid just $1,000 each to appear on the special, regardless of their showbusiness pedigree. (Pictured: Brynne Edelsten) During the Seven News special, Bryce and Melissa revealed they were targeted with death threats after appearing on Married At First Sight last year. Some of those threats were even aimed at their twin sons, Levi and Tate. 'They hoped my twins would die,' Melissa said. Bryce also revealed they'd been edited unfairly, saying: 'You think you know what you saw, but you have absolutely no idea.' Not true: Ruthven, 32, has since denied these claims, telling Daily Mail Australia all interstate guests were put up at the same hotel during production Trolled: During the Seven News special, Bryce and Melissa (pictured) revealed they were targeted with death threats after appearing on Married At First Sight last year The Fame Game included contributions from former TV host Ajay Rochester, socialite Brynne Edelsten, actor Cameron Daddo, and Home and Away star Ada Nicodemou, among others. Bryce and Melissa welcomed their twins in October 2021. The children were born 10 weeks premature but were able to come home from the NICU just in time for Christmas. Grace Rating: Beck Rating: Like a corporate Starsky and Hutch, Supt Roy Grace and his sergeant sat on the beach after solving their latest mystery, quaffing beer and cracking puns. They were celebrating the departure of a treacherous colleague, the Met's Cassian Pewe. He lost his taste for South Coast policing after nearly plunging over a cliff in a caravan, in Grace (ITV). 'Being here was pushing him over the edge,' chortled the Super (John Simm). His dutiful sidekick, DS Glen Branson (Richie Campbell) laughed till he nearly dropped his bag of chips. This was Grace and Branson letting their hair down still tightly buttoned into suit, collar and tie. The sarge even wears a waistcoat. That's the biggest problem with Grace, and almost every police series today. There's no glamour. 'Being here was pushing him over the edge,' chortled the Super (John Simm). His dutiful sidekick, DS Glen Branson (Richie Campbell) laughed till he nearly dropped his bag of chips Half a century ago, the knitwear, leather jackets and hairstyles sported by detectives Ken Hutchinson and Dave Starsky defined what it meant to be male in the 1970s when bubble perms were macho. Bay City's finest drove a red Gran Torino with a flash of white lightning. Supt Roy Grace drives a 15-year-old Alfa Romeo. And while Starsky & Hutch cruised the streets or talked jive with their informant Huggy Bear in his bar, our Brighton policeman spends most of his day at his desk, answering the phone and checking files on his computer. Though Grace is meant to be a maverick, he can't go beating up drug dealers or diving into swimming pools with movie starlets. His idea of bending the rules is to seek advice from a psychic who lives in a retirement bungalow. If he gets caught by his boss, Assistant Chief Constable Vosper (Rakie Ayola), she metes out a thin-lipped scolding like a nursery teacher telling off a four-year-old for making a mess. Voiceover of the weekend: Revealing the antics of sun bears, orangutans and hornbills on Eden: Untamed Planet (BB C2), narrator Helena Bonham Carter sounded breathless and entranced, as if she was reading a bedtime story. Perfect with a mug of cocoa. Advertisement Compare the two eras, 1970s and today, and you reach the inevitable conclusion that all the fun has been squeezed out of the 21st century. The original Grace novels by Peter James feature the unrepentant prejudices of DS Norman Potting, a man who made Jim Davidson look politically correct. Cleaned up for ITV, Potting's sulphurous jokes aren't so much off-colour as faintly magnolia, just a shade less than innocent. When he refers to breast implants as 'silicon norks' and 'the devil's dumplings', that's enough to send his fellow officers into fits of the vapours. Craig Parkinson, as the potty-mouthed Potting, is the best thing about this dour serial. He stole the show with a scene backstage at a nightclub, where he revealed a surprising knowledge of Dusty Springfield's greatest hits. His interrogation of a drag performer in a sequined blue dress supplied a rare moment of glamour. There's no glamour in Beck (BBC4), the subtitled Swedish police thriller back for an eighth season, but we don't expect that from the Scandinavians. Martin Beck (Peter Haber) is also confined to his desk, though that's to be expected. He's recovering from a brain tumour op and his grandson is now old enough to be a trainee copper. No wonder Martin's daughter Inger (Rebecka Hemse) has rented an allotment for him. At his age, a row of radishes ought to be enough excitement. He's still being waylaid by his neighbour (Ingvar Hirdwall) who regales him with shaggy dog stories this time, about drug-induced hallucinations in the Amazon. The murder investigation was securely plotted and somewhat mechanical, as Beck's always are. More intriguing are the simmering office romances and the return of Norwegian actor Kristofer Hivju, as rumbustious detective Steinar Hovland. Steinar is the kind of policeman who visits a prison just to bellow at old foes through the gates. You get the feeling he'd have enjoyed the 1970s. Being a wife, mother of three, an in-demand television and film actress, and leading your own production company, doesn't leave much time for things like romance. But on Sunday Ellen Pompeo and husband Chris Ivery made sure they spent some quality time on Mother's Day, which included heading out on a lunch date for two. Looking stylish and classy, the longtime Grey's Anatomy star, 52, was spotted moments after leaving a restaurant in the Studio City neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday. Quality time: Ellen Pompeo, 52, enjoyed a lunch date for two with her husband, Chris Ivery, as part of her Mother's Day celebration on Sunday Pompeo stepped out on her special day in a black and pink-patterned ensemble that consisted of loose fitting pants that fell to mid-calf and a matching button-down top. Making her way to their parked vehicle, she also donned a pair of gold open-toe shoes, and her brown tresses done up long and flowing well past her shoulders with a part in the middle. The Screen Actors Guild-winning actress could also be seen carrying a stylish black purse. Stylin': The Grey's Anatomy star stepped out in a black and pink-patterned ensemble, consisting of loose fitting pants and a matching button-down top, on her special day It appears Ivery, 54, who's a music producer, was playing the shy role and avoided being photographed during their afternoon out together. In order to spend some quality time alone, the couple had to leave their three children - daughters Stella, 12, and Sienna, seven, and a son Eli, five - at home with a babysitter. Pompeo and Ivery met in Los Angeles in 2003, about two years before she scored the role of Meredith Grey. After dating for a few years, the pair married in 2007 during a private ceremony. Going strong: Pompeo and Ivery have been married since 2007, and are the proud parents of thee children; they are pictured in Beverly in March 2018 One of the world's highest paid actors since 2017, Pompeo has played Dr. Meredith Grey on Grey's Anatomy for the medical drama's 18 season run to date. That run will be extended for at least another year, as both the show and its leading lady have been renewed for a 19th season. According to Forbes in 2020, Pompeo makes $550,000 per episode. She also receives about $6 million per year from her share of syndication profits, which overall translates to about $19 million per year. The couple left their three kids at home in order to spend some one-on-one time on Mother's Day, which included 12-year-old Stella, who pictured in May 2021 Daughter Sienna , seven, is the couple's middle child; she's seen in May 2021 Kate Hudson paid tribute to her mom Goldie Hawn on Mother's Day with a heartfelt Instagram post, featuring an iconic throwback of the Hollywood icon. In the sweet photograph, the Overboard star, 76, could be seen holding her daughter, who was just a toddler at the time, while rocking a sequined red dress and blonde hair in show-stopping, tight curls. Little Kate was already the spitting image of her mother while matching in a ruffle collar dress in the same hue, white rocks and a pair of black shoes. Just like her mom: Kate Hudson paid tribute to her mom Goldie Hawn on Mother's Day with a heartfelt Instagram post, featuring an iconic throwback of the Hollywood icon Hudson, who is engaged to Danny Fujikawa, is so close to her mother, they live on the same street in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. In March, the Almost Famous actress gushed that her 'mom has always been an inspiration' to her, particularly their shared values. 'There's no doubt that I inherited her love for life and all of its experiences big and small. But, she also passed down her love of fashion,' Hudson raved in Stuart Weitzman's Spring 2022 Live Every Moment campaign. Best friends: Hudson, who is engaged to Danny Fujikawa, is so close to her mother, they live on the same street in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles; seen back in 2003 'There's no doubt that I inherited her love for life and all of its experiences big and small. But, she also passed down her love of fashion,' Hudson recently raved in Stuart Weitzman's Spring 2022 Live Every Moment campaign; seen in 2018 She added: 'I feel lucky and blessed that I have a role model that I can call mom.' The mother-of-three continued: 'I thinkto be compassionate. I have a lot of fight in me by nature. I think one of the things my mom has taught me is to find compassion in everything that I do, kindness, and that family is everything, that how we raise our children is the true legacy for everyone and everything.' 'So, everything we put our hearts into is really just for our family,' the Golden Globe Award winner added. Sweet: She added: 'I feel lucky and blessed that I have a role model that I can call mom' (seen in 2021) Hours after paying homage to her mom on social media, Hudson reflected on motherhood and raising kids Ryder Robinson, 18, Bingham Hawn Bellamy, 10, and three-year-old Rani Rose. 'My brood, my hearts, my crazies! I do everything for these beautiful humans I carried and raised/am raising,' she captioned a selfie snuggled up with her children. 'Mothers Day has been wonderful today.' She concluded: 'Wishing all Mamas out there a beautiful day! To all that are missing their Mamas today, I said a prayer this morning to all the Mamas in the heavens! In our family we still speak to the Heavenly Mamas as they protect us, continue to send love to us and shower us with wisdom! Happy day to all.' Christina Hall had a less than ideal Mother's Day celebration, as she took to Instagram on Sunday to share that her son Brayden was in the ER. The HGTV star, 38, posted a photo of her 6-year-old boy sleeping in a hospital bed, explaining that he had been admitted for an emergency appendectomy as well as removal of Meckel's diverticulum. Hall is currently embroiled in a bitter custody battle with her second ex-husband Ant Anstead, 43, who recently filed for full custody of their son Hudson, two, accusing her of putting him at medical risk. Scary ordeal: Christina Hall shared that her son Brayden, 6, had been admitted to the ER for an emergency appendectomy and removal of Meckel's diverticulum on Sunday Hall shares Brayden and daughter Taylor, 11, with her first ex-husband Tarek El Moussa, 40, who she was married to from 2009 to 2018. 'Scary 12 hours for us parents + step parents. After being admitted to the ER, Brayden had to have an emergency appendectomy as well as removal of Meckel's diverticulum early this morning,' she wrote in the caption. Meckel's diverticulum is a small pouch located in the wall of the intestine, which is a leftover of the umbilical cord as per Cleveland Clinic. The ex: The HGTV star shares Brayden and daughter Taylor, 11, with her first ex-husband Tarek El Moussa, 40, who she was married to from 2009 to 2018; Pictured in 2017 It's war: Hall, who got married to Joshua Hall (pictured) this year, is currently in a custody battle over youngest son Hudson, two, (right) with her second ex-husband Ant Anstead, 43 Thankfully, the reality star went on to say that the surgery was a success and that her baby boy was recovering just fine. 'Nothing like seeing your child in excruciating pain.. luckily the surgery went well and he is recovering and in good spirits.' She wrapped up her caption by thanking staff at the hospital where Brayden was treated, as well as her current husband, realtor Joshua Hall, whom she married this year, as per PEOPLE. 'The entire staff at Mission Hospital was amazing and we are all grateful it was caught early. Blessed to have 3 healthy + happy kids, caring family and friends and a husband who stands by my side. Happy Mothers Day everyone.' Full custody: Anstead recently filed for full custody of their son, accusing her of putting Hudson at medical risk and only spending a few days a month with him; Pictured in 2020 In a recent court filing, Anstead - who's currently dating actress Renee Zellweger, 53 - blasted Hall as an unfit mother who only spent a few days a month with their son, using him for social media clout and risking his medical safety, TMZ reported. In his court filing he claims Christina put their toddler at risk, sending him home with 'an awful sunburn that was so bad it left him crying in pain.' In another explosive part, Ant says that Christina failed to inform him that her family had gotten COVID and returned Hudson to his care without proper precautions. The move ended up shutting down production on Zellweger's latest film. Fighting back: Hall responded to the accusations in a statement where she called herself a 'good mother' and blasted her ex for not handling things 'privately'; Pictured 2019 Ant was denied his bid for full custody presently but will still have the chance to make a case for temporary custody during a hearing in June. Hall responded to the accusations in a statement where she called herself a 'good mother' and blasted her ex for taking their custody issues to the court, rather than having it 'handled privately.' 'I have had my share of ups and downs but I am a good mom and I love my children with all my heart and I will always protect them,' she concluded. Hall and the English television presenter were married in 2018 at their Newport Beach, California home. Christina filed for divorce in November 2020, and it was finalized in June of 2021. Fans of The Ellen DeGeneres Show won't want to miss Diane Keaton's 20th and final appearance on the daytime talk show that airs on Monday, May 9. While sipping a cocktail, the 76-year-old Oscar-winning actress sits down and reminisces about her previous 19 times on the daytime talk show. Among her more memorable memories was when pop superstar Justin Bieber made a surprise visit to the set back in 2015, which set off a friendship between the two that resulted in her starring in his Ghost video. One last trip: Diane Keaton, 76, makes her 20th an final appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, which airs on Monday, May 9 Just the two of us: Justin Bieber enlisted in the help of Diane Keaton last year for his Ghost music video Dressed in a long charcoal jacket cinched-in at the waist, Keaton first gets surprised when a man dressed in a blask skirt of sorts who presents her with a cocktail. By the time she get situated in her seat, the two old friends talk about how Ellen helped her invent The Keaton wine. The host also also chats about introducing Diane to Justin Bieber, which led him to ask her to star in his music video for Ghost six years after their surprise meeting. A little drinkie: The Looking for Mr. Goodbar actress gets surprised by a man with a cocktail Wine talk: The surprise drink delivery leads to Ellen reminding Diane that she helped her invent The Keaton Wine The Looking for Mr. Goodbar actress gushed over Bieber, calling the making of the video 'so much fun and one of the most pleasant experiences of my life.' She went on to heap praise on the pop star, describing him as 'a great man. Young man', as well as 'gorgeous' and 'a genius.' Ellen also grilled Diane about her love of men over the course of her lifetime. 'You like men so much. You are such a connoisseur of men. You are,' the host declared. No. 1 Biebs fan: The Manhattan Murder Mystery star gushed over Justin Bieber, calling him 'a great man', while looking back at her previous 19 appearances on the Ellen Show 'But I'm not married,' the Los Angeles native shot back. E'No, because you're not good at knowing women are,' Ellen replied, before sharing a clip of Diane gushing over Robert Pattinson, a photo of Clint Eastwood covered in smoke, and finally an image of who she thought was Leonardo DiCaprio. 'That's not Leonardo DiCaprio,' Ellen says before revealing that the photo in question is actually Reese Witherspoon's 18-year-old son, Deacon Phillippe. Again, see Diane Keaton in her 20th and final appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show on Monday, May 9. She has played Lagertha in Amazon Prime hit Vikings since it premiered in 2013. And actress Katheryn Winnick looked just as sensational off screen, as she posed for a stunning shoot with digital New York based magazine Photobook. During the accompanying interview, the 44-year-old star admitted she would love a role in the spin-off series Vikings: Valhalla. Jaw-dropping: Katheryn Winnick looked just as sensational off screen, as she posed for a stunning shoot with digital New York based magazine Photobook Katheryn looked amazing in a black cut-out dress, which highlighted her ample assets as she lounged across the floor during the sizzling shoot. The TV star recently stepped behind the camera to direct an episode called Valhalla Can Wait for the Amazon Prime hit. Katheryn revealed she was 'honoured' to get behind the lens and switch her part in front of the camera for a creative behind the scenes role. Stunning: During the accompanying interview, the 44-year-old star admitted she would love a role in the spin-off series Vikings: Valhalla Talking to the online publication, Katheryn admitted she felt the role was 'meant' for her. She said: I always felt Lagertha was meant for me. With my martial arts background playing a shield maiden came second nature to me. 'The love I have to represent empowered female characters has been such a driving force for me in the roles I choose. I always knew I wanted to have a way to express my voice.' Starring role: Katheryn has played Lagertha in Amazon Prime hit Vikings since it premiered in 2013 She added: 'My dream is to continue to wake up every day and get excited to go to work. I'm so fortunate to be doing it! When work doesn't feel like work it doesn't get much better than that.' During a 2017 interview, Katheryn admitted she shares a close bond with co-star Alexander Ludwig, who plays her son Bjorn. In the revealing chat, said she relished the friendship, explaining that it makes her job easier. Gushing over her co-star, Katheryn told the publication: 'Alex and I are very close friends. We hang out together, go for dinner, drinks.' She added that it hasn't always been the case that she's gotten along so well with her co-workers, which has been problematic in the past. 'We have a strong bond, which really helps when you're acting. I've done shows in the past when I've had no rapport with co-stars and it's difficult,' she explained. Kimberly Stewart cut a chic figure as she stepped out for a Mother's Day dinner with her daughter Delilah on Sunday. The American socialite, 42, who is the daughter of rocker Rod Stewart, gave a glimpse at her midriff in a black tube top while she wore a stylish jacket over her shoulders. Fashion designer Kimberly wore a pair of high-waisted black trousers as she walked hand-in-hand with Delilah, 10, after dining at celebrity haunt Craig's in West Hollywood, California. In style: Kimberly Stewart, 42, cut a chic figure in a black tube top and stylish jacket as she stepped out for a Mother's Day dinner with her daughter Delilah, 10, on Sunday Kimberly completed her look by wearing a pair of flat black sandals and carried a clutch bag. She shielded her eyes behind a pair of dark sunglasses and wore a dazzling gold necklace. Delilah, whose father is Puerto Rican actor and producer Benicio del Toro, 55, wore a bright pink top with a white pattern to match her layered mini-skirt. All smiles: Delilah, whose father is Puerto Rican actor and producer Benicio del Toro, 55, wore a bright pink top with a white pattern to match her layered mini-skirt She wore a pair of white high-top Nike sneakers and carried her leftovers with her in a foil tin to enjoy later. Kimberly and Benicio welcomed Delilah to the world in August 2011, although they were not in a relationship at the time. Taking to her Instagram Stories, Kimberly shared a picture of herself and Delilah as they sat alongside Kimberly's mother Alana Stewart, 76, who was married to Rod from 1979 to 1984. Family affair: Taking to Instagram, Kimberly shared a picture of herself and Delilah as they sat alongside Kimberly's mother Alana Stewart, 76, who was married to Rod from 1979 to 1984 She also posted a snap of the Mother's Day card she received from Delilah, with the message reading: 'Dear mom, you're an amazing mom and I'm so happy to have you today. 'If the world was ending I know that you would be the one to cuddle me, you have always been there for me!' Sharing a picture of Delilah sitting in the bathroom at home, Kimberly captioned her post: 'So lucky to wake up to this face every day. Happy Mama's day.' Heartfelt words: She also posted a snap of the Mother's Day card she received from Delilah including the sweet message Love: Sharing a picture of Delilah sitting in the bathroom at home, Kimberly captioned her post: 'So lucky to wake up to this face every day. Happy Mama's day' Meanwhile, Kimberly paid tribute to her own mother with a throwback snap of herself and her younger brother Sean, now 41, with Alana. She captioned the post: 'Love you mama @alanakstewart.' Alana was married to musician Rod, 77, from 1979 to 1984 and they share children Kimberly and Sean together. Looking back: Meanwhile, Kimberly paid tribute to her own mother with a throwback snap of herself and her younger brother Sean, now 41, with Alana Nongshim's Chapaguri / Courtesy of Nongshim Korean instant noodles are enjoying their heyday abroad on the back of the explosive popularity of hallyu as a growing number of Korean wave fans around the world seek to try different types of food associated with the Asian country. According to the Korea Customs Service and the local food industry, Monday, exports of Korean-made instant noodles rose to an all-time high of $71.58 million (89.5 billion won) in March, up 20 percent from the same month last year. The figure increased 35.8 percent from a month ago. The increasing popularity of K-pop, Korean films and drama have contributed much to the record exports of hugely-popular instant noodles like Shin Ramyun, Neoguri (udon-style noodles), Chapagetti (black bean-sauce noodles) and Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen. In particular, Nongshim's signature noodle dish, Chapaguri, which mixes Chapaghetti and Neoguri, grabbed keen interest overseas after it appeared in the Oscar-winning film "Parasite" in 2019. "After Parasite won the Oscar in 2020, many YouTubers in the United States shared their experience with Chapaghetti online. Also, restaurants in New York introduced their own versions of Chapaghetti, which went viral in the city. Here, Nongshim has been preparing to expand its business abroad from 2017 and the timing was just perfect for our products to ride on the popularity of K-culture," a Nongshim official said. Nongshim currently exports its instant noodles to some 100 countries around the world and in 2017, Walmart began selling Nongshim products at all of its stores in North America, which helped the food company to achieve $1.14 billion in sales abroad. "We are preparing to open our second production facility in the United States at the end of this month," the official added. Samyang Foods' Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen is selling well in Southeast Asia and recently, countries in the Middle East have also shown interest in the instant noodle. "YouTubers challenging the spiciness of Hot Chicken Flavor Ramen went viral online, which we didn't expect. We have gained our halal certification from the Korea Muslim Federation and we obtained Indonesian MUI certification too. This has helped our business to expand in Southeast Asia and the Middle East," a Samyang Foods official said. Meanwhile, China was the largest overseas market for Korean instant noodle makers in March with exports to that country reaching $19.08 million, followed by the United States at $9.75 million and Japan at $5.71 million. Jade Tuncdoruk stepped out at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week in Sydney on Monday after a string of recent scandals. The 27-year-old influencer donned a pair of high-waisted grey trousers, which she paired with a matching grey waistcoat. She also wore a long grey coat, and rounded out her unique ensemble with a pair of sheer black kitten heels. Back in fashion: Jade Tuncdoruk stepped out at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week in Sydney on Monday after a string of recent scandals Jade carried a handbag on one of her shoulders, and accessorised with a cream cowgirl hat and silver 'Gucci' necklace. The Instagram model happily posed for a series of photos before the fashion show, and shared a short video of herself on Instagram on Monday. In January, Jade was forced to apologise for a racially insensitive Facebook post about Uber Eats drivers. Grey days: The 27-year-old influencer donned a pair of high-waisted grey trousers, which she paired with a matching grey waistcoat The resurfaced post from 2017 saw Jade complaining about the company's 'annoying non-English speaking delivery drivers'. 'I order off you guys all the time and I'm starting to find it really annoying that you have so many non-English speaking delivery people who can't follow basic delivery instructions,' she wrote. 'I got a notification today saying my food was arriving and it took the person a further 20 mins to get to my door because he didn't read my delivery instructions properly and when I called him to explain he didn't understand a word I was saying.' Wild west: Jade carried a handbag on one of her shoulders, and accessorised with a cream cowgirl hat and silver 'Gucci' necklace She continued: 'Your GPS is consistently sending drivers to the wrong address which I've explained in my instructions which most people read and have no problem with but when foreigners are delivering it takes twice as long for me to receive my then cold food. Sort it out.' Jade later apologised for her 'hurtful comments' after her post was uploaded by the Celeb Spellcheck Instagram page. 'I'm sorry to anyone I've hurt with my comments. I hold myself accountable for my actions,' she wrote. Saying sorry: In January, Jade was forced to apologise for a racially insensitive Facebook post about Uber Eats drivers The rant came after she faced backlash for demanding that a small business refund her $2,000 honeymoon deposit. The company, Weekenda, accused Jade of trying to 'bypass' their policies after ignoring the terms and conditions. 'It doesn't excuse anything but know that I have grown immensely in the past several years. I always do my best to be someone others can look up to and I know I've let people down and for that I'm truly sorry,' she later said. Aaron Taylor-Johnson cut a rugged figure as he was spotted with his lookalike stunt double on the set of movie Kraven The Hunter in London on Sunday. Actor Aaron, 31, showed off his fit physique as he wore a fitted white shirt which he wore unbuttoned to give a glimpse at his chest. He wore a pair of smartly pressed black trousers while his stunt double wore exactly the same outfit. Seeing double: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 31 (right), cut a rugged figure as he was spotted with his lookalike stunt double on the set of movie Kraven The Hunter in London on Sunday The pair both wore the same necklace which featured a white tooth hanging on a black string. Aaron's luscious curls were swept back off his face and he sported a trimmed beard while surrounded by members of the crew. Aaron signed on to play the title character back in May 2021 in a multi-picture deal with Sony. All dressed up: Actor Aaron showed off his fit physique as he wore a fitted white shirt which he wore unbuttoned to give a glimpse at his chest Kraven the Hunter was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, making his debut in The Amazing Spider-Man #15 in August 1964. The character was born Sergei Nikolaievich Kravinoff, the son of a Russian aristocrat who fled the country in 1917 during the collapse of Tsar Nicolas II' reign. He would ultimately grow up to become the world's greatest big game hunter, when he sets his sights on Spider-Man in the Marvel comics. Aaron is aboard: Aaron signed on to play the title character back in May 2021 in a multi-picture deal with Sony (pictured 2019) Marvel debut: Kraven the Hunter was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, making his debut in The Amazing Spider-Man #15 in August 1964 Unlike most villains, he lives his life through a unique code of honour, and, unlike most hunters, he doesn't use weapons of any kind, hunting with his bare hands. Also unlike most humans of any kind, he has superhuman abilities thanks to consumption of a witches brew that enhanced his strength and more. This will mark Kraven the Hunter's first appearance on the big screen, though there were plans in the works to have him in other Marvel movies throughout the years. In February this year, it was announced Russell Crowe, 58, was returning to the world of Marvel Comics on the big screen, signing on for a role in Kraven the Hunter. It is currently unclear who the actor is playing but The Hollywood Reporter revealed many of the main characters in this Kraven the Hunter movie are the title character's family members, so it's possible Crowe might be playing Kraven's father. Other cast members so far include Ariana DeBose, 31, as Calypso, Christopher Abbott, 36, as The Foreigner and Fred Hechinger, 22, as Dmitri Smerdyakov. Salma Hayek was back on set to film scenes for Magic Mike 3 on Sunday, joining Channing Tatum in London's Piccadilly for the big-budget sequel. The actress, 55, replaced Thandiwe Newton as the film's female lead after she was forced to exit the film following 11 days of shooting amid a string of personal woes. Enjoying the capital's unexpected sunshine, Salma was in high spirits as she shared a laugh with her co-star Channing, as they prepared to film scenes outside the historic Criterion Theatre. Happy! Salma Hayek was back on set to film scenes for Magic Mike 3 on Sunday, joining Channing Tatum in London's Piccadilly for the big-budget sequel Salma was dressed in an edgy PVC leather cropped jacket and matching black harem trousers as she giggled with Channing, who sported a casual navy blue overcoat during the filming. The pair were seen laughing together as they prepared for the cameras to start rolling, with the film's crew taking over the London square to film the scenes. Filming for Magic Mike 3 resumed after Thandiwe exited the film last month, following an alleged bust-up with the movie's producer and star Channing over Will Smith 's Oscars slap - she has denied the incident. Transition: The actress replaced Thandiwe Newton as the film's female lead after she was forced to exit the film following 11 days of shooting amid a string of personal woes Old star: Thandiwe (pictured filming Magic Mike 3 with Channing last month) exited the film last month, following an alleged bust-up with Channing, which she has since denied Beaming: Enjoying the capital's unexpected sunshine, Salma was in high spirits as she arrived on set to record the film Bold: Salma was dressed in an edgy PVC leather cropped jacket and oversized taupe sunglasses as she arrived to film more scenes for the upcoming sequel Laid-back: Meanwhile Channing sported a casual navy blue overcoat during the filming While Salma shot her scenes in London, Thandiwe, 49, was pictured 5,000 miles away in Malibu over the weekend, seemingly confirming the end of their 23-year marriage to Ol Parker with a very public display of affection with musician Lonr, 25. The award-winning actress has joined her estranged husband in removing her wedding ring, as the director was spotted without his earlier this week as he left his London home. Lonr told The Post that all parties involved were focused on the welfare of Thandiwe's children when approached for comment on the new relationship, explaining: Taking over: The film's crew took over the London square outside the historic Criterion Theatre Simple: Salma's character's look also included matching black harem trousers and a thin gold chained belt with a snake finish Jovial: She and Channing excitedly chatted between the scenes 'From the relatively short time I've been fortunate to spend with her, I know Thandiwe and Oliver care deeply about the welfare of their children. That's all I care about right now.' Thandiwe has reportedly been urged to seek mental health support following the break-up of her marriage - and an alleged bust-up with Channing. The star has previously told how she has suffered 'a number of breakdowns' in her troubled past, as well as discussing her heartbreaking experiences of sexual abuse, racism and bulimia during her time in the industry. Drama: Thandiwe has reportedly been urged to seek mental health support following the break-up of her marriage - and an alleged bust-up with Channing (pictured with Salma on set) Hitting back: The star also denied claims though that she was sacked from her Magic Mike leading role over a heated argument with Channing (pictured) Anticipated: The original Magic Mike movie premiered in 2012 and was loosely based on Channing's experience working as a stripper in Tampa, Florida Next one: The film's first sequel, titled Magic Mike XXL, was released in 2015 She has denied claims though that she was sacked from her Magic Mike leading role over a heated argument with Channing. The original Magic Mike movie premiered in 2012 and was loosely based on Channing's experience working as a stripper in Tampa, Florida. A sequel followed in 2015. Channing confirmed that he would reprise his role for Magic Mike's Last Dance in November 2021. He's back! Channing confirmed that he would reprise his role for Magic Mike's Last Dance in November 2021 Development: In a recent interview with PEOPLE he spoke about the importance on the movie having a lead female character In a recent interview with PEOPLE he spoke about the importance on the movie having a lead female character. 'I want to have an equal, if not even more centralised female character for Mike to really play off of and almost to... I don't want to say, [to have her] take the baton, but really let the movie be about a female's experience and not Mike's experience, because it has been so much about Mike and the guys' experiences. 'These movies are very, very female-forward. At least that is our intention.' Female star: He said: 'I want to have an equal, if not even more centralized female character for Mike to really play off of and almost to' Warner Bros. has yet to release official plot details, but Channing and his producing partner Reid Carolin revealed in an interview with Variety in February, that the film will center on the female lead, and is in part inspired by Magic Mike Live - the hugely popular live strip show based on the movies. 'It's really about a woman stuck at a horrible strip show like a Chippendales and then realizing, 'What the hell am I doing here?'' Carolin told Variety. 'And then Magic Mike comes down from the ceiling. She gets to go down the rabbit hole and asks: What do I really want?' 'It's going to have a really strong, almost stronger than Mike, character that's female. We've never done a traditional love story, and this isn't a traditional love story,' Channing added, calling the film, 'the Super Bowl of stripper movies.' The actor also previously told the New York Times that the plot was a 'reverse-role 'Pretty Woman' story, suggesting Salma could be playing a version of the high-powered, wealthy Richard Gere character. Nikki Osborne is known for her controversial comedy stylings. And on Monday, the funnywoman shared the joke that she pushed a little too far while live on air on Channel Nine. In a video shared to Instagram Stories, the 40-year-old discussed her sex life during an appearance on the breakfast program Mornings. Oh dear: Nikki Osborne (pictured) is known for her controversial comedy stylings. And on Monday, the funnywoman shared the joke that she pushed a little too far while live on air on Channel Nine 'My husband says you don't look at the turkey while you're stuffing it,' she joked, referring to whether wearing sexy lingerie to bed is appealing to one's spouse. After some uncomfortable laughter, host David Campbell said he would 'never look at a turkey the same way again'. In her caption, Nikki wrote, 'Yes I was fired. Lasted three weeks'. Oh no: In a video shared to Instagram Stories, the 40-year-old discussed her sex life during an appearance on the breakfast program Mornings. 'My husband says you don't look at the turkey while you're stuffing it,' she joked, referring to whether wearing sexy lingerie to bed is appealing to one's spouse Exit: After some uncomfortable laughter, host David Campbell said he would 'never look at a turkey the same way again'. In her caption, Nikki wrote, 'Yes I was fired. Lasted three weeks' Nikki is no stranger to controversy, with her views sometimes falling afoul of public opinion. In February, the comedian lashed out at 'political correctness' and says she is being 'bullied' for her views. 'Yes I'm posting a lot about bullying lately,' she began her Instagram Stories post. Thoughts: Nikki is no stranger to controversy, with her views sometimes falling afoul of public opinion. In February, the comedian lashed out at 'political correctness' and says she is being 'bullied' for her views 'I have copped a lot of bullying lately disguised as political correctness. Just because you think you're right, doesn't excuse the abuse,' she went on. 'People forget that. But I'm a big girl so I'm fine but kids, kids don't know how to respond. Careful what righteous speech you arm your kids with.' The day prior, Nikki had shared footage of an anti-vaccination mandate protest in Canberra calling it the state's 'greatest tourism campaign yet'. Comparison: It comes after the I'm A Celebrity star was slammed for comparing Covid vaccines to rape. A meme she shared makes reference to vaccine mandates, and compares them to Harvey Weinstein's 'casting couch' crimes. Weinstein is pictured with Lindsay Lohan It comes after the I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! Australia contestant was slammed for comparing Covid vaccines to rape. The post in question, which has since been deleted, depicts convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein alongside actress Lindsay Lohan, with the caption: 'The original no jab, no job'. The meme makes reference to Covid-19 vaccine mandates, and compares them to Weinstein's 'casting couch' crimes. Claims: Late last year, she continued to peddle her anti-vaxx beliefs by advertising her new Too Far? stand-up show as a 'vaccine passport free' event The disgraced American film producer is serving a 23-year sentence after a jury found him guilty in March 2020 of rape and sexual assault. Nikki posted a reply to the outrage on her Instagram Stories, writing: 'Dear Mob, You've been misinformed. Your quarrel is not with me. I'm on your team. Warmest, Casting couch survivor'. Late last year, she continued to peddle her anti-vaxx beliefs by advertising her new Too Far? stand-up show as a 'vaccine passport free' event. For confidential support contact 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 or Lifeline 131 114 Olivia Frazer oozed sex appeal as she attended an event at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2022 on Monday. The Married at First Sight 'villain' - who often opted for floaty dresses and hair scrunchies while appearing on the show - looked completely different as she posed for a sultry photo shoot at Sydney's Carriageworks. The 28-year-old teaching assistant from the Central Coast looked ultra-glamorous in a low-cut Bec and Bridge dress which showed off her curves to perfection. Post-show transformation: Married At First Sight's Olivia Frazer looked completely different as she posed for an impromptu photo shoot at Australian Fashion Week. Pictured left on MAFS, right on Monday She placed her hand behind her head as she posed for the sexy shots, wearing her hair in rockstar bangs and whisked into a bun. She teamed her look with smoky dark eyeshadow and a nude lipstick, and added a pop of colour to the outfit with a pair of pink heels. Olivia became the show's 'villain' after she infamously outed her co-star Domenica Calarco as an OnlyFans model upon discovering one of her nude photos online. Stunning: Olivia teamed her silk green dress with sultry dark eyeshadow and a nude lipstick, and added another pop of colour to the outfit with a pair of pink heels Sassy lassy: She placed her hand behind her head as she posed for the sexy shots, wearing her hair in rockstar bangs and whisked into a bun But last week, Liv told Daily Mail Australia that not only does she approve of OnlyFans, but she is also considering starting an account herself. 'I've never had a problem with OnlyFans. I used to work at a lingerie shop for years and have always been about embracing your sexuality,' she said. 'I've been considering starting an OnlyFans account with Jackson,' she added, referring to her boyfriend Jackson Lonie, whom she met on MAFS. 'I'm not sure we will be doing it anytime soon, but it has definitely been discussed. Career change? Last week, Liv told Daily Mail Australia on Monday that not only does she approve of OnlyFans, but she is also considering starting an account herself Opinion: 'I've never had a problem with OnlyFans. I used to work at a lingerie shop for years and have always been about embracing your sexuality,' she said 'My personality is one that's more likely to embrace OnlyFans and have an account than it is to ever shame someone [for having one].' Meanwhile, both Liv and Domenic are set to run in to each other for the first time since the scandal erupted at Afterparty Australian Fashion Week. 'I'm not worried about seeing Domenica,' laughed Olivia when asked by Daily Mail Australia how she felt about running into her former co-star. Battle of the brides: Olivia (left) was dubbed this season's 'villain' after sharing a nude photo of Domenica (right) among the cast, thereby outing her as an OnlyFans model 'I wouldn't go up to her, that's for sure. But I also wouldn't run away,' she said. 'I've done nothing wrong so I have no reason to run.' Domenica, 29, meanwhile says that she has 'no respect' for Olivia and would 'run the other way' if she ran into her at an event. 'There's a level of respect... The respect I will give her is by never looking at her ever again if I see her in a room or at event I will walk the other way,' she said. Ncuti Gatwa told fans his 'heart is very very full' after an emotional Sunday which saw him announced as the next Time Lord in Doctor Who. The actor, 29, took to Instagram on Monday morning to thank fans for the outpouring of support he has received since the big news was announced. And after attending his first ever BAFTA TV Awards alongside returning Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies hours after the casting news, he quipped he was spending his Monday 'frolicking with Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie.' What a day! Ncuti Gatwa told fans on Monday that his 'heart is very very full' after an emotional Sunday which saw him announced as the next Time Lord in Doctor Who Posting on Instagram the morning after the BAFTAs, Ncuti told his 2.6million followers: 'Yesterday was emotional. Thank you all for all the love. Means the entire universe... or Whoniverse rather.' Later the actor shared a selfie from the back seat of a car as he revealed his exciting plans for the day. 'After yesterday heart is very very full,' he wrote alongside the photo of himself beaming for the camera. 'Off to spend a day frolicking around with Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie. WHAT IS MY LIFE?!!' he added. A day to remember: The actor, 29, took to Instagram on Monday morning to thank fans for the outpouring of support he has received since the big news was announced Ncuti is currently shooting the hugely anticipated live-action Barbie movie alongside Margot and Ryan, who play Barbie and Ken, Ncuti's role has not yet been revealed. Ncuti's Sex Education co-stars Emma Mackey and Connor Swindells also appear in the star-studded ensemble cast. Three weeks ago, the actor shared photographs of his and Emma's names printed in pink on chairs as he teased his involvement by writing: 'Come on Barbie, let's go party'. It was confirmed on Sunday that Ncuti will take over from Jodie Whittaker as the Time Lord in the hit BBC series. New guard: Gatwa is the first black actor to take on the leading role as The Doctor in the show's history, after Jodie made history as the first permanent female Time Lord Exciting: There was no rest for the star on Monday as he headed to set to film the new Barbie movie with Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling and his Sex Education co-star Emma Mackey Hugely anticipated: Ncuti is currently shooting the hugely anticipated live-action Barbie movie alongside Margot and Ryan, who play Barbie and Ken, Ncuti's role has not yet been revealed A plastic star: Ryan Gosling (seen in September 2018) who will be playing Barbie's longtime partner Ken The 29-year-old will become the 14th Doctor on the popular sci-fi show, after Whittaker announced last July she will be leaving the role this autumn. Gatwa is the first black actor to take on the leading role as The Doctor, after Jodie made history as the first permanent female Time Lord in 2017. Jo Martin played the first black incarnation of the Time Lord in a January 2020 episode, Future of the Judoon, as Ruth Clayton, but Gatwa has become the first black Doctor to be cast as the series lead. Exciting: Ncuti attended the BAFTA TV Awards ceremony alongside returning Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies hours after it was confirmed that he will take over from Jodie Whittaker Scottish actor Gatwa, who was born in Rwanda, rose to fame as Eric Effiong in Netflix's hugely popular Sex Education about socially awkward high school student Otis (Asa Butterfield) and his sex therapist mother Jean (Gillian Anderson). Just hours after the announcement, Gatwa and Davies, who is returning as Doctor Who's showrunner, grinned and posed for snaps at the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday. Gatwa showed off his sensational sense of style in a black suit with a plunging neckline and dramatic floor-length tassels, while he completed the look with a pair of sandals. Taylor Swifts boyfriend Joe Alwyn insisted writing songs with the hitmaker was 'accidental' as he opened up in a new interview on Monday. The Conversations With Friends actor, 31, detailed how the couple didn't deliberately set out to forge a musical partnership. Joe, who has been dating Taylor for four years, has co-written two tracks on her Folklore album and three on the follow-up Evermore. Smart: Taylor Swifts boyfriend Joe Alwyn insisted writing songs with the hit maker was 'accidental' as he opened up in a new interview on Monday Luck: The Conversations With Friends actor, 31, insisted the couple didn't deliberately set out to forge a musical partnership, (pictured together in January 2020) Speaking to GQ Hype magazine, he said: 'It was really the most accidental thing to happen in lockdown. 'It wasn't like, "It's three o'clock, it's time to write a song!" It was just messing around on a piano and singing badly and being overheard and then thinking, you know, "what if we tried to get to the end of it together?"'. Joe posed up a storm for the magazine wearing a cream ensemble as he stared into the camera. Talented: Alwyn, who has been dating Taylor for four years, has co-written two tracks on her Folklore album and three on the follow-up Evermore Joe found it particularly 'surreal' having Bon Iver's Justin Vernon singing Exile with Taylor, but described it as a 'perk' of the coronavirus pandemic. He added: 'Sending it to Justin with the idea of doing a duet and getting voice notes back of him singing over the top and stuff was surreal. It was a perk of lockdown.' The collaboration with the Shake It Off hitmaker was originally kept secret because they didn't want their relationship to overshadow the music. Joe explained: 'The idea was that people would just listen to the music rather than focus on the fact that we wrote it together.' Dapper: Joe opened up to GQ Hype Magazine about the collaboration with the Shake It Off hitmaker being a secret because they didn't want their relationship to overshadow the music And though fans loved the songs and Joe enjoyed the experience of writing he said he has no plans to write any more with his girlfriend. He added: 'It was fun to do it together, and I was proud of it. It was nice getting such a positive reception.' As well as his songwriting venture, Joe has found success as an actor and is starring in the adaptation of Sally Rooney's hit book Conversations With Friends. The series follows a mysterious married couple, Nick and Melissa (Jemima Kirke), and their attraction to two younger women, Frances and Bobbi. Frances embarks on an affair with Nick, while trying to reconcile her feelings for best friend and ex-girlfriend Bobbi, played by Utiopia actress Sasha Lane, 25, whom she is in love with. Joe and Taylor started dating several years ago but, because of the private nature of their relationship, it's not totally certain when they first got together. They spent time together back in 2016, but dating reports officially began the following year. They were photographed together in Nashville in June of that year. While they have each acknowledged their relationship, they've chosen to keep the details of their love private. Taylor and Joe, sparked speculation that an engagement could be imminent after jetting to Cornwall for a three-day break earlier this year. The couple tend to split their time between the US and London, between a 7million pad in Primrose Hill and her 'main house' in Nashville. Read the full feature online at GQ Hype now https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/joe-alwyn-interview-2022 Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have united forces once again to hand out drinks from their own alcohol brand on Sunday in a Miami bar. The two actors have a long history of friendship, starting with their roles as Jesse Pinkman and Walter White in the iconic crime drama series Breaking Bad, from 2008 to 2013. Aaron, 42, will reprise his role as Pinkman along with Bryan, 66, during the sixth and final season of the spin-off prequel Better Call Saul. Back again! Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul have united forces once again to hand out drinks with their own alcohol brand on Sunday The famous duo remained friends even after the end of the show and started Dos Hombres - an award-winning artisanal mezcal company - together in 2019. And they teamed up again to play bartenders as they handed out shots of Dos Hombres at The Key Club to Miami patrons over the weekend. Putting on a show, the two joked around with the crowd and mixed drinks in cocktail shakers behind the bar to promote their brand. Return! Aaron, 42, will reprise his role as Pinkman along with Bryan, 66, as White during the sixth and final season of the spin-off prequel Better Call Saul Famous roles: The two actors have a long history of friendship, starting with their roles as Jesse Pinkman and Walter White in the iconic crime drama series Breaking Bad , from 2008 to 2013 Best pals: The famous duo remained friends even after the end of the show and started Dos Hombres - an award-winning artisanal mezcal company - together in 2019 Reunion: And they teamed up again to play bartenders as they handed out shots of Dos Hombres at The Key Club to patrons Putting on a show: The two joked around with the crowd and mixed drinks in cocktail shakers behind the bar to promote their brand Bryan sported a bushy beard and a blue shirt with beige trousers, while Aaron wore a bold Hawaiian shirt. It comes after Aaron confirmed that Bryan is the godfather of his newborn son Ryden Caspian Paul, who they welcomed in April of this year. In an interview with TMZ last month the actor affirmed Bryan's new role as godfather. saying: 'He is the man. That beautiful man.' Breaking bartender: Aaron handed out freshly made cocktails to the eager crowd High on your own supply: Bryan tucked into some of the delicious looking mezcal Wow! He expertly poured the drinks into the cocktail shaker to the joy of the waiting fans Stylish: Bryan sported a bushy beard and a blue shirt with beige trousers, while Aaron wore a bold Hawaiian shirt The El Camino star said the decision was 'very easy' and gave a preview of Bryan's responsibilities: 'He's just going to babysit, change diapers, you know, burp - all the things.' Aaron previously revealed his plans for having Cranston be the godfather during his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday. When Jimmy asked if Bryan had met the baby, he replied: 'He has. He has met the baby. You know, I asked Bryan on his birthday if he would be our baby's godfather.' 'He said no,' Aaron joked. He then clarified that Bryan was 'very excited' to be his son's godfather. 'Very honored. I love the man to death, you know,' said Aaron. Brand new season of Better Call Saul is available only on Stan in Australia. Honour: It comes after Aaron confirmed that Bryan is the godfather of his newborn son Ryden Caspian Paul Madeline Holtznagel enjoyed a night out with her sister on Monday. The model joined her sibling Simone Holtznagel, 28, at Australian Fashion Week at Sydney's Carriageworks. Turning heads in an oversized suit, Madeline, 26, opted for a large striped blazer in a deep navy tone with nothing underneath. Sisters doing it for themselves: Madeline Holtznagel (right) opted for a night out with her sister on Monday. The model joined her sibling Simone Holtznagel (left) at Australian Fashion Week at Sydney's Carriageworks She paired it with wide-legged trousers by the same designer, and a pair of black sandal heels. The stunner carried a tan purse with a knotted leather handle in tones of brown and orange. Madeline wore her blonde hair slicked back in a neat ponytail, and opted for a glamorous makeup look with a smoky eye and matte nude lipstick. Cool: Turning heads in an oversized suit, Madeline opted for a large striped blazer in a deep navy tone with nothing underneath A look: She paired it with wide-legged trousers by the same designer, and a pair of black sandal heels and a tan bag Simone meanwhile chose a slate grey dress with a deep v-neck at the front, showing off lots of bust. She posed outside in a coat, with the black trench covering up her ample cleavage. The model chose a dramatic makeup look, with lots of peachy blush and a dark pink lipstick. Details: Simone meanwhile chose a slate grey dress with a deep v-neck at the front Rainy day: She posed outside in a coat, with the black trench covering up her ample cleavage Made up: The model chose a dramatic makeup look, with lots of peachy blush and a dark pink lipstick Simone wore her blonde hair in a puffy 1960s style, and added a pair of natural pearl earrings. She completed the look with a deep brown clutch and towering nude heels with fine straps. Madeline attended the event without her billionaire pub baron boyfriend Justin Hemmes, 49, in tow. Party time: Simone was joined by her friend Ksenija Lukich (right) On fire: Simone wore her blonde hair in a puffy 1960s style, and added a pair of natural pearl earrings Finishing touches: She completed the look with a deep brown clutch and towering nude heels with fine straps While it's not known exactly how long Justin and Madeline have been dating, she recently hinted their relationship has carried on longer than many people expect. Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald in October, Madeline said they'd actually met two years before reports emerged of their relationship early last year. 'We have known each other for two years and met when I was modelling in Singapore,' she said at the time. Girls girls girls: Simone caught up with Imogen Anthony (right) Laughs: The group shared a spirited giggle as they chatted outside the venue Downpour: Simone carried an umbrella to shield herself from the rain The couple have remained quite private through the duration of their relationship but are believed to be living together. The model and the billionaire pub baron hosted the Silver Party charity event at Hemmes' own mansion, The Hermitage, in Sydney's Vaucluse, last month. They also occasionally share tributes to one another on social media since going public. Georgia Kousoulou has spoken out about her battle with postnatal depression, admitting she was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and shame for not feeling an emotional bond with her newborn son immediately after his birth. The Georgia & Tommy: Baby Steps star, 30, welcomed son Brody with fiance Tommy Mallet, 29, in May last year, with the couple celebrating his first birthday at the weekend. But former TOWIE cast member Georgia did not find the first 12 months of Brody's life easy, saying her depression and inability to form a loving bond with her baby at first sent her to a 'dark place'. Troubles: Georgia Kousoulou, 30, has spoken out about her battle with postnatal depression, admitting she felt guilt and shame for not feeling an emotional bond with her newborn son Georgia told OK! magazine: 'I didnt get that overwhelming feeling of love from the moment I first held him that everyone speaks about. I was looking at this baby like, "Is this mine?" It took me a while. 'It was love at first sight visually, but emotionally I didnt have that uncontrollable love and when I didnt get it straight away it really stressed me out. It upset me for ages and sent me into a dark place.' Georgia's first scan had showed that Brody was in the breech position so she opted for a C-section in favour of the water birth she had been planning. Parents: The Georgia & Tommy: Baby Steps star welcomed son Brody with fiance Tommy Mallet, 29, in May last year, with the couple celebrating his first birthday at the weekend She said the procedure made it harder for her to bond with Brody once he was born. The television personality explained: 'After the C-section, I felt like my body didnt know it had birthed a baby. I literally felt like Id been shopping I went in on the morning and I got given a baby. My body didnt catch up.' Georgia went on to say she attempted to hide her feelings from partner Tommy but he sensed something was wrong and staged an intervention. In love: Tommy proposed to Georgia while on holiday in Mexico in February this year, with the couple yet to set a date for their wedding She said she felt would often slink away to cry in the bathroom and was 'ashamed' to tell Tommy about what she'd been going through when he sat down to talk to her. Businessman Tommy arranged for Georgia's mother and her midwife to be there at the time and, while she admits she was 'shocked', she said it was 'such a relief' as she did not have to hide anymore. The star grew in confidence as she confronted her difficulties, sharing her experience with her fans on social media, with the star adding how grateful she was for their support. Tick Tock: Gerogia admitted to friends in a clip from her show Baby Steps she doesn't want to go 'anywhere civilised' for her hen do Tommy asked Georgia to marry him in February this year while on holiday in Mexico. And Georgia is planning multiple hen dos with the star saying in a recent episode of her ITVBe show that she doesn't want 'anywhere civilised'. An excited Georgia said at her engagement party: 'I feel like this is a warm up for the hen!', before asking pals how many parties should she have before walking down the aisle with Tommy. 'I think you need at least four', her friend Chloe decided as fellow pal Amber agreed: 'And one abroad and at least two here.' When one suggested the south of France Georgia exclaimed: 'No, I don't want anywhere civilised.' The number of legal disputes is rising as a lack of qualifications rocks the industry. Cao Yin reports. Two years ago, Xiao Xue (not her real name) had hyaluronic acid injected into her forehead after hearing that it could promote collagen regeneration and provide a youthful appearance. After the injection, though, she permanently lost the sight in her left eye. Xiao, who was born in the 1990s and declined to use her real name, shared the experience with China Central Television. She said the injection cost 6,000 yuan ($942), and was administered in a hotel by the owner of a clothes shop. "The retailer told me she was good at doing the injection. However, the chemical, which should have been injected into the skin, was actually injected into a blood vessel, causing a blockage in my central artery," she said. "My life was saved after I was hospitalized, but I am blind in my left eye. Now, I feel that it would be better to die than live like this." Her story was one of several cosmetic treatment failures featured on a program broadcast on March 15, World Consumer Rights Day. The show aimed to remind people to be alert in the face of claims of medical competence and to improve awareness of protection of legitimate rights. It said some clinics providing beauty services and trainingincluding several in Hefei, capital of Anhui province, and Zhengzhou, capital of Henan provincehad charged fees for fake cosmetic treatment training. The day after the program, government agencies in Hefei, such as those charged with overseeing healthcare and public security, inspected several clinics, confiscating surgical equipment and cosmetic products. Qin Pengbo, a judges' assistant at Beijing Haidian District People's Court, said unlicensed clinics are frequently the subjects of consumer complaints, but effective control is hampered by lax supervision and the huge profits that can be made in the industry. Data on the China Consumer Association's website show that the number of complaints involving aesthetic medicine services rose from 483 in 2015 to 7,233 in 2020. That triggered a rise in the number of disputes related to beauty treatments, mainly centered on illegal practices and a lack of qualifications, Qin said. He urged people to carefully check whether clinics hold a business license and if employees are qualified to perform surgery. "It's urgent and essential for the government to specify what constitutes medical cosmetology (the use of noninvasive procedures, rather than surgery) because that would allow supervision to be better targeted and work more effectively," he said. Unclear classification To illustrate his point, Qin shared the story of a relevant case. In November 2020, a woman surnamed Xu sued a beauty salon at a court in Jilin province. Xu said cosmetic eye treatment she had at the salon had made her face swell up, and she demanded reimbursement of the 69,000 yuan fee. After an investigation and trial, the court found for Xu and ordered the salon to return her money because it was not licensed to perform such procedures, Qin said. "The salon was only licensed to cut hair and sell cosmetics. It was not licensed to use drugs, surgery, medical equipment and other traumatic or irreversible medical techniques to repair or reshape people's appearance or bodies," he added. According to a 2002 regulation, individuals and organizations that have not obtained a license from health authorities to practice are banned from offering or performing cosmetic surgery, he said. "The focus of many customers is always how to become more beautiful, not on reviewing the salon's qualifications. That's because they think their treatmentssuch as the removal of fat or bags around the eyes, double eyelid treatment or spot removal via lasersconstitute medical cosmetology and not surgery," he said. He added that some new beauty treatments, including hair transplants and injections of hyaluronic acid to fill the skin, which are popular among the younger generation, are classed as medical cosmetology. "But these items still need syringes and materials, which pose a risk to people's health or even personal safety, so they must be checked before use," he said. False advertising Data provided by Chaoyang District People's Court in Beijing revealed that 20 percent of all medical cases it has heard in the past five years involved cosmetic surgery, and the number is still rising. Of the concluded disputes, 186 plaintiffs were women and nine were men, said Guo Lirong, the court's vice-president, adding that more than 76 percent of clients were age 18 to 40 and over 50 percent of the lawsuits were related to facial surgery. According to Guo, most of the defendants were private clinics or beauty salons that had been sued for false advertising and illegal practices. In one case in 2020, a woman surnamed Lu, from Hubei province, paid about 130,000 yuan for an eyelid operation at a beauty salon in Beijing. An ad she read on the salon's WeChat account said it was part of an international chain providing ocular plastic surgery and repair, with more than 20 years experience and over 10,000 successful cases. The court's investigation showed that the clinic had been fined several times by the city's market regulator for posting fake testaments about aesthetic treatments that used before-and-after selfies or pictures. Given that the salon misled and cheated consumers, the court increased the compensation in line with the Advertising Law, ordering it to pay Lu 390,000 yuan, three times the cost of her treatment. It also ordered the salon to pay an extra 50,000 yuan for mental anguish because Lu's right eye was constantly swollen and red, and her vision was impaired. In the past five years, consumers in 78 disputes asked for compensation for fake ads after the failure of cosmetic surgery, Guo said. Qin, from the Haidian court, confirmed the frequency of beauty-related disputes resulting from fake ads, but he expressed more concern about the rise in "DIY" medical cosmetology, which has become popular among younger people in recent years. "We've found individuals and institutes selling hyaluronic acid or other liquid chemicals as well as medical devices, and telling consumers to inject the materials themselves," he said. "Such products pose a greater health risk, because buyers will find it difficult to get treatment if things go wrong." He added that such retailers and practitioners often operate out of alleys to escape detection and avoid official supervision. Future suggestions The judges from the courts in Chaoyang and Haidian said strict supervision is essential to deal with clinics that lack business licenses, but they stressed that the government urgently needs to draw a much clearer distinction between medical cosmetology and regular beauty services, such as the provision of skin care lotions. In their view, the list of services classified as medical cosmetology should be updated as quickly as possible, given the industry's rapid development. "Specific rules and clearer definitions will make market supervision more targeted and effective," Qin said. He also suggested that government agencies, such as the State Administration for Market Regulation and the National Health Commission, conduct regular inspections of hospitals, beauty salons and clinics that are allowed to provide cosmetic surgery, with more and stricter health and security checks of their equipment and the medication offered. "Punishments for problematic institutes must be strengthened because the current fine is not a big threat, compared with the industry's huge profits," he said. "Furthermore, to improve professional standards, regulations are needed to clarify the type of training received by people employed in the medical cosmetology sector and the way they are trained." Last year, a report on the development of the plastic surgery industry, issued by soyoung, a medical aesthetics platform in Beijing, showed that about 100,000 physicians met industry standards in 2020, but fewer than 40,000 of them were working in the sector. Moreover, there were not enough professional or high-quality institutes. Chen Yang, deputy chief judge of the No 1 Civil Division at the Chaoyang court, reminded people to pay close attention to the qualifications of beauty service providers. She also called for stronger self-regulation of the sector and improved quality of service. She and her colleagues suggested that the National Health Commission should revise the relevant regulationsnot only by increasing the upper limit of fines but also by imposing lifetime bans on clinics and salons that violate the rules. The court said it is essential that the NHC establish a long-term working mechanism to strengthen industry supervision, with tougher management of new technologies used in cosmetic surgery. Moreover, a real-name medical treatment system and a platform for handling complaints or mediating industry disputes are also needed and should be established as quickly as possible, it added. First lady Jill Biden greets Olena Zelenska, spouse of Ukrainian's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, outside School 6, a public school that has taken in displaced students in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, May 8. AP-Yonhap U.S. First Lady Jill Biden made an unannounced visit to Ukraine, Sunday, meeting her Ukrainian counterpart Olena Zelenska at a school sheltering civilians displaced by the war. "I wanted to come on Mother's Day. I thought it was important to show the Ukrainian people that this war has to stop and this war has been brutal and that the people of the United States stand with the people of Ukraine," Biden told reporters. The 70-year-old wore a large pin in the form of the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag. She traveled to Ukraine from Slovakia as part of a regional tour that included Romania and was meant to be yet another display of American support for Ukraine and the countries assisting it in the wake of the Russian invasion. A U.S. official traveling with President Joe Biden's wife also said it was Zelenska's first public appearance since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24. Zelenska thanked Biden "for this very courageous act." "Because we understand what it takes for the U.S. first lady to come here during a war when the military actions are taking place every day, where the air sirens are happening every day, even today," she told Biden. Zelenska stressed the symbolism of Biden's Mothering Sunday visit. "We also feel your love and support during such an important day," the Ukrainian said. Following a closed-door meeting, the first ladies joined local children in a classroom crafting cardboard and tissue paper bears as presents for their mothers. Biden and Zelenska both crafted their own bear, using white and yellow tissue paper. During their face-to-face talks, Biden asked Zelenska how she was holding up as a mother during war time. She and President Volodymyr Zelensky have a 17-year-old daughter and a nine-year-old son. Zelenska said she was grateful that she "is able to hold her children's hands every night even though she can't be with her husband," said Michael LaRosa, a spokesman for Biden. Zelenska also said her biggest concern right now is the mental health of children, soldiers and other people in Ukraine, he said. Biden first expressed an interest in March in visiting Ukraine but the opportunity did not arise until later, LaRosa said. After the unannounced trip to Ukraine, Biden returned to Slovakia. There she had met earlier with refugees, aid workers and residents in the city of Kosice and the village of Vysne Nemecke. In Bratislava she met with U.S. embassy staff and government officials. Nearly 5.5 million refugees have fled Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his invasion, according to the United Nations. More than 360,000 of them have crossed into Slovakia, according to UN figures. In Romania, too, Biden met with Ukrainian refugees Saturday and praised them as "amazingly strong." "We stand with you, I hope you know that," she said at a school in Bucharest, accompanied by her Romanian counterpart Carmen Iohannis, according to images transmitted by TVR public television. More than 810,000 Ukrainians have entered Romania since the start of the war, according to UN figures released April 29. (AFP) Grammy winner Cardi B and her husband of four years - Migos rapper Offset - brought their daughter Kulture Kiari Cephus to dinner to celebrate Mother's Day in Manhattan on Sunday. The Bronx-born 29-year-old wore neon-green shades and boots, the 30-year-old Georgia native wore a neon-green jacket, and their three-year-old child wore a neon-green purse for the family outing. At one point, Offset (born Kiari Cephus) playfully lifted up Kulture, who looked adorable in her white outfit beneath a jean jacket. Family glam: Grammy winner Cardi B and her husband of four years - Migos rapper Offset - brought their daughter Kulture Kiari Cephus to dinner to celebrate Mother's Day in Manhattan on Sunday Cardi (born Belcalis Almanzar) and the three-time Grammy nominee recently co-starred with their little girl in the April 15th episode of Nickelodeon animated series Baby Shark. The Shake It rapper - who boasts 223.7M social media followers - Instastoried a video of her Mother's Day present, a black Audemars Piguet watch. Cardi also posted a cute video of Offset cradling their eight-month-old son Wave Set Cephus where she cooed: 'Wave! What's funny?' Like his famous father, little Wave already has substantial bling including a $200K wave-shaped diamond pendant necklace designed by jeweler Elliot Eliantte. Coordinating! The Bronx-born 29-year-old wore neon-green shades and boots, the 30-year-old Georgia native wore a neon-green jacket, and their three-year-old child wore a neon-green purse for the family outing Weee! At one point, Offset (born Kiari Cephus) playfully lifted up Kulture, who looked adorable in her white outfit beneath a jean jacket First acting gig: Cardi (born Belcalis Almanzar) and the three-time Grammy nominee recently co-starred with their little girl in the April 15th episode of Nickelodeon animated series Baby Shark The Bet It hitmaker gave a shout out to her late paternal grandmother/mother, 'a true angel' who had 'the purest heart' who 'watches and protects me.' The Hype producer-judge paid tribute to his 'beautiful mama' Latabia Woodward, who 'always had my back wrong or right.' Cardi is also stepmother to Offset's three older children - son Jordan, 12; daughter Kody, 7; and daughter Kalea, 7 - from his relationships with Justine Watson, Oriel Jamie, and Shya L'amour. 'Thanks daddy!' The Shake It rapper - who boasts 223.7M social media followers - Instastoried a video of her Mother's Day present, a black Audemars Piguet watch Cardi also posted a cute video of Offset cradling their eight-month-old son Wave Set Cephus where she cooed: 'Wave! What's funny?' 'A true blessing of a mom': The Bet It hitmaker gave a shout out to her late paternal grandmother/mother, 'a true angel' who had 'the purest heart' who 'watches and protects me' 'It's a blessing to be able to have them all together, and to have a wife who's open and treats them as if they're her kids,' the How We Coming rapper gushed in their Essence cover story. 'It could be an issue, but I don't have to go through that, and that's beautiful.' The hip-hop power couple - who met in January 2017 - are still going strong despite separating from December 5, 2018 to January 31, 2019 amid cheating allegations. 'Love you so much!' The Hype producer-judge paid tribute to his 'beautiful mama' Latabia Woodward, who 'always had my back wrong or right' 'It's a blessing to be able to have them all together': Cardi is also stepmother to Offset's three older children - son Jordan, 12; daughter Kody, 7; and daughter Kalea, 7 - from his relationships with Justine Watson, Oriel Jamie, and Shya L'amour 'You ready for your school party? Your Mother's Day party?' The hip-hop power couple - who met in January 2017 - are still going strong despite separating from December 5, 2018 to January 31, 2019 amid cheating allegations The half-Dominican, half-Trinidadian star will next appear in the fourth season of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, which premieres May 20 on Netflix. Season four will also feature Will Smith, Ryan Reynolds, Billie Eilish, Kevin Durant, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Migos - which also features Quavo and Takeoff - is next scheduled to perform June 10 at The Governors Ball Music Festival in Queens, NY. Premieres May 20 on Netflix! The half-Dominican, half-Trinidadian star will next appear in the fourth season of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman Kanye West's girlfriend Chaney Jones took to Instagram on Sunday to celebrate her mother Nicole, for both her birthday and Mother's Day. The 24-year-old showed off her mum's youthful appearance, as she shared a slew of sweet snaps. Captioning one stunning shot of Nicole, 49, all glammed up, she wrote: 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMMYYY!!! I LOVE YOU SOOO MUCH & i'm so lucky to have an amazing mom like you'. Looking good: Chaney Jones surprised fans with her mum Nicole's youthful appearance, as she shared a slew of sweet snaps She also added several throwback photos of her with her mum, writing alongside: 'My everything'. Then for Mother's Day she shared another string of snaps, and wrote: 'Happy mothers day to my sweet & loving mommy. words can't even begin to describe how thankful I am for you'. Chaney flew back to Miami from Tokyo where she is holidaying with Kanye in order to surprise her mother for her birthday. Back in the day: She also added several throwback photos of her with her mum, writing alongside: 'My everything' Double celebration: Then for Mother's Day she shared another string of snaps, and wrote: 'Happy mothers day to my sweet & loving mommy. words can't even begin to describe how thankful I am for you' She shared a video of her embracing Nicole, and writing: 'Flew back to Miami to surprise my parents for my moms birthday' followed by a heart emoji. In the caption of another clip, she wrote: 'My heart is so full. 18 hours of traveling and this was reaction.' The Kim Kardashian lookalike is the daughter of Nicole and Avon Jones, 52. Sweet: Chaney flew back to Miami from Tokyo where she is holidaying with Kanye in order to surprise her mother for her birthday Surprise! She shared a video of her embracing Nicole, and writing: 'Flew back to Miami to surprise my parents for my moms birthday' followed by a heart emoji Adorable: The Kim Kardashian lookalike is the daughter of Nicole and Avon Jones, 52 Hard workers: Nicole works as principal of Dover Air Force Base Middle School since February 2017, while Avon is a therapist. Nicole works as principal of Dover Air Force Base Middle School since February 2017, while Avon is a therapist. The posts come after Chaney shared a sweet image of her and boyfriend Ye in Japan on Wednesday. The two were featured in a snap from behind, with Chaney's head tenderly resting on the musician's shoulder, as they stood on a bridge and took in the view of the busy street below. New post: Kanye West's girlfriend took to Instagram on Sunday to celebrate her mother on her birthday and Mother's Day He's back: Kanye was spotted in Japan alongside his new muse Chaney, after laying low for a while following his public bitter divorce from ex-wife Kim Kardashian Ye sported a black and white plaid shirt for the outing, along with a GAP hat and a pair of dark shades. Meanwhile Chaney was pictured in a black and white leather jacket, with her long raven tresses flowing down her shoulder. The couple first got to Japan around April 22, as reported by TMZ. The two have been together for several months now. Flavor of the month? Ye (R, pictured March 12) was first pictured canoodling with the University of Delaware grad (L) at Soho House in Malibu on February 1 - two weeks before he ended his six-week fling with Uncut Gems actress Julia Fox Ye was first pictured canoodling with Jones at Soho House in Malibu on February 1 - two weeks before he ended his six-week fling with Uncut Gems actress Julia Fox. Ye and his latest muse were last believed to be taking a 'baecation' together at Utah's five-star Amangiri resort in Canyon Point where Kardashian celebrated her 37th birthday in 2017. The remote and luxurious hideaway - 'where no request is too great and no detail too small' - has also attracted the likes of Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Drew Barrymore, and Gordon Ramsey. Desert getaway: Chaney and West were last believed to be taking a 'baecation' together at Utah's five-star Amangiri resort in Canyon Point where Kardashian celebrated her 37th birthday in 2017 (pictured Saturday) 'They're not exclusive,' an insider told Us Weekly earlier this month. 'She's his muse and hangs out with his posse.' The Atlanta-born hip-hop star - who's also dated Irina Shayk and Vinetria since the end of his six-year marriage - has lavished Chaney with gifts like a $275K silver Hermes 'Birkin' bag. Ye - who suffers from bipolar disorder - has been searching for the right luxury facility to receive treatment 'to help him be a better human and a better dad' after his latest public meltdown, according to Page Six. Ye and the Calabasas socialite - who share four children under age 8 - were declared legally single on March 2, and their next status conference divorce hearing is scheduled for August 5. As for Chaney' career, she's currently working on her master's degree in counseling at Wilmington University and she's employed as COO of First State Behavioral Health. Hilaria Baldwin has revealed that her seventh child will be a baby girl, after signing off a sentimental video posted on Monday with the words: 'I can't wait to meet you my daughter.' The Boston-born influencer shared a visual keepsake for the unborn child along with her husband Alec Baldwin and their six children; daughters Lucia, 13 months, and Carmen Gabriela, 8, and sons Rafael Thomas, 6, Leonardo Angel Charles, 5, Romeo Alejandro David, 3, and Eduardo "Edu" Pao Lucas, 18 months. Alec, 63, and Hilaria, 38, announced their 'surprise' baby news in March this year, five months after his fatal Rust shooting that left Ukrainian cinematographer Halyna Hutchins dead. 'It's always been both fun and meaningful for me to find out what is the sex of my baby, yet, as I grow and learn, I want to do it a bit differently this time around,' Hilaria wrote in the caption. Reveal: Pregnant Hilaria Baldwin has revealed that she's expecting a girl, as she posts sentimental video with Alec and the kids: 'I can't wait to meet you my daughter' 'What will make our baby a loving, whole person? What matters? What will make them feel seen, free, and proud?' She continued: 'I share with you our family's hopes and wishes, encouragement and advice for our new baby. I feel so much joy, watching these children, who are filled with love and the most simple, kind wisdom.' 'Hearing them share their words is one of my greatest gifts in life. Join us in honoring this whole little independent human, growing inside of me.' Sharing: Boston-born former yoga teacher Hilaria posted a sentimental caption on Monday Alec, 63, and Hilaria, 38, announced their 'surprise' baby news in March this year, five months after his fatal Rust shooting that left Ukrainian cinematographer Halyna Hutchins dead The Baldwinitos: Daughters Lucia, 13 months, and Carmen Gabriela, 8, and sons Rafael Thomas, 6, Leonardo Angel Charles, 5, Romeo Alejandro David, 3, and Eduardo "Edu" Pao Lucas, 18 months Kids: The Baldwintos' Carmen (left) and Leonardo Angel Charles (right) also appear in the video Hilaria alluded to the tough times they've faced as a family when she announced their baby news in March, referring to their unborn child as a 'bright spot in their lives'. 'After many ups and downs over the past few years, we have an exciting up and a huge surprise: another Baldwinito is coming this fall,' Hilaria wrote. Hilaria, who suffered two miscarriages before welcoming her fifth child, Edu, admitted that she didn't think anymore children were in her future, explaining that the news of her latest pregnancy came as something of a 'surprise' for the family. It is not yet clear if their unborn daughter will follow the family tradition of being given a Spanish name, after Hilaria was accused of faking having Spanish roots in December 2020. Bump: Hilaria showed off her pregnancy belly while revealing that Alec had taken her to dinner Born Hillary Hayward-Thomas in Boston, Massachusetts to American parents, the former yoga teacher got in hot water when she was accused of appropriating Spanish culture. Her husband Alec once referred to her as 'my wife, she's from Spain' on a late-night talk show, then on a cooking segment for the Today show, Hilaria made it seem as though she had trouble pronouncing the word cucumber in English. Meanwhile, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza suggested last month that Alec may still face charges for accidentally killing Ukrainian cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Alec was rehearsing a scene for the movie Rust on October 21, 2021, when he pulled his gun from his costume. It fired and shot Hutchins, 42, in the armpit, fatally wounding her. Footage emerged last month of investigators telling Baldwin that Hutchins had died after interviewing him. Surprise: Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria revealed they are expecting a seventh child together in March this year, just five months after the actor's fatal Rust shooting Sweet: The couple welcomed their fifth and sixth child just six months apart after using a surrogate to carry daughter Lucia When Alec and Hilaria shared their baby news in March, the caption referred to the 'uncertain times' they've faced as a family. Alec also has a daughter Ireland Baldwin, 26, with ex wife Kim Basinger. Last year, Hilaria and Alec shocked their fans by announcing the arrival of their sixth child, Lucia, via surrogate just six months after the yoga guru gave birth to her fifth baby Edu following two miscarriages. She shared her devastating news in April 2019, when she took to social media to document her miscarriage in a series of very candid photos and videos, the first of which showed her posing in her underwear, alongside a caption which read: 'I want to share with you that I am most likely experiencing a miscarriage.' Hilaria went on to document subsequent doctors' appointments, and even shared selfies from her D&C procedure. In November of that same year, she revealed that she'd had a second miscarriage, four months into her pregnancy, once again sharing the news on Instagram alongside an image of herself and daughter Carmen. Advertisement The first teaser trailer for James Cameron's stunning, eight-time delayed sequel Avatar: The Way of Water has been released. The 20th Century Studios film will finally hits US theaters on December 16, 13 years after the original movie. In it, Na'vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and disabled former Marine-turned-Na'vi Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) are now proud parents of four children on the alien moon of Pandora. 'I know one thing,' Jake tells Neytiri in the preview. 'Wherever we go, this family is our fortress.' In US theaters on December 16! On Monday, 20th Century Studios released the first teaser trailer for James Cameron's stunning, eight-time delayed sequel Avatar: The Way of Water There's a quick glimpse of the blue-skinned couple's 14-year-old adopted human child - Javier 'Spider' Socorro - played by Jack Champion. 'Ultimately, the sequels are a story about family, and the lengths parents will go through to keep that family together and keep them safe,' producer Jon Landau told EW in December. 'I always say that Jim's movies have universal themes and really, there's no more universal theme than family.' Much of the $250M-budget performance-capture movie and the third film are set in and around the ocean with a clan of reef-dwelling Na'vi called the Metkayina lead by Tonowari (Cliff Curtis). Kids running on a tree: In it, Na'vi warrior Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and disabled former Marine-turned-Na'vi Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) are now proud parents of four children on the alien moon of Pandora 'I know one thing,' Jake tells Neytiri in the preview. 'Wherever we go, this family is our fortress' Blended brood: There's a quick glimpse of the blue-skinned couple's 14-year-old adopted human child - Javier 'Spider' Socorro - played by Jack Champion Producer Jon Landau told EW in December: 'Ultimately, the sequels are a story about family, and the lengths parents will go through to keep that family together and keep them safe' 'Bora Bora on steroids': Much of the $250M-budget performance-capture movie and the third film are set in and around the ocean with a clan of reef-dwelling Na'vi called the Metkayina lead by Tonowari (Cliff Curtis) Take that, Aquaman! Many cast members - including Kate Winslet as Ronal and Sigourney Weaver in a mystery role - were trained to free-dive for over six minutes at at time inside a 900K-gallon tank in Manhattan Beach, CA Many cast members - including Kate Winslet as Ronal and Sigourney Weaver in a mystery role - were trained to free-dive for over six minutes at at time inside a 900K-gallon tank in Manhattan Beach, CA. There were only two shots of the humans running the industrial Pandora base Hell's Gate where they mine a precious mineral called unobtanium. One character could be seen walking tall with help from a large loader while pointing at things at the construction site alongside another human and a Na'vi. Contrasting the beauty: There were only two shots of the humans running the industrial Pandora base Hell's Gate where they mine a precious mineral called unobtanium Plot thickens: One character could be seen walking tall with help from a large loader while pointing at things at the construction site alongside another human and a Na'vi Throwback to James Cameron's Aliens! It looked different than the loader manned in the first film by the late Colonel Miles Quaritch (L, Stephen Lang), who's somehow magically resurrected to play the villain in all three sci-fi sequels A little help? Fans that need a refresher can catch the critically-acclaimed original Avatar in theaters on September 23 - 13 years after becoming the top-grossing film of all time by amassing $2.84B globally It looked different than the loader manned in the first film by the late Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who's somehow magically resurrected to play the villain in all three sci-fi sequels. Fans that need a refresher can catch the critically-acclaimed original Avatar in theaters on September 23 - 13 years after becoming the top-grossing film of all time by amassing $2.84B globally. 'I can get choked up just talking about it. I was able to see just 20 minutes of the second installment, right before the year ended, last year. And I was speechless. I was moved to tears,' Zoe told Kevin McCarthy on March 11. Zoe told Kevin McCarthy on March 11: 'I was able to see just 20 minutes of the second installment, right before the year ended, last year. And I was speechless. I was moved to tears' The half-Dominican, half-Puerto Rican 43-year-old added: 'Jim was finally able to crack that challenge that whole thing that you can't imitate water, virtually, through performance capture...He did it. It's powerful, it's compelling' "I was speechless...I was moved to tears." Zoe Saldana saw 20-minutes of AVATAR 2. Love this answer about James Cameron. The underwater performance-capture technology should be incredible. #TheAdamProject #Avatar2 pic.twitter.com/u79EOEsQHQ Kevin McCarthy (@KevinMcCarthyTV) March 11, 2022 'Only in theatres!' Michelle Yeoh, Vin Diesel, Oona Chaplin, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, and Jemaine Clement also star in The Way of the Water 'It's definitely a leap from the first Avatar, so you have to brace yourself for it. It's going to be an adventure you won't forget.' Saldana added: 'Jim was finally able to crack that challenge that whole thing that you can't imitate water, virtually, through performance capture. That was just a challenge that he had taken upon himself, and it took him years, and he did it. He did it. It's powerful, it's compelling.' Michelle Yeoh, Vin Diesel, Oona Chaplin, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, and Jemaine Clement also star in The Way of the Water. Ambulance action star Eiza Gonzalez decided to bleach her dark hair and brows the day before a fashion spread photographed by Jack Bridgland, despite all the apprehension from her on-set glam squad. 'Jack was like, "Oh my God, really?"' the Mexican-born 32-year-old recalled to V Magazine on Monday. 'And even on the day of, they were on the fence, [but] I was like, "Let's just do it. It's gonna be so cool!"' 'Jack was like, "Oh my God, really?"' Ambulance action star Eiza Gonzalez decided to bleach her dark hair and brows the day before a fashion spread photographed by Jack Bridgland, despite all the apprehension from her on-set glam squad Hairstylist Franco Gobbi gave Eiza's shockingly white locks a wet look for the shoot and make-up artist Porsche Poon applied her bright red pout for a much-needed pop of color. Colorist John Clark was the man behind Gonzalez's dramatic makeover, which she first unveiled at the London premiere of Ambulance on March 23. But the Love Spreads star must have hated it since she immediately went back to brunette just seven days later on March 30. Eiza was the first Latin-American brand ambassador for the Italian luxury jeweler Bulgari, which was contractually included in every single image from her V spread. The Mexican-born 32-year-old recalled to V Magazine on Monday: 'And even on the day of, they were on the fence, [but] I was like, "Let's just do it. It's gonna be so cool!"' Blonde ambition: Hairstylist Franco Gobbi gave Eiza's shockingly white locks a wet look for the shoot and make-up artist Porsche Poon applied her red pout for a much-needed pop of color 'It was such a pleasure to blonde @eizagonzalez!' Colorist John Clark (L) was the man behind Gonzalez's dramatic makeover, which she first unveiled at the London premiere of Ambulance on March 23 Just kidding! But the Love Spreads star must have hated it since she immediately went back to brunette just seven days later on March 30 Stylist Anna Trevelyan dressed Gonzalez (born Reyna) in designer clothing from labels like Givenchy, Miu Miu, Prada, Emporio Armani, Jimmy Choo, Dior, and Burberry. The lovely Latina first found fame at age 16 starring in Televisa's teen musical telenovela, Lola: erase una vez, where she notoriously donned blackface but has since apologized. 'There's a lot of stereotypes of the Latin woman. We're probably one of the most stereotyped humans on planet Earth and I think that it's been really hard for us to deconstruct it and reeducate people,' Eiza explained. 'I was my own support system, and that's something that I really find a shame. I feel like it's part of the systemic issue of the business because there are so few seats for people like us, that its created this mentality where we can't share with others because they'll take from us.' Drip: Eiza was the first Latin-American brand ambassador for the Italian luxury jeweler Bulgari, which was contractually included in every single image from her V spread Chic: Stylist Anna Trevelyan dressed Gonzalez in designer clothing from labels like Givenchy (pictured), Miu Miu, Prada, Emporio Armani, Jimmy Choo, Dior, and Burberry Gonzalez currently plays EMT Cam Thompson in Michael Bay's remake of Laurits Munch-Petersen's 2005 movie Ambulancen, which received mixed reviews and only earned $50.7M from its $40M budget back. 'I was f***ing s***ing my pants, but I just knew I needed to do it because I just really felt the obligation,' the Spirit Untamed actress admitted. 'I lost family members to COVID-19 and I felt like it was the one thing that I really wanted to give back to frontline responders. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here. I also felt like a Latin woman playing an EMT who is the best at her job was a powerful move and I had to do it.' Eiza has been 'freezing my butt on set in London' filming Netflix's eight-episode alien invasion sci-fi drama The Three-Body Problem created by Game of Thrones' David Benioff and Dan Weiss. 'I am deeply sorry and ashamed': The lovely Latina first found fame at age 16 starring in Televisa's teen musical telenovela, Lola: erase una vez, where she notoriously donned blackface but has since apologized Eiza said: 'There's a lot of stereotypes of the Latin woman. We're probably one of the most stereotyped humans on planet Earth and I think that it's been really hard for us to deconstruct it and reeducate people' Gonzalez added: 'I was my own support system, and that's something that I really find a shame. I feel like it's part of the systemic issue of the business because there are so few seats for people like us, that its created this mentality where we can't share with others because they'll take from us' 'I hadn't done television since my first job in America, which was with Robert Rodriguez, so [it's been] 10 years,' Gonzalez noted. 'My intentions are to play roles that completely transform me into different things. I just love the challenge of learning a lot of things - the amount of scientific information that I've learned doing this project is incredible.' The Godzilla vs. Kong star will also portray Elodie in Scott Z. Burns' star-studded, eight-episode climate change anthology drama Extrapolations for Apple TV+. 'I was f***ing sh***ing my pants': The Spirit Untamed actress currently plays EMT Cam Thompson in Michael Bay's (R) remake of Laurits Munch-Petersen's 2005 movie Ambulancen, which received mixed reviews and only earned $50.7M from its $40M budget back Eiza said: 'I just knew I needed to do it because I just really felt the obligation. I lost family members to COVID-19 and I felt like it was the one thing that I really wanted to give back to frontline responders. If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't be here' Gonzalez continued: 'I also felt like a Latin woman playing an EMT who is the best at her job was a powerful move and I had to do it' (pictured on set in 2021) 'I got to work with Marion Cotillard and Forest Whitaker!' Eiza gushed. 'I've had the chance after COVID where I just really felt like I wanted to do things that were not [on the] safe side, just taking risks and doing things that were gonna force people into a headlock of looking at me differently and pushing the boundaries.' The ensemble series also features Meryl Streep, Sienna Miller, Kit Harington, Keri Russell, Matthew Rhys, Daveed Diggs, Gemma Chan, David Schwimmer, Tobey Maguire, Edward Norton, Cherry Jones, Diane Lane, Heather Graham, Judd Hirsch, and Hari Nef. 'I started as a theatre girl': The Godzilla vs. Kong star is currently filming Netflix series The Three-Body Problem in London, but she really wants to do a play next (pictured May 2) 'I've [had] many lives - I've been a child star, I've been a pop star, I've been a soap opera actress, I've been a Nickelodeon girl, and I've transitioned [in my career] to the American market,' Gonzalez said. 'I really wanna do theatre next. Especially now that I'm living in London and going to the theater all the time, it just reminds me [of when] I started as a theatre girl.' The Lee Strasberg student continued: 'The theatre is just magical and allows you to be free as an actor and I really want to focus on that. I also want to start flexing my other chops, like directing...I'm really taking it seriously. So it'll probably be sooner than, rather than later, for sure.' Denise Richards and her eldest daughter Sami Sheen seem to be on good terms these days. Over the weekend the 51-year-old Bond girl and the 18-year-old model were photographed together for the first time in over a year. The two smiled when side-by-side outside Italian restaurant Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, California. Back to doing fine: Denise Richards and her eldest daughter Sami Sheen seem to be on good terms these days. Over the weekend the 51-year-old Bond girl and the 18-year-old model were seen having fun during a lunch date Apres lunch: The two smiled side by side as they posed outside Italian restaurant Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, California Sami wore a purple and red sweater with her blonde hair down and large gold hoop earrings that matched her double necklace. Mom Denise modeled a casual green shirt under an off-white fuzzy jacket. Sami was the one who posted the selfies to her Instagram account on Sunday. 'Happy mother's day !! i love u so much mom. u have no idea how grateful i am to have u in my life,' the beauty wrote in her caption. The ladies were last seen in a photograph together in December 2020 for a holiday card. They were with Denise's husband Aaron Phypers as well as Sami's sisters Lola and Eloise. LA chic: Sami wore a purple and red sweater with her blonde hair down and large gold hoop earrings that matched her double necklace. Mom Denise modeled a casual green shirt under an off-white fuzzy jacket From her teen: Sami was the one who posted the selfies to her Instagram account on Sunday. 'Happy mother's day !! i love u so much mom. u have no idea how grateful i am to have u in my life,' the beauty wrote in her caption The mother and daughter team seem to be getting closer after a rough 2021. In April, Denise shared a post with flashback photos to celebrate Sami turning 18. 'In a blink of an eye you're 18. !!!!' wrote the former Playboy cover girl. 'Happy Birthday my beautiful Sami. I love you so much. Privately many more words to share with you. I love you unconditionally and I am very blessed & grateful to be your mom. And Nana is looking down celebrating with you. I love you my sweet Sami. Happy 18th Birthday!' In February Richards said her relationship with Sami was 'strained.' The actress was going through a 'difficult' time with Sami but admitted she would love for the teenager to move back in with her after she left last year to live with her dad, actor Sheen. The last family portrait: Denise and Sami were last photographed together in December 2020 with Aaron, Lola and Eloise for a holiday card Appearing on SiriusXM's Jeff Lewis Live, Denise said: 'Honestly, I have a strained relationship with her. It's very difficult. I know we'll get back to where we were eventually but right now, it is strained. 'Obviously I would love for her to live with me. She lived with me all these years. But I think it's very difficult raising teenagers now and especially in Los Angeles when there's access to everything. We didn't grow up with Postmates and Uber where you have everything that you want.' The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star - who also has Lola, 16, with Charlie, and 10-year-old adopted daughter Eloise - insisted she isn't a 'strict mom' but does have 'rules and boundaries.' Wedding day: From left, Sami, Aaron, Denise and Lola in 2019 Friends now: Denise and ex-husband Charlie Sheen seen with Lola, far left, and Sami, second from right She added: 'There are certain rules and I enforce them. And [at Sheen's], there's different rules at that house and that's okay.' Denise confirmed Sami is 'not in school' at the moment and admitted she doesn't 'agree with certain things' her daughter does. She added: 'But that's okay. We can agree to disagree.' Before all the chaos: (Left to right) Lola, Denise and Sami in Los Angeles in 2015 Sami previously claimed the home she lived in with Denise and her husband Aaron Phypers was a 'hell house.' In a video shared to TikTok, she wrote alongside footage of herself crying: '1 year ago today: trapped in an abusive household, hated myself, would go days without eating or sleeping, insanely depressed, hated school, etc ' The footage then cut to the teenager smiling alongside the caption: 'Now: finally moved out of the hell house, had a spiritual awakening, own 2 cats, happy single, full of self love, and dropped out of high school :).' Tom Holland and Levon Thurman-Hawke donned 1970s era outfits as they filmed scenes for their upcoming series The Crowded Room in Brooklyn on Monday. The 25-year-old Spider-Man star sported a two-tone gray velour shirt, faded blue jeans and brown leather shoes. Meanwhile, Levon, 20, had on a striped sweater jacket, light wash blue jeans and classic checkered Vans. On set: Tom Holland and Levon Thurman-Hawke donned 1970s era outfits as they filmed scenes for their upcoming series The Crowded Room in Brooklyn on Monday Tom wore his long brunette locks parted on the side and styled in loose voluminous curls. The United Kingdom native, who is also executive producing the series, stood on top of large rock outside of a park with his hands folded over each other. The Uncharted star was also seen sitting on the rock as he rested his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands. 1970s-style: The 25-year-old Spider-Man star sported a two-tone gray velour shirt, faded blue jeans and brown leather shoes In character: Tom and Levon were spotted walking alongside each other down a street in another scene Tom and Levon were spotted walking alongside each other down a street in another scene. Levon - who is the son of A-list actors Uma Thurman, 51, and Ethan Hawke, 51 - layered his brown, olive green and gray sweater jacket over a light orange t-shirt. The Blackout actor's blonde hair was parted in the middle and worn in a straight style. Double duty: The United Kingdom native is also executive producing the series The two actors were seen having a discussion with a member of the production crew as they filmed scenes in front of vintage 1970s taxi. In another image, Tom was seen taking a break as he chatted with other crew members on a promenade. Filming of the Apple TV+ series, which is based partly on the true story of Billy Milligan, a.k.a. The Campus Rapist, had begun on March 31, 2022. In production: Filming of the Apple TV+ series, which is based partly on the true story of Billy Milligan, a.k.a. The Campus Rapist, had begun on March 31, 2022 The Crowded Room 'is an anthology series that will explore inspirational stories of those who have struggled with mental illness and learned to live successfully with it,' according to Deadline. Season one, which will be 10 episodes, is based on the life of writer and producer Akiva Goldsman as well as parts of Daniel Keyess nonfiction novel, The Minds of Billy Milligan. In the late 1970s, Milligan was put on trial for multiple counts of robbery, kidnapping, and rape, but he avoided going to prison by pleading insanity. Interesting: The Crowded Room 'is an anthology series that will explore inspirational stories of those who have struggled with mental illness and learned to live successfully with it,' according to Deadline After being examined by medical professionals, it was concluded that he had more than 20 different personalities. Milligan was the first person to be acquitted of a major crime due to his dissociative identity disorder. Holland is set to portray Danny Sullivan, a character based on Milligan. Famous parents: Levon is the son of A-list actors Uma Thurman, 51, and Ethan Hawke, 51, who split in 2003 and finalized their divorce in 2005; Pictured in 2002 Multiple Personality Disorder is a now defunct diagnosis currently known as dissociative identity disorder. The cast also includes Emmy Rossum, who will play Danny's mother Candy, and Amanda Seyfried, who has been cast as 'a clinical psychologist faced with the most challenging case of her career.' It is unknown when the true-crime show will be released, but it likely won't be until 2023 at the earliest. Real-life inspiration: Season one, which will be 10 episodes, is based on the life of writer and producer Akiva Goldsman (pictured here in 2018) Helena Christensen paid tribute to her lookalike son Mingus, along with her mum Elsa, as she took to Instagram on Sunday to mark Mother's Day. The supermodel, 53, who shares the 22-year-old with her former partner Norman Reedus, 53, said being his parent is the 'most rewarding honour' of her life. He was ordered to undergo counselling earlier this year after he pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge for allegedly punching a woman in the face at a New York festival. Family: Helena Christensen paid tribute to her 'magical' lookalike son Mingus, 22, in an adorable Mother's Day post... after his disorderly conduct charge for 'punching woman in face' In the slew of adorable snaps, the budding model was the spitting image of his famous parent as they ate pizza and cosied up to one another in recent times. With his chiselled jawline and piercing green eyes, theres no doubt whose genes model Mingus has inherited. She began: 'Being your mom is the loveliest, most magical journey and most rewarding honor of my life So grateful for you. 'And so grateful for my wonderful mamacita who is a true unicorn and warrior mom, always giving so much love, not just to my sister and I but to everyone in her life . Cute: The supermodel, 53, who shares the 22-year-old with her former partner Norman Reedus, 53, said being his parent is the 'most rewarding honour' of her life Whoops! He was ordered to undergo counselling earlier this year after he pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge for punching a woman in the face at a New York festival Lookalikes: In the slew of adorable snaps, the budding model was the spitting image of his famous parent as they ate pizza and cosied up to one another in recent times Grateful: She began: 'Being your mom is the loveliest, most magical journey and most rewarding honor of my life So grateful for you' 'Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers of the world and every woman out there who loves deeply.' In her follow-up post, which documented Mingus over the years, along with a sweet shot of her age-defying mum Elsa, Helena paid tribute to them both. She penned: 'Growing up in a family full of loving, wise, interesting and curious women is what Im most grateful for in life. 'The close, caring bond between my great grandmothers, grandmothers, mom, myself and my son is the biggest reason for who I am as a person, how I think and feel, how I experience life. Doppelganger: With his chiselled jawline and piercing green eyes, theres no doubt whose genes model Mingus has inherited Trendy: They certainly put their best fashion feet forward with their chic ensembles Throwback: In her follow-up post, which documented Mingus over the years 'I will carry their stories with me through life and pass them on @ragandbone.' In March, Mingus was sentenced to five private counseling sessions for reportedly punching a woman in the face - after pleading guilty to a downgraded charge of disorderly conduct. The runway star is said to have punched the 24-year-old woman - a stranger - in the face at Manhattan's San Gennaro street festival last September. He originally faced a misdemeanor assault charge but his attorney Isabelle Kirschner told DailyMail.com that she negotiated with the District Attorney to downgrade the charge to disorderly conduct, which is only a violation in New York City. Cute: Mingus is wrapped up in a blanket while Helena goes make-up free in one snap Looking good: She also shared a sweet shot with her age-defying mum Elsa (left) Poignant: She penned: 'Growing up in a family full of loving, wise, interesting and curious women is what Im most grateful for in life' His plea comes as crime continues to skyrocket in New York City, with overall offenses up over 45 percent from this time last year. Felony assaults are also up 17.2 percent. Mingus - who wore the same tailored brown suit he's worn to his other court appearances - claimed that the woman and her friends were inebriated and followed him for two blocks, pulling his hair, throwing water in his face and threatening his friends. He has walked the runway for Calvin Klein and appeared on the cover of Vogue Hommes Paris just one week before the incident. Oh dear: In March, Mingus was sentenced to five private counseling sessions for punching a woman in the face - after pleading guilty to a downgraded charge of disorderly conduct (pictured in 2017) His attorney previously told DailyMail.com that the allegations against him were 'baseless.' 'I believe that based on the evidence, there is no credible evidence to support the charges,' Kirschner said before Mingus pled guilty on Wednesday. He was featured on the cover of the Vogue Hommes Paris' fall-winter 2021-2022 issue alongside Parker Van Noord, son of the late male model Andre Van Noord. Helena and Norman - who is best known for his role in The Walking Dead - began dating in 1998. Mingus was born the following year. The high-profile couple split in 2003, before Norman went on to date Diane Kruger. Norman and Diane welcomed their own child together, a daughter, in 2018. Mingus is Helena's only child. The Danish supermodel frequently shares snaps on social media showing the close bond she has with her son, who has been modelling since 2017. Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid put their curves on display in the latest ad for Victoria's Secret. Hailey, 25, rocked a sexy lace corset as she danced about while Bella, 25, dropped jaws in a jade green bra and thong underwear. Hailey beamed jubilantly as she posed seductively for the camera while Bella played Pat-A-Cake with another lingerie-clad model. Dropping jaws! Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid put their curves on display in the latest ad for Victoria's Secret She showcased her defined abs as she played with her brunette hair. The fun-filled epic was set to pop music and saw the models working an array of sexy bikinis and lingerie styles. The ad is in promotion of Victoria's Secret's Very Sexy Push-up, which offers a medium lift. Bella has recently returned to Victoria's Secret as it attempts to rebrand as the VS Collective. Sexy! Hailey wowed in a lace corset style lingerie Leggy lady! Hadid put her statuesque body on display as she posed up a storm in the ad Making them green with envy! She wowed in a satin green bra Over the past few years the firm was swamped with controversies including a raft of sexual misconduct claims such as that Bella was harassed. 'What magnetized me to coming back was them coming to me and really proving to me that, behind the scenes, Victoria's Secret has changed so drastically,' the model insisted in an interview with Marie Claire published December 2021. 'There was a type of way that, I think, a lot of us women who used to work with Victoria's Secret felt. And now, six of the seven [VS] board members are all female. And there's new photoshoot protocols that we have. So a lot has changed.' A couple of years ago Bella intimated that she 'never felt powerful' during the three runway shows she walked for Victoria's Secret. Smile! Bieber looked stunning in the fun-filled ad Very sexy indeed! The ad is in promotion of Victoria's Secret's Very Sexy Push-up, which offers a medium lift She said that Rihanna's Savage X Fenty show in September 2019 'was the first time on a runway that I felt really sexy,' according to Women's Wear Daily. When Marie Claire brought up those remarks to Bella she responded that becoming part of the VS Collective 'was really about taking my power back and having the power over my body be released to myself again.' She said: 'I think the beauty of what Victoria's Secret is as a collective is about the conversation. All of us together, Paloma [Elsesser], Adut [Akech], when we sit on set, we're just grateful for how we feel supported now, instead of how we used to feel, when it was a lingerie company that used to be run by men for men.' Bella added: 'I just look around [on set] and I feel empowered again. I feel empowered in lingerie, instead of feeling like my body is some sort of money maker.' Wowza! Bella posed seductively with another stunning model The little sister of Gigi Hadid confessed: 'It took me almost a year and a half to take the meeting with them. Even having that conversation was very complicated for me because of the way that I had felt in the past.' However she came around over the course of 'multiple meetings' where the brand was 'able to prove to me' that certain 'protocols' were put in place. 'They have in our contracts that - which we, by the way, don't have anywhere else. Not in editorial [shoots], not any other fashion shoots, so it's incredible to see that a lingerie company had even thought about this - we don't have to do anything, basically, that we don't want to do,' she said. The new VS: The VS Collective is retooling itself to be more size inclusive after the original brand was denounced for promoting an unattainable body image 'We don't need to show parts of our body that we don't want to show. That's really important for us as women, because sometimes, going into these sets, we do lose our boundaries. And our boundaries are not accepted.' Bella maintained that 'I know firsthand how Victoria's Secret used to make me feel, and now, going onto set every day, there is just an energy that's switched.' With regard to the naysayers she insisted: 'I would never work for a company that not only made me feel a type of way, but made the world feel a type of way, until I knew for a fact that real change was going to be made.' Fun and games! Bella played Pat-A-Cake with another lingerie-clad model The VS Collective is retooling itself to be more size inclusive after the original brand was denounced for promoting an unattainable body image. Early in her career Bella walked the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show for its final three years - 2016 in Paris, 2017 in Shanghai and then 2018 in New York City. In 2020 an explosive New York Times report detailed allegations against Victoria's Secret executive Ed Razek, who had left the company the previous year. Among the accusations was that Ed sexually harassed Bella during her fitting for the 2018 edition of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Girl power! The fun-filled epic was set to pop music and saw the models working an array of sexy bikinis and lingerie styles Three eyewitnesses and one person who heard of the remark secondhand said that Ed ordered: 'Forget the panties,' as Bella was measured for underwear. It was also claimed that Ed wondered aloud if Bella would be permitted to walk 'down the runway with those perfect t*tties' by ABC, which aired the show. Three sources also alleged that Ed groped a model's crotch through underwear at the same fitting where Bella had her measurements. Ed, who resigned in August 2019, insisted: 'The accusations in this reporting are categorically untrue, misconstrued or taken out of context.' Making her return: Hadid has recently returned to Victoria's Secret amid its efforts to rebrand as the VS Collective; pictured 2018 Another flashpoint of controversy was Les Wexner, then the CEO of Victoria's Secret parent company L Brands, who was infamously friendly with Jeffrey Epstein. About two years ago Les, who is now chairman emeritus of L Brands, said he was 'embarrassed' about the Epstein connection. 'We are all betrayed by friends. At the end the day, people have secret lives because...theyre so good at hiding those secrets,' said Les, who has claimed that north of $46 million of his money was misappropriated by the late pedophile. Les told investors the association ended in 2007, the year after the Epstein case was brought to a grand jury in Florida, according to CNBC. Anthony Anderson has graduated from college after returning to finish his degree. The Black-ish star dropped out of college as a youngster due to financial reasons, but was inspired to return to school after his son Nathan was accepted into Howard University in Washington, D.C. The 51-year-old Law & Order veteran has now completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree and posted an inspiration message celebrating his success, declaring: 'It's never too late.' Congratulations! Anthony Anderson has graduated from university after returning to finish his degree; seen on Saturday at Howard University in Washington DC Dream big: In a post on Instagram, the Compton, California native wrote: 'To quote Biggie, 'IT WAS ALL A DREAM!' Words can't begin to describe the emotional roller coaster I'm on right now' In a post on Instagram, the Compton, California native wrote: 'To quote Biggie, 'IT WAS ALL A DREAM!' Words can't begin to describe the emotional roller coaster I'm on right now. 'It's literally been 30 years in the making. This spring I was finally able to complete the work to graduate from Howard University with a BFA degree from the Chadwick A Boseman College of Fine Arts! 'Yesterday was a full circle moment. It's never too late! Things happen when they're supposed to happen!' he added. Anthony went on to thank all those who had helped him on his journey, including Phylicia Rashad, the current Dean of Howard University's Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts, and his son Nathan. There he is: The Black-ish star dropped out of college as a youngster due to financial reasons, but was inspired to return to school after his son Nathan was accepted into Howard University in Washington, D.C. He added: 'It takes a village. Thank you to my son @hotboynato for inspiring me to return to school to finish my degree after he was accepted into Howard University. This is just the beginning! HU! ... ' Anthony previously opened up about his decision to return to education in 2018 and his hope of graduating alongside his son. The TV star said: 'I was paying for college myself, and I ran out of money after my junior year. Now he has the money: Anthony previously opened up about his decision to return to education in 2018 and his hope of graduating alongside his son. The TV star said: 'I was paying for college myself, and I ran out of money after my junior year' A big time: 'I've been speaking to the university ... about creating a curriculum that I can take online, and at home, and do some practical classes on campus so I can walk with my son [Nathan] in 2022,' he said earlier 'I've been speaking to the university ... about creating a curriculum that I can take online, and at home, and do some practical classes on campus so I can walk with my son [Nathan] in 2022. 'So I have four years to finish one year of college.' Also at Howard on Saturday was Taraji P. Henson who had the honor of delivering the commencement address for the class of 2022 at her alma mater. The actress, 51, also received an honorary doctorate from the historically black institution, nearly 30 years after graduating with her bachelor's degree in 1995. Her ex Common and Kylie Jenner's baby daddy, rapper Travis Scott were in the audience. Honored: Taraji P. Henson had the honor of delivering the commencement address for the class of 2022 at her alma mater Howard University in Washington, D.C. on Saturday During her time at the podium, Henson donned a simple black graduation robe, as well as a large gold medal. She glammed up her appearance with a ruby red lip and by accessorizing with a pair of large silver hoop earrings. While an honorary doctorate doesn't actually come with the title 'doctor,' Henson made it clear that she was going to use the title - at least during her commencement speech. 'I would like to take this moment to reintroduce myself: My name is Dr. Taraji Penda Henson, Howard class of 1995,' the Hidden Figures star said to the crowd of graduates and attendees. Prestigious: The actress, 51, also received an honorary doctorate from the historically black institution, nearly 30 years after graduating with her bachelor's degree in 1995 Henson graduated from Howard University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in 1995. She attended her own graduation with her then one-year-old son Marcell Johnson, who she held in her arms for the duration of the ceremony. She shares Marcell, now 27, with her high school sweetheart William LaMarr Johnson, who was tragically killed in 2003. Though she's since become one of the most well-known faces in Hollywood, Henson made it clear during Saturday's speech that she was undervalued in the early days of her career. Star-studded: Saturday's commencement ceremony proved to be a star-studded affair, with the likes of rapper Travis Scott in the audience Bison Pride! Common posed for a snapshot with Scott at one point during the graduation ceremony in Washington, D.C. She specifically noted her role in the Brad Pitt-led drama, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which premiered in theaters back in 2008. She played the role of 'Queenie,' a role that would go on to earn her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The Empire star told the crowd she was paid just $100,000 for her part in the film which commanded a budget of nearly $170 million to make. 'At the end of the day, I saw $30,000,' she explained following taxes and other costs. 'I was angry. I was disgusted, and I was hurt. But instead of stewing in that negative space, instead of becoming cynical, I decided that I would allow hope not hurt [to] shape my work.' The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button: She specifically noted her role in the Brad Pitt-led drama, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which premiered in theaters back in 2008. She played the role of 'Queenie,' a role that would go on to earn her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. The Empire star told the crowd she was paid just $100,000 for her part in the film which commanded a budget of nearly $170 million to make Henson described putting her all into the impactful role and wanting to bring Queenie to life as a dimensional and memorable character. '[Queenie] was three-dimensional. She was emotional. She was no-nonsense,' she said. 'She had a big heart. She loved big even though she was living in the Jim Crow South, barely 50 years after the end of slavery. 'And in honoring Queenie, I honored all of our ancestors and sheroes who dreamed of a better future for themselves and then led lives of dignity, grace, and determination, so fiercely that it made our present possible.' She continued, 'Hollywood may not have paid me what my work was worth, but I wasnt going to miss an opportunity to show the world what the countless Queenies had done and what their sacrifices had meant.' British Prime Minister Boris Johnson participates in the G7 Leaders Call from Chequers, Ellesborough, Britain, May 8, in this handout photo made available by No. 10 Downing Street. The Prime Minister joined the G7 leaders on a video call with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. EPA-Yonhap The G7 club of wealthy nations committed Sunday to phasing out its dependency on Russian oil and issued a scathing statement accusing President Vladimir Putin of bringing "shame" on Russia with his invasion of Ukraine. The statement from the Group of Seven France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States did not specify exactly what commitments each country will make to move away from Russian energy. But it was an important development in the ongoing campaign to pressure Putin by crippling Russia's economy, and underscores the unity of the international community against Moscow's actions. "We commit to phase out our dependency on Russian energy, including by phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil. We will ensure that we do so in a timely and orderly fashion, and in ways that provide time for the world to secure alternative supplies," the joint statement said. "This will hit hard at the main artery of Putin's economy and deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war," the White House said. The announcement came as the G7 held its third meeting of the year Sunday via video conference, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participating. The West has so far displayed close coordination in its announcements of sanctions against Russia, but has not moved at the same pace when it comes to Russian oil and gas. The United States, which was not a major consumer of Russian hydrocarbons, has already banned their import. But Europe is far more reliant on Russian oil. The European Union has already said it is aiming to cut its reliance on Russian gas by two-thirds this year, though Germany has opposed calls for a full boycott, with member states continuing intense negotiations Sunday. The G7 also slammed Putin personally for his actions in Ukraine. The Russian president's "unprovoked war of aggression" against its Eastern European neighbor has brought "shame on Russia and the historic sacrifices of its people," the group said in its statement. "Russia has violated the international rules-based order, particularly the UN Charter, conceived after the Second World War to spare successive generations from the scourge of war," the statement continued. Plastic letters arranged to read "Sanctions" are placed in front the flag colors of U.S. and Russia in this Feb. 28 photo. Reuters-Yonhap Womens faces have become the latest target of the Taliban in Afghanistan. This time the rule bans women from showing their faces or bodies or in other words, their existence in public. The Talibs have imposed a new dress code for Afghan women, and women are not allowed to step out of their homes. #Taliban Ministry of rights and virtue of Taliban Announce this ?? as a dress code for women while stepping out of home, those who disobey will face consequences they say!If Immediate Action not taken Next will be prohibition of women Even stepping out of home. pic.twitter.com/e5EJcCvgYN Nilofar Ayoubi (@NilofarAyoubi) May 7, 2022 The Taliban have mandated that women cover themselves from head to toe in a burqa (Afghanistan is a country known for its extreme summers and winters. At this time, temperatures in provinces like Kandahar and Helmand range between 39-41 degree Celsius. Though, in Kabul, temperatures are on the cooler side). Every society has the freedom to live in accordance with its values and beliefs based on international law. Hijab is both a symbol and a significant value in Afghan society. Thus, no one may represent another society; instead the leaders are representatives of their own societies Dr.M.Naeem (@IeaOffice) May 8, 2022 The Taliban mandates that women can wear: The traditional Afghan blue-coloured burqa called chadori; Or a black head-to-toe covering is also accepted. The blue-coloured Afghani burqa. Photo: Getty Images But Afghan women have almost always been defined by their faceless, blue burqa-covered figures. So, what is new in the Talibans latest order? Well, the new decree dictates punishment if women dont abide by the dress code. If women are found without the dress code in public, then their marham or male guardian will be subjected to punishment. Male guardians of such offending women will be first warned; And then repeated offences can lead to imprisonment or worse. One thing that the world knows now, is that the Taliban is most afraid of women and their bodies, wanting to wipe out half of its population from existence. Their rule treats women as such lower-class citizens that they arent even held liable for not following the order, and the punishment is borne by the masters or male guardians. In other words, the Taliban order addresses men, not women, about what women should be allowed to wear. Afghan men are ordered to dictate their women to wear the head-to-toe covering while stepping out of their homes, or face punishment if their women dont abide by the rule. The new decree is just one among several state-sponsored atrocities on women in Afghanistan. Afghan women are also not allowed to step out of their homes without a male guardian. The announcement was met with criticism and condemnation from around the world. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the Taliban to keep their promises on upholding womens rights. I'm alarmed by today's announcement by the Taliban that women must cover their faces in public and leave home only in cases of necessity. I once again urge the Taliban to keep their promises to Afghan women & girls, and their obligations under international human rights law. Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) May 8, 2022 But the protest on Twitter is just as flimsy as it can get, read below why: An Iranian journalist, Masih Alinejad, posted a monologue sympathizing with Afghan women under the Taliban, protesting against both the Iranian government and the Taliban rulers dress mandate for women. She condemned the Western countries for allowing her oppressors the Iranian government to be elected to the UNs top womens rights commission. And she warned that next, her oppressors will get the Taliban into the womens rights body as well. Taliban decided to cover womens face. When we the women of Iran & Afghanistan protest against forced hijab, Western female politicians wear hijab in front of our oppressors. Why? Handmaids Tail is a fiction for you but for us, is the reality #letUsTalk pic.twitter.com/xyHQXm9LNi Masih Alinejad ? (@AlinejadMasih) May 8, 2022 The new order takes Afghan womens progress back to square one; back to decades ago. Of course, when it comes to ridiculous rules, we can also count on netizens to make it just as ridiculous. Some netizens said that the Ministry of Taliban has elevated women to the job of the dementors from the Harry Potter series. I think I found real life dementor from Harry Potter. ?????Fiction ?. Real ? pic.twitter.com/mSkfY5kOe4 Anvith (@anvith_nayak) May 8, 2022 Taliban Ministry has named women as Dementors pic.twitter.com/PMWOs9zfBB Lilita (@lilitagomes10) May 9, 2022 The struggle for Afghan women is real, especially for those who dont have any male members in their families. Marzia, a 50-year-old university professor from Kabul, told Al Jazeera, that shes a single unmarried woman, whos the sole breadwinner of her family consisting of only her mother. Marzia lost her father long ago and her brother was killed in an attack 18 years ago. Once when she was travelling to her university for work in a taxi, she was stopped by the Taliban, who questioned her about her male guardian. They didnt listen to her reason and asked her to get out of the taxi. She says there were several times she was forced to walk several kilometres to her university. A DYSTOPIAN WORLD The situation in Afghanistan reminds us of The Handmaids Tale a novel by Margaret Atwood and also adapted into a TV series by the same name which tells of a dystopian society in the future. A still from The Handmaid's Tale. Photo: Getty Images In the fictional story, the US government is overthrown by a fundamentalist regime, which turns the US into a dictatorship. In the theocratic state, women are reduced to lower-class citizens. Their rights and movements are dictated by men in power. Women are mostly reduced to giving birth to the children of commanders (men of high ranking), taking care of the domestic chores, etc. They are stripped of any rights and individuality. via GIPHY It depicts a modern society that has regressed back to the medieval period. In recent times, the story of The Handmaids Tale sounds too familiar for comfort. From the US Supreme Court planning to strip American women of abortion rights (hence reproductive rights) to the Taliban in Afghanistan telling women what to wear, part by part it seems like the world is living a real-life Handmaids Tale. So are we ready to board the dinghy to civilisation yet? The Bay of Bengal is witnessing another cyclone. After intensifying into a severe cyclonic storm, Cyclone Asani is approaching the Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast, where it will bring heavy rain over the next two days. Warnings associated with Severe Cyclonic Storm Asani:Rainfall warning 9 May: Rainfall at a few places over coastal Andhra Pradesh.10 May: Heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over coastal AP; heavy rainfall at isolated places over coastal Odisha from 10th evening. pic.twitter.com/u875TpfhXY India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 9, 2022 The Bay of Bengal has always been a cyclone hotbed. Eight out of ten deadliest tropical cyclones in the world have originated over this region. It's been 22 years since Odisha was battered by a Super Cyclonic Storm on 29th October, 1999, which resulted in death of nearly 10,000 people. Since then, India has made great progress and death numbers have reduced significantly. We take a look at major cyclones that have hit the Bay of Bengal, areas that are more prone to cyclonic storms and what has changed over the years. HISTORY OF CYCLONES IN INDIA As many as 117 cyclones hit India in 50 years from 1970-2019 claiming over 4 lakh lives, according to a study on extreme weather events, reported PTI. A total of 7,063 extreme weather events killed 1,41,308 people during the period in the country, which included 40,358 (or 28 per cent) due to cyclones and 65,130 (a little over 46 per cent) due to floods, the study says. DEADLIEST CYCLONES IN BAY OF BENGAL BHOLA CYCLONE, 1970: On November 11, 1970, the Great Bhola Cyclone hit the coasts of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and killed 3 lakh to 5 lakh people. It is the deadliest known cyclone till date. Over 45 per cent of the population of one lakh 67 thousand in the city of Tazumuddin was killed, according to the University of Rhode Island. The maximum storm surge was estimated at nearly 35 feet high, causing massive destruction. #OTDwx The deadliest tropical cyclone in the world came in the form of the Bhola Cyclone '70 that struck East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The cyclone killed more than 500,000 people. The cyclone originated from the remnants of Tropical Storm Nora in the WPac. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/SMWowdldMI Storms Edge (@StormsEdgeWx) November 13, 2020 ODISHA SUPER CYCLONE, 1999: One of the most severe tropical cyclones to hit India in the last few decades was the 1999 Odisha Cyclone. The Category 4-equivalent storm with 155-mph winds struck Odisha's coast on October 29, 1999. The cyclonic storm pushed a storm surge of 26 feet (8 meters) and killed an estimated 10,000 people. More than 3.5 lakh houses were destroyed, several villages were completely washed away. So bad was the damage to Odisha's infrastructure that the state went out of contact with the rest of the world for an entire day, reported India Today. Photo: India Today Archives CYCLONE NARGIS, 2008: Cyclone Nargis passed over Myanmar after having formed in the Bay of Bengal. The Category 3/4 storm carried very powerful winds and heavy rains as it devastated the southern delta region of Myanmar, southeast of Bangladesh. More than 130,000 people were killed making it one of the worst cyclones in the last few decades, reported Weather.com. BAY OF SORROW The Bay of Bengal, which occupies just 0.6% of the global ocean area, is estimated to be responsible for four out of five cyclone-related deaths in the world, reported Weather.com. Over the past two centuries, 42% of the cyclone-associated deaths of nearly 20 lakh have occurred in Bangladesh alone. According to an IMD report, Sundarbans is the cyclone capital of India; and West Bengals South 24 Parganas district, within which the larger share of the Indian Sundarbans is located, is impacted by cyclones the most frequently, reported DownToEarth magazine. Photo: Getty Images WHY BAY OF BENGAL IS SO PRONE TO CYCLONES? The unusually high number of deaths due to cyclones in Bay of Bengal can also be attributed to the triangular shape of the bay, which acts as a funnel and causes massive storm surges. As the shallow bottom of the bay allows further surge, the low-lying areas of the coastal regions often get inundated, said a report in Weather.com. INDIA'S CYCLONE MANAGEMENT HAS IMPROVED Timely warnings, setting up of disaster relief teams and a better evacuation process have been some of the main reasons India has been able to significantly reduce the death toll due to cyclones. The "zero casualty policy for cyclones and the pinpoint accuracy of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also played a key role in better management of cyclones. ISRO has also contributed significantly to Indias cyclone management system. Space-based systems have become the primary tools for collecting data on cyclones. Since the 1999 cyclone in Odisha, which claimed over 10,000 lives, casualties have been limited to double figures in most cases. The mortality rate associated with cyclones decreased by almost 88 per cent from 2010-2019 in comparison to the earlier decade (2000-2009), reported PTI. YOU CAN FOLLOW THE PATH OF CYCLONE ASANI HERE U.S. President Joe Biden arrives to deliver remarks during a visit to United Performance Metals, a specialty metals solutions center, in Hamilton, Ohio, on May 6. AFP-Yonhap The Biden administration announced on Monday that 20 internet companies have agreed to provide discounted service to low-income Americans, a program that could effectively make tens of millions of households eligible for free service through an already existing federal subsidy. The $1 trillion infrastructure package passed by Congress last year included $14.2 billion funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides $30 monthly subsidies ($75 in tribal areas) on internet service for millions of lower-income households. With the new commitment from the internet providers, some 48 million households will be eligible for $30 monthly plans for 100 megabits per second, or higher speed, service _ making internet service fully paid for with the government subsidy if they sign up with one of the providers participating in the program. Biden, during his White House run and the push for the infrastructure bill, made expanding high-speed internet access in rural and low-income areas a priority. He has repeatedly spoken out about low-income families that struggled finding reliable wi-fi, so their children could take part in remote schooling and complete homework assignments early in the coronavirus pandemic. "If we didn't know it before, we know now: High-speed internet is essential," the Democratic president said during a White House event last month honoring the National Teacher of the Year. The 20 internet companies that have agreed to lower their rates for eligible consumers provide service in areas where 80 percent of the U.S. population, including 50 percent of the rural population, live, according to the White House. Participating companies that offer service on tribal lands are providing $75 rates in those areas, the equivalent of the federal government subsidy in those areas. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday were set to meet with telecom executives, members of Congress and others to spotlight the effort to improve access to high-speed internet for low-income households. The providers are Allo Communications, AltaFiber (and Hawaiian Telecom), Altice USA (Optimum and Suddenlink), Astound, ATT, Breezeline, Comcast, Comporium, Frontier, IdeaTek, Cox Communications, Jackson Energy Authority, MediaCom, MLGC, Spectrum (Charter Communications), Starry, Verizon (Fios only), Vermont Telephone Co., Vexus Fiber and Wow! Internet, Cable, and TV. American households are eligible for subsidies through the Affordable Connectivity Program if their income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, or if a member of their family participates in one of several programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA) and Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit. (AP) Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik, who participated in early morning prayers at Anjaneya temple in Mysuru, said their campaign is against the government (Image credit: Youtube) Bengaluru: Hanuman Chalisa, Suprabhata, Omkara and devotional songs were played at temples in different parts of Karnataka on Monday morning as part of a campaign by Hindu groups including Sri Rama Sene, alleging failure on part of the state government to take action against loudspeakers installed at mosques. Recorded versions or bhajans being recited by those present at the temples were played out at around 5 AM to counter the morning Azaan being recited on loudspeakers at mosques. There were reports of such incidents at temples in various places including Bengaluru, Hubballi, Belagavi, Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru, Yadgir, Mandya and Kolar among other places. At places including in Bengaluru, some Hindu activists were detained by the police. Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik, who participated in early morning prayers at Anjaneya temple in Mysuru, said their campaign is against the government and the adamant Muslim community. "For the last one year we have continuously been warning about the issues caused by the loudspeakers, disturbance to society, students and patients. We had also told Muslims, but nothing changed, no action was taken other than issuing notices. It was a drama. Even today mosques have not stopped playing loudspeakers at 5 AM," he said. The sound of Azaan during the other four times of the day is not being reduced in accordance to permissible limits, he said, "our fight has only begun today. If still no action is taken we will file a contempt petition in the High Court as it violates Supreme Court orders...This is not Taliban rule, Pakistan or Afghanistan. This is India, there is a constitution and rule of law here." Sri Rama Sene had earlier warned that it will counter morning Azaan with Hanuman Chalisa or Suprabhat or Omkara and devotional songs from 5 AM on May 9, if the government does not take action against loudspeakers installed at mosques. Meanwhile, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said strict action will be taken in accordance with the court orders to control any activities that cause noise pollution. "Everyone should abide by the court orders," he said in a statement adding that the government will not hesitate to take strict action against those taking law into their hands. The plea also cited the claims by some historians and some Hindu groups about the monument being an old Shiv Temple. (AFP Photo) Lucknow : A plea was filed in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court seeking the directions to the Archaeological Survey of India to probe the 22 closed doors in the Taj Mahal to ascertain the presence of the idols of Hindu deities. The plea sought the constitution of a fact-finding committee and the submission of a report by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It has been said in the petition that the idols of the Hindu deities are locked up behind closed doors. The plea also cited the claims by some historians and some Hindu groups about the monument being an old Shiv Temple. "Some Hindu Groups and reputable Sants are claiming this monument as old Shiv Temple supported by many historians and facts however many Historian believes it as Taj Mahal build up by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan. Some people also believe that Tejo Mahalaya @ Taj Mahal appears to be one of the Jyotirling i.e. the outstanding Siva Temples," the plea stated. "It is respectfully submitted that there are certain rooms situated in upper and lower portions (approx.22 rooms) of four storied building which is permanently locked and many Historian like P N Oak and crores of Hindu Worshiper strongly believes that in those lock rooms temple of Lord Shiva is present," it further stated. Citing an RTI filed to the ASI regarding the reason behind the doors closed in Taj Mahal, the plea stated "in the Reply by the department of Archaeological Survey of India, Agra it was said that due to security reasons those doors are locked." After hearing the arguments, the commission directed Qatar Airways management to refund the ticket fare and pay compensation to the two. (Representational image:. AFP) Hyderabad: The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission-I directed Qatar Airways to refund flight fare of Rs 9,300, and pay a compensation of Rs 25,000 besides Rs 5,000 towards legal expenses for the inconvenience and mental agony suffered by a passenger and her husband bound for USA, who were not provided the reserved seats they had sought. Prof. Salapakam Renuka and her husband Dokku Ramakrishna Rao, a retired chief engineer, from Kondapur filed a petition before the commission alleging that they had approached the Qatar Airways office in Banjara Hills to travel to the USA via Doha. On the advice of their doctor, Prof. Renuka, who underwent a knee surgery, and her husband, a heart patient, sought bulkhead seats, which were assured by the ticketing agent, Bhanu Priya Boorada. The airways office directed the complainants to produce a medical certificate and informed them that the preferred seats would be confirmed only after they book the flight tickets. Accordingly, they booked their tickets on April 1, 2017 for their May 6, 2017 travel and also submitted medical and fitness certificates on May 1. On May 4, they received a call from the airways confirming the allotment of bulkhead seats. However, to their shock and dismay, when they boarded the flight to Doha on May 6, they noticed that they were allotted one middle seat and one aisle seat instead of bulkhead seats. This caused abnormal pain, suffering and discomfort to the couple, all through the journey. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways denied the allegations, averments, submissions and claims of the complainants. They said that tickets were issued to the complainants at a discounted rate under the senior citizen scheme and after getting a telephonic confirmation for bulk seats. After hearing the arguments, the commission directed Qatar Airways management to refund the ticket fare and pay compensation to the two. On the occasion of Mothers Day, Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan participated in the Mother's Day celebrations with Raj Bhavan Parivar in Hyderabad on Sunday. Twitter Hyderabad: Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan on Sunday called for increased awareness on thalassemia and the need for blood transfusions of patients who suffer from this disease. Speaking at the World Red Cross Day celebrations at the Raj Bhavan, the Governor appreciated the state branch of the Indian Red Cross Society, and its activities in promoting blood donations, and ensuring regular blood transfusion to thalassemia patients, and service activities during natural calamities and other emergencies. She also called for enrolment of more volunteers in Red Cross, Youth Red Cross and Junior Red Cross to prepare them as torchbearers of future service. The Governor was interacting with state and district unit functionaries of the Red Cross. Meanwhile, on the occasion of Mothers Day, Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan inaugurated CARE Vatsalya, a woman and child facility at CARE Hospitals. Additional DGP, Women Safety Wing, Swathi Lakra, badminton player Jwala Gutta and actress Catherine Tresa also attended the event. CARE Vatsalya Woman & Child Institute provides services in a range of specialties including Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Fetal medicine and Neonatal Care. Hyderabad: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning a massive show of strength on May 14, the last day of its state president Bandi Sanjay Kumars Praja Sangrama Yatra. On Sunday, it crossed the 300-kilometre mark with his padayatra, on day 25, entering Gangapur village in Jadcherla Assembly constituency. Gusto marked the event with local BJYM workers making Sanjay cut a 300-kg cake. Union home minister Amit Shah is scheduled to address a public meeting at Maheshwaram in Ranga Reddy district on May 14, marking the yatras culmination. Sanjay, on Sunday, directed party leaders and cadre to ensure a large attendance for the event. During a teleconference with party leaders, Sanjay urged them to launch protests across the state against the power tariff. The upwardly revised tariffs that came into effect on April 1 are being reflected in this months bills, he said. For the April 14 meeting, Sanjay said at least 20 party workers must be mobilised to attend from booth-level party units, and at least 5,000 people from every Assembly constituency. The goal is to have around six lakh people attend Shahs public meeting. HYDERABAD: Health minister T. Harish Rao on Sunday directed health department officials to ensure that no doctor in government service abstains during duty hours to practice privately. The minister said government doctors must be available at their respective workplaces between 9 am and 4 pm. He said that hospital heads must ensure that medicines sent to government hospitals reach only the patients. The state government, he said, was making available all types of medicines at its health care facilities. Doctors must prescribe only the generic names of drugs, he said. Raos directions came at a review of the functioning of government hospitals and health care facilities in the state. The meeting was attended by all senior officials of the health department, hospital and government medical colleges heads. The minister said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had doubled the health budget this year and funds must be used pragmatically. He also stressed on the need to increase intake under Arogyasri scheme for deliveries, orthopaedic and general surgeries and all departments that fall under general medicine. In July 2020, the Narendra Modi government announced that it would monitor India's performance across 29 global indices. A meeting with 47 Central ministries and departments was held to work out how to improve these rankings. Let us see what has happened since then. On the United Nations Human Development Index, we have fallen by one place. This is because of a decline in average income and disinvestment in girls education and health. The United Nations World Happiness Report does not measure happiness. It measures GDP per capita, life expectancy, freedom and perceptions of corruption. India has fallen 19 places here. On the Global Hunger Index, which measures hunger, stunting in children and undernourishment, India has fallen 46 places and is today behind Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Conservative (meaning right-wing) bodies in the United States have long been monitoring the world from their point of view on freedom. On the Cato Human Freedom Index, India has fallen 44 places because of a decline in the rule of law, religious freedom and freedom to trade. The World Economic Forum (popularly known as Davos) issues the Global Gender Gap Index which monitors progress on gender parity. India has fallen 26 places. The World Bank, through its Women, Business and the Law Index, monitors womens economic opportunities. India has fallen 13 places. On the Smart Cities Index, which looks at health, safety, mobility, activities and opportunities for citizens, Delhi has fallen 18 places, Bengaluru has fallen 16, Hyderabad 18 and Mumbai 15 places. The Access Now Tracker looks at Internet shutdowns around the world. India is by far the global leader. India had six shutdowns in 2014, 14 in 2015, 31 in 2016, 79 in 2017, 134 in 2018, 121 in 2019 and 109 in 2020. In 2021, there were 106. Of the 213 total global shutdowns in 2019, India accounted for 56 per cent (12 times more than the next nation, Venezuela). Of 155 global shutdowns in 2020, India accounted for 70 per cent, denying people including patients, students access even during the Covid-19 pandemic. On the global RTI ratings, India has fallen four places as it has become more opaque. India has fallen on indices that monitor democracy, and this has already been widely reported. On the University of Gothenburgs Varieties of Democracy, India lost its status as a democracy and was classified as an electoral autocracy, joining nations like Hungary and Turkey. On the freedom of expression, media and civil society, India was as autocratic as is Pakistan, and worse than both Bangladesh and Nepal. On Freedom Houses Freedom in the World Index, India has gone from free to partly free and Kashmir, which is ranked separately, has gone from partly free to not free. The Civicus Monitors National Civic Space rankings looks at the freedoms of association, peaceful assembly and expression (which are part of the fundamental rights in India under Article 19). India has gone from obstructed to repressed. On the Economist Intelligence Unit's Democracy Index, India has fallen 19 places. India has lost hard power, meaning military ability and the power to influence the world, and on the Lowy Institute's Asia Power Index, India lost its major power status in 2020 after the events in Ladakh. The World Justice Project monitors the rule of law in nations. India has fallen 13 places here. On the World Press Freedom Index, India has fallen 10 places. Bloombergs Covid Resilience Ranking put India fourth from the bottom in the world, behind Pakistan and Bangladesh. On the World Air Quality Index, India had 22 of the 30 most polluted cities, adding 11 after 2017. On the Yale Environmental Performance Index, which looks at protection of ecosystems, India fell 13 places and went behind Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. Similarly on the Climate Risk Index it fell 11 places to be behind Pakistan and Bangladesh again. India fell 10 places in the Sustainable Development Index. In August of 2020, it was reported that the Modi govt plans media blitz for image correction to boost India rank on global lists. This would mean a large-scale media blitzkrieg which will involve multimedia campaigns and microsites (sites within websites) created by different ministries. This publicity, the report said, would shape India's perception for the domestic and global audience and publicise the problems, parameters and data sources of global indices. How publicity would change Indias ranking was not explained. After August 2020, as India kept declining, the government decided that it would not engage with the indices. Instead, it would say that they were incorrect and biased. It was like the boy who doesnt want to play and decides to take his stumps home. The indices will keep getting published, however, and Indias ranking will keep falling. To correct a problem, one has to first acknowledge a problem. Only then can one think about what is wrong and what can be fixed. Since we have already moved into our Amrit Kaal phase, there is nothing wrong here and we will keep going down this path to wherever it may lead. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Europe last week, from May 2 to 4, for comprehensive discussions with Germany and the five Nordic nations. After that, on the way home, he paid a quick working visit to France, enabling him to convey his felicitations in person to recently re-elected President Emmanuel Macron. Two common elements in his discussions with Germany and France were Ukraine and Afghanistan. All discussions covered climate change, sustainable development, innovation, digitalisation, green and clean growth, etc. The European Union, with a population of 500 million and 27 members, provides a huge trading, investment, and technology bloc, which is a natural partner for India. The desire for a multipolar world is mostly shared by the Europeans, although Ukraine forces them to reimagine a strong American security role. Germany is demographically, with 80 million population, and economically the powerhouse of Europe. Its GDP places it at number one in Europe and fourth in the world. The Ukraine war exposed Germanys strategic hesitation as it delayed heavy weapons transfers, though it did scrap the Nord Stream II gas pipeline project with Russia. As the current chair of the Group of Seven (G-7), Germany has slowly come abreast with the other members of the EU which were more forthright in opposing Russian aggression. France was also seen as soft on Russia as President Macron kept talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite his preoccupation with his own re-election. It is thus not surprising that in separate joint statements with India, Germany and France both reflected their positions, with varied emphasis. Germany reiterated its strong condemnation of the unlawful and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine by Russian forces, while France merely reiterated its condemnation. India, of course, did not join the condemnation, strong or normal, but went on to jointly voice humanitarian concerns and the need for hostilities to end and dialogue and diplomacy to be resumed. That took care of the bear in the room and cleared the field for bilateral and plurilateral talks. The trade between India and Germany is worth around $20 billion annually. But several new themes or redefined old themes can be seen now. There are several Partnerships listed, covering Shared Values and Regional and Multilateral Interests, Green and Sustainable Development, Political and Academic Exchange, Scientific Cooperation, Mobility of Workforce and People and, finally, Global Health. On some, concrete action was initiated. Germany, with its demographic challenge and ageing population, needs skilled workers from abroad. A draft agreement was initialled on Migration and Mobility. This opens up avenues for the easy migration of skilled Indian workers. But the question arises how this synchronises with the Atma Nirbhar Bharat policy of the Modi government, which should be seeking to retain skilled citizens in India. The Chinese government does not market its skilled citizens. The focus on climate change and renewables as well as the need to keep global warming within the 2 Celsius limit of the pre-industrial period base was prominent in the Prime Ministers discussions with Germany, France and the five Nordic nations Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. Interestingly, four of the five PMs were women. With Germany, the new focus on agroecology is significant. This years early heatwave across India, having affected the wheat crop in Punjab, is a sign of adverse climate change-engendered events likely in future. Hence, the focus is welcome on the need to manage natural resources, the challenges facing the rural population and small-scale farmers. The Indo-German meeting was the Sixth Round of Inter-Governmental Consultations, which allowed a comprehensive review of bilateral relations in an all-of-government approach. At the multilateral level, the two nations have been part of Group of Four, or G-4, for nearly two decades. Along with Brazil and Japan, they have sought the reform and expansion of the UN Security Council. The interest of Germany and Japan has fluctuated, depending on the leaders in power. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel favoured a less than all-or-nothing reform, unlike India. It was necessary for Mr Modi to decipher Chancellor Olaf Scholzs views on it. On Afghanistan, of greater interest to India, both Germany and France echoed the standard concern about humanitarian situation, the resurgence of violence, the curtailment of access of women and girls to education and the human rights abuses and terrorism. Both agreed to continue providing humanitarian assistance. Only in the Indo-German statement was the Iran factor introduced, without naming the country, by demanding the restoration of the nuclear deal that former US President Donald Trump had scrapped. Germany, as the G-7 chair, invited Mr Modi to the June 26-28 meeting at Elmau in the Bavarian Alps. Much was made of this in the Indian media, but the Germans have also invited Indonesia, South Africa and Senegal, three other prominent democracies. It is speculated that Indonesia, as the current G-20 chair, will be urged to disinvite Russia for the next meeting. Although India could dodge the Ukraine issue this time, as the focus could was on bilateral matters, that may not be so at the G-7 outreach. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar has made much of India importing less oil from Russia in a month than Europe does in a day. Germany is set to change that. An European Union ban on all oil imports from Russia is likely before that meeting. Currently, Europe imports about 2.2 million barrels of oil per day and a quarter of Europes gas requirements from Russia. Last year Europe spent $150 billion, with $104 billion on oil and the rest on gas. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have the surplus capacity to take that lag. But the question is will they, as they have strategically moved closer to the Iran-Russia-China axis. It may not stop the war, but would hamper the Russian war effort. Joint statements broadly indicate the mutually perceived vision of future relations. The devil, as they say, is in the detail. The EU, especially Germany due to its automotive sector thrust, wants a Free Trade Agreement with India. India has not yet determined how to balance the opening of Indian markets against self-dependence. That the French companies withdrew from the latest submarine bid requiring Air Independent Propulsion technology to be shared shows reluctance to share cutting-edge technology. On the Rafale aircraft deal as well, it is unclear whether the Prime Ministers intervention has helped or hindered technology sharing. The Anil Ambani episode was another distraction. High-profile visits may help, but fundamental interests prevail. For Mridul Gupta, the chief operating officer of Indias first crypto unicorn CoinDCX, business as usual has taken on a new meaning. He joined the crypto exchange last year to drive growth for CoinDCX business and build Indias leadership in a decentralised future. Fast forward to the summer of 2022, he and other members of the startups top management team are busy trying to convince Indian regulators and banks to work with crypto exchanges. Business as usual for me is different from what it means to you, Gupta told DH, while sipping his coffee on a rainy evening in Bengaluru last week. Like many crypto exchanges in India, CoinDCX which according to Gupta has 15 million users has seen a huge drop in trading volume after the government started taxing crypto assets from April 1. Additionally, regulatory uncertainty has made banks unwilling to allow crypto transactions through their networks. To make things worse, the National Payments Corporation of India, which enables digital payments and settlement systems, recently expressed its reservations on the fund flows through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for crypto trades, putting a damper on the expansion plans of many crypto exchanges in India. Gupta and his colleagues have seen trading volumes at CoinDCX drop by about 40 per cent since the UPI ban, forcing them to act quickly and work harder to convince the powers that be. The topics of discussions have definitely intensified. Number of sittings with banks and regulators does not matter. We are more concerned about the outcome, Gupta said. He is celebrating the small wins. To our advantage, questions of banks have changed from basic ones like what is crypto to how transactions happen, Gupta told DH. The worst might not be over for the crypto industry. We have to resolve this (UPI) issue and we will. I do not have a time as to when it will be resolved but the bigger problem is 1 per cent TDS on crypto from July 1. That will dent an investors pocket, which will, in turn, cause them to move to offline channels. That will bring down our volumes, said Gupta. While the government has started taxing all the gains from trading in cryptocurrencies and similar digital assets at a flat 30 per cent from April 1, another 1 per cent tax deducted at source (TDS) will be calculated when any such transaction takes place from July 1. The TDS will affect the larger investors more and be less of a worry for small investors, pointed out Kumarmanglam Vijay, Partner at J. Sagar Associates. Clearly, TDS requirement has been brought in so that the government gets information on transactions in crypto. 1 per cent of the consideration is a small amount compared to the 30 per cent tax rate on gains derived from the transfer of crypto. Individuals who are not in any business or profession are exempt from withholding tax where the amount paid is less than Rs 50,000 during the financial year. Therefore, it is intended for reporting larger transactions to the government, Vijay explained. Despite the long list of issues plaguing the crypto industry in India, it still has more cryptocurrency holders than any other country in the world. It also features among the top five countries when it comes to the percentage of population that owns cryptocurrency. And thats because of crypto owners like Samrat Mazumdar. He switched to Binance to avoid the regulatory hassles faced by the Indian exchanges and the new taxes tied to crypto transactions in Asias third-largest economy. Now, with the tax regime, I do not think I will come back to using an Indian exchange. I am so glad I took the decision to move to using a foreign exchange. I will not return till tax slabs are rationalised in India, Mazumdar said, confirming Guptas worst fears. So will CoinDCX abandon India and go elsewhere? Payment gateways are down is the short-term threat. I cannot give a timeline as to when it will be resolved but the long-term opportunity is that regulations are being worked on. But you know, we will come back stronger once the payment gateway is sorted out mainly because markets are volatile and people would want to invest in crypto. For us, there is no question of what if it doesnt happen. We have to somehow make it happen, Gupta told DH. CoinDCX plans to educate potential investors, work with regulators and introduce new products even amid larger uncertainties, he said. We already have a systematic investment plan product. We are working on various timelines for our SIP product. We want a lot of investors and not just traders, Gupta said. CoinDCX is currently the most valued crypto exchange. Amid the ongoing survey at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple-Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi to find out if there is any proof that the mosque had been constructed after demolishing a part of the temple, a petition was filed in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, seeking a direction to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to open the closed rooms inside the Taj Mahal to ascertain if there were Hindu idols and scriptures there. The petition has been filed by one Rajanish Kumar Singh, who claims to be the media in-charge of BJP's Ayodhya district unit. Saffron outfits consider Taj Mahal to be a Shiva temple, which was 'demolished' by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and converted into a mosque. They call it 'Tejo Mahal'. In his petition, which was yet to come up for hearing, Singh had contended that there were more than twenty closed rooms in the basement and upper floors of the Taj Mahal, which were not open to the public. He claimed that there were Hindu idols and scriptures in those rooms which proved that Taj Mahal was in fact a Shiva Temple. Singh also sought the court's directive to the government to form a committee to examine the claims by the saffron activists that Mughal emperor Shah Jahan had converted the Shiva Temple into a memorial to his wife Mumtaz Mahal after her death. "The controversy could be resolved once and for all if the closed rooms were opened and a specially constituted committed committee examined the claims," Singh said. He also said that he had sought replies from the union cultural ministry through an RTI application about the closed rooms but was told that they had been closed for security reasons. Saffron activists had, in the past, recited Shiv Chalisa (hymns praising Lord Shiva) inside the Taj Mahal complex in Agra on the occasion of Mahashivratri. Some members of Hindu Jagaran Manch, a saffron outfit, including its district president Gauravn Thakur, had been arrested by the police after they waved saffron flags inside the monument a few months back. That India has clout if it acts independently in pursuit of narrowly defined national interest is something the Narendra Modi government apparently discovered, courtesy the Ukraine war. It reveals what is fundamentally wrong with Modis worldview and how the S Jaishankar-led Ministry of External Affairs assesses the world and Indias role in it. Initially skipping around moral issues to avoid condemning Russia for its messy military intervention, India became more forthright in pursuing its national interest. It was uneasy about running afoul of the United States and the West but unwilling to court President Vladimir Putins wrath. The balance of Delhis concerns was this: The US and European States could be persuaded to be flexible on account of China, the Wests other great rival, otherwise benefitting strategically. The Modi government hinted at the possibility of China using the Ukraine tensions to initiate hostilities across the disputed border as it had done in 1962 when exploiting the Superpowers distraction with the Cuban Missile Crisis to start the mountain war that India lost. It is a danger heightened by an unpredictable Putin, in a pique, slowing down the flow of military spares and creating no end of trouble for the Indian military. It eventuated in Indias neutral stance and abstentions on several UN votes, which preempted Putin from getting punitive. Also Read: India, Italy agree to cooperate in areas of green hydrogen, biofuels, energy storage The success in dealing with the US and Russia led Jaishankar to declare, at the Raisina Dialogue 2022, a trifle triumphantly, that Its better to engage with the world on the basis of who we are rather than try and please the world by being a pale imitation of what they are and to not let others define us, [or, have the] need to get approval from other quarters, [which] era, he said, is behind us. This is very rah-rah and self-congratulatory, of course. But the era he would like the country to forget is the one in which he had ceaselessly talked up India as needing to be part of a rules-based order -- one dominated politically by the United States and the West, and economically by the US and China. It is a system, moreover, that because India had no part whatsoever in crafting, requires it to traipse through the minefields of clashing US, European, Russian and Chinese interests. In the event, like it or not, India and its interests are defined by whichever powerful country or countries it wants to sidle up to. Still, taking Jaishankar at his word, is he saying the extant correlation-of-forces was examined, Indias choices pondered, and the decision made to pursue national interest by relying on itself? In that case, whats not to like? Except, the success in resisting American pressure to disengage from Russia without alienating Washington, it must be noted, was at the sufferance of both the US and Russia. The Indian foreign ministers statement, however, suggested something else: A new, more disruptive attitude and a departure from what I have called a creeper vine foreign policy that India adopted post-Cold War of clinging to the US to rise. Plainly, this is not so as Modi subsequently clarified. On the eve of his European tour, the PM reassured everybody that Indias rise would not be at the cost of any other country. So, disruption of the existing international order is not on the cards. In reality, it means India remaining what it has always been -- a tame and timid country ready to ride any passing coattail with little gain in sight. Also Read: India finds Russian oil an irresistible deal, no matter the diplomatic cost Thats not a surprise. The 2008 India-US civilian nuclear cooperation agreement promised 20,000 MW by 2020, and the 2012 Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI), advanced military technologies and high-value tech collaboration. Neither delivered. The only important project involving US help to design and develop a combat aircraft jet engine in India was terminated by President Donald Trump, notwithstanding the Howdy, Modi! and Namaste Trump galas in Houston and Ahmedabad, respectively. And the series of DTTI and 2x2 meetings with the US have, like the Joint Working Group negotiations with China to resolve the border dispute, produced only promises to meet again. The India as a responsible State mantra thats routinely rolled out to explain the countrys external behaviour has covered for Indias foreign and military policy inaction, lack of political will, loss of nerve, and for compromises at every turn. India has failed to respond to Chinas nuclear missile-arming Pakistan with like strategic arming of countries on Chinas periphery. Incidentally, this was a late 1970s-vintage provocation the US was party to. Delhi delayed the export of conventional warheaded Brahmos supersonic cruise missile to Vietnam, Philippines, et al, until now, but blamed Russia for not previously permitting such sale, when India had the indigenous short-range Prithvi missile that it could have liberally dispensed. And India did not instantly retaliate with air strikes against significant targets within Pakistan when terrorists attacked Parliament in December 2001, and Mumbai in November 2008. The fact is, India never needed to placate the US, nor required the Ukraine issue to assert its policy freedom. It is America, the European Union, and Russia, as I have long argued, that crucially need India to ringfence China. No other country in Asia has the location, size and the all-round heft. What is missing is an Indian government with the vision, iron will and self-confidence to talk straight with Washington and to demand a substantial price for partnering the US -- expeditious transfers of high technology and such. Instead, New Delhi appears content with the H1B visa crumbs Washington throws its way. For reasons of economic and military counterweighting and access to its market, the US, EU, Russia and China alike find India indispensable to their plans. It is Indias moment alright but not, as former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran roundaboutly argues, to get closer to America. That would be to squander a glorious opportunity for the country to emerge as international system balancer and great power, unconstrained by partnerships with big powers. Alas, that is not the path Modi and Jaishankar are taking. (The writer is Distinguished Fellow, United Service Institution of India) When the azaan vs Hanuman Chalisa controversy was taking place in Maharashtra last month, the Sai Baba shrine in Shirdi decided to follow the Supreme Court guidelines given in a 2005 verdict that public address systems could only be used between 6 am and 10 pm. The Shirdi shrine traditionally has five prayers, three of which take place at 5 am, 5.15 am and 10 pm, that are no longer heard over loudspeakers. It might be recalled that MNS chief Raj Thackeray threatened to play the Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques if they continued to broadcast azaan, or the call to prayer, over loudspeakers. If that was a blatant attempt to provoke communal tension, in Shirdi, the reverse was happening. Muslim residents, and members of the local trust that runs the Jama Masjid, wrote to authorities requesting them to allow the Sai Baba shrine to use loudspeakers during all the aartis on the grounds that Shirdi's Hindu and Muslim communities have always shared a bond and been united. In a letter to the local administration, the masjid trustees wrote that "despite the fact that we have decided not to broadcast the azaan on loudspeakers in keeping with the Supreme Court order, we request that aarti be broadcast on loudspeakers on a daily basis as usual." Also Read: Use of loudspeaker in mosque not a fundamental right, rules Allahabad HC The Shirdi Sai Baba is not merely a locally revered figure but one of the most popular national saint divinities of contemporary times. Sai Baba worship is a phenomenon that defines India as much as other processes do. For those who do not know, the Sai Baba was believed to have been a Muslim fakir who has been fitted into the Hindu pantheon. The worshippers are largely from the majority community. Today, there are Sai Baba temples across the land, his posters and images adorn millions of homes, and thousands of Indians wear Sai Baba amulets and lockets. His shrine in Shirdi has become one of the wealthiest pilgrimage spots in India and certainly among the most famous in Maharashtra. The Sai Baba of Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh, who passed away in 2011 and had an impressive following of influential politicians and businessmen, had claimed to be a reincarnation of the Shirdi Sai Baba. I had covered the Shirdi cult in my book titled 'In Good Faith' on India's syncretic and plural traditions. While researching the tradition, I found that in the early years of this century, some of the most devout followers of the Shirdi cult were also the authors of the Hindutva project. In the two decades spent covering politics, I would discover that many members of the RSS and BJP had images of the Shirdi Sai Baba in their homes and offices. As the Sai Baba looks like a typical Muslim fakir with a beard and a cloth tied over his head, these followers obviously saw no contradiction between worshipping a so-called Muslim man and belonging to a political project designed to marginalise the community. There are several reasons why his cult has become so popular in such a short time, and one of the more fascinating arguments put forth is that he has been a particular favourite of the Bollywood film producers. Perhaps the many devotional songs in praise of the Sai Baba, and the film and television series about him, have all contributed to making this one of the most popular religious cults of contemporary India. Several mythological films have been made about the Shirdi Sai Baba, and he is routinely depicted in Bollywood films as performing great miracles. Today, the powerful and rich Sai Baba properties, trusts and buildings in Shirdi and across India are a virtual industry. Also Read: Agitation does not end here, says Raj Thackeray as majority of mosques stay away from Azaan In a book titled 'Sai Baba of Shirdi: A Unique Saint', M V Kamath and V B Kher maintain that his origins remain unclear. In one part of the book, they put forward the theory that he could have been a Brahmin and it was never conclusively proved that he was a Muslim. In the lore about the Sai Baba, his devotees are divided on the issue of his origins. Some maintain he was not circumcised and hence not a Muslim. Others say his ears were pierced, which was more common among Hindus. Yet we cannot overlook the fact that Sai Baba dressed like a fakir and lived in a rundown mosque in Shirdi. But he kept a fire going in the mosque, and as his fame spread, devotees were allowed to blow conch shells and worship him in their own ways. In the end, what comes through is a fakir who had great respect for Hindu traditions. His most frequently uttered words were believed to be 'Sabka Malik Ek' (All have the same God), and he also sang bhajans (devotional songs) in praise of the Hindu gods. It is said that at his behest, the locals decided to celebrate Urs (a Sufi celebration) and the Ram Navami festival on the same day. When the villagers collected money to repair the dilapidated mosque where the Sai Baba lived, he is believed to have insisted that all the local temples should first be repaired. Kamath and Kher claim there is evidence that Sai Baba knew the Gita well and understood Hindu scriptures. The facts about him that are known are that he came to Shirdi between 1868 and 1872 and first lived on the village outskirts, then under a neem tree and finally moved into the dilapidated masjid. He collected alms and, over the years, also collected a band of devotees. At one point, a local qazi opposed devotees worshipping him in the mosque. Soon after this, it was decided to hold the Urs and Ram Navami celebrations on the same day. As he grew older, he was credited with performing miracles, and people began to travel to Shirdi in droves. In 1917, Congress leader and freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak visited him. The Sai baba passed away in 1918. The huge shrine that has now come up at Shirdi largely functions as a temple, but it does keep up traditions that represent the sort of Hindu-Muslim synthesis that the Sai Baba propagated. When researching the Shirdi cult, I had an interesting conversation with RSS ideologue K Govindacharya, who quipped, "He is a bad Muslim as he does not oppose idol worship but a good Hindu. He now belongs to us." Yet today, we have moved on to another level of hate where a section of radicalised Hindus argue that the Sai Baba does not belong to the Hindu pantheon because he was a Muslim. Last year a video emerged of an idol of the Sai Baba being demolished in a small temple in south Delhi. The man seen in the footage overseeing the destruction of the Sai baba idol has also been photographed with Yati Narsinghanand, the rabble-rousing head priest of the temple in Dasna, Ghaziabad, who is at the centre of all the so-called congregations that have taken place where genocidal acts against Muslims are called for. In the video of the 2021 demolition, the Sai Baba is called a jihadi. Last week again, I was sent a video where a group of men are aggressively telling Sai worshippers that it was a corruption of Sanatan Dharma to worship the Sai Baba because he was a Muslim. Yet, to the question of whether Sai Baba belongs in New India, the answer would be yes, he does, because millions still worship him, even though a few thousands would want to smash his idols to smithereens. (Saba Naqvi is a journalist and author) (Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.) Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio's visit to Bengaluru on May 5 marked not only the relaunch of the multi-faceted India-Italy bilateral partnership but also affirmed the European nation's growing ties with the Karnataka's capital. During the first mission to India by an Italian Foreign Minister since 2012, Di Maio inaugurated the newly established office of the Consulate General of Italy in Bengaluru, besides visiting the Chief Minister, an Italian startup and important scientific establishments in the city. The Minister, accompanied by Vincenzo de Luca, Ambassador of Italy to India, and Alfonso Tagliaferri, Consul General of Italy in Bengaluru, visited the Indian Space Research Organisation. The high-level delegation comprised the Ministers Chief and Deputy Chief of Cabinet, Luca Sabbatucci and Gabriella Biondi, and the President of ASI (Italian Space Agency), Giorgio Saccoccia. They also met a few young Italian entrepreneurs at the headquarters of the Italian-Indian startup Even Healthcare. Their day-long visit ended with a visit to the Indian Institute of Science, which has been engaged in a long-standing scientific collaboration program co-financed by the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs with Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste, an Italian research centre of excellence. Alfonso Tagliaferri, Consul General, is no stranger to India. Speaking to DH, a day after the inauguration of the consulate, Alfonso said the idea of wanting to start a consulate in Bengaluru was discussed with Italian Ambassador de Luca as early as 2020, when Covid was in its first wave. "I was posted in Kolkata for a month for a short mission, to fill the gap between two Consul Generals, and then in March 2020 Covid started and the lockdown happened. I was stuck in Kolkata for five months. That's when I fell in love with the country and we started discussions on opening a new office here, in the South. It wasnt difficult to convince headquarters, given the importance of Bangalore as the heart of Indian scientific and technological development, and in less than two years we are opening in Bengaluru. The Consulate General will cover the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu with Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh," Tagliaferri told DH. The Consulate will be a point of reference for the Italian community in south-east India, and it will promote Indian-Italian ties at all levels: economic, scientific, cultural, touristic. "We will start with processing around 30,000 visas a year, and we will work to increase this number. Bengaluru is also an educational hub, so in the Consulate we will host Uni Italia, which is a university link, that will be useful for Indian students who wish to study in Italy," added Alfonso. The office of the Consul General of Italy will be located on Richmond road near Trinity circle. "We have just zeroed in on a rented space. We have to now start our operations, hire personnel, and we will be able to make it a fully operational space only by the beginning of 2023," Alfonso told DH. "But we have already started meeting our counterparts and working towards promoting bilateral relations at all levels," he added. The Consulate will also host the local branch of the Indo-Italian Chamber of commerce and of the Italian trade agency, making it a real Italian hub, or Casa Italia, for South-East India. Who is Alfonso? The 42-year-old diplomat, Alfonso is a native of Rome. He graduated in law, holds a masters degree in international affairs and hes writing a PhD in protection of cultural heritage. He plays the drums and began learning to play the tabla when he was in Kolkata. He holds a deep interest in Indian culture, cinema and has a keen ear for Carnatic and Hindustani music. "I am committed to bring Italian culture, music and cinema to Bengaluru and South East India. We will host a first exhibition of Italian design in Bengaluru at the beginning of September. And much more will come!, he assured. Hanuman Chalisa, Suprabhata, Omkara and other devotional tunes at temples drowned the sound of the 5 am Azaan at mosques in various parts of Karnataka under a campaign that Hindu groups, chiefly the Sri Rama Sene, launched on Monday. This happened in temples in Bengaluru, Hubballi, Belagavi, Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru, Yadgir, Mandya and Kolar among other places. In some locations, the police even detained Hindu activists to prevent the situation from going out of hand. For the last one year, we have been flagging issues caused by the use of loudspeakers and the disturbance to students and patients. We even told the Muslims, but nothing changed and no action was taken apart from issuing notices, Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik after flagging off the campaign at the Anjaneya temple in Mysuru. Even today mosques have not stopped playing loudspeakers at 5 am, he said. Muthalik claimed that the sound of Azaan during the day is not in accordance with permissible limits. If no action is taken, we will file a contempt petition in the High Court as it violates Supreme Court orders, Muthalik said. This is India, not the Taliban or Pakistan. Theres a Constitution and rule of law here, he said, adding that mosques are violating orders that restrict the use of loudspeakers between 10 pm and 6 am. The anti-Azaan campaign took place at 16 locations of Gadag district. In Belagavi, the Sri Rama Sene activists chanted the Hanuman Chalisa using a public address system with high volume from the Sonya Maruti temple. In Hubballi, the activists launched their campaign at a Hanuman temple, which was damaged in a recent bout of violence, alongside other temples. A 20-member team divided into two groups started bhajans at 5 am. The police took Sri Rama Sene activists into custody near the Jagat Circle in Kalaburagi as they were taking out a procession playing bhajans from a Hanuman temple. Meanwhile, a group of Dalit activists and the police cordoned off a mosque located near a supermarket here. Earlier in the day, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said strict action will be taken in accordance with the court orders to control noise pollution. Everyone should abide by the court orders, he said in a statement, warning action against people taking law into their hands. A delegation of Muslim lawmakers from the Congress urged Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to ensure peace and harmony in the state at a time when the right-wing groups launched a campaign against the use of loudspeakers at mosques on Monday. Deputy Leader of the Opposition U T Khader, Rajya Sabha member Syed Naseer Hussain, Shantinagar MLA N A Haris and MLC Naseer Ahmed held talks with Bommai where they said the issue of noise pollution should not be linked to any particular religion. We said clearly that peace, harmony and brotherhood are of utmost importance. Theres no religion, caste or party here. We and our children should live happily and the government should create an atmosphere for that, Khader told reporters. When it comes to noise pollution, everybody should and will follow whatever policy or rule the government frames based on court orders. Even now people are following them, Khader said. The Congress leaders told Bommai that some communal forces are trying to rake up issues to create disorder. We said the government should take steps to keep peace and harmony intact by taking precautionary measures, Khader said, adding that some groups are taking law into their own hands and creating hatred on social media. The CM said that the government will take all necessary steps. Book them under UAPA Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council B K Hariprasad on Monday said persons raking up issues such as Azaan should be booked under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Some people have started a campaign that seeks to sow the seeds of poison among religions. Such people are terrorists. These things are happening to cover-up the governments failures, Hariprasad told reporters. The senior Congress leader also accused the Sangh Parivar of trying to disrupt peace. Hariprasads counterpart in the Legislative Assembly Siddaramaiah said the BJP government should quit if its leaders cannot maintain law and order. Meanwhile, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar said the Supreme Court has already issued its order on the use of loudspeakers for Azaan. Our leaders have met the CM on this. Its the CMs responsibility to take action. Such issues are being raised deliberately. If they arent controlled, then there will be violence and communal clashes, he said. Released: May 9, 2022 Delaware County voters have until 5 p.m. on Tues., May 10, to submit an application for a vote-by-mail ballot (either a no-excuse mail-in ballot or a traditional absentee ballot) for the upcoming Tues., May 17 Primary Election. As a reminder, vote-by-mail ballots are sent only to those voters who complete an application (signed with a valid form of ID) after January 1, 2022. Voters who voted by mail in previous years do not receive vote-by-mail ballots automatically. Voters who are unsure if they are registered to vote-by-mail, or registered but have yet to receive their ballot in the mail, can check their status at delcopa.gov/ballotstatus. Voters can also contact the Election Hotline at (610) 891-VOTE with questions, or to discuss how to proceed if the voters ballot is damaged, missing, or marked improperly. For voters who prefer to cast a vote-by-mail ballot but have not yet applied, vote-by-mail applications are available for download from the Delco Votes! website at delcopa.gov/vbm-app and can also be obtained in-person at the Delaware County at the Voter Service Center. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, on the ground floor of the Government Center Building (located inside the Orange Street entrance) at 201 W. Front St., in Media. By law, only voters already registered with the Democratic or Republican parties will be allowed to vote their respective partys primary ballot at this election. Voters who are registered as independents or with a third party are not eligible to cast ballots for the May 17 Primary Election and will not receive vote-by-mail ballots if they apply. Completed vote-by-mail ballots may be returned at any of the Countys 40+ ballot drop boxes* through 8 p.m. on Election Day on Tues., May 17. Ballots returned through the US Postal Service must be received by the Elections Department no later than 8 p.m. on Election Day, regardless of postmark. Postage is not required. Voters who are casting a vote-by-mail ballot must mark their ballots in blue or black ink. Once the ballot has been completed, voters should place the ballot into the smaller of the two envelopes (marked Official Ballot Envelope), seal that envelope, and then place that into the larger pre-paid return envelope. Voters must then complete the voter declaration section on the exterior of the return envelope, being sure to include their signature, printed name, address, and the date. Incomplete or inaccurate voter information may disqualify the ballot. Voters are reminded that they may use any Delaware County ballot drop box to return their completed ballot, but each voter may return only that voters own ballot. Voters cannot return ballots for spouses, family members, or other individuals unless an official 3rd Party Delivery Form (formerly called the Authorize a Designated Agent to Help You Obtain and/or Return Your Mail-in or Absentee Ballot) has been submitted and approved by the PA Department of State. Voters who attempt to return ballots on behalf of other voters without authorization will be referred to the Delaware County District Attorney for investigation. For more information, voters are reminded that the Delaware Countys election website Delco Votes! provides news, sample ballots, ballot drop box locations, polling location information, access to downloadable and online forms, livestreams and recordings of Board of Elections meetings, and more at delcopa.gov/vote. * Chadds Ford closes at 4 p.m. on Election Night. Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Alderman Graham Warke received a cheque in excess of 10,000 today (May 9) towards his chosen Mayoral charity, Foyle Down Syndrome Trust. The money raised is the proceeds from the recent hugely successful Bear Run 74 event. Mayor Warke, took part in a two day tour of the North West by some of the finest Supercars and Muscle Cars in Ireland. The Bear Run 74 visited Derry, Inishowen and Donegal to allow the public to get a close up look at the impressive vehicles and raise funds for Mayor Warke's charity for his year in office - the Foyle Down Syndrome Trust. The tour included a pit stop at Eglinton Flying Club where members of the Trust met the drivers and had photos taken with the cars. Mayor Warke said: "We had a brilliant weekend travelling across the North West in some of the world's best supercars. "Congratulations to the organisers who put meticulous planning into this event to make sure hundreds of people in our Council area and Donegal were able to see these stunning vehicles. "I want to sincerely thank everyone who supported us over the two days and helped raise funds for Foyle Down Syndrome Trust. "It is a weekend I will never forget." Mayor Warke said he was totally overwhelmed at the generosity and kindness of people across the North West. He expressed his sincere thanks to everyone who took part, donated money or gave up their time to support it. He added that he was looking forward to the next big fundraiser, the Supercar event, taking place in the city centre on May 21 from 12 noon to 3pm where the public can come see an array of exotic modern and classic cars. Steve Frazer, Managing Director at City of Derry Airport, also thanked the public for their donations and organisers for their fundraising efforts: "It's wonderful to be involved in such a unique event and to be supporting Foyle Down Syndrome Trust, a charity very close to our hearts here in the North West. "We joined the Mayor in welcoming the amazing troop of Super Cars and Muscle Cars on its pitstop at Eglinton Flying Club on Saturday, as well as providing some goodie bags for the visitors from the Foyle Down Syndrome Trust and the event partners. "Although the wet weather descended, it most certainly didn't dampen anyone's spirits. "Well done to the Bear Run 74 initiative for providing such a wonderful weekend for all involved and for the fantastic sum of money raised for Foyle Down Syndrome Trust." The Bear Run started at Lifford Applegreen at 9am on Saturday before the cars travelled in convoy to the event at City of Derry Airport at 11am and on to Applegreen Carndonagh at 2pm. From there, they travelled via Buncrana to Wild Ireland animal sanctuary in Burnfoot at 4pm before finishing the day in Downings at 6.30pm. On Sunday morning, they began at Downings at 10.30am before a Photo stop at the Poisoned Glen and lunch in Mountain Top Letterkenny at 12.30pm. They visited Halfway Karting in the afternoon and finished at Downings. You can donate to the Mayor's Charity the Foyle Down Syndrome Trust at derrystrabane.com/mayor A North West Regional College (NWRC) apprentice, who is the only female welder working alongside a team of male welders at Fleming Agri Products, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Insider - Made in Northern Ireland Apprentice of the Year Award 2022. Chloe Rankin, 19, who is studying for the Level 3 Apprenticeship at NWRCs Springtown campus, has worked with her college and employers to promote careers in welding to women and young people across the North West. And shes delighted to have made the final three in the Apprentice category of the awards which recognise and reward the excellence of the manufacturing sector in Northern Ireland and showcase the successful achievements of innovative and forward-thinking businesses across the whole region. Her employer, Fleming Agri, has also made the top three in the Manufacturing Apprenticeship/Training Scheme Award category. Chloe said, People are always surprised when they hear what my job is. Seeing the shock on their faces never gets old, but everyone thinks its class that Im a woman welder. I like being hands-on when Im learning and working. My experience has been good working as an apprentice, I couldnt see myself doing anything else. "I dont think things would have gone as well for me if Id gone down the strictly academic route as I wouldnt be the biggest fan of sitting in a classroom all day, every day, and I like having a bit of freedom when working. An apprenticeship is a great route for your career as you are learning a new skill but also getting the experience while getting paid. I chose NWRC because Ive always heard good reports about it. I applied for welding as I always had an interest in engineering as I had done it in school. At the Open Day, there was no problem with me being a girl looking to do the course. My employment with Fleming has been great, theyve always supported me. They happily gave me a chance and took me on knowing that I was going to be the only girl working out in the factory. Lecturer at NWRC, Justin Sterritt, who nominated Chloe for the award described her as an outstanding example to young women everywhere. He added, Chloe is fully committed to her role and is driven to become an exceptional welder. "She is not afraid to get stuck in at work, is confident in her abilities, and has shown she is as capable, if not more capable in some areas, to do the job. Her skills at welding have bloomed over her time at Fleming Agri and she is now capable of the toughest of jobs, working on her own initiative wherever possible and needing the minimum of supervision. "Chloe has proved to be an excellent welder whilst at the same time excelling in her college studies. Jonathan Lecky, managing firector at Fleming Agri, said: As a major employer of welder/fabricators, Flemings Agri has supported apprenticeships for many years, and we currently employ fifteen NWRC apprentices. Chloe is a committed welder who works with great enthusiasm to become the best that she can be in her chosen field. Shes always eager to learn new skills and works on her own initiative and when faced with problems, calmly works towards satisfactory solutions. She is an inspiration to other young women considering a career in Welding or Engineering. The winners of the awards will be announced at a special lunchtime event taking place at The Titanic Hotel, Belfast this Friday. Applications are now open for Apprenticeships at NWRC beginning in September 2022. For more information and to apply online go to www.nwrc.ac.uk/apply Google is expected to launch the Pixel 6a in four models. Google must be gearing up for the I/O 2022 which is going to take place on May 11-12. In this event, besides virtual demos and live/on-demand presentations, we are expecting to see the launch of Android 13 and insights into some Pixel hardware at least, if not the actual products. Pixel fans are anticipating a lineup that could include the Pixel 6a, Pixel Watch, Pixel Fold, and some changes to Stadia. Ahead of the event, tipster Mukul Sharma has brought to our attention that a Pixel smartphone, likely the aforementioned Pixel 6a, is undergoing testing in the country. [Exclusive] A new Google Pixel smartphone is undergoing private testing in India. Though not entirely sure, there are chances that it could be the Google Pixel 6a.#Google #Pixel6a #GooglePixel6a Mukul Sharma (@stufflistings) May 9, 2022 So, heres what we can expect from the upcoming Pixel 6-series phone. Google Pixel 6a Specs and Features (Expected) Google could give a 6.2-inch FHD+ 90Hz screen with an in-display fingerprint reader. The device is said to sport face recognition also. Unlocking it, we could be interacting with Android 12 software, although Android 13 may soon hit the device. The internals could consist of 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, a Google Tensor processor, and a 4500mAh battery with 20W+ fast charging. The rumour has it that Google may release 4 variants of the Pixel 6a viz. GX7AS, GB17L, G1AZG and GB62Z. We may learn more about this at the I/O 2022. Mark your calendar for May 11 and 12. As for other news, reviews, feature stories, buying guides and everything else tech-related, keep reading Digit.in. SUSPENDED CEILING (ACOUSTICAL) OREGON Photo courtesy of Gabe Hurley At Marrion Elementary School, one of the most distinctive features of the school is the unique ceiling design. Marrion Elementary School Location: Vancouver Contractor: The Harver Co. Architect: LSW Architects Team: International Union of Painters and Allied Trades; Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters; Knez Building Materials Co.; L&W Supply; CertainTeed Gypsum; USG Building Systems Marrion Elementary School was an ambitious project that had impressive finishes. By far, one of the most distinctive features of the school is the unique ceiling design. The ceilings throughout the building consist of acoustical ceiling tile, acoustical glue-up ceiling tile, gypsum and acoustical gypsum. The typical acoustical ceiling tile in the school is a 2-by-4-foot Tegular USG Mars in 15/16 grid. The music room is an extraordinary acoustic masterpiece, with three-layer sound walls on RSIC-1 clips from Pac International. The ceilings are 2-by-2-foot Tegular USG Halcyon acoustical ceiling tile in 15/16 grid. The main area of the school is beautifully crafted, constructed with glue-lam beams, approximately 10 feet on center, with USG Danoline Stratopanel ceilings fitted between the beams. The Harver Co. also installed this design under the catwalk in the library area. The school has an alcove in the library that sits under the catwalk where students can read in a calming space that fosters learning. With its blue CSI felt walls and the Stratopanel ceiling overhead painted dark blue, the alcove design invites students to imagine stars and planets above. This project had the typical challenges associated with schools schedule pushes and the need to get especially efficient towards the end of the project. In addition, the team faced new challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic that kept many variables changing constantly, including material shortages and trucking delays. Harver credits L&W Supply for doing a great job communicating to keep the Harver team informed of changing conditions. This project required teamwork, efficiency, craftsmanship and dedication. Other Stories: LIGHT-GAUGE STEEL FRAMING OVER $1 MILLION OREGON Photo courtesy of Matt Jacoby The 150,000-square-foot Gardiner Middle School has an open learning environment, creating a space that feels less confining than a school of the past. Gardiner Middle School Location: Oregon City Contractor: Fred Shearer & Sons Architect: BRIC Architecture Team: District Council of Laborers; International Union of Painters and Allied Trades; Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters; Plasterers Local 82; CWallA; GTS Interior Supply; Spears Construction Supply; Armstrong World Industries; Clinch-On Cornerbead Co.; Fry Reglet Corp.; Hamilton Drywall Products; Hilti; Plexxis Software; Scafco Steel Stud Co.; STI Firestop; Trim-Tex; USG Building Systems The new 150,000-square-foot Gardiner Middle School is uniquely designed with an open learning environment, creating a space that feels less confining than a traditional school of the past. The design incorporated sound panels to reduce noise levels throughout the building. The main challenge for this project was scheduling so that the process would be completed for school to open on time. Working with the project team, design-build contractor Fred Shearer & Sons was able to create a flow to the scheduling without excessive trade stacking or unnecessary manpower loading so that the project was completed on time and under budget. By employing 3D scanning technology, Fred Shearer & Sons was able to get accurate field measurements that ensured a smooth installation. Fred Shearer & Sons says it appreciated the openness on the part of the owner, architect and construction manager/general contractor to its input and advice while meeting their concepts of design. The firm was able to not only provide value for the client by utilizing prefabrication of both exterior and interior assemblies but also help with direction in the products used on site. All stakeholders were committed to keeping the lines of communication open and listening to each other to understand the needs of the project, which resulted in the successful completion of this school. Other Stories: Tullus Gordon remembered for contributions to fishing and construction industries Journal Construction Editor By BENJAMIN MINNICK Journal Construction Editor Gordon Tullus Gordon, a longtime Seattle-area general contractor, died Dec. 29 at the age of 95. A celebration of his life will be held next month in Ballard. Gordon operated Tullus Gordon Construction for 40 years. The company was known for numerous public works and school construction projects. One of the firm's notable projects was the $20 million King County Metro Central Operating Base that was built in 1988. His son, Todd Gordon, said the firm beat out several of the big boys in construction to get this project. Todd said his father also remodeled every restaurant in the Seattle Center Food Circus Court in the early 1970s, built the Children's Zoo at Woodland Park Zoo in the early 1970s, and constructed the now defunct King theater in Seattle. The DJC reported in April 1996 that Tullus Gordon Construction performed a $660,000 update to the city of Mountlake Terrace's Recreation Pavilion that included new locker rooms, ADA improvements, and renovations to the lobby, reception counter and administrative offices. He did a lot of public works (projects) for the cities and utilities, Todd said, adding that his father started with small home remodels and worked his way up to commercial construction projects. My dad ... had several peers such as Peter Wick (Wick Construction), Arne Vemo (Vemo Construction), Chris Clark (W.G. Clark Construction) and Gene Colin (Ferguson Construction) to name a few that he respected, and they respected him as friendly competitors and friends, Todd said. In 1980, Tullus joined with other prominent industry heavy weights Don Bocek, Louis Rowley, Terry Denny, Dann Sheffield and Larry Johnson in forming what is now the AGC Education Foundation. The legacy of that gathering resulted in ongoing education and training for thousands of those in the local construction industry. The sea had an enormous influence on Tullus Gordon's life. According to an obituary in The Seattle Times, Tullus joined the Army Transport Service in 1944 and the Merchant Marine later that year. He served in both of WWII's theaters of war, with most of his time in the Pacific, as a junior engineer. After WWII, he joined his brother in the commercial fishing industry. During this time, from 1947 to 1956, he fished up and down the West Coast, from Alaska to California. He later developed the power warping crab block, which helped revolutionize the fishing industry, according to his son. Todd said his dad transitioned from fishing to construction after Tullus was swept overboard while fishing in a storm off the Oregon coast and nearly died. That's when Tullus' first wife, Millie Vermillion, gave him the ultimatum It's either fishing or family, according to Todd. Construction was an attractive field because Tullus was good with his hands. He built a 14-foot sailboat as a kid, according to Todd. Tullus started his construction company in 1958 and ran it until his retirement in 1997. In retirement, he sailed a 63-foot custom sailboat he helped design around the San Juans. Tullus was preceded in death by his daughter Tracee, first wife Millie, second wife Mary Ann, and siblings Virgil and Theodosius. He is survived by sons Tullus A. and Todd (Leah) along with grandchildren Zachary, Rachael, Ashley and several nieces and nephews. A public celebration of his life will be held noon-4 p.m. June 4 at Ballard Elks Lodge, 6411 Seaview Ave. N.W. in Seattle. Speaking of Ballard Elks Lodge, Tullus built that too, in the mid-1970s. Benjamin Minnick can be reached by email or by phone at (206) 622-8272. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE Like so many shrinking, aging Seattle religious institutions before it, Woodland Park United Church has filed plans for demolition and new apartments. The church now occupies about 20,000 square feet at 302 N. 78th St., on the corner of Greenwood Avenue North. Neiman Taber Architects prepared the six-story, 75-unit plan, which includes ground-level space for the church. It'll apparently partner with Richard Conlin entity Conlin Columbia LLC, which is listed as the developer. . . . Subscriber content preview SEATTLE An apartment building at 6533 California Ave. S.W. sold for $6.7 million, according to King County records. The seller was Marnae Apartments LLC, a family group that had owned the property for decades. . . . Reliance Retail to launch dedicated artisan-only store format `Swedesh' Reliance Retail on Thursday announced several new initiatives aimed at showcasing authentic handcrafted products and promoting the rich Indian art forms globally, in a strong boost to its Handmade in India' programme. The initiatives are designed to help revive various traditional Indian art and craft forms, provide sustainable livelihood for hundreds and thousands of artisans and craftsmen in the ecosystem and present a new platform to take the timeless Indian crafts to consumer across the world says a company release. The programme is being spearheaded by Reliance Retails handicrafts brand Swadesh, which envisages an artisan-only dedicated store format for handcrafted products from across the country. The first Swadesh store is expected to open in the second half of the current year and will house a wide range of products, including handmade textiles, handicrafts, agriculture products and other artisanal merchandise sourced directly from artisans. Swadesh will also build a global marketplace to connect Indian artisans and sellers of authentic handmade products to consumers across the world, accrding to the release. The future of Indian arts and crafts is poised to be at an exciting stage. Our past efforts towards development of a robust infrastructure towards reviving dying art forms and building and enabling ecosystem for local artisans, weavers and craftsmen have yielded encouraging results. Our standalone handicrafts destination store format, Swadesh is now on the anvil and will present India through its Art and Crafts and it will showcase everything from Apparel, Home Textiles, Home decor, Furniture, Jewellery, Wellness products and more, says Isha Ambani, director, Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. We see a great opportunity for the artisans of our country in co-creating and cocurating handcrafted Indian products for the world. To realise this opportunity Reliance Retail is partnering with various government organisations to help popularise various local art forms, both nationally and globally. Reliance Retail and Reliance Foundation have also aligned to identify core epicenters for the various indigenous crafts and will set up RiSE centres, a robust network of skill development centres to ensure reach at grassroots level and to contribute in sustaining artisan communities and art forms, added Isha Ambani. Swadesh aims to present India to the world through the lens of its rich arts, handicrafts and handlooms. It will be a collection of carefully curated products, part of the rich legacy of Indias heritage that come alive in the hands of our supremely skilled and talented craftspeople. Swadesh aims to create a unique eco-system for reviving languishing crafts, enhancing skills of the creative communities by providing skill enhancement /design trainings, capacity building workshops that will ensure sustainable livelihoods for artisan communities. Swadesh has already signed an MoU with the ministry of textiles, which enables sourcing of 100 per cent authentic crafted products, directly from artisan communities. Another unique partnership has been finalised and an MoU has been signed with Department of MSME and textiles, government of West Bengal. The aim of this partnership is to build a healthy, dynamic ecosystem that will help both the government of West Bengal and Swadesh realise the vision of sustainable employment and an enriched standard of living for the artisan community. Swadesh proposes to establish new partnerships to create strong ecosystem for local artisans across states and clusters through the artisan-only concept. Swadesh is also aligning with Reliance Foundation to promote Indias priceless heritage by establishing an enabling and sustainable ecosystem for artisans across the country by setting up RiSE (Reliance Foundation Initiative for Skill Enhancement) centres in different states. The RiSE centres will leverage the existing network and schemes of handloom/handicraft ministry to create synergies and provide maximum benefit to the artisan communities all over India. This unique PPP model will focus on providing sustainable livelihood for artisans, developing crafts of that state and leverage existing network to create synergies and provide maximum benefit to artisans and craftsmen across the country, says the release. Reliance Retail has been actively involved in engaging with and patronising artisans all over India to source authentic, handcrafted products thereby promoting the rich Indian heritage and sustaining livelihoods of artisans. This endeavor has only become more sharply focused with the conceptualisation of new Swadesh platform under the lifestyle and fashion segment, it added. India, Maldives plan transmission interconnection for renewable power transfer India and Maldives have proposed to establish transmission interconnection for renewable power transfer as part of One Sun, One World & One Grid initiative, in order to facilitate Maldives' energy transition programme. The government of Maldives has resolved to achieve net zero emission target by 2030. India and Maldives have proposed to sign two memoranda of understanding one on energy cooperation and another on transmission interconnection under One Sun, One World, One Grid (OSOWOG). The decision was made at a meeting of Indias minister for power and new and renewable energy R K Singh and Aminath Shauna, minister of environment, climate change and technology, Republic of Maldives in New Delhi on Tuesday. A draft agreement is being prepared for MoU on transmission interconnection under which a technical team from India would visit Maldives to assess its technical feasibility. Thereafter a Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be prepared jointly with Indian and Maldives Agencies, including undersea cable route survey and network augmentation in Male. National Volunteering Week is celebrated across Ireland in May every year. This year, the celebration will kick off here in County Louth on May 14th with an online Exploring Volunteering session looking at the breadth of volunteering roles available across county Louth and there will be a number of ways to get involved across the county throughout the week. Louth Volunteer Centre will host their first in-person Volunteer Leadership Seminar since 2019 in the Market House in Dunleer on Tuesday May 17th. The seminar is for any group that involves volunteers in their work to come together and celebrate the contribution of volunteers to the community, as well as to share learning and re-connect with other groups following a difficult two years. Volunteer leaders are a vital asset to our community, says Louth Volunteer Centre Manager, Kayleigh Mulligan, There is a lot of work that gets done in County Louth that wouldnt be possible without the time and skills of volunteers as we know, and it is also vitally important to recognise the people that lead and manage these volunteers. "The seminar will give Community & Voluntary groups the opportunity to network and discuss future plans and projects. This event will be followed by the launch of Louth Volunteer Centres New Connections project. We are delighted to have recently received funding from Mental Health Ireland to deliver New Connections. "This project will focus on working with people from marginalised groups to connect to their communities in a new way through volunteering, says Kayleigh, Volunteering has long been recognised as a route to improved wellbeing and mental health through improved social connections, sense of purpose and improved confidence, for example. "New Connections will help people to discover new ways to connect to their communities through volunteering opportunities facilitated by Louth Volunteer Centre. Later in the week, Louth Volunteer Centre is asking volunteers to Bring a Friend along to their open days in Ardee Library on Thursday 19th, and in their Dundalk and Drogheda offices on Friday 20th of May. These events will run from 10am-12pm on both days with tea/coffee and a light breakfast provided for volunteers. The week will close with a recognition of the weeks intersection with the start of Biodiversity Week on May 21st, with some Bracken Bashing in Clogherhead with the Louth Community Volunteers and in partnership with Louth County Council, who are funders of the Louth Community Volunteers programme. Volunteers will be assisting with the removal of bracken, which is an invasive species and must be managed. For further information on any of the events being held for National Volunteering Week, contact Louth Volunteer Centre at info@volunteerlouth.ie or call 041 980 9008. 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. Artist Mariana Clemente, from Porto in Portugal, came to Dundalk a year ago and fell in love with the town. The talented Creative Spark print studio member will have a pop up art exhibition at An Tain Arts Centre, depicting her memories from her year living in Dundalk through illustrations, drawings, prints and installations. Marianna, who was an intern at Creative Spark's print studio and is now interning at An Tain, has just completed her masters in illustration and animation. Her pop up exhibition 'No one ever goes to Dundalk', which celebrates her one year anniversary of moving here, opens this Thursday May 12th at 7pm. Marianna said she called her exhibition 'No one ever goes to Dundalk' because when she arrived at the airport in Dublin and asked how to get here that's the response she was given by a worker. Marianna says she loves the town and living here. EBRD, Bank Al-Maghrib and GPBM sign memorandum of understanding Agreement to support climate and environmental risk management in Moroccos financial sector Partnership to support implementation of the new central bank Directive on financial risk The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Bank Al-Maghrib and Groupement Professionnel des Banques du Maroc (GPBM) are joining forces to support climate and environmental risk management and to promote green finance in Morocco. The three organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a framework of cooperation on the implementation of Directive 5/W/21 on financial risk management issued by Bank Al-Maghrib, Moroccos central bank, last year. The goals of the Directive are to encourage the countrys financial sector to address and manage financial risks related to climate change and the environment, and to spur new commitments from Moroccan banks on sustainable finance. Through this cooperation, the EBRD, Bank Al-Maghrib and GPBM aim to raise awareness and build the capacity of regulated stakeholders on climate and environmental risk management topics and to promote green finance. EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said: I am delighted to sign this memorandum today and to team up with Bank Al-Maghrib and GPBM to guide the financial sector in Morocco on how to manage financial risks related to climate change and the environment and to promote green finance. This is an important step in bringing together the skills, resources and reach needed to help local financial institutions take climate action and to contribute to the countrys green transition. Morocco is a founding member of the EBRD and became an investee economy in 2012. To date, the EBRD has invested more than 3.2 billion in the country through 83 projects. The pathologist who examined the body of two-year-old Santina Cawley believed the nature and extent of injuries to the child including bruises all over her body and a fractured skull were inflicted by force rather than as a result of an accident. Assistant state pathologist, Dr Margaret Bolster, said the cause of the childs death was traumatic brain injury and upper spinal cord injury together with polytrauma and lower limb injury due to blunt force trauma. And, in her final memo of interview with detective gardai, the judge and jury heard how the accused denied taunting the child in the early hours of the morning at a time when it was allegedly only the two of them the accused and the deceased in the apartment. 38-year-old Karen Harrington of Lakelands Crescent, Mahon, Cork, denies the murder of Santina Cawley at Elderwood Park, Boreenamanna Road, on July 5, 2019. The last memo of interview Karen Harrington had with gardai was read to the judge and jury. In it, she is shown photographs of evidence and reminded of different witness statements. She was accompanied by her solicitor, Eddie Burke. I did not murder Santina Cawley. I did not murder, I did not harm no one, like. Like especially not the accused said, but the sentence was not completed. There followed a series of questions and answers. Can you see how all the evidence is coming together? She replied, It is coming to me. These pictures dont lie. These pictures are telling a story. The only person who needs to tell us exactly what happened is you you were there. She replied, Em, I was there, I have no recollection. I did not harm her, I didnt, like. Can you see where the evidence is going? You are the one. Karen Harrington cried, according to the memo of interview, and said, Jesus I can see where it is leading to. It is just I dont know. Oh f***ing hell I wouldnt know how to harm a child, to murder a child. Evidence suggests otherwise. She replied, I see it. I can see it. You were the only person in the apartment after Michael (Santinas dad) left. They are your words. You are the only person there. You say she was alive then. Michael left she was alive then? She replied, Yeah. It was put to her again by detectives that she was the only one in the apartment with Santina and she replied, Oh God, and the memo noted that she sobbed. Detectives suggested that photos of the crime scene and witness statements painted a picture of madness in the apartment and it was put to her, You were taunting a two-year-old defenceless child? She replied, No way. I wouldnt hurt a child, like. When a recording of her shouting and slamming a door on the morning in question was played to her, she said, I am going mad make everyone wake up I have no memory of that. When the suggestion of taunting was put to her again, she said, I did not taunt no one. What is the evidence saying to you I can tell you what it is saying to us. You are the only one in the apartment. As you said, you were gone mad. She replied, Oh Jesus Christ. At one stage she is described as howling and then saying, I wasnt taunting the child. No reason to be taunting the child. I didnt harm no child, like. I am around children all my life I never in my life harmed no one, not to mind a baby, like. Pathologist evidence Mr Justice Michael MacGrath and the seven men and four women of the jury also heard evidence from Dr Bolster. (One juror was excused last week). The assistant state pathologist found evidence of a severe traumatic brain injury that would have resulted in the child going into a deep coma. Dr Bolster said the child suffered polytrauma and considerable injuries, and on post-mortem examination found injuries throughout the body surface. Fractures were found to the upper right arm, lower left femur, to ribs close to the backbone and to the skull. The pattern of injuries were not consistent with a simple fall or indeed an accident. There were multiple different injuries and (indications of) facial trauma. In my view, these are non-accidental forcefully inflicted injuries. Following inflicting of these injuries in particular of the head this child would not have been able to cry, Dr Bolster said. The pathologist found that traumatic brain injury and polytraumatic fractures were consistent with blunt force trauma. She said this can be caused by a blunt weapon or being by being struck against a hard surface. Assistant State Pathologist Margaret Bolster arrives at Cork Court. Pic Michael Mac Sweeney/Cork Courts In other words, she was struck with something or struck against something, the pathologist stated. She favoured the view that injuries were caused by impact on to a hard surface rather than with a weapon. As well as multiple bruising throughout the childs body from forehead to feet, the pathologist found a complex fracture of the skull and a ten-centimetre displaced portion of bone. Under cross-examination by defence senior counsel Brendan Grehan, Dr Bolster said of the skull fractures, There was more than one impact to the head. I cannot count the number of impacts. Was it one or two? Mr Grehan SC asked. She replied, Two plus plus. Mr Grehan asked the pathologist what she could say about the timing of the fractures. She replied, They were all recent. There was no way the child was walking around with these fractures. Mr Grehan referred to the pathologists evidence about the head injuries making it impossible for the child to cry. Dr Bolster said, Once the head injuries were inflicted, she would have been in a coma. As well as a previous left femur fracture caused by a fall - which had healed there was a fresh fracture to the same thigh bone, according to the pathologist. The trial continues. Installing solar panels is a great option for homeowners who want to reduce their power bills, and the payback period can be just a handful of years with favorable conditions. However, renters and apartment owners cannot use a typical solar power system due to the lack of space, and renters in particular must also negotiate with their landlords. A miniature solar system that is portable and easy to install can be a better option in these cases. Rooftop solar systems can greatly reduce your electric bills, and you can add solar batteries to store solar energy for use at night. However, because most systems are tied to the power local grid, you must meet many technical requirements and get a permit to put solar on your property. The initial investment and paperwork are not a problem when installing solar panels in a home you own, but theyre a limiting factor for renters. If you dont own your home or apartment, you may have little incentive to invest in improving someone elses property. Even if your landlord gives you permission to install solar panels, the decision only makes sense financially if you plan to rent for a very long time longer than the solar payback period. Also, consider the following factors: When your lease ends, your landlord may not be willing to purchase the solar panels you installed. Moving rooftop solar panels to another home is difficult, and you will need a professional installation and another permit for the new property. There are many types of miniature solar systems that can be installed without the complex requirements and permitting procedures of more permanent structures. These systems are an excellent option for renters, since taking them to another property is as simple as relocating your TV. Solar Benefits for Non-Homeowners Solar panel systems offer a common benefit, regardless of their size: they generate electricity from sunlight, reducing the amount of electricity you must pay your utility company for each month. Solar power also lowers the environmental footprint of your home, especially if you live in a region where most of the grid electricity comes from fossil fuels. Homeowners get a few extra benefits when they install a traditional solar system, including: Their property becomes more valuable, and many states dont charge increased property taxes for the portion of home value that corresponds to solar panels. Homeowners also qualify for the 26% federal solar tax credit as well as any additional incentives from state governments or utility companies. There are permitting and grid connection requirements to meet, but once the solar PV system starts operating, it provides electricity for decades with minimal maintenance. While mini solar panel systems may not be eligible for these perks, they have their benefits compared with rooftop systems. For example, they are much easier to install, with no permitting involved, and any maintenance is much simpler. Small-scale solar systems also have a lower price, and they are easily relocated. The power bill savings achieved by a rooftop solar system are much higher, but thats because theyre much larger. Many homeowners use solar PV systems that have capacities at or above 6 kW (6,000 W), while miniature systems often only generate up to 100 W. As you might expect, the corresponding cost of solar panels is very different: A 6 kW solar system can cost around $18,000 (before incentives) to install, while a miniature 100 W system might cost less than $300. However, each dollar invested is earned back multiple times over in both cases. How to Utilize Solar Energy When You Rent There are several options for renters who want to use solar power. These include: Plug-in mini solar systems Off-grid solar and battery systems Portable solar panels DIY solar setups Appliance-specific solar panels Plug-in mini solar systems work exactly like rooftop PV systems they connect to your residences wiring and synchronize with the voltage and frequency of your grid power just at a smaller scale. The power generated by a plug-in mini system is usually enough to power several electronic devices and LED bulbs, but not high-power devices like air conditioners and washing machines. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether a solar plug-in mini system is right for your rental property: Plug-and-play solar panels are not subject to the permitting requirements and interconnection procedures of a traditional rooftop installation, and they can be simply connected to a suitable power outlet. NOTE: When using plug-in solar panels, you must make sure that the power outlet used has a circuit with enough capacity to carry the current, as well as an adequate breaker. Otherwise, you can cause an electrical fault. Because this type of panel connects to the electrical system of the property, you should ask your landlord for permission before investing in one. You should also ask an electrician to check the power outlet you plan on plugging the panels into to make sure it has adequate capacity. Off-grid solar panels and solar battery systems are completely disconnected from the grid, which makes them a popular option for remote or rural sites with no electric service. In these types of systems, one or more solar panels are used to charge a battery or solar generator with USB charging sockets and power outlets for small appliances. These off-grid systems are also a viable option for renters, because they are entirely self-contained and dont connect to the utility grid. Portable solar panels are popular for camping, but they can also be used by renters to power small devices. These are some of the smallest solar panels available, and they only have a few watts of capacity. Their main purpose is charging smartphones, tablets and other tiny USB devices, and many of them have built-in LED flashlights. DIY solar panel setups are also an option. You can shop online for compatible solar panels, inverters, batteries and solar charge controllers, and then build a custom system according to your needs. However, keep in mind that you must have at least basic knowledge about electricity to safely and successfully install a homemade solar system. Appliance-specific solar panels are also a viable option for renters. You can find many devices with built-in solar panels, which dont depend on a power outlet to operate. For example, you can install solar-powered outdoor lights for your backyard or balcony, or use a solar air conditioning unit or fan to provide extra ventilation during the hottest hours of the day. Pros and Cons of Small Solar Units Miniature solar systems have advantages and limitations like any device. They have a lower cost than traditional rooftop systems, plus they are easier to install and relocate. Just keep in mind that they cant power larger appliances, which means their power bill savings are small. The following table summarizes the pros and cons of the most common types of miniature solar systems: Renter-Friendly Solar System Pros Cons Typical Price Plug-in solar system Easy to install Can be plugged into a normal power outlet Can only operate when connected to the grid You need a dedicated circuit and breaker of adequate capacity $1,500 for a 600 W solar system Off-grid solar system Can charge batteries or generators to be used after sunset Fully independent from the grid Batteries increase the system cost significantly if you want a high energy storage capacity $400 for a 100 W solar panel with a 24,000 mAh battery Portable Easy to carry Can be used for camping and other trips Limited use: Charging smartphones and other small devices $100 or less for a foldable 30 W panel DIY Solar You can create a custom system that meets your needs Basic electrical knowledge is needed to set up a safe system Variable, depending on the components used. Appliance-specific Easy to install The solar panel is often included with the price of the device You can only use the solar panel to power one appliance or device Variable, depending on the appliance Miniature solar power systems are designed for small, low-power devices such as LED bulbs and electronic gadgets. If youre a renter and would like to increase your savings beyond what is possible with small solar kits, you can consider joining a community solar project near you. These projects normally have two membership options: purchasing a share or paying a monthly subscription. In both cases, you will be entitled to a portion of the kilowatt-hours produced by the system, and this portion will be subtracted from your bill. Another advantage of community solar is that you can move freely to another apartment or home. Since the solar panels are not physically located where you live, you can usually re-assign the electricity savings to your new address. Products to Help Renters Maximize Solar There are many brands of miniature solar kits, but you should look for a reliable provider like Sunboxlabs. Since youre dealing with electricity, purchasing high-quality products is strongly advised to avoid accidents. Before purchasing any solar panel or a related component, make sure it has an electrical certification mark such as: UL (Underwriters Laboratories) ETL (Intertek) CSA (Canadian Standards Association) CE (Conformite Europeenne) You can look for a solar kit that includes all components, such as this WindyNation 100 Watt Solar Panel Kit. Alternatively, you can buy compatible parts separately, and build your own system. The following are some recommendations: Keep in mind that you will also need wiring to connect all components together, and make sure you read all instructions carefully to ensure safety. At Maison Jar a new grocery store located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn in New York City silos of dry goods line one wall. Dried beans, grains, pasta, nuts, and coffee are beside bins of cooking staples like flour, baking soda, baking powder, and sugar. A refrigerator on the wall opposite holds industrial-sized jars of olives, racks of eggs, and metal trays of fresh produce, and a freezer is stocked with plastic bins of frozen fruit and vegetables. Prepared snacks like dried mangos, wasabi peas, gummy bears, and chocolate-covered nuts fill glass jugs on the center tables. Linnea Harris The back of the store has shelves of metal dispensers filled with oil and liquid condiments like soy sauce and vinegar glass jars of loose spices, and a table of multi-gallon pump bottles of laundry detergent, shampoo and conditioner, body lotion, and other personal care products. Each of these large containers indicates the price per pound of the product inside, as well as its ingredients and origins and, mostly notably, there is no packaging in sight. Customers come to the store toting their own containers empty pasta sauce jars, coffee canisters, kombucha bottles, plastic yogurt jugs, and cloth produce bags to fill with groceries. Linnea Harris Maison Jar is one of many zero-waste refilleries popping up across the country, where customers can use their own vessels to fill with goods, rather than using single-use plastic containers provided by the store or selecting from pre-weighed, pre-packaged bulk products. Before opening the store this March, founder and owner Larasati Vitoux had worked for a natural ingredient manufacturer, and earned a certificate in sustainability and food systems. After returning home to France for a visit, Larasati Vitoux who has lived in New York City for ten years noticed a change in how the French were doing their grocery shopping. I saw there were more and more package-free grocery stores, she told EcoWatch in an interview. While a relatively new concept in the U.S., refilleries like Maison Jar are far more common in Europe: Glaskiste in Freiburg, Germany opened in 2017, and Negozio Leggero which began in Turin, Italy in 2009 now has more than a dozen locations across the country. This trend in waste-free shopping has arisen in response to our plastic pollution crisis, with plastic now found in the depths of the ocean, on remote islands, atop the highest mountains, and even within our own blood. Packaging accounts for a quarter of all landfill waste, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, much of which is food packaging. While there are no national bans on single-use plastics in the U.S., individual states and municipalities have been cracking down on this waste. California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Vermont all have some form of plastic bag ban, as do several larger cities like Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. New Jersey is instating a sweeping plastic ban to begin in May, which will include both plastic bags and carryout containers. Individual franchises are also making changes; supermarket giant Wegmans has committed to banning plastic bags from all of its stores nationwide by the end of the year. Refilleries take the commitment to waste-free shopping one step further, eliminating all plastic packaging, from olive oil jugs to produce bags. At Maison Jar, customers must bring their own containers (and bags, of course), or purchase one of the reusable jars sold at the store. A box by the counter also holds donated and sanitized containers if you leave your own at home. Small scales are stationed on tables around the store, where customers weigh their container a process thats sometimes called tareing at bulk food retailers and write the number on a piece of masking tape affixed to the outside. They then fill the container with whatever product they wish, using the provided scoops and funnels, and note the name of the product on a sticker. At the checkout counter, the weight of the empty container is deducted, and the customer is charged for the product by the pound. Linnea Harris Maison Jar follows in the footsteps of other refilleries in the tristate area, like The Refill Room in Hastings-On-Hudson, New York, and the Good Bottle Refill Shop in Montclair, New Jersey (which also buys back bottles from goods sold online to be refilled and reused in future orders). Many zero-waste shops are finding ways to innovate and make their products more widely available, including Refillery LA in Western California, which has a mobile van that sells personal care products and household cleaning supplies along its route. While eliminating plastic packaging is a major aspect of Maison Jars environmental ethic, Vitoux emphasizes that their efforts go far beyond this. Every morning, she rides her bike to a local bakery to pick up bread (which they also sell by the pound), and the store sources almost entirely from local vendors, like the nearby Brooklyn-based Variety Coffee Roasters, and Cafe Grumpy, which supply freshly roasted coffee beans. We have some closed-loops systems, says Vitoux. For instance, for our coffees: they come with their buckets, we put them in the silos, we give them back the empty ones. Much of the stores dry goods come in 25-pound packages, wrapped in an air-tight plastic liner to keep the product fresh, which is then recycled with Terracycle. One of the most important things is the selection of our products, she says. We really focus on having organic produce especially. I really think its a better way of harvesting and cultivating today. Vitoux does, however, consider cost when choosing her products. I really try and be careful with price, she says. I want to be as accessible as possible. She says that, if the organic alternative to a product is prohibitively expensive, she will often choose the conventional variety in order to make the product more accessible, which allows customers to view the store as a one-stop-shop for all of their grocery needs. The refillery model also promotes less waste and, in turn, less spending, says Vitoux.. It really makes a difference that you dont need to buy some almonds to have three-quarters of it sit for a month and half. While Maison Jar only opened its doors a month ago, Vitoux is already considering the future of the store, which could include delivery options and workshops with sustainability professionals. Maison Jar is located at 566 Leonard St. in Brooklyn, NY, and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. China expected to remain as top pork producer in 2022 China will continue to be the world's leading pork producer and importer this year, according the latest estimates by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The country would have an expected 46.2% share of the overall total of global pork production, with expected production reaching 51Mt, a figure that represents an increase of 7.4% over the 2021 total (47.5Mt). In the second place will be the European Union, with an expected share of 20.9% and production reaching 23.2Mt, a decrease of 2.4% compared to the previous year, while the US will occupy the third place, with an 11.1% share and production to stand at 12.3Mt, a 2.2% contraction compared to 2021. Brazil and Mexico are anticipated to occupy the fourth and eighth places respectively, with expected productions reaching 4.4Mt and 1.5Mt. With a volume of 4.8Mt, the EU will be the main exporter of pork in 2022, with an expected share of 40.7% of the overall total (11.7Mt). Likewise, the US will occupy the second position, with 25.6% of exports, although it is expected to see a decrease of 6.2% compared to 2021. Canada will occupy third place with a 12.5% share and an export volume of 1.5Mt. Brazil (1.3Mt) and Mexico (0.3Mt) are expected to occupy the fourth and fifth positions, with shares of 11.4% and 2.7% respectively, while Chile will rank seventh with 0.3Mt. The ranking of importing countries will be led by China, which is expected to take up 31.9% of global total (11Mt) with a volume of 3.5Mt, representing a decrease of 19.2% compared to 2021. Japan is expected to be in the second spot with a share of 13.2%. Mexico will be in third place with 10.9% of the overall total and will be the largest Latin American importer of pork with 1.2Mt. The Philippines, which will occupy the seventh place in the ranking of importers, is expected to see a decrease of 18.1% in its volume of imported products. A significant decrease of 10% is also expected in imports from Vietnam, which would occupy ninth place. - Economic Analysis Department of 333 LATAM Denmark reveals new plan to fight Campylobacter infections Denmark has unveiled a new plan to tackle Campylobacter and reduce the number of people getting ill from it. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fdevarestyrelsen) said the risk of getting sick from Danish chicken meat has gone down since 2013 and sampling shows the pathogen is more often found on imported chicken. The action plan for 2022 to 2026 was created with industry and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). Every year, about 4,000 people in Denmark become ill from Campylobacter in food. The University of Copenhagen has calculated the socio-economic costs of a single registered case of Campylobacter at US$35,400. Overall, this corresponds to more than US$140 million per year. "The main focus of our strategy and action plan is on chicken meat, which is the largest source of infection," said Fdevarestyrelsen's Annette Perge. In addition to the focus on Campylobacter in broiler production, other key areas will be detection in the event of outbreaks and uncovering sources of infection other than chicken. The document reflects changing forms of production, such as more outdoor flocks and slower production processes due to welfare issues. There is also a stated aim for the risk of getting sick from eating chicken meat to be reduced by 50% compared to 2013. While this has not yet been achieved, the risk has dropped by 25%. Another goal for broiler flocks was to maintain the incidence of Campylobacter at the same level as in 2017 which was 17.6%. This target was also missed but incidence fell from 24.6% in 2018 to 20.4% in 2020. For the 2022-2026 period, goals will be set to reduce the consumer's risk of becoming ill from Danish chicken meat. Individual targets will be in place for large and medium-sized slaughterhouses. The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration is also working on a model to publish the results from monitoring of Danish and imported chicken at retail. Efforts will see how whole genome sequencing can be used to a greater extent to find problems in slaughterhouses and flocks, the development of a cheaper and faster method for typing Campylobacter and to trace sources of infection. Data sharing between poultry slaughterhouses and authorities will also be assessed. Monitoring of Campylobacter in broilers may be adjusted based on the choice of sample type, sampling point and sample size. Source attribution work will continue with a focus on poultry. Measures to prevent or reduce infected flocks will be looked at such as feed additives, altered production methods, refrigeration techniques and surface treatments. - Food Safety News European Commission scrutinises fish product safety in Egypt and Croatia Two audits by the European Commission's health and safety unit have looked at checks to ensure fish product safety in Egypt and Croatia. A remote DG Sante audit in May and June 2021 in Egypt identified shortcomings in virtually all areas and made 20 recommendations. The objective was to verify that systems ensured products exported to the European Union comply with the rules. Egypt is approved to send only certain wild catch fishery products to Europe but asked in April 2021 to be authorised to export fish from aquaculture. A 2009 audit found deficiencies in implementing the control system, low knowledge on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) by officials and poor controls of the cold chain. It also revealed that legislation was not fully aligned with EU rules. Eurostat data shows the EU imported a yearly average of 2,280 tonnes of fishery products from Egypt between 2016 and 2020. The top two countries were Italy and Spain and the main product was fresh/chilled whole fish. According to Egyptian authorities, it exported 4,980 tonnes in 2019 and 5,866 tonnes in 2020. However, this is based on information provided by operators for the audit. Five related Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notifications were issued from 2018 to March 2021. One was for undeclared additives and four were due to mercury above the EU legal limit. Egyptian officials could not identify the products implicated, reasons for the notifications, which operators were involved and the EU countries to which items had been exported. They could not demonstrate it received the alerts, investigated them, or that measures to prevent their recurrence were taken. Auditors found staff were not trained recently and didn't have all the necessary written procedures or instructions to perform official control tasks. Data provided showed Egyptian officials were not fully aware of, or couldn't reliably ascertain, the origin of raw materials used by EU-listed establishments in the manufacture of products for exports. Information points to the existence of sources of raw materials other than the controlled primary fishing vessels, according to the audit report. Controls of primary production fishing vessels were not carried out effectively as non-compliances were not detected or corrective action was not enforced while EU-approval was retained. Checks on fishery products for export to the EU includes sampling and testing for heavy metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury but did not cover freshness criteria, histamine, dioxins, parasites, relevant microbes and checks for poisonous products. The authority did not provide evidence to DG Sante that companies handling products not eligible for EU exports have measures in place to prevent them being sent to Europe. The General Authority for Fish Resources Development (GAFRD) said the absence of complaints by trade partners shows exports are safe and that the control system works. GAFRD said certain relevant documents that would have helped the audit team understand the system could not be shared by email due to legal issues. The National Food Safety Authority replaced another agency as the relevant body from 2022. Another virtual audit, this time in Croatia, in April 2021, found the system largely met EU requirements. Croatia produced 16,506 tonnes of aquaculture products, mostly marine as well as freshwater fish and 63,200 tonnes of wild capture in 2019. Effectiveness of the system is sometimes negatively affected by occasional weak coordination between inspectors, leading to inconsistencies during official controls, the assessment found. From 2018 to the audit date, there were nine RASFF alerts covering fishery products from Croatia. In 2019, two cases concerned ready-to-eat products from the same plant and Listeria monocytogenes. Despite the two non-compliant Listeria results, the establishment was kept in the same low risk category. However, as it exports products to other EU countries and processes fishery products, it should have already had a high rating. Another site producing ready-to-eat fish products had two non-compliant results in the same year due to Listeria monocytogenes. The risk status of the establishment was kept at the same medium rating. The planned frequency of official controls in approved facilities handling fish products is not always met due to human resource constraints. A new risk assessment system will ensure risk-based official controls at primary production from 2022. In response to the findings, Croatian officials said training will be undertaken for inspectors covering food safety criteria and taking measures to prevent recurrence of microbiological contamination, acting on RASFF notifications and changing the risk of a facility to a higher category. - Food Safety News Demand drives export of Mexican pork to US during first four months of 2022 Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that the demand for Mexican pork in the United States remained on the rise during the first four months of 2022, which caused exports to this destination to increase. According to information from the Mexican Pork Producers Organization (Opormex), during the first fifteen weeks of this year, Mexican pork exports reached 14,624 tonnes, which represents an average growth of 0.85% per week compared to last year when the average growth was 0.27%. With this rebound, the Mexican pork sector has displaced its Danish counterpart, which now ranks third as an exporter to the US, with the sales of 14,000 tonnes in the same period. Opormex highlighted that the sanitary status of Mexican livestock allows for more markets to open to local pig farmers, who sell more than 250,000 tonnes of products in countries such as Japan, the US, Singapore, Canada, South Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Chile and China, each year. - SENASICA Potential agri-projects between DLG and Uzbekistan discussed during ambassador's visit The Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Nabijon Kasimov, visited DLG's headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, late last month to discuss potential joint agricultural projects between Uzbekistan and the DLG (German Agricultural Society), including cooperation in the areas of training, transfer of expert knowledge, standardisation and certification, establishment of seed breeding, the development of agricultural machinery production and an educational center for Uzbek farmers. At the meeting, Kasimov emphasised the importance of the continued professionalising of animal husbandry and the development of aquaculture in Uzbekistan over the coming years. With its non-profit aim to promote and share know-how in these practical areas, DLG could be an important contributor of knowledge. In his presentation, the Uzbek ambassador underlined that the country not only is one of the most populous countries in Central Asia but also has a high percentage of young people. More than 60% of Uzbekistan's 34.6 million population are now under the age of 30. There are advantages to such a population structure, which comes with obligations on the part of the Uzbek government to create new jobs and train young people. Agriculture and agribusiness are expected to play important roles in this regard. With a share of 27% of the gross domestic product (GDP), Uzbek agriculture plays an important role in the overall economy. Over a quarter of the workforce is engaged in agriculture, with the majority active on small farms run as a side business consisting of small livestock herds, producing milk, meat, eggs and wool, primarily for private consumption. Over the past five years, the Uzbek government has initiated reforms designed to transform agriculture from state to private structures. The aim is to professionalise animal husbandry through the use of modern genetics and production methods. A part of that strategy has been the introduction of value chains that are mapped in logical cluster systems. In the livestock sector, for example, a meat and dairy cluster was launched in the Jizzax province in 2019, applying modern genetics, production methods and a consistent feed system. However, given local natural conditions and the scarcity of water, this poses enormous challenges. Against the background of water scarcity in Uzbek farming, Kasimov expressed an interest in visiting DLG's International Crop production center in Bernburg, a 600-hectare site conducting long-term irrigation trials among others. Uncontrolled water consumption, especially with cotton cultivation during the Soviet period, led to an ecological disaster in the Aral Sea basin. The ambassador reported that up until a few decades ago, the former port city of Muinak was located on a peninsula at the southern end of the Aral Sea. Today, the shore is about 80km away from the city and many fish processing plants have been shut down. The Uzbek government is now looking at ways to develop aquaculture in the country to provide raw material for fish processing. Meanwhile, Uzbek delegates agreed that trade fairs like EuroTier, which focuses on methods for livestock and aquaculture production, provide an excellent platform for information and the exchange of experiences. DLG currently actively supports agricultural exhibitions in Uzbekistan. The company's subsidiary, IFW Expo Heidelberg GmbH, is part of the UzFood and Uzbekistan Agrotech Expo exhibitions, organising both the participation of German companies and technical events together with professional partners. At the UzFood trade fair held in Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, DLG's Competence Center Food supported the conference held on March 29. - DLG By Zhongsheng As the instigator of the current predicament, the US is obligated to take practical measures instead of the ongoing wrong policy of extreme pressure, actively respond to Iran's legitimate and reasonable concerns, and facilitate the early resolution of outstanding issues. Since April 2021, the parties to the Iranian nuclear agreement have engaged in intensive diplomatic negotiations with the US to resume the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). After more than a year of unremitting efforts, all parties have reached an agreement on resuming the implementation of the most part of the JCPOA. However, just as the negotiations were about to be completed, some outstanding issues stalled the process. The world is watching closely what the US will do to achieve the policy goal of returning to the JCPOA. Maintaining and implementing the JCPOA is the effective way to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program and maintain peace and stability in the Middle East. Regrettably, driven by unilateralism, the previous US administration unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018 and exerted extreme pressure on Iran. The US brought the agreement to the brink of collapse and placed itself on the opposite side of the international community. Recognizing the failure of the previous administration's policy towards Iran, the current US government now seeks to return to the JCPOA. Against this background, the parties to the JCPOA have launched intensive negotiations with the US. However, instead of fully considering certain legitimate and reasonable requests made by Iran, the US imposed more sanctions on Iran during the negotiations and threatened to formulate an "alternative plan" to the JCPOA. This makes people wonder whether the US really has the sincerity and the decision-making courage to return to the JCPOA? Or the US is still sticking to the old path of sanctions and pressure? As the world knows, one of the main outstanding issues in the current Iranian nuclear negotiations is Iran's request to remove the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from the US list of "foreign terrorist organizations". The IRGC is Iran's national defense power, but listed as a terrorist organization by the US. It is hard to believe the US has the willingness to give up the wrong policy of extreme pressure on Iran, if it keeps IRGC on the list. Likely, if US lacks the ability the handle its domestic politic pressure over this topic, even its ability to return to JCPOA needs to be questioned. At present, the negotiations are still deadlocked, and the prospects are still unpredictable. As the instigator of the current predicament, the United States is obligated to take practical measures instead of the ongoing wrong policy of extreme pressure, actively respond to Iran's legitimate and reasonable concerns, and facilitate the early resolution of outstanding issues. It must win the trust from the international community with firm actions. China has no selfish interests on the Iranian nuclear issue and has never taken sides. The fundamental starting point of China's handling of the Iranian nuclear issue is to firmly uphold the JCPOA and multilateralism, safeguard the authority of the UN Security Council and the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and maintain peace and security in the Middle East. China has put forward a global security initiative and emphasized that it insists on peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation. China supports all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful resolution of crises, opposes double standards, and opposes the abuse of unilateral sanctions and "long-arm jurisdiction". No matter how the international situation changes, China will always stand on the right side of history, firmly advance the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, firmly safeguard multilateralism and the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and make contributions to maintaining world peace and stability. Cavendish wins Stage 3 of the Giro d'Italia Manx cyclist Mark Cavendish out-sprinted the peloton to claim victory in the third stage of the Giro d'Italia in Hungary. He hit the front with 300-metres to go and held off a number of challengers to take a stage win in the race for the 16th time in his career. It marks yet more British success at the event, after Simon Yates was victorious in the time trial. South African television personality Connie Ferguson, who was in the country for the last three days, has said she has started discussing with some local filmmakers on collaborations on future projects. The Queen who left yesterday afternoon, promised to return and spend more days with her fans. She left soon after she finished her last programme on her itinerary, a Zumba session which was held in the morning. On Friday, she was welcomed with a dinner at Meikles Hotel, which was hosted by business mogul and philanthropist Zodwa Mkandla and her Zodwa Mkandla Foundation. The glitz and glam event which ran under the theme black tie, attracted the who is who in Harare from business personnel to celebrities, musicians and fellow actors. Representatives from the office of the First Lady Dr Auxilia Mnangagwa, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa and chairperson of the First Ladys Angel of Hope Foundation and TelOne boss Chipo Mutasa were also part of the VIP guest list. On Saturday, Ferguson took part at the Women in Business summit held at The Venue in Avondale. Speaking at the dinner reception on Friday, Ferguson, who was clad in a gleaming black dress, spotting her signature hairdo, said she was happy with the news that some local filmmakers wanted to work with her. I have already started talking to some of the filmmakers I have been introduced to, who are doing great things, she said. I am sure you have seen we are now trying to go regional, bridge the gap involving other countries. You might have seen our production The Queen and Kings of Joburg, we are now working on season 2, and were hoping Zimbabwe will be part of this initiative of going regional. I have already said business is business, but arts and culture brings people together. Business and politics are beginning to recognise that, so I think we should put ourselves more so that we are used more by the business and political side. She said Zimbabweans were a welcoming lot, while the country was a land of great opportunities, especially in the film and television sector. Ferguson said she was chuffed by the response she got from Zimbabweans. Well, this is amazing and I am delighted, she said. Zimbabwe is so amazing. This is my first time in this country. Its like an hour and some minutes from Johannesburg. But I think it just shows how we can be so close and yet so far apart. This is something that we need to change. I would like to say thank you Zimbabweans for taking that step, inviting me here and the love I have received since stepping on your soil has been overwhelming. There is so much Ubuntu. Ferguson said she was pleased by Minister Mutsvangwas strength, courage, gesture, love and dedication. I admired that lady, she said. Oh wow, I dont know about you, but as I was seated here watching the minister welcoming me, it was so loving. I was all in her presence, stature and swag; style sense. She has so much swag and I was talking to Sibo about that. She is approachable, and adorable. A strong woman, she and I share the same story. We both lost our loved ones (referring to the recent death of Minister Mutsvangwas granddaughter Nonica in a car accident). Even in your grief, you can celebrate me. I am touched. Thank you so much. Giving her remarks at the dinner, Minister Mutsvangwa said Fergusons visit carried the double significance of celebrating show business and the arts, and also the contribution of female artistes and business persons who have excelled over the years in both Zimbabwe and South Africa. We are gathered at this magnificent dinner, held in Fergusons honour and you will undoubtedly find, we are warm, hard-working and hospitable people, she said. Minister Mutsvangwa said Ferguson was more than welcome in Zimbabwe for business opportunities. May I also take this moment to let you know that you are in our hearts, and our nation mourns with you and your family on the loss of your husband, the beloved Shona Ferguson, she said. As we do so, we celebrate his life and legacy with you. We are delighted as a nation to finally host you in our country, having been entertained and mesmerised by the world you brought to life on our screens and beyond. Indeed, you became family long before you stepped foot in Zimbabwe. Your visit has coincided with our drive to liberalise the airwaves, in order to enhance the quality of our programming. To date, we have licensed six commercial television channels, two of which are already on air, while a third is on the verge of going on air. As we do so, we seek to draw inspiration and expertise from persons like you, who have been in the television production business for a while now. Minister Mutsvangwa said Fergusons visit had been punctuated with moments of interaction with local producers, especially female producers, so that they glean one or two lessons. I am also pleased that we are celebrating a woman of the stature of Ferguson on the eve of Mothers Day, she said. She has sent the message that for women, it is okay to be strong, affirmative and brave. You have inspired many across the globe and you continue to challenge women in all spheres that women can do it too. Minister Mutsvangwa acknowledged that Ferguson was a powerhouse, and greatly beloved in her country and beyond, and she represented values which inspired many and uphold a work ethic all should aspire to reach. Chronicle Lincoln College says it will close this week in the wake of a ransomware attack that took months to resolve. While the impact of COVID-19 severely impacted activities such as recruitment and fundraising, the cyberattack seems to have been the tipping point for the Illinois institution. The college has informed the Illinois Department of Higher Education and Higher Learning Commission that it will permanently close as of May 13th. As NBC News notes, it's the first US college or university to shut down in part because of a ransomware attack. Lincoln says it had "record-breaking student enrollment" in fall 2019. However, the pandemic caused a sizable fall in enrollment with some students opting to defer college or take a leave of absence. The college one of only a few rural schools to qualify as a predominantly Black institution under the Department of Education said those affected its financial standing. Last December, Lincoln was hit by a cyberattack, which "thwarted admissions activities and hindered access to all institutional data, creating an unclear picture of fall 2022 enrollment. All systems required for recruitment, retention and fundraising efforts were inoperable," the college said in a statement posted on its homepage . "Fortunately, no personal identifying information was exposed. Once fully restored in March 2022, the projections displayed significant enrollment shortfalls, requiring a transformational donation or partnership to sustain Lincoln College beyond the current semester." Barring a last-minute respite, the one-two punch of the pandemic and a cyberattack have brought an end to a 157-year-old institution. Lincoln says it will help students who aren't graduating this semester transfer to another college. Valmet Oyj's press release May 9, 2022 at 4:45 p.m. EEST HELSINKI, May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The impact evaluation of a fire that broke out on Saturday May 7 at Valmet's Rautpohja factory site in Jyvaskyla, Finland, is ongoing. The fire, which started at a workshop during a roll test and caused minor injuries to one employee, was fully extinguished over the weekend. The official investigations by the authorities are ongoing at the factory site. The majority of machine workshops at the Rautpohja factory site are unimpacted. Valmet is planning to continue production later this week in these unimpacted machine workshop areas. Additionally, Engineering, Foundry, Service Center and Pilot machine operations are continuing normally. Impacted machine workshop areas include parts of roll manufacturing and preassembly, and these areas are temporarily closed. This affects temporarily the work of approximately 120 employees, which is around 5 percent of the total number of employees at the Rautpohja site. The impact assessment of the fire to the business continuity and customer deliveries has been started, and the final outcome will be known once the official investigations have been concluded and the full scale of the incident is clear. "I want to thank our people at the site for professional actions right after the fire broke. The impact evaluation of the fire is now ongoing, and we continue to support our employees and customers during this time. Optional alternatives for impacted operations will be implemented, if needed. We have several alternative units and partners available, out of which many operate locally. Alternatives in Scandinavia, Europe and globally are being evaluated, too," says Jari Vahapesola, President, Paper business line, Valmet.Valmet's Rautpohja factory in Jyvaskyla produces paper and board machines, pulp drying machine wet ends and special components. Valmet employs approximately 1,850 people at the Rautpohja site. VALMETCorporate Communications For further information, please contact: Jari Vahapesola, President, Paper business line, Valmet, tel. +358 40 558 6555 Valmet is a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. With our automation systems and flow control solutions we serve an even wider base of process industries.We aim to become the global champion in serving our customers. Our 17,000 professionals work close to our customers and are committed to improving our customers' performance every day.The company has over 220 years of industrial history and a strong track record in continuous improvement and renewal. In 2022, a major milestone was achieved when the flow control company Neles was merged into Valmet. The combined company's net sales in 2021 was approximately EUR 4.5 billion based on the respective company figures.Valmet's shares are listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki and the head office is in Espoo, Finland. Follow us on valmet.com | Twitter | Twitter (IR) | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Processing of personal data This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/valmet-oyj/r/impact-evaluation-of-the-fire-at-valmet-s-rautpohja-factory-site-in-jyvaskyla--finland--ongoing,c3563406 STOCKHOLM, May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The shareholders of Minesto AB, reg. no. 556719-4914 ("Minesto" or the "Company"), are hereby given notice to attend the Annual General Meeting to be held on Wednesday, 8 June 20223:00 p.m. at Dockyard Hotel at the address Skeppet Arans Vag 23 in Goteborg. The entrance opens and the registration starts at 2:30 p.m. Please note: This press release is a translation of the press release in Swedish that was published on 9 May 2022. In the event of any inconsistency between the English and the Swedish versions, the latter shall prevail. The board of directors has decided, pursuant to Chapter 7, Section 4 a of the Swedish Companies Act and the company's articles of association, that shareholders shall have the right to exercise their voting rights by postal voting. Consequently, shareholders may choose to exercise their voting rights at the annual general meeting by attending in person, through a proxy or by postal voting. Vote at the annual general meeting Any shareholder wishing to participate at the Annual General Meeting must: i. be entered in the share register kept by Euroclear Sweden AB as per Monday, 30 May 2022, and, if the shares are registered with a nominee, request that the nominee register the voting rights no later than Wednesday, 1 June 2022, and ii. have registered their intention to participate in the Annual General Meeting to the Company under the heading "Registration of personal participation or participation by proxy", alternatively provide a postal vote according to the instructions under the heading "Postal voting" in such time that the postal vote is received by the Company no later than 1 June 2022. Registration for personal participation or participation by proxy Shareholders wishing to attend the Annual General Meeting in person or by proxy shall notify the Company no later than 1 June 2022, either: i. by digital form on the Company's website, www.minesto.com, or ii. by post to Minesto AB, J A Wettergrens Gata 14, 421 30 Vastra Frolunda (mark the envelope "Annual General Meeting 2022"). The notification shall include name or company name, personal identification number or corporate registration number, address, telephone number as well as, where applicable, the number of assistants (maximum two). Anyone who does not wish to attend in person and or exercise their voting right by postal vote may exercise their right at the Annual General Meeting by proxy with a written, signed and dated power of attorney. If the power of attorney has been issued by a legal entity, a copy of the registration certificate or equivalent document of authorisation for the legal entity must be attached. To facilitate access to the Annual General Meeting powers of attorney, registration certificates and other authorisation documents should be received by the Company at the address Minesto AB, J A Wettergrens Gata 14, 421 30 Vastra Frolunda (mark the envelope "Annual General Meeting 2022") well in advance of the Annual General Meeting and preferably no later than Wednesday, 1 June 2022. Please note that the notification of participation at the Annual General Meeting shall take place even if a shareholder wishes to exercise its rights at the Annual General Meeting by proxy. Submission of power of attorney shall not constitute a valid notification to the Annual General Meeting. A power of attorney form is available on the Company's website, www.minesto.com. Nominee registered shares In order to be entitled to participate at the Annual General Meeting (registration of postal vote), shareholders who have caused their shares to be registered with a nominee must request that they be temporarily registered in their own name in the shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Sweden AB. The shareholder should provide notice to the nominee thereof in due time so that entry in the share register has taken place on 1 June 2022. Postal voting Shareholders who wish to exercise their voting right at the Annual General Meeting by voting in advance by digital postal vote must use a digital form, which will be available on the Company's website, www.minesto.com. The voting form must be completed and submitted to postrosta.se no later than 1 June 2022. Submission of the voting form will count as a notice to the Annual General Meeting. If the shareholder is a legal entity, the form must include the registration certificate or other authorisation documents. Power of attorney forms for shareholders who wish to vote in advance by proxy are available on the Company's website. Shareholders may not affix the postal vote with specific instructions or conditions. If such occurs, the postal vote is invalid. Additional instructions and conditions are stated on the form. Business Proposed agenda : 1. Opening of the meeting, 2. Election of chairperson of the meeting, 3. Preparation and approval of the voting register, 4. Election of one or two persons to verify the minutes; 5. Determination of whether the Annual General Meeting has been duly convened, 6. Approval of the agenda, 7. Presentation of the annual report and the auditor's report for the Company and the group, 8. Resolutions regarding: a. adoption of the income statement and balance sheet for the Company and the group, b. allocation of the Company's profit or loss according to the adopted balance sheet, c. discharge from liability for the directors and the CEO, i. Jonas Millqvist (director). ii. Bengt Adolfsson (director), iii. Goran Linder (director), iv. Git Sturesjo Adolfsson (director), v. Martin Edlund (director and CEO), vi. Andreas Gunnarsson (deputy director), 9. Resolution regarding determination of the number of directors and deputy directors and the number of auditors, 10. Resolution regarding determination of the fees payable to the directors and the auditors, 11. Election of the Board of Directors, i. Jonas Millqvist (chairman), ii. Bengt Adolfsson (director), iii. Goran Linder (director), iv. Git Sturesjo Adolfsson (director), v. Martin Edlund (director), vi. Andreas Gunnarsson (deputy director). 12. Election of auditor, 13. Resolution regarding principles for the nomination committee, 14. Resolution regarding adoption of guideline for compensation to senior executives, 15. Resolution regarding authorization of the Board of Directors to issue shares and/or warrants and/or convertibles, 16. Resolution regarding adjustment authorization, 17. Closing of the meeting. Nomination committee In accordance with the principles adopted by last year's Annual General Meeting, the nomination committee is composed of three directors, whereof two directors are appointed by the Company's largest shareholder as per 30 September 2021, and one director who has been convening. The nomination committee appoints a chairman from amongst its members. The nomination committee has consisted of Git Sturesjo Adolfsson (appointed by BGA Invest AB), Goran Linder (appointed by Corespring New Technology AB) and Bengt Adolfsson (appointed chairman. The chairman of the nomination committee has been Git Sturesjo Adolfsson. Proposed resolutions by the nomination committee 2. Election of chairperson of the meeting The nomination committee proposes lawyer Eric Ehrencrona or, in the event of an impediment, the person appointed by the nomination committee to be elected as the chair of the Annual General Meeting. 9. Resolution regarding determination of the number of directors and deputy directors The nomination committee proposes that the number of directors for the period until the next Annual General Meeting is five and that one deputy director shall be appointed. 10. Resolution regarding determination of the fees payable to the directors and the auditors The nomination committee proposes that the fee per director elected shall be distributed as follows (the same price base amount level as last year): annual fee of four price base amounts to the chairman of the Board of Directors and annual fee of two price base amounts to directors not employed by the Company. The price-base amount per 2022 shall be applied upon resolution under this item. If the meeting resolves according to the nomination committee's proposal as regards the composition of the Board of Directors, the total fee will amount to ten price base amounts. It is proposed that no fee shall be paid to the board of director's remuneration committee respectively auditors committee since these are made up of members of the board of director. It is proposed that fees be paid to the auditor according to invoice approved by the Company. 11. Election of the Board of Directors The nomination committee proposes re-election of directors of the board Bengt Adolfsson, Martin Edlund, Goran Linder, Jonas Millqvist and Git Sturesjo Adolfsson. Andreas Gunnarsson is proposed to be re-elected as deputy director. The nomination committee proposes re-election of Jonas Millqvist as chairman of the Board of Directors. The proposed composition of the Board of Directors of the Company complies with the corporate governance code regarding independence. All directors except Martin Edlund are independent in relation to the Company and the company management. Jonas Millqvist and Martin Edlund are independent in relation to the Company's major shareholders. 12. Election of auditor The nomination committee proposes re-election of Ernst & Young AB (EY) as auditor of the Company. EY has informed that in the event it is re-elected, Andreas Mast will continue in his capacity as principal auditor. 13. Resolution regarding adoption of principles for the nomination committee It is proposed that the Company shall have a nominations committee consisting of three persons in accordance with last year's principles according to the following. Each of the Company's two largest shareholders in terms of voting power as of 30 September 2022 shall each have the right to appoint a member of the nomination committee. In addition, the nomination committee shall consist of the chairman of the Board of Directors who shall convene the first meeting. The nominations committee appoints the chairman of the committee. The nomination committee shall submit proposals to the 2023 Annual General Meeting for: a) election of chairman of the Annual General Meeting, b) resolution regarding number of board members, c) resolution regarding compensation to the chairman of the Board of Directors and each of the other directors d) election of board members, e) election of chairman of the board, f) resolution regarding remuneration to auditor, g) election of auditor, h) resolution regarding principles for appointing the nomination committee and i) resolution regarding principles for the nomination committee.. If any of the two members of the nomination committee appointed by the two largest shareholders by voting power resign from the nomination committee prior to completion of its work, the shareholder appointing the resigning member shall have the right to appoint a new member. In case any of the two largest shareholders by voting power sells all, not only a portion, of its shares in the Company prior to the nomination committee completing its work, instead of such shareholder the third largest shareholder shall have the right to appoint a new member etc. Fees shall not be paid to members of the nomination committee. Upon request of the nomination committee, the Company shall, however, provide personnel resources to facilitate the work of the nomination committee, such as, for example, a secretary. If necessary, the Company shall also pay for other reasonable costs necessary for the work of the nomination committee. Proposed resolutions by the Board of Directors 3. Preparation and approval of the voting register The voting list, which is proposed for approval under item 3 of the agenda is the voting list that has been prepared by the chairman, based on the annual general meeting share register and advance votes received, and which has been verified by the adjusters. 8 b. Resolution on allocation of the Company's results according to the adopted balance sheet The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting resolves that the Company's results be allocated according to the Board of Directors' proposal in the annual report. The Board of Directors accordingly proposes that no dividend be paid for the financial year 2021. 14. Resolution regarding adoption of guidelines for compensation to senior executives Compensation to senior management Senior executives in the Company refer to the CEO and other members of the management group. The remuneration committee, which consists of the Board of Directors excluding the CEO, prepares the issue of adoption of guidelines for compensation and other terms of employment for senior executives, and proposes them to the board of directors. The Board of Directors proposes the following guidelines for the determination of salaries and other compensation to senior management. For the purpose of ensuring that the Company is able to recruit and retain qualified senior executives, the fundamental principle is that the senior executives must be offered employment terms and compensation on market terms. Salaries and other benefits: Compensation to the senior executives shall be comprised of a fixed salary and pension. The fixed salaries are normally reviewed on a calendar year basis. In addition to fixed salary, a variable salary may be implemented under the pre-requisite that the variable part never exceeds 25 percent of the yearly salary. In addition, senior management shall be entitled to customary non-monetary benefits such as, company cars and occupational healthcare. Other benefits may also be offered on an individual basis. Pension: Senior executives shall be offered pension terms that include a defined plan for provisions with premiums based on the entire basic salary. The pension provisions are individual and shall be in relation to the basic salary. Notice of termination period and severance pay: The notice period shall be a maximum of six months, if the Company gives the notice and a maximum of six months if the notice is given on the initiative of the senior executive. In the event of termination by the Company, severance pay may, in addition be paid in an amount corresponding to a maximum of six monthly salaries. Incentive program: Resolution regarding share and share price-related incentive programs directed to senior executives shall be made by the Annual General Meeting. Remuneration Committee: The remuneration committee, i.e. the board excluding the CEO, shall prepare issues regarding compensation principles, compensation and other terms of employment for senior executives. The more detailed principles for salary setting, pensions and other benefits shall be found in the salary policy established by the Remuneration Committee regarding senior executives. Deviations in individual cases: The Board of Directors shall be entitled to deviate from these guidelines where there is special cause for such an individual case. Compensation to Board of Directors Compensation to the Board of Directors is determined by the Annual General Meeting based on proposals from the nomination committee. However, the Board of Directors is entitled, in specific cases, to commission an individual director to perform consultancy services on behalf of the Company within their respective areas of competence. Directors elected by the Annual General Meeting shall, in these specific cases, be eligible to receive fees for services, which do not constitute board work. With respect to the services, a fee on market terms will be payable, which must be approved by the Board of Directors. This shall also be applicable if the work is carried out through a company wholly or partially owned by a board member. These guidelines correspond to the guidelines approved by the Annual General Meeting 2021. 15. Resolution regarding authorization of the Board of Directors to issue shares and/or warrants and/or convertibles The Board of Directors proposes that the Annual General Meeting authorizes the Board of Directors to resolve, on one or several occasions, on issue of shares and/or warrants and/or convertibles during the time until the next Annual General Meeting for payment in cash and/or with terms regarding set-off or issue in kind or otherwise with terms and thereby deviate from the preferential right of the shareholders. The issues shall be done to a marketable issue price determined by the Board of Directors in consultation with the company's financial advisers, taking into consideration any marketable issue-discount. The number of shares that could be issued, or the number of shares that could be subscribed for through warrants, or the number of shares that convertibles could be converted into shall amount to a total maximum of 15 295 000 new shares representing a dilution amounting to approximately ten per cent. The purpose of the authorization and the reason to deviate from the preferential right of the shareholders is that issues shall be possible for financing the company's business, commercialisation and development of the company's products and markets and/or acquisition of businesses, companies or parts of companies and/or enable a broadening of the owner base of the Company. The approval by the Annual General Meeting of this proposal in accordance with the above is valid only if supported by shareholders representing at least 2/3 of both the votes cast and the votes represented at the meeting. 16. Resolution regarding adjustment authorization The Board of Directors, the CEO or the person appointed by the Board of Directors shall be authorized to make such minor amendments and clarifications of the resolution by the Annual General Meeting that may prove necessary in connection with registration of the resolutions. Number of shares and votes At the time of this notice, the total number of shares and votes in the Company amounts to 137 655 143. The Company holds no treasury shares. Shareholders' right to request information The board of directors and the CEO shall, if requested by any of the shareholders and the board of directors deem that it will not essentially damage the company, provide information regarding circumstances that can have an effect on the assessment of an item on the agenda, circumstances that can have an effect on the assessment of the company's financial situation. The disclosure obligation also refers to the Company's relationship with other Group company and the consolidated accounts as well as such matters regarding Group companies as referred to above. Annual report and other documents Accounting documents, auditors' report and other documents to be considered at the Annual General Meeting will be available at the Company's office at J A Wettergrens Gata 14, 421 30 Vastra Frolunda, and on the Company's website, www.minesto.com, no later than three weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting. Processing of personal data For information on how your personal data is processed please refer to the integrity policy available on Euroclear's website: https://www.euroclear.com/dam/ESw/Legal/Integritetspolicy-bolagsstammor-svenska.pdf. Goteborg in May 2022 Minesto AB The Board of Directors CONTACT: For additional information, please contact Cecilia Sernhage, Communications Manager+46 31 29 00 60ir@minesto.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/minesto-ab/r/notice-to-attend-the-annual-general-meeting-of-minesto-ab,c3563520 The following files are available for download: The major agreement will help secure critical diagnostic supplies in the United States and better serve Premix's global customers GASTONIA, N.C. and HELSINKI, May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Defense, working with the Department of Health and Human Services, awarded a $79.9 million contract to Premix, Inc. to establish a plastic compound manufacturing plant in North Carolina. The facility will primarily produce plastic materials for diagnostic testing. The facility will be built in Gaston County, centrally located in the growing region of advanced manufacturing in the southeast U.S. and is planned to be operational by September 2025. "Our hard work in building resilient supply chains, high product quality and consistency pays off as the U.S. government awarded Premix the deal to build a local manufacturing site," says Hanna Ristola, Managing Director of Premix Group. Family-owned Finnish-based Premix Group is a market leader and global forerunner in electrically conductive plastics. During the COVID-19 pandemic Premix ensured global PRC tests by securing the availability of the electrically conductive plastic resin that is used to manufacture pipette tips. The new state-of-the-art facility will produce plastic compounds primarily suitable for pipette tips to meet the growing demand and stringent quality requirements for diagnostic testing. The increased production capacity will result in material for pipette tips enabling more than 200 million COVID-19 PCR tests monthly. "The new capacity will improve Premix's global supply capability and mitigate risks in global supply chains," says Jari-Matti Mehto, President and CEO of Premix, Inc. "With the new U.S. factory, we will improve our ability to serve our customers in the important U.S. market." Premix's customers in North America will enjoy local production and services, ensuring faster delivery speed and high reliability. Current and future customers elsewhere in the world will benefit from Premix's ability to deliver high-quality materials from two different continents. When fully operational, the facilities will employ about 30-35 people in Gaston County, North Carolina, as well as support additional jobs with service providers and subcontractors both during the construction and while operational. Some recruitment has already begun. "We are extremely excited about this opportunity to help secure a supply of critical diagnostic materials in the United States," says Mehto. "Our solutions meet strict standards for quality and cost-efficiency and provide valuable benefits to our new and existing customers. Premix, Inc. is a U.S. company and subsidiary of Premix Oy, a 40+ -year-old Finnish company. The agreement was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act to enable and support U.S. domestic industrial base expansion for critical medical resources. It is a result of a strong working relationship between Premix and federal, state, and local authorities and economic development organizations in the United States. About Premix Premix is a market leader and global forerunner in electrically conductive plastics. Our tailored material solutions benefit industries such as automotive, electronics, diagnostics, and health & wellbeing. We are a family-owned business who believe in keeping our promises, appreciating our partners, and working with inspiration and passion for a better future. www.premixgroup.com Images: www.kuvat.fi/Y2PHAG9EQW For more information: Hanna RistolaManaging Director, Premix Group+358 50 545 9787Hanna.ristola@premixgroup.com Jari-Matti MehtoPresident & CEO, Premix, Inc.+358 50 361 0328jari-matti.mehto@premixgroup.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/premix-group/r/premix-signs--79-9-million-contract-for-a-new-production-facility-in-the-u-s-,c3562924 The following files are available for download: New investors with a successful track record in digital oncology support German Digital Therapeutics (DTx) company Fosanis to broaden patient access of Mika an app-based DTx platform empowering people affected by cancer. BERLIN, LAUSANNE,Switzerland, BARCELONA,Spain and MUNICH, May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Berlin-based digital health company Fosanis, the developer of Mika, Germany's first prescription DTx for all oncological indications, closed a series A funding round of more than 10 million EUR. Besides existing shareholders such as Ananda Impact Ventures, three new investors joined in the latest financing round: lead investor Swiss company Debiopharm Innovation Fund, Ship2B Ventures from Spain and venture capital firm Equity Pitcher. As digital therapeutics gain momentum on a worldwide scale, Germany has pioneered the digital therapeutics regulation. Mika has emerged as the leading oncological DTx platform in Germany in recent years proving its value to cancer patients and the healthcare system in clinical trials. The personalised platform delivers evidence-based digital interventions with a view to supporting cancer patients in coping with the challenges of the disease and treatment process. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 19.3 million people are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. "Cancer knows no boundaries. Helping people affected by cancer shouldn't either", says Mika Founder and Managing Director Dr Jan Simon Raue. "We have developed Mika to bring back some of the control when guidance and support is most needed: from diagnosis all the way through the therapy process. Our mission is to empower everyone affected by cancer. Knowing that every cancer patient is a human being with individual needs, Mika provides personalised and comprehensive cancer therapy support, combining the latest insights in cancer research with 24/7 hands-on help wrapped up in an easy-to-handle and engaging digital tool." The capital raised in this series A round will support Mika's expansion into international terrain. While Fosanis reveals its plan to enter the UK healthcare ecosystem still in 2022, it also wants to partner with renowned international cancer research centres to conduct even more studies on the medical impact of AI-driven personalisation in digital interventions. Mika Co-Founder and Managing DirectorDr Gandolf Finke: "The importance of digital health and digital therapeutics in particular is growing globally. This financing round marks an important milestone in our company history, allowing us to scale our oncology DTx platform and position our offerings internationally. We welcome our new investors on board and look forward to working closely with them to take Mika to new heights." Debiopharm is an experienced investor in the digital health domain with a special focus on cancer. Tanja Dowe, CEO of Debiopharm Innovation Fund: "We are convinced that digital solutions can fill many critical gaps in healthcare and, especially with regards to cancer therapy support, provide tremendous relief for patients and attending physicians alike. Mika promotes patient empowerment and enables those affected to cope with their disease and therapy, independent of time and location. For this very reason, we do not only think of ourselves as mere investors, but we also support the company in strategy and execution and are proud to accompany Mika's further growth." Ship2B, based in Barcelona, invests primarily in start-ups that have the potential to make a worthwhile and lasting contribution to the world. Impact, i.e., the aspiration to make a real change, is at the forefront of their thinking, as Maite Fibla, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Ship2B, points out: "We are proud to contribute to the internationalization of Mika, which means being able to improve the quality of life of many more cancer patients. Not only does its mission meet our parameters of what an impact start-up should be, but we have felt fully committed to it. It seems especially significant to us to think that, thanks to what was achieved in the round, there may be the possibility of giving Spain, among other countries, this innovative proposal in oncological therapies." Andrea Buhofer, Partner at EquityPitcher Ventures, moreover highlights the growing importance of patient-centric solutions in integrative digital oncology: "Personalized, digital and accessible support in cancer therapy is becoming increasingly important. Mika has developed an extremely user-friendly application with in-demand content, and we are very pleased to have been able to support Mika in continuing to grow and make therapy support available to more people." Alongside the new investors, current shareholders contributed to the funding round, led by impact VC Ananda Impact Ventures and several business angels who had already joined Mika's mission in a previous seed investment round. Dr Bernd Klosterkemper, Partner at Ananda Impact Ventures, explains: "We are a home for entrepreneurs who tackle the pressing challenges of our time in a scalable way. From the very beginning, Mika has been aspiring to create a positive impact on the well-being and quality of life of cancer patients. As its meaningful vision deeply resonates with our ambition to back game-changing and purpose-driven solutions, we are very much looking forward to cementing ties and helping Mika achieve global impact." About Fosanis Founded in 2017 by Dr Gandolf Finke and Dr Jan Simon Raue, the digital health company Fosanis GmbH pursues the objective of empowering people affected by cancer with the aid of digital technology. To this end, Fosanis GmbH has developed the AI-powered DTx Mika in collaboration with leading oncological research institutions and cancer centres such as the University of Leipzig Medical Center and Charite Berlin. An app-based platform with clinically proven efficacy, Mika became the first and hitherto only 'digital health application' (DiGA) approved for all cancer patients in 2021. Mika is a personalised digital therapeutic (DTx) platform in oncology. Accompanying people affected by cancer over the course of their disease and therapy, Mika combines AI-powered monitoring and coaching, including scientifically tested methods and therapy management techniques. Daily check-ups so-called ePROs = electronic patient-reported outcomes allow continuous tracking of distress levels and symptoms, while a personalised coaching programme provides scientifically validated multi-media elements and psychooncological interventions. These include over 800 rigorously validated articles, videos and coping skills training courses ranging from nutrition recommendations to physical exercise training and mindfulness coaching. Fosanis is based in Berlin and employs more than 40 people. Further information can be found on www.mitmika.de and www.mikahealth.com About Debiopharm Innovation Fund Debiopharm develops, manufactures and invests in innovative therapies and technologies that respond to high unmet medical needs in oncology and bacterial infections. Debiopharm Innovation Fund aims to provide strategic funding and guidance for companies with Smart Data & Digital Health solutions with the ambition to change the way drugs are developed and the way patients are treated. Our growing portfolio company achievements include 18 FDA clearances or CE marks and 2 IPOs along with 3 successful exits from mergers & acquisitions. Since 2018 Debiopharm has invested over USD 150 million, leading the investment rounds of 22 of the past 30 investments. For more information, please visit www.debiopharm.com About Ship2B Ventures Ship2B Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in the best impact startups. As impact investors they seek to generate triple profitability: economic, social and environmental. Ship2B Ventures combine the best of the venture capital world with the impact world, maximizing the financial profitability of their investments with a clear intention to generate, manage and measure their impact. Currently, the investment team has managed 60 million and has participated in more than 25 investment rounds. Qida, Psious, CodeOp or Rosita Longevity are startups invested by Ship2B Ventures. For more information, please visit www.ship2bventures.com About EquityPitcher Ventures EquityPitcher is an early-growth Venture Capital firm that supports promising startups from the DACH region. Through close cooperation with renowned industry experts, investors and exit partners, we pave the way for entrepreneurs to attain the three decisive success factors: capital, know-how and network. For more information, please visit www.equitypitcher.com About Ananda Ventures Ananda Impact Ventures is the leading impact venture capital fund with a Europe-wide investment mandate. Ananda manages 180 million in four core impact funds and is backed by renowned institutional and private investors. Ananda funds technology companies that address the most pressing social and environmental challenges of our time in a scalable and sustainable way. Its active portfolio includes IESO Digital Health (online psychotherapy), Klim (regenerative agriculture) and Ororatech (which uses satellite technology to fight forest fires). For more information on Ananda Impact Ventures, please visit www.ananda.vc Note to the Editor: If desired, we will gladly connect you with company founders Dr Gandolf Finke and Dr Jan Simon Raue. Press contact MikaThe Medical NetworkE-Mail: mika@themedicalnetwork.deTel. 040 32 90 47 38 99 Tony Liberto, the owner and president of a San Antonio-based snack food and nacho cheese empire, is selling his $1.2 million Shavano Park home. Liberto, who heads Ricos Products Co. Inc., recently listed the 3,500-square-foot home he owns with his wife, Catherine. You might also like: $4.2 million Boerne mansion owned by parents of former Miss San Antonio is for sale Located on one of the the most beautiful streets in Shavano Park, on one of the best lots, this home only has one true neighbor and backs to a greenbelt, wrote listing agent Chad Hughes of ERA Colonial Real Estate. Liberto is the fourth-generation family member to helm Ricos. In the early 1900s, Rosario Liberto, a Sicilian immigrant, came to America and founded Liberto Specialty Co., where he would sell spices, oils and other goods imported from Italy. The company grew through the early decades of the 20th century, eventually becoming a snack supply company, and Ricos Products was born. Josie Norris/Staff Photographer The food company sprouted in San Antonio and has since ushered in an era of concession food snacks synonymous with packed stadiums and shows. In the mid-1970s, the company began selling the first concession nachos at a Texas Rangers game. Tony Liberto is Rosarios great-grandson. He took over as company president in 2006 and was shortly after named the companys CEO. Catherine and Liberto have lived in their four-bedroom and three-and-a-half-bathroom home since 2008, property records show. The home features an open floor plan, a wet bar and a downstairs game room, according to the listing. Theres also a chefs kitchen with designer appliances. The primary suite has private access to the backyard. timothy.fanning@express-news.net NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images A national TikTok trend in which individuals use toy guns to randomly shoot unsuspecting bystanders has prompted the Cibolo Police Department to issue a warning: You could be arrested if you use a splat gun on another person, the police department said Monday on Facebook. The police department said residents have been shot by splat guns, a toy air gun that shoots a gel projectile. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TEHRAN, Iran (AP) Irans president said Monday the country is exporting twice as much oil as when he took office in August, despite heavy sanctions on oil exports imposed by the U.S. Ebrahim Raisi made the claim in a live interview on state-run TV without elaborating, including on the amount of oil being exported. Oil sales have doubled," he said. We are not worried about oil sales. Raisis remarks came as international markets are seeking alternatives to Russian crude following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and ensuing Western sanctions. Iran's crude, with a similar composition to Russia's grade, compete in the oil market. As a result of the war and supply concerns, oil prices have surged to multi-year highs. International benchmark Brent crude nearly touched $140 in March, increasing the challenge of enforcing sanctions. Brent was trading over $105 a barrel on Monday. The oil windfall has been a boon to Iran's public finances. Iran says it's now selling billions of dollars more crude than previously despite the American sanctions. The Central Bank of Iran issued statistics at the start of February suggesting it made $18.6 billion in oil sales in the first half of this Persian year, as opposed to $8.5 billion the same period last year, according to the state-run IRAN newspaper. Much of that oil is believed to be heading to China. Venezuela also has received Iranian tankers at its ports. Javad Owji, Irans oil minister, told local media in April that the countrys oil exports had surged by 40% since Raisi took office. Four years ago, then-President Donald Trump withdrew America from Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and imposed sweeping sanctions on Iran, including against its oil sector the lifeline of its economy. Irans crude exports plummeted and international oil companies scrapped deals with Tehran, weakening its economy. The nuclear deal saw Tehran drastically limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions including those targeting its crucial oil sales. Negotiations in Vienna on restoring the tattered deal nearly reached completion in early March but talks stalled. Negotiators have yet to reconvene in the Austrian capital. The European Union's coordinator for the talks is expected in Tehran later this week in a last-ditch effort to break the deadlock. Iran has made the sanctions-hit oil industry a core issue in the negotiations with the aim of reaching the point where Iranian oil is sold easily and without any barriers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate As voters cast ballots Saturday in Northside Independent School Districts bond election, Gov. Greg Abbott was retweeting allegations that district employees were pressured to vote for the bond. The district said it had already clarified miscommunication by a principal more than a week earlier. The bond proposal passed, giving Northside the green light to secure $992 million in funding with long-term debt. In his tweet, Abbott said he spoke to Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath about what appeared to be emails from an unnamed Northside principal to school staff and that Morath confirms that IF these posts are verified, then it is likely a crime. The Education Commissioner will work with the Attorney Generals Office to investigate and, if appropriate, prosecute this matter, Abbott continued. Northside released a statement Monday acknowledging that the principal whom it also did not name cant tell employees how to vote and said this was conveyed in a clarification 10 days after he sent the emails. On ExpressNews.com: As growth slows, San Antonios biggest school district focuses on renovation in latest bond proposal The allegations repeated by Abbott were first tweeted by Corey DeAngelis, who is the national director of research at the American Federation for Children, the executive director at the Educational Freedom Institute and an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute. DeAngelis tweet also sent on election day shows screenshots of the principals email, thanking staff for supporting the bond and stating that the districts superintendent, Brian Woods, found it unacceptable that only 7 percent of the school districts employees voted in the last bond election, which was in 2018. The principals name and that of the school, an elementary campus, are redacted. As per Dr. Woods, all employees will be expected to vote for this years bond, the email says. Northsides spokesman, Barry Perez, said the screenshots of the principals newsletter appeared authentic, though he said he had not confirmed it. School districts cant use their own resources for political advertising, including a communication that advocates passage or defeat of a measure, according to Section 255.003 of the Texas Election Code. A district can distribute materials that are informational and that do not support or oppose the passage of a measure or a candidates nomination. Northsides statement said Woods outlined the goal of increasing voter participation among all district staff during a meeting April 14. The principals April 18 miscommunication was brought to the districts attention April 28, and the principal immediately clarified it to his staff, the statement said. The messaging provided to district staff was solely intended to encourage the goal of increasing staff participation in the voting process. This messaging was never intended to be coercive, and immediate measures were taken to clarify and correct any messaging that may have been misrepresented, misinterpreted or miscommunicated. The district is confident that it adhered to all legal requirements and guidelines in facilitating and conducting school district elections, including our recent school bond election, the statement said. Asked about the analysis of how many school district employees voted in its 2018 bond election, Perez said the district uses publicly available voter information and hires an outside consultant for surveys and other analysis. The districts statement said it uses common practices and strategies to analyze and gauge voter engagement always with the intent to educate and inform our stakeholders and to encourage voter participation. A Texas Education Agency spokesman confirmed that the matter is under review at this time. The Texas attorney generals office did not respond to a request for comment. Northsides statement said district staff were in communication with bond lawyers to ensure all legal requirements had been met throughout the process, including ethics presentations on the bond to all district leaders. Northside ISD has a long history of school bond elections and has always conducted these ethically, legally and with transparency. danya.perez@express-news.net | @DanyaPH PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has buckled under pressure and has revoked the ban on private public transporters. This comes after his decision to have Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) as the sole public transporter badly backfired. Zupco has been enjoying monopoly in the transport sector since 2020 after the government gazetted Statutory Instrument 83 of 2020 putting a blanket ban on commuter omnibuses on the pretext of enhancing Corona virus lockdown measures. In a hastily prepared speech to counter todays purported , Mnangagwa said the government would introduce a law allowing private operators to operate and import public transport vehicles duty free. Government is proceeding to open up the public transport system for other players in order to complement the services being provided by Zupco, in line with the reduction in COVID-19 cases and the subsequent opening up of the economy, Mnangagwa said. To complement the above measures, the government will allow for the duty-free importation for a period of 12 months for vehicles which meet regulations to be issued. The liberalisation of the public transport system shall be done under terms and conditions to be published by the government, he added. Zimbabwe Passenger Association president Tafadzwa Goliati welcomed the move saying the Zupco monopoly was inconveniencing the commuting public. The move was long overdue. We thank the President for finally seeing the light. Passengers were waiting for more than two hours in the queue and productive hours were being lost. The economy has since opened up and transport is an integral part of the economy. There is a need for adequate transport for everyone, Goliati said. Describing the Zupco monopoly as unsustainable the Zimbabwe Union of Drivers and Conductors president Frederick Maguramhinga said: Zupco has no capacity to service all routes that is why the transport crisis has reached a tipping point. With the opening up of its monopoly; transport challenges will be a thing of the past. Newsday This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW BRAUNFELS He was an unconventional Texas politician who found something much bigger than elective office after losing his last statewide race. Bob Krueger had three main acts in an improbable life vice provost and dean at Duke University, two-term Texas congressman representing a huge district and diplomat who lived dangerously as the U.S. ambassador to war-torn Burundi. There were other acts for Krueger, who died April 30 of congestive heart failure at 86. He repeatedly ran for a U.S. Senate seat but when he finally got one held it only briefly. He served as President Jimmy Carters ambassador-at-large to Mexico, chaired the Texas Railroad Commission, was ambassador to Botswana and was special U.S. representative to the 14-nation Southern African Development Community. Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News Oxford-educated, quoting Shakespeare on the campaign trail, cerebral but not flamboyant, Krueger claimed the eroding center of a Texas Democratic Party that spent the 1980s divided by its liberal and conservative wings and steadily losing ground to a newly ascendant GOP. If your definition of rennaissance man is its modern sense of a broad person who has literary and scholarly abilities that find their way into everyday life, that was Krueger, said Henry Cisneros, the former San Antonio mayor and U.S. housing secretary. He might have been one of the great public figures of our time. He had the intellect, he had the public values, he had the knowledge and he had the ability to conduct public discourse at the highest level, and in some sense we didnt get the full impact of those attributes because of the way the politics worked out, Cisneros said. Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News Born and raised in New Braunfels, Krueger retired to the home on the Guadalupe River where he grew up. He regularly prayed and meditated but kept those spiritual habits known only to his inner circle. He was an academic at heart and a diplomat by nature, if thats not contradictory, said his wife, Kathleen Tobin Krueger, 63. He brought an element of calm and gravitas to every situation, whether it was at home or at the world stage. He was a deep thinker and probably happiest sitting in a chair reading a book. Krueger quit his academic career at Duke to win a U.S. House seat, seemingly out of nowhere, in 1974. Colleagues voted him most effective of the 92 freshmen representatives elected that year. Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News He lost all three Senate races he ran. The first was a narrow 1978 defeat to incumbent Republican John Tower. In the last, he was ousted by Kay Bailey Hutchison in 1993 as an incumbent himself, appointed by Gov. Ann Richards the year before. Starting in 1994, the 16 months Krueger spent as President Bill Clintons envoy to Burundi as it fell into a brutal ethnic conflict were the most fulfilling of his life, he later said. That included an assassination attempt by gunmen who ambushed a convoy of vehicles. I have given thanks to God many times since, that I lost that Senate election, Krueger told the San Antonio Express-News in 2018. Because what I learned in Burundi was, I could risk my life for other people and it was not a big deal. As word of his death spread, old foes praised Kruegers contributions. Hutchison released a statement citing his distinguished record of public service that included difficult diplomatic positions, including U.S. ambassador to Burundi during a civil conflict where his life was often in danger. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff laughed as he looked back on his unexpected Democratic primary loss to Krueger despite being the odds-on favorite to win that 1974 House race. A lot of people knew Krueger was a smart guy but were dead wrong in believing he wasnt capable of connecting with voters, Wolff said. I think he was good at retail (politics). Women loved him, he said. Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News On ExpressNews.com: Bob Krueger reflects on the mercurial nature of politics By all indications, Krueger was destined for a standout life in academia. He had a bachelors degree in English from Southern Methodist University, earned his masters at Duke in one year and spent much of the next four years at Oxford University in England, getting a Ph.D. in philosophy. At 25, Krueger was back in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., teaching English at Duke. He became dean of undergraduate studies, then vice provost, in only a decade. There was no hint that anything could uproot him from a life in higher education and he would return regularly, with stints at the University of Texas at Austin and at Rice, Texas State and Texas Tech. But in 1973, the Watergate scandal focused him on politics. His hometown was at the eastern edge of Texas 21st Congressional District, which ran all the way to San Angelo and El Paso. Roughly half its voters lived in northern Bexar County. He very much understood the impact of Watergate on his election that year and that people were hungry for integrity in government, Kathleen Krueger said. Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News An early poll showed Wolff, then a state senator, favored by 63 percent and just 2 percent backing Krueger. Bill White, a young campaign worker who was a legislative aide during Kruegers first term in the House and much later, the mayor of Houston said Krueger had a natural warmth and interest in others. One thing that surprised people throughout his political career is how somebody who did not have a Texas accent, who had been a dean at an Eastern university, could have such good rapport with ranchers and roughnecks and folks who had grown up in the Texas countryside, said White, 67. Years later, Krueger recalled that he wanted to communicate without being filtered by his staff. I told them at the start, nobody tells me what to say and nobody writes anything for me, Krueger told the Express-News. I speak from my heart and I write my own stuff, and youve got to decide how to make it palatable. Almost a half-century later, his campaign manager at the time doesnt recall Krueger saying that. But Garry Mauro, a future Texas land commissioner who was then 25, never forgot the candidate telling him he didnt want to interrupt his daily meditation routine. The first time I met Bob Krueger we were talking about his schedule and he said, Well, you know, one day a week I spend the whole day meditating and getting all my values in place, and every morning I get up and meditate for two hours, said Mauro, 74, of Austin. So I said, Bob, if youre going to get elected to the United States Congress, you can forget about taking a full day off for meditating. Youre going to have to do that while youre driving in a car somewhere between San Angelo and Iraan, Mauro said. And if you want to meditate a couple of hours every morning, youre going to have to get up at 5 oclock. Krueger defeated Wolff by several points, won the seat and was re-elected two years later. Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News His long-term impact with me was he gave me absolute confidence in decision making. He never second-guessed any decision I ever made, Mauro said. I got elected to statewide office when I was 33. If I hadnt worked for Bob Krueger, that would have never happened. As a candidate, Krueger had language skills that made the seamy world of politics seem cultured in the sense of the great literary traditions in American politics, the great orators, the people who can speak on their feet and lay out an eloquent argument, using the kings English, Cisneros said. He had all those abilities. Krueger used those skills without success in statewide races for the Senate in 1978, when he lost to Tower, and again in 1984, when his partys nomination ultimately went to state Sen. Lloyd Doggett of Austin, who lost to a Republican congressman, Phil Gramm. Krueger got only five hours of sleep per day in the 1984 campaign, said Richard Pena Raymond, then a 22-year-old campaign aide and now a state representative. It was grueling, said Raymond, D-Laredo. In the first few months, we might have traveled five days a week. Then probably in the last five months, it was every day. In 1990, Krueger was elected to the Railroad Commission, then tapped by Richards to replace U.S. Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, who joined the Clinton administration as treasury secretary in 1993. The special election six months later, when he lost by a huge margin to Hutchison, was Kruegers last. Faith was central to Kruegers life, but so was a genteel, thoughtful nature that buoyed others. I know he prayed every day, White said. I used to teach Sunday school. We would talk about Scripture, and he would quote it as well as anyone. He considered faith to be a personal thing. And you lived your faith, and thats the way you witnessed, rather than people who use Christianity as some kind of partisan political brand. Krueger had three grown children. He started his family in middle age, White noted, because he was always concerned whether he could do a good job both being a good husband and working all the time. He was also a classic old-school gentleman. I never heard him curse, I never heard him shout, White said. Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News Raymond, who became Kruegers chief of staff at the Railroad Commission, repeatedly used the word decent to describe his old boss. The two stayed in touch over the years and occasionally spoke about Raymonds son, Aren, who died of a heart attack when he was only 23, afflicted by Type 1 diabetes. He said, You know, youve got to let him go, said Raymond, 61. Hes ready to go and youve got to let him go, and you think about the times you had and the things you did with him. And youll see him again. Phil Hardberger, a lawyer and former Air Force pilot, had flown Krueger across West Texas for campaign events in 1974, but Kruegers endorsement of his opponent in a state Senate race in 1978 had ruptured their friendship. Their reconciliation was instantaneous when, decades later, the future San Antonio mayor attended a function that featured Krueger. We had not really talked in a long time, and I decided, you dont want to spend the rest of your life harboring a grudge, said Hardberger, 87. There was this little receiving line. We were face to face for the first time in around 20 years and I was astonished. He started crying. The two hugged on the spot. Josie Norris / San Antonio Express-News Scott DeLisi, a former U.S. ambassador to Uganda, Eritrea and Nepal who worked for Krueger in Botswana, said Krueger had the most finely tuned moral compass of any man that I worked with in over four decades of public service. He was open to new ideas, he was open to new possibilities, but throughout it all Bob knew who he was, what he believed in and why it mattered, added DeLisi, 69, of Haymarket, Va. At a memorial service Thursday at Oakwood Church in New Braunfels, he called Krueger incredibly rich in everything that mattered. He was rich in love, in family, and friends and community, DeLisi said. sigc@express-news.net A Mothers Day call about a stolen flower bouquet led to reuniting a missing Bexar County dog with its owner. On Sunday, Lytle police were called to the H-E-B in that town in response to a thief fleeing with a $15 floral arrangement. While officers investigated, they noted that the perpetrator left a Shih Tzu in a shopping cart. And after animal control was called, they saw the dog was chipped and learned that it had been missing from a Bexar County home for two years. On ExpressNews.com: Trying before stealing: Texas man videoed using lawnmower on victims yard before taking it The pooch, which was returned to its original owner, didnt find himself in the doghouse, as Police Chief Rich Priest joked that police couldnt prove he was in on the theft. Hopefully, the dog hasnt been on a two-year crime spree and picked up bad habits, Priest said. As for the stolen flowers, the police chief offered another bit of humor. Nothing says I love you mom like stolen flowers, Priest said. taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway A San Antonio campaign employee accused of interfering as an elderly woman filled out her absentee ballot had rows of gift bags that matched the one she gave the woman, according to arrest warrants. Raquel Rodriguez was arrested on Jan. 13, 2021 and charged with four felonies, including election fraud and illegal voting, by the state attorney general's office. She was released from the Kendall County Jail, northwest of San Antonio, the following day on bonds totaling $60,000. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office began investigating Rodriguez after Project Veritas, a conservative activist group, released a heavily edited video purporting to show her helping an elderly woman fill out her ballot and discussing unlawful voter influence tactics. READ MORE: Attorney for San Antonio woman accused of election fraud raises questions about arrest A sergeant with the attorney general's office reviewed the raw Project Veritas footage and interviewed the undercover activists who recorded it, according to arrest warrants signed by Kendall County District Judge Kirsten Cohoon. The warrants state that Rodriguez, who did political jobs for several candidates, agreed in exchange for $500 on Oct. 8, 2020 to take a person posing as a prospective client to watch how she obtains votes for her candidates. The pair visit a home north of downtown San Antonio, where Rodriguez appears to help a 72-year-old woman change her vote on her mail ballot from U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a Republican, to Democratic challenger MJ Hegar. The woman was one of a dozen people in the area Rodriguez said she assisted in voting. Rodriguez brought the woman a gift bag containing a shawl that was adorned with a portrait of Mauro Garza, the Republican challenger to U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro. Rodriguez said she worked for Garza and had rows of similar generic gift bags in her home office, the warrants state. "I could go to prison for what I just did," Rodriguez allegedly says after leaving with the woman's ballot and carrier envelope. Investigators found the woman's carrier envelope at the Bexar County Election's Office in December. There was no oath of assistance or assistant's name on the envelope as required by law, according to the warrants. Attorneys for Rodriguez, including former Bexar County District Attorney Nicholas "Nico" LaHood, filed a writ of habeas corpus on Jan. 29 asking a judge to void the warrants and release Rodriguez from her bonds and pretrial release conditions. The affidavits the attorney general's office used to apply for the arrest warrants "contained false and misleading statements and failed to inform the Court of material facts," Rodriguez's attorneys wrote. A hearing on the writ is set for March 9. Rodriguez has been charged with four counts: illegal voting, election fraud, unlawfully possessing an official ballot, and unlawfully assisting voter voting ballot by mail. Two of the charges were enhanced because the victim was over 65 years old. The affidavit for election fraud notes the offense is enhanced to a felony when the victim is 65 years of age or older provided the individual is not closely related to or living with the victim at the time of the offense. The sergeant wrote that the undercover footage and a report by an analyst showed no familial relationship between Rodriguez and the woman casting a ballot in the video. LaHood rejected that claim Tuesday, saying that Rodriguez is the biological niece of the woman. Rodriguez's attorneys do not anticipate the state contesting that the pair are related, he said. A man was living rent-free and paid $500 to watch over an immigrant stash house that was dismantled Thursday, according to federal agents. Theyre still working to identify the ringleaders. Court records allege Abel Perez Gonzalez had been taking care of loads of undocumented immigrants at the home in the 11400 block of Briggs in the southwest part of the county. He is charged with harboring undocumented immigrants and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said deputies had been investigating an increase in crime in the area Thursday when they detained a car leaving the home with three passengers a man and two teenage girls. The driver, identified by authorities as Christopher Abrego, 24, fled on foot, leaving behind the three passengers. Deputies called in agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and they all went to knock at the front door of the house. Officers discovered 35 more immigrants inside, and Perez agreed to talk, according to court records. Bexar County Sheriff Perez told an ICE agent he had been living rent-free for two months in exchange for watching over groups of immigrants, according to the records. Perez said a human smuggling organization paid him $500 to watch over about 38 immigrants at the time and three previous groups, the records state. Three stolen four-wheel-drive vehicles found in a garage on the property were used to smuggle immigrants from the border to the stash house, according to Perez. All of the immigrants were identified as citizens of Mexico. Two were kept as witnesses, and the rest were placed in deportation proceedings. Perez had his initial appearance in federal court Friday and was held pending a bail hearing on Wednesday. Bexar County Sheriff The sheriffs office also arrested Agustina Jean Cabrera, 50, of Atascosa. She had gone to the area to pick up Abrego, the driver who had fled from the first vehicle, Salazar said. Authorities were still searching for Abrego, who has pending warrants, Sunday. Salazar said Cabrera was wanted on arrest warrants in connection with a tiger found in inhumane conditions during last years February freeze. The tiger is now at a wildlife sanctuary in North Texas. It was the second immigrant stash house found in the same rural area, which has seen an uptick in immigrant traffic since at least January. Deputies dismantled the other stash house on Briggs Road in mid-February. guillermo.contreras@express-news.net | Twitter: @gmaninfedland OMAHA -- Forensic anthropologists at Offutt Air Force Base have identified the remains of a missing World War II pilot who earned the Medal of Honor for his role in a spectacular 1943 raid on German oil refineries in Ploesti, Romania. DNA samples from relatives of Lt. Col. Addison Baker matched bones buried for decades at a U.S. military cemetery in Belgium, in a grave marked unknown, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced recently. Baker, 36, of Akron, Ohio, piloted Hells Wench, the lead aircraft in a wave of 32 B-24D Liberators from the 93rd Bomb Group that flew at treetop level to attack the oil complex known as Hitlers Gas Station deep in enemy-held territory. One hundred seventy-eight of the twin-tailed B-24 Liberators took off from a rustic desert airstrip near Benghazi, Libya, early on the morning of Aug. 1, 1943. Fifty-four crashed, were shot down, or failed to return, 22 of them near Ploesti. Of the 1,763 airmen who took off, 310 were killed, and 190 were taken prisoner. Historians called the raid Black Sunday. A survivor described it as being dragged through the mouth of Hell, according to Ploesti historian Duane Schultz. Eighty crewmen could not be identified, even after the war. Baker was the most senior, and the most decorated, among the unknowns until the Armed Forces DNA Lab in Dover, Delaware, confirmed his identity April 8. My heart flipped over. I was sort of stunned, said George Baker, 82, of Cary, North Carolina, whose father was Addison Bakers first cousin. Heres this one of many brave airmen, who happened to be my relative. Theyre finally being properly identified. Since 2017, the accounting agency has been exhuming 88 graves marked unknown that are associated with the Ploesti raid from the Ardennes and Henri-Chapelle American cemeteries in Belgium. Caskets have now been disinterred from all but two of the graves and shipped to the accounting agencys Offutt laboratory, said Megan Ingvoldstad, the forensic anthropologist in charge of the Ploesti project. The two remaining caskets are expected to arrive sometime this summer. She and her team have individually catalogued more than 6,000 bones and bone fragments. Its kind of like a giant jigsaw puzzle, she said. If I want to create an individual, I have to do a lot of assembly first. Their work has been aided by CoRA (short for Commingled Remains Analytics), a computer program developed by students from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. CoRA analyzes the characteristics of individual bones and groups those that are mostly likely to belong to the same person. It can sometimes be hard to extract DNA from bones as old as these, but Ingvoldstad said the Ploesti remains have yielded useful DNA samples. And DPAA has received family reference samples from relatives of all but five missing Ploesti airmen. Addison Baker was the 17th identified so far, she said. Ten more have been tentatively IDd, pending final approvals and family notifications. The DPAA anthropologists often know little or nothing about the people they are tasked with identifying. But Ingvoldstad said she recently read Schultzs 2007 Ploesti book Into the Fire and knew about Addison Bakers prominent and heroic role. Most of the time, were working in the blind, Ingvoldstad said. When we have a personal element putting a face to a name thats been really interesting. Addison Baker was born in Chicago in 1907 and moved to Akron, Ohio, as a youth when his father took a job with the BFGoodrich tire company. He joined the Army in 1929 and earned his pilots wings two years later. Baker served in the Ohio National Guard during the 1930s while operating a filling station in Detroit. He enjoyed racing Model T Fords. He loved speed, George Baker said. My dad said he had a very adventurous spirit. Baker was called to active duty in November 1940 and trained as a B-24D Liberator pilot. He was assigned to the 93rd Bomb Group, where he served as a squadron commander, then as the groups operations officer. Thats how he came to be in the pilots seat of Hells Wench, alongside Maj. John Jerstad, leading the wave of 93rd Liberators who called themselves the Flying Circus. They were trailing another wave from the 376th Bomb Group, led by Col. Keith Compton who a quarter of a century later would cap his career at Offutt, as vice chief of staff for the Strategic Air Command. But Compton made a fateful navigational error as the Liberators approached Ploesti, turning toward the target 20 miles too soon. Because of enforced radio silence, no one could tell him of the mistake. Baker followed for a few minutes. But seeing smoke of the already burning oil complex off to his left, he veered toward the fire. The improvised route saved the attack but took the Flying Circus into a thicket of German anti-aircraft guns in the most heavily defended quadrant of the Ploesti complex. Dodging intense enemy fire and a gauntlet of barrage balloons, Baker and Jerstad aimed for the nearest refinery, Columbia Aquila. Bullets pierced their wing tanks, setting the plane on fire. A huge shell shattered the Plexiglas nose cone, killing the bombardier. Other pilots motioned for Baker to ditch in the farm fields and save his crew. But before the mission, Baker had briefed his men: Im going to take you to this one even if my plane falls apart. He did just that. Baker and Jerstad continued their beeline for the refinery. Moments after clearing the Columbia Aquilas twin smokestacks, the bomber climbed to 300 feet as crew members leaped from the blazing fuselage. Then the right wing collapsed, and Hells Wench plummeted into a railyard. It narrowly missed hitting another bomber called Queenie, piloted by Lt. Col. George Brown. Brown later became a four-star general and served in the mid-1970s as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Flames hid everything in the cockpit, Brown would say later, according to the website HomeofHeroes.com. Baker went down after he flew his ship to pieces to get us over the target. For all the airmen lost, the raid had little impact on German oil production. Most of the Ploesti refineries were soon operating again. Still, it was considered a qualified success, Christine Cohn, the chief historian for the Ploesti project, said in an article on DPAAs website. The units completed the mission objective, Cohn wrote. They bombed their targets and many did return safely. Yes, they lost a lot of men. Yes, they lost a lot of aircraft. But they learned much from the mission. Bakers men were in awe of his heroism. His co-pilot was awarded the Medal of Honor the nations highest award for valor within weeks. But Bakers award was held up for months, according to HomeofHeroes.com, while higher-ups debated whether he should be disqualified because of his decision to break formation and bomb a target of opportunity instead of following Compton on his mistaken route. Finally, on March 11, 1944, Bakers widow, Fran, was presented with the honor. The Medal of Honor citation praised his extraordinary flying skill, gallant leadership, and intrepidity. Romanian civilians gathered the broken remains of the men who died in the crash for burial in a local cemetery. They collected dog tags and turned them over to the International Red Cross so the men could be accounted for a move that nevertheless complicated efforts to identify the bodies after the war. Those still unidentified were reburied in Belgium, where they remained until 2017. DNA technology now offers the hope that many of them may be returned to descendants who may know these long-lost airmen only from faded photos and family stories. It really brings a personal touch to know that these remains are being identified, said Jim Root, president the 93rd Bomb Group Association. We still hear new stories all the time. Watch now: 'I needed this program' Lancaster County Veterans Treatment Court helps local veterans get back on track Final bell: Wahoo SS565 veterans reunite for last time Students restoring Vietnam-era chopper for memorial in Papillion Prince Charles's charity has started construction of a new agricultural school in Scotland to help bring fresh talent into the farming and rural sector. The multi-million-pound training centre, to be called The MacRobert Farming and Rural Skills Centre, will open its doors in summer 2023. Prince Charles joined representatives of the MacRobert Trust and education staff from the Prince's Foundation today (9 May) as construction on the site begins. The Prince's charity submitted design plans to East Ayrshire Council earlier this year, with the site on the grounds of Dumfries House Estate, near Cumnock. According to the educational charity, the school will aim to bring new entrants into the sector, specifically targeting those with no current connection to it. Lying adjacent to the estates commercial operation Home Farm, the facility will enable the Princes Foundation to host events and workshops for around 1,800 participants each year. This will include secondary school pupils, school leavers showing an interest in land-based jobs, and adult learners looking for new careers as well as farming and rural sector workers looking to upskill. Featuring two indoor teaching spaces including facilities for laboratory work and a working barn, the facility will provide students a chance to engage in real life scenarios in both day visits and residential courses. This will be complemented by an online offering to ensure a diverse range of participants are inspired to consider rural careers, and are provided with pathways to higher level qualifications. Iona Murray, rural skills coordinator for the Princes Foundation, said: The new Rural Skills Centre will enable us to further develop our short term intensive training programmes. And [it will] expand the opportunities to school leavers, adults looking to pursue new career routes, and those already working in the industry. "We have worked closely with those in the sector and other education providers to ensure our offering fills a much needed gap. "[We] look forward to building new partnerships with likeminded organisations over the coming years to place the facility at Dumfries House as an accessible rural skills hub and route into the industry The MacRobert Trust, a Scottish charity which funds building works across the country, said the new school would inspire the next generation to consider rural careers. Its CEO Chris Hockley said: Importantly, the development will also benefit those already working or training in the industry by offering upskilling and networking opportunities. It comes after Prince Charles recently opened Wales's first school for veterinary science at Aberystwyth University, where he was a former student himself. The Prince toured the new Veterinary Education Centre on 10 December 2021 and spoke to some of the first cohort of students who began in September. The Liberal Democrats have called for a 'rescue package' for farmers and rural businesses following years of a Conservative government. The party has today (9 May) demanded a new support package to be included in the upcoming Queen's Speech, taking place tomorrow. It follows a rural backlash against the Conservatives, as the party saw a loss of 500 council seats at the recent local elections. Farmers are increasingly concerned over the government's future agriculture policy, as many fear an undercutting of the UK's high-standards in food production. Industry groups are also worried over growing worker shortages, as well as increased red tape and delays at borders. The Liberal Democrats said the Queens Speech should address these, as well as other 'glaring issues' being faced by people living in the countryside. It calls on the government to introduce its proposed farming bill designed to protect farmers from being undercut by trade deals. This would include giving MPs a vote and final say on any free trade agreements signed. The party has also called for an emergency tax cut to address the cost of living crisis, slashing the top rate of VAT from 20% to 17.5%. Tim Farron, the party's spokesperson for rural affairs, said rural communities were 'fed up with being taken for granted'. "From Somerset to my own patch of Westmorland and Furness, people used the local elections to make that crystal clear. Boris Johnson must use the Queens Speech as an opportunity to tackle the pressing issues facing rural communities up and down the country. Farmers dont deserve to be undercut by damaging new trade deals and the slashing of farm payments." It comes after Stuart Roberts, former NFU deputy president, recently announced that he had joined the Liberal Democrats to help push the party's farming policy. Mr Roberts, who was previously a Conservative Councillor, said the Conservative government had "badly let down" farmers and rural communities. The large number of Single Application Forms (SAF) yet to be started or completed has raised concerns of a last-minute rush to submit them over the coming weekend. The number of Scottish farmers who have filled out their SAF ahead of the window closing on 16 May is lower than this time last year, figures show. The Scottish government's figures, provided to NFU Scotland, suggest that, as of week ending 6 May, more than 3,500 forms have yet to be started. The number of SAFs completed, at 9,200, was more than 500 fewer than at the same date in 2021. The Scottish government also indicated that 4,00 SAF forms were in a draft state so, although commenced, have yet to be completed. This year, for the first time, all SAF forms must be completed online. But the large number of forms yet to be started has raised concerns of a last-minute rush. Completion of a SAF is required to access important support schemes such as the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening, and the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme. NFU Scotland said the schemes available as part of SAF were critical to the financial wellbeing of Scottish agriculture injecting over 500m to the industry annually. With only a few days left, the union has welcomed the news that Scottish government has organised out of hours cover for IT related issues this weekend and after office hours cover on Monday 16 May until midnight. Farmers having issues affecting their browser, accessing the SAF site or account problems, are being told to contact the IT service desk on 0131 244 6202. However, any questions in relation to SAF 2022 guidance should be directed to local Agriculture and Rural Economy (ARE) offices during office hours. NFU Scotland Director of Policy, Jonnie Hall said: Support payments remain critically important to the viability of most Scottish farming and crofting businesses. "The importance of that support will be underlined this year and into next year as we see unprecedented rises in input costs and unpredictable volatility in prices. That is why it is so worrying that, with exactly a week to go, there is a significant number of SAF forms still to be started." Mr Hall added that there was also concern about the number of forms started but not completed. "We urge those with forms in a draft state to go on and complete their application at the earliest opportunity and ensure that it is properly submitted. Wales was the only UK nation that exceeded pre-Covid food and drink export levels last year, a new report by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) shows. Food and drink exports across the UK are slowly recovering from the challenges of the pandemic, the report, released on Monday (9 May), says. It shows that Scotland, Wales, the West Midlands and the North East of England had the strongest export growth, reflecting recovery from the supply chain problems caused by Covid. Overall, England was the worst performing nation during 2021. Food and drink exports totalled 10.2bn in 2021, down 9% from 2020, and 15% lower than in 2019. Englands biggest food and drink export category, beverages, was worth 2.3bn with sales up nearly 8% in 2021, but still down on pre-Covid sales from 2019. Most categories are down on pre-Covid levels during 2021. Vegetables and fruit had been hit hardest, with sales down nearly 36%. Ireland was the top destination for exports in England, buying nearly 15% of all exports, worth 1.5bn in 2021. However these sales are down a quarter since. The report says that Scotland now accounts for the largest share of UK food and drink exports, with almost 30% of total exports. This was worth 5.7bn, up 14.6% since 2020. France is Scotlands largest export partner, overtaking the United States, with exports now worth more than 1 billion. Scottish food and drink exports to China nearly doubled in 2021 to nearly 225 million, making up 4% of the nation's exports. However, Wales is the only UK nation to exceed pre-Covid export levels, driven by strong exports of cereals, up 173% since 2020, and now worth nearly 140m to the economy. Ireland is Wales largest export partner, with exports up 7% since 2020. Strong growth was seen in exports to France and Belgium, growing 42% and 163% respectively. The share of exports to non-EU markets is also increasing, with strong growth recorded in London as firms look to take advantage of the UK's new post-Brexit trade deals. However, the FDF says that more can be done to improve the implementation of the UK-EU trade agreement, to help companies recover exports in the EU. The FDF's chief executive Karen Betts said: Its very encouraging to see exports starting to recover across many parts of the UK, with companies starting to pull out of Covid-related disruption and adapting to the UKs new trading relationships. "Every product we export is rooted in our culture and our communities, and its great to see that our food and drink is sought out by consumers all over the world." The FDF says that Russias invasion of Ukraine is not factored into this report. THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has demanded proof of how it rigs elections, describing as bar talk allegations that it manipulates the results in favour of the ruling Zanu PF party. Addressing political parties attending a youth caucus peace-building meeting hosted by 4-H Zimbabwe Foundation in Harare yesterday, Zec spokesperson Jasper Mangwana said: If you want to say Zec has rigged elections or that something has not been done correctly, then we need substantive evidence. There is a provision of the Electoral Court in the Electoral Act where you should take all these matters. You as the political actors are the same people who are actually sending the voters away. Elections end with V11s; those other issues about favour and malpractices are just bar talk without proof. He added: If you have an issue with an electoral process, you are the people in Parliament, and if you have a problem with the law that you put into place, go back and sort it there in Parliament because Zec does not make laws, he said. The electoral body has been at the receiving end of salvos over how it has been presiding over the countrys elections, as well producing a flawed voters roll, vote rigging and militarisation of its secretariat, among other accusations. Mangwana also said Zec did not control the pre-electoral campaign environment. Its not an electoral provision for Zec to manage campaigns. We do not approve campaigns, we dont even talk about such issues; you drag us into the mud for nothing. Those are issues outside our mandate, he said. Mangwana blamed political party youths for causing voter apathy. There seems to be voter apathy among youths because you are the same people who want to be voted for. One day you go to your constituency and say vote for me, and the next day you say the election was rigged. Do you expect that young person to take you seriously? Do you really think that young person will go to a voter registration centre and say I have come to register to vote? Meanwhile, Zanu PF youths caused chaos at the event as they tried to stop opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) youths from making contributions during the meeting. 4-H Zimbabwe Foundation director John Muchenje urged youths affiliated to different political parties to promote peace and tolerance in the country. We need to continue having similar engagements with these parties, as an organisation. This was just a Harare engagement, but we are planning on similar engagements in other provinces, Muchenje said, adding that political intolerance and violence have taken centre stage in the countrys electoral processes. During the March 26 by-election campaign period, a CCC supporter Mboneni Ncube was killed in Kwekwe while attending a rally. There was also violence during the weekend by-elections in Chitungwiza, which resulted in several people being injured. Newsday Next Story : Celebrating The Art & Business Of Indian Hairdressing At IHA 2021 Image: ShutterstockRuskin Bond, one of the most popular fiction writers in India, recently said in an interview that reading has become a minority pastime. If this is true, whats with all those pictures that crop up on our Instagram feeds in which people are seen reading best-selling books in aesthetic-looking cafes while sipping on lattes? When you come to think of it, very few people actually read books these days. The hobby has been reduced to a symbol of status. The few who are voracious readers are visibly smarter and see improvement in every area of their life: career, relationships, health you name it! If you want to be among this creme de la creme, heres what you should do:Image:ShutterstockIn todays world of social media frenzy, people do a lot of things not because they genuinely enjoy them, but because they want to signal status. Reading books is one of them. With that intention, you will never be able to turn reading into a habit and put the knowledge to good use.Image:ShutterstockNaval Ravikant, one of the most revered thought leaders of our generation, recommends reading what you love until you love to read. By this he means that unless and until you dont follow your natural curiosity when it comes to picking books, you will never enjoy reading enough to sustain the habit.Image:ShutterstockWhen it comes to non-fiction, you dont have to read end to end. Sometimes, a book can be repetitive and, if youve got the point its trying to make, its all right to move on to another one. After all, youre reading to learn, not to prove that you read something till the end.Image:ShutterstockJust because content is presented in the form of a book, it doesnt necessarily make it smarter. Some books simply dont add value and its okay to put them down. Dont allow boredom to break your momentum. Eric Warner Eric Warner Spreading the message about the importance of bilingual abilities for professionals and social justice in an increasingly diverse workplace has been Eric Warners avocation. It is also central to his nomination and selection as Ferris State Universitys 2022 Distinguished Teacher Award recipient. Warner is an Associate Professor of Spanish and French in the Department of English, Literature, and World Languages. A teacher since 1999, he came to Ferris in 2009, focused on language and culture instruction as part of the Spanish for the Professions major in the Department of English, Literature and World Languages. Warner said the experiential learning in a Spanish for the Professions program l was the first such program for any Michigan university when it received approval for implementation from university leaders in 2014. I met with people in migrant communities, hearing that they would greatly benefit by receiving assistance from people with knowledge of social services, or persons familiar with business practices, who also had learned to effectively communicate in Spanish, Warner said. From our beginnings, the intentionality was to combine Spanish and intercultural competencies with students and industries for health care professions, business, and social services in practical applications of their chosen fields related to our diverse society, nationally and internationally. Warner said Spanish for the Professions is a program accommodating all interdisciplinary prospects in developing skills that begin in the classroom, later augmented by learning in off-campus experiences. We can provide in-state placements for these students to work with the Spanish-speaking community. Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, we have not been able to provide Study Abroad experiences or international internship placement, Warner said. Historically, we have had placements in Costa Rica, Peru, Spain and Ecuador, and in time will consider expanding that opportunity to other countries of high priority, such as Mexico. Our students make great gains, linguistically and inter-culturally, when they travel internationally and apply their learning to the experienc. There was significant momentum gained for our program before the pandemics onset in 2020. We hope to rebuild that when travel options are reestablished in 2023 for students. Warner said Costa Rica and Spain have traditionally served as a destination for students in Study Abroad programs, an opportunity he is anxious to restore to students beginning next year. I am co-director of this program that began well before I came to the university, Warner said. We have had success there, thanks partly to our students staying with host families, where they are immersed in the language and culture. It is our intention, expecting that travel restrictions are lifted by summer of next year, that we might return to an active Study Abroad program in that country. Warner has been an active campus contributor, serving on the Honors Admissions Committee and the Latinx Heritage Month Planning Committee, as advisory board member for the Center for [email protected] Studies, as a member of the International Education Senate Committee and serving as a team leader on a Strategic Planning and Resource Council (SPARC) subcommittee. Regionally, Warner collaborates with the Telamon Corporation, a private nonprofit that operates the Michigan Migrant Head Start program and National Farmworkers Jobs Program, serving thousands of farmworkers and their family members. Distinguished Teacher Award Past Recipients (since 2000) 2021 Patrick Bishop 2020 Lori Faulkner 2019 Tracey Busch 2018 Deborah Rockman 2017 John Scott Gray 2016 Sharon Colley 2014 Jennifer Johnson 2014 Gary Huey 2013 Avesh Raghunandan 2012 Clifton Franklund 2011 Greg Gogolin 2010 Richard Goosen 2009 Daniel Adsmond 2008 Khagendra Thapa 2007 Mary Murnik 2006 Pasquale Di Raddo 2005 Robert McCullough 2005 Fred Heck 2004 David Pilgrim 2003 Phillip Middleton 2003 David Hanna 2003 David Aiken 2002 Sheila MacEachron 2001 J. Randall Groves 2001 Abdollah Ferdowsi 2000 Richard J. Pisacreta 2000 Daniel Noren After the massive success of the 1975 cult film Sholay, Amjad Khan is hailed as one of the most popular villains in Indian cinema. In a recent interview, the late-actor Amjad Khans son opened up about how he was born the same day that the actor signed Sholay. He also revealed how his father did not have the money to discharge his mother Shaila Khan from the hospital. In an interview with the Times of India, Shadaab Khan was questioned if he could be considered his fathers lucky mascot. Shadaab revealed that even though he was born on the same day Amjad Khan signed the movie, the actor did not have the money to pay the hospital. He also shared that the film producer Chetan Anand gave him Rs. 400 to discharge his wife Shaila Khan. Shadaab Khan told the Times of India, "Yes, but he didn't have money to pay so that my mother could be discharged from the hospital I was born in. She started crying. My dad was not showing up at the hospital; he was ashamed to show his face. Chetan Anand, whose film Hindustan Ki Kasam he'd done then, happened to see my father holding his head in a corner. Chetan Anand saab gave him aAAA400 so that my mother and I could come home." He also added, "When the Sholay role of Gabbar Singh came to my father, Salim Khan saab recommended his name to Ramesh Sippy. The flight to Bangalore whose outskirts Ramgarh was the place where Sholay was supposed to be shot at, took off but there was so much turbulence that day that it had to land back 7 times. After that when it came to a halt on the runway, most people dropped out from the flight in fright but my dad did not. He was scared that if he didn't do the film, they would go back to Danny saab. So, after a few minutes, he took off in that same plane." Amjad Khan went on to play the iconic role of the villain Gabbar Singh in Sholay. The role earned him critical acclamation and accolades. The actor passed away in July 1992 at the age of 51, due to a heart attack. The actor had three children, Shadaab Khan, Ahlam Khan, and Seemaab Khan. Shadaab Khan is a Bollywood actor, writer, and film director. He has starred in movies such as Refugee, and Romeo Akbar Walter among others. Bollywoods style icon Sonam Kapoor Ahuja and her husband, businessman Anand Ahuja tied the knot on May 8 in 2018. The power couple recently celebrated their four years marriage anniversary. While Sonam took to her Instagram to share a photo dump with her husband, Anand shared a video from the early days of Sonam Kapoor's pregnancy. Sharing the pictures with Anand Ahuja, Sonam wrote, Happy happy Anniversary @anandahuja Ive always been an incurable romantic and believed in all the love stories ever written. Youve surpassed all expectations of what I dreamt and wished for. I thank the universe everyday that gave me the best man in the world! Love you the most, my baby. 6 years down and an eternity to go. #everydayphenomenal." Anand Ahuja also shared a video and captioned the post, Girlfriend 6 years, wife 4 years and as you can tell in this video, her early days of mom-to-be this year! Happy anniversary my #everydayphenomenal @sonamkapoor." The businessman shared another post where the two can be seen sharing an embrace in their London house. He captioned the post, "..the most giving, selfless, generous person in the world. Only kindness and wholeness in your soul. @sonamkapoor you inspire me everyday. Happy anniversary my #EverydayPhenomenal." Replying to the post, Sonam wrote Always and forever and every lifetime.. my soulmate." Their friends from the industry headed to the comments section to congratulate the couple. Sonams mother Sunita Kapoor, Shanaya Kapoor, Shibani Dandekar, Swara Bhaskar among the ones who sent warm wishes to the couple. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonam Kapoor Ahuja (@sonamkapoor) Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. SEB Bank has provided a long-term 20 million euro loan for financing the office complex Kauno Dokas developed by the investment company Capitalica Baltic Real Estate Fund I. This is the first green real estate loan to be granted for business in the Baltic States, which complies with all objectives laid down in the SEB Green Bond Framework. "Real estate is one of the most energy-consuming sectors, therefore, its impact on the environment is extremely important. We believe that the office market not only in the capital city but also in Kaunas - the fourth city in the Baltic States with the largest population - is gaining more recognition among professional investors. Business center Kauno Dokas, which paid much attention to sustainability solutions and obtained the international standard's BREEAM In-Use Excellence certificate, has met the highest criteria of the Bank's Green Bond Framework. This funding indicates a mature real estate market, competitive corporate values and efforts of responsible business to create a long-term value," says Vilius Juzikis, Member of the Management Board and Head of the Corporate Banking Division at SEB Bank. In 2008, SEB Group together with the World Bank, in response to an increasing need for investors to assign their funds to business projects mitigating climate change, has developed a concept of green bonds. In 2017, SEB issued its first 500 million euro value green bonds, whereas in 2022 a new issue of bonds amounting to 1 billion euros was released. The funds raised are invested in projects of diverse business sectors having a huge impact on sustainability. "Sustainability is the core principle of our activities, which we have been following since the early beginning of our operation, and where our investments are made. Financing provided by the SEB Bank will help to guarantee further adherence to this strategy. It is of great importance not only for us as a business center manager, but also for its tenants, and fund investors. Sustainability-led office criteria become one of the mandatory conditions for companies when selecting future premises. And this is not only an innovative approach towards the environment care but also effective cost management," states Andrius Barstys, CEO of Capitalica Asset Management. Office complex Kauno Dokas located on the bank of the River Neris has - for the first time in the Baltic States - an installed economical and environmentally friendly conditioning system that uses river water. All areas of this building are designed in the way to get plenty of natural daylight, whereas raised floor provides flexibility in planning the location of office equipment and managing the distribution of electric energy sources. The Capitalica Baltic Real Estate Fund I, a real estate fund managed by the SBA Group company Capitalica Asset Management, ended the year 2021 with EUR 5.09 million consolidated turnover and managed assets worth EUR 92.23 million. Its controlling shares (70%) belong to one of the largest Lithuanian capital business groups SBA, and 30% of the shares belong to Mr. Barstys' company Fox Holdings. SEB is a leading northern European financial services group. In Sweden and the Baltic countries, SEB offers financial advice and a wide range of financial services. In Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany and the United Kingdom, the bank's operations have a strong focus on corporate and investment banking based on a full-service offering to corporate and institutional clients. The international nature of SEB business is reflected in its presence in more than 20 countries worldwide, with around 15,000 employees. More information: Andrius Barstys CEO of "Capitalica Asset Management" Andrius.Barstys@capitalica.lt +370 612 30260 Agne Danaite Communication and Marketing Project Manager of SEB Bank agne.danaite@seb.lt +370 659 79912 High demand for epoxy resins by painters to get certain colors by blending pigments is expected to boost the global epoxy resins market Continuous growth in the usage of epoxy resins in the aviation industry is likely to benefit the global epoxy resins market. Epoxy resins have a strong mechanical strength as well as resistance to temperature extremes. ALBANY, N.Y., May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The worth of global epoxy resins market stood at US$ 10.5 Bn in 2020. The global market is anticipated to rise at a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period, from 2021 to 2031. The global epoxy resins market is anticipated to attain the valuation of US$ 21.87 Bn by 2031. The rapidly expanding AEC or architecture, engineering, and construction industry is providing value-added prospects for players in the global epoxy resins market. In comparison with normal cement, innovative epoxy resin compositions provide several benefits. Epoxy resins are utilized in the paint industry and provide a durable protective coating on substrates, whilst allowing paints to settle rapidly. As such, companies are also expected to boost their output of epoxy resins. Adhesives, coatings, paints, as well as other epoxy resin-integrated items are pretty much ubiquitous in all end-use sectors, including electronics, consumer goods, and wind energy; thus, companies are optimistic about higher company profits. The extremely competitive nature of the global epoxy resins market, on the other hand, compels producers to hunt for a differentiating element to set themselves apart. As a result, firms are engaging in mergers & acquisitions activities in order to improve their growth potential in sustainable coating resins. Get PDF Brochure for More Insights - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=583 Plastic tooling, lightweight composites, and metal protection applications in the automotive industry are among the uses where manufacturers are focusing on widening their product portfolios so as to leverage value-grab possibilities. They are spending on research & development to create extremely adaptable epoxy resins, a class of chemicals that can be used in a wide range of industrial applications. The use of epoxy resins in the manufacture of airplanes, boats, and vehicles is becoming more widely known. Key Findings of Market Report Epoxy resin producers are raising their output capacity to take advantage of revenue prospects in construction and aviation industries. Varnishes, paints, and adhesives are being developed to fulfill the demands of clients as well as consumers in these sectors. Epoxy resins provide stability and durability to paint and coating formulations, as seen by their use. Get Covid 19 Analysis - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=covid19&rep_id=583 The global epoxy resins market is likely to profit from a variety of end-use industries, as technological advancement and demand for hardware development have rendered epoxy resins an essential material in the present technological situation. The global epoxy resins market is expected to grow due to increasing demand from various industries such as metal coatings, fiber reinforced plastics, and electrical & electronics. North America's rapidly expanding aerospace industry is expected to add to the region's significant market share in the upcoming years. Government funding for aviation research has been a crucial component in the North America market. Besides, the region's expanding private investment channels are expected to develop the global epoxy resins market even more. Epoxy Resins Market: Growth Drivers In aviation and construction industries, there is a soaring demand for paints and coatings that can survive extreme weather as well as temperatures. Epoxy resins are recognized to offer higher mechanical strength and great resistance to harsh temperatures, and these requirements are likely to fuel expansion of the global epoxy resins market. China is likely to dominate the global epoxy resins market, accounting for over 40% of all sales. Due to the increasing number of firms transferring their production base to the nation, it is expected to retain its hegemony in the global market in the forthcoming years. The strong performance of China's construction industry, which is likely to benefit from the urban consumers' increasing disposable income, is expected to drive the global market. Request a Sample - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=583 Global Epoxy Resins Market: Key Competitors BASF SE The Dow Chemical Company Kukdo Chemicals Ltd. 3M Company Company Huntsman Corporation NAMA Chemicals Global Epoxy Resins Market: Segmentation Application Paints & Coatings Wind Energy Composites Construction Electrical & Electronics Adhesives Others Chemicals & Materials Industry battles Tangible Impact of Economic and Cultural changes, Explore Transparency Market Research's award-winning coverage of the global Chemicals & Materials: Polybenzoxazine Resins Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/polybenzoxazine-resins-market.html Polyurethane Injection Resins Market - https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/polyurethane-injection-resins-market.html About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. Our experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyse information. Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. For More Research Insights on Leading Industries, Visit our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8e-z-g23-TdDMuODiL8BKQ Contact Rohit Bhisey Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Press Release Source: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/epoxy-resins-market.htm Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1682871/TMR_Logo_Logo.jpg dynaCERT Inc. (TSX: DYA) (OTCQX: DYFSF) (FRA: DMJ) ("dynaCERT" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Rebecca Hudson and Mr. Clark Kent to its Board of Directors, effective May 7, 2022. The new directors add numerous and significant new strengths to dynaCERT's dedicated team in many aspects of our Carbon Emission Reduction Technology ("HydraGEN Technology"). Ms. Rebecca Hudson Ms. Hudson is Chartered Professional Accountant (Chartered Accountant Designation) and Founder of SOOP Bags Inc. which design and produce zero-waste products aimed to replace single-use plastics. She is also CFO of Nova Mentis Life Science Corp. and Andean Drilling Services and consults for Grove Corporate Services. She has served in numerous CFO and Controller or finance positions of companies such as Royal Nickel Corporation, TerrAscend Corp., Hornby Bay Mineral Exploration Ltd., Wabi Exploration Inc., Claim Post Resources Inc., Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd., Lithium One Inc., Royal Road Minerals Limited, Explorator Resources Inc. and IAMGOLD Corporation, among others. She holds a Masters of Accounting (MAcc) degree and a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Concentration in Accounting from the University of Waterloo. Mr. Clark Kent Mr. Kent is a capital markets professional with extensive experience leading corporate development and finance initiatives in the natural resources, technology and life science industries. Clark began his career with a boutique investment firm where he focused on client relations and marketing. For over a decade he has advised emerging companies on strategic planning, finance, and recruitment in the North American and international marketplace. Since January 2018 Clark has served as President of Scryb Inc., a company featuring cybersecurity software and Artificial Intelligence. Rebecca Hudson, new director of dynaCERT, stated, "I am very pleased and honoured to join the Board of Directors of dynaCERT. As a veteran of financial functions in many public companies, I look forward to providing my input with my colleagues in the years to come." Clark Kent, new director of dynaCERT, stated, "Joining a Toronto Stock Exchange listed company like dynaCERT is an opportunity to help the world reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions. My first goal is to foster the advancement of dynaCERT's noble goals in the public financial markets." Jim Payne, CEO of dynaCERT, stated, "I warmly welcome Ms. Hudson and Mr. Kent who bring to dynaCERT the high profile, the applauded stimulus and their unwavering dedication to prominently supplement our sales and marketing penetration. It is a great honour of dynaCERT'sBoard of Directors to work side by side with proficient and highly respected Canadian industry authorities. This great distinction is backed by our commitment at dynaCERT to constantly improve and drive our devoted team with the utmost industry doyens who share our corporate mission and corporate culture. We all look forward to our noteworthy association together in the weeks, months and years to come as we continue to grow and expand our technology for today and into the future of the new Hydrogen Economy." About dynaCERT Inc. dynaCERT Inc. manufactures and distributes Carbon Emission Reduction Technology for use with internal combustion engines. As part of the growing global hydrogen economy, our patented technology creates hydrogen and oxygen on-demand through a unique electrolysis system and supplies these gases through the air intake to enhance combustion, resulting in lower carbon emissions and greater fuel efficiency. Our technology is designed for use with many types and sizes of diesel engines used in on-road vehicles, reefer trailers, off-road construction, power generation, mining and forestry equipment, marine vessels and railroad locomotives. Website: www.dynaCERT.com. READER ADVISORY Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance of achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; the uncertainty of the emerging hydrogen economy; including the hydrogen economy moving at a pace not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements; and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release. On Behalf of the Board Murray James Payne, CEO View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220509005258/en/ Contacts: For more information, please contact: Jim Payne, CEO President dynaCERT Inc. #101 501 Alliance Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6N 2J1 +1 (416) 766-9691 x 2 jpayne@dynaCERT.com Investor Relations dynaCERT Inc. Nancy Massicotte +1 (416) 766-9691 x 1 nmassicotte@dynaCERT.com KANAZAWA, Japan, May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Pioneering biophysicist Professor Toshio Ando of the NanoLSI publishes his new book on high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) for directly monitoring the dynamics of biomolecules. The book offers easy to understand descriptions of the basic technology and in situ biological applications of liquid HS-AFM. The book is ideal for students from multidisciplinary backgrounds interested in accelerating their research on high-speed, in situ monitoring of biomolecules. NanoLSI Podcast where Professor Ando describes the background to the publication of the book and his thoughts about the future of HS-AFM. Nano LSI Podcast website https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/announcements/nanolsipodcast/ Professor Toshio Ando is internationally recognized as the pioneer of high-speed atomic force microscopy for biological applications. "I first became aware of atomic force microscopy in the mid-eighties after I returned to Japan following several years in the USA," says Ando. "I had just moved to Kanazawa University and was looking for new paths to explore. I was interested in directly observing the dynamics of proteins. This is when I decided to pursue research on the development of high-speed liquid AFM (HS-AFM). Now, more than 30 years later, I want to share my experiences and insights into the technology and applications of HS-AFM. This book is my way of sharing my knowledge about this subject. It is the first book on this topic and hopefully it will inspire the development of the next generation of scanning probe microscopes for biology." Professor Ando describes how he started his research on HS-AFM https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/background-to-research-on-hs-afm.mp3 Professor Ando describes why he decided to write this book https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/writing-the-book.mp3 The future of high-speed AFM Professor Ando shares his views about the future of HS-AFM https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/evolution-of-hs-afm.mp3 Ando envisages continuous evolution in both the performance and applications of HS-AFM. "The scanning speed is an area of research being addressed by many groups globally," says Ando. "In my group we are developing new methods, that is system operation procedures, and have achieved 40 frames per second (fps). Conventional systems enable around 10 fps. I expect advances in devices used for imaging will enable image rates of 100 fps within 3 to 4 years. So this area of research is still evolving." Ando also foresees that many proteins that have been "untouched" to-date will be imaged by high performance HS-AFM systems. "I expect many more users of HS-AFM in the future," says Ando. About the book Professor Ando describes the contents of the book https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/audience-and-contents.mp3 'High Speed Atomic Force Microscopy in Biology" is published by Springer and is available as an eBook or hard cover [1]. The book consists of 18 chapters and more than 300 pages that include practical hints about the preparation of cantilever tips and sample surfaces, for example, to enable first time users to successfully obtain direct images of the dynamics of proteins and other biomolecules. Contents are divided into two parts. Part I consists of eight chapters that describe the basic principles underlying the operation of the HS-AFM and techniques used for imaging biomolecules. Specific chapters include "Feedback Control and Imaging Rate" and "HS-AFM System and Optimized Instrumental Components" where Professor Ando describes techniques for maximizing imaging rates; the fundamentals of the mechanical properties of short cantilevers; and control electronics to "avoid parachuting". Part II consists of 10 chapters that focus on the biological applications of HS-AFM technology. The topics covered in this part include an overview of the biological applications of HS-AFM; successful imaging examples such as "myosin V walking on actin filaments" and self-assembly of amyloid fibril formation; and the dynamics of molecular chaperones. The detailed descriptions of techniques and applications, enhanced by hundreds of up-to-date references and 155 high definition illustrations and HS-AFM images, make this book a unique and invaluable resource for both newcomers and veterans in the continuously evolving multidisciplinary areas of research based on HS-AFM. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-662-64785-1about Caption: The book published by Professor Toshio Ando. High-Speed Atomic Force Microscopy in Biology. ISBN: 978-3-662-64785-1 Further information: 1. Springer Link DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-64785-1 ISBN: 978-3-662-64785-1 Published in 2022. 2. NanoLSI World Premier Institute Kanazawa University https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/research/researchers/toshio-ando/ 3. Kanazawa Biophysics Group Welcome to Kanazawa Biophyiscs Group Contact details: Hiroe Yoneda Vice Director of Public Affairs WPI Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) Kanazawa University Kakuma-machi, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan Email: nanolsi-office@adm.kanazawa-u.ac.jp Tel: +81 (76) 234-4550 About Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI) https://nanolsi.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/en/ Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI), Kanazawa University is a research center established in 2017 as part of the World Premier International Research Center Initiative of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The objective of this initiative is to form world-tier research centers. NanoLSI combines the foremost knowledge of bio-scanning probe microscopy to establish 'nano-endoscopic techniques' to directly image, analyze, and manipulate biomolecules for insights into mechanisms governing life phenomena such as diseases. About Kanazawa University http://www.kanazawa-u.ac.jp/e/ As the leading comprehensive university on the Sea of Japan coast, Kanazawa University has contributed greatly to higher education and academic research in Japan since it was founded in 1949. The University has three colleges and 17 schools offering courses in subjects that include medicine, computer engineering, and humanities. The University is located on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Kanazawa - a city rich in history and culture. The city of Kanazawa has a highly respected intellectual profile since the time of the fiefdom (1598-1867). Kanazawa University is divided into two main campuses: Kakuma and Takaramachi for its approximately 10,200 students including 600 from overseas. HEAVILY armed security detachments yesterday thwarted a nationwide shutdown called by university students, teachers and nurses. Government deployed armed security forces in the capital and other cities countrywide to quash any protests against the economic meltdown and a high cost of living. In the past, shutdowns have triggered protests and running battles between security services and civilians. In a memo, government warned its employees against heeding the stay-away calls by civic society groups. There was massive deployment of armed security personnel in perceived hotspots in Harare such as the Africa Unit Square and along the capitals major streets. In Bulawayo, police also deployed water cannons in apparent readiness to thwart possible protests by activists, while riot police armed with batons and teargas canisters were camped at the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) to scare students. The Nust student representative council (SRC) and Zinasu had organised the shutdown, calling on all other universities to join in the #Feesmustfall campaign to force the government to reduce exorbitant university fees. Nust SRC secretary-general Joseph Nyamayaro told NewsDay that the shutdown was a success because the government was intimidated, which resulted in the deployment of heavily-armed police at the higher learning institution. There is a lot of intimidation around all university campuses. That is why the police have been deployed. I believe the regime is in panic mode, hence they want to counter the shutdown by tightening security at higher learning institutions, Nyamayaro said. The Midlands State University responded to the shutdown by closing the university until May 30, 2022. A survey by NewsDay in different parts of the country showed that although it was business as usual, there was heavy police presence. In a statement, police said: The ZRP reports that the situation in the country is normal. The public is urged to report anyone trying to intimidate, harass or threaten members of the public who are peacefully conducting their normal day-to-day activities. Police is ready to ensure that peace continues to prevail throughout the country. In a memo dated May 8, 2021, Midlands provincial coordinator Andrew Chimenyiwa directed government officials to monitor the presence of government workers every two hours. May we all monitor staff attendance in all our departments at provincial and district levels in light of the proposed shutdown on Monday May 9, 2022, read the PSC memo. Kindly apprise the Public Service Commission office of the situation obtaining on the ground after every two hours. Be advised that those who absent themselves from duty during this precarious moment will be kindly asked to account for their absenteeism. Public Service Commission secretary Jonathan Wutaunashe said: Attendance of civil servants is normal today (yesterday). However, those who are not on duty obviously will need to explain why they were absent. We do not condone misconduct. Organisers of the protests said the shutdown was a success because President Emmerson Mnangagwa was forced to respond to some of the concerns they had raised. It is clear that the protest has been a success, Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said. No serious casualties have been recorded so far on the side of the civilians. The President was forced to climb down on the public transport crisis and made a cocktail of desperate interventions to try to stabilise the economy. Zinasu national spokesperson Lenon Mazuru said: The protests were impactful well before the scheduled day. It is very clear that the planned protests shook the government. President Mnangagwa was forced to address the government on the issues of concern which we had raised. This is just the beginning as we will continue forcing government to address the issues of concern. Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition chairperson Peter Mutasa decried intimidation of activists by suspected State security agents. There was widespread intimidation and threats on social media and through the security deployments. We received reports of students who were attacked at the University of Zimbabwe yesterday night after a mobilisation rally. The student leaders from Zinasu reported receiving threatening calls. However, compared with past protests, we had far less citizen casualties and that is a plus on this protest. The government was stretched to the limits, but in a peaceful manner, Mutasa said. Original-Research: Aspermont Ltd. - von GBC AG Einstufung von GBC AG zu Aspermont Ltd. Unternehmen: Aspermont Ltd. ISIN: AU000000ASP3 Anlass der Studie: Research Update Empfehlung: BUY Kursziel: 0.11 AUD Kursziel auf Sicht von: 31/12/2022 Letzte Ratinganderung: Analyst: Julien Desrosiers; Felix Haugg Q2-2022 preliminary report shows increased growth The following are some of the company's highlights: - Total revenue +39% at $4.8m - Gross profit +43% at $3.1m, with gross margins of 65% versus 63% - Earnings +20% at $0.5m on a normalized basis - Dean Felton joined the Aspermont board - Aspermont returned to live events with Future of Mining - Australia - Aspermont subsidiary, Kondinin Group, awarded $2.3m government contract - Aspermont set out corporate strategy at recent AGM - Soochow CSSD Capital Markets engaged as corporate adviser The company has drastically improved their growth rate compared to historical results. This growth in revenues is by far the strongest compared to previous full year results and Q1 2022. The company has already generated revenues of over 9M AUD for the first half of 2022. At the current cumulated rate, the company could grow at an accelerated 25% growth rate for FY2022e. This rhythm is far higher than our current estimates, which is 8.9%. The company has now accumulated 23 consecutive growth quarters and generated positive return for shareholders over the past five years. Aspermont returned to live events Aspermont has organised their first live event, 'The Future of Mining' March 27-29 in Australia. For this year, Aspermont is returning to the live events scene with FOM Sydney, which will bring in more than $1 million in new revenue at guaranteed gross margins. FOM Denver is scheduled for September 27th, 2022, with high advance bookings; it is the biggest Aspermont event to date with over 700 registered guests. Kondinin Group, awarded $2.3m government contract At the heart of Aspermont's agricultural media brands is the Kondinin Group, which is the premier information distributor to Australia's agricultural sector. Mr David Littleproud, Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, awarded $2.3 million Federal Drought Resilience Innovation Grant to Kondinin Group. In addition, the award will assist in the development of the Kondinin Group's Drought Resilience Program for Agriculture Research, which will give Australia's farmers comprehensive drought-related information and assistance on drought mitigation measures and technology. Aspermont JV's Blue Horseshoe going live Blue Horseshoe is a digital capital-raising platform that offer investors a wide range of investment opportunities. The company is currently lead by Antony Tofts, who is Blu Horseshoe's CEO. With this JV, Aspermont will provide a new, fast and fair way to invest in companies on the ASX coming soon, without commission, membership costs or licence fees. Institutional investors will be able to invest in four easy steps: This new platform will offer important advantages for the institutional clients: - Free access to more capital raises - No change of brokers - Same prices for all - Transparent and fair allocations policy - Instant offers alerts - Quick bidding tools - Keep using your favorite HIN - Secured and regulated by ASIC Antony Tofts, Blu Horseshoe CEO Mr Tofts has an impressive curriculum. He has held executive positions in ASX-listed firms, include director, officer, and executive positions. Antony has also worked at the Sydney Stock Exchange, where he was responsible for Listing & Market Operations, as well as the Head of Market Supervision & Listing Compliance. Prior to joining the exchange, he worked at Computershare, where he helped firms through their initial public offering (IPO) and listed company life cycle, after earlier positions with Barclays Private Bank's Business Development team (London) and HSBC Bank (Global Project team). M. Toftsholds a Master's in Business Administration (with a concentration in Corporate Finance), a Bachelor of Commerce (from the University of Cape Town). Dean Felton joined the Aspermont board Dean Felton has over 25 years of experience in the mining business, having held top management and consultancy positions with Rio Tinto, BHP and Vale, among other companies. Dean's previous senior management positions at Accenture and Ernst & Young have provided him with significant knowledge of capital and technology capabilities that he will bring to Aspermont. Mr. Felton should be a key addition to Aspermont's extensive growth in Latin America and Africa. We will be updating our valuation when the company publishes their HY financials in May. Until then, the results published by the company for their Q2-2022 increases our confidence in the company achieving our FY 2022 financial projections. We are therefore maintaining our BUY rating and our current target price of 0.11 AUD / 0.07 EUR. Die vollstandige Analyse konnen Sie hier downloaden: http://www.more-ir.de/d/24053.pdf Kontakt fur Ruckfragen GBC AG Halderstrae 27 86150 Augsburg 0821 / 241133 0 research@gbc-ag.de +++++++++++++++ Offenlegung moglicher Interessenskonflikte nach 85 WpHG und Art. 20 MAR. Beim oben analysierten Unternehmen ist folgender moglicher Interessenkonflikt gegeben: (5a,11); Einen Katalog moglicher Interessenkonflikte finden Sie unter: http://www.gbc-ag.de/de/Offenlegung +++++++++++++++ Date and time of completion of this research: 09/05/2022 (10.30 pm) Date and time of first distribution: 09/05/2022 (12.00 am) ubermittelt durch die EQS Group AG. Fur den Inhalt der Mitteilung bzw. Research ist alleine der Herausgeber bzw. Ersteller der Studie verantwortlich. Diese Meldung ist keine Anlageberatung oder Aufforderung zum Abschluss bestimmter Borsengeschafte. Life Sciences Finance Veteran To Help Company Scale Globally AMSTERDAM, May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- LUMICKS, a leading life science tools company that develops instruments for dynamic single-molecule and cell avidity analysis, today announced that Andre Nel has been appointed Chief Financial Officer. He will be based in the Company's headquarters in Amsterdam. Olivier Heyning, CEO of LUMICKS, said, "We are very pleased to attract an experienced life sciences financial executive like Andre to LUMICKS at this pivotal point in our growth. His seasoned expertise across large, global life science companies, including Illumina and Pfizer, will be invaluable to us as we accelerate our growth worldwide. With our recent successful product launches and the increasing recognition our innovative technology is receiving as a critical tool in analyzing core biological processes, Andre's financial expertise will enable us to achieve our growth plans and establish LUMICKS as a leader within the life sciences industry worldwide." Added Mr. Nel, "I am excited to join LUMICKS as it begins to expand its operations around the world. My expertise in working with life sciences companies on a global basis has prepared me well to build scalable operations that enable companies to achieve successful growth. I am confident that LUMICKS is on the cusp of an accelerated growth trajectory, and I look forward to working with my colleagues there to establish a firm financial foundation to support that growth." Mr. Nel brings more than 20 years' experience providing high-value strategic and operational financial support, leading multi-cultural and cross-functional teams, for global multi-billion-dollar organizations. Most recently he served as Chief Financial Officer at Dante Labs, a global leader in consumer genome sequencing testing services. Previously, he spent close to seven years with Illumina, ending as Vice President of Finance and a member of the global finance leadership team based in the US; his prior role had been CFO of EMEA operations, based in Cambridge, UK. In more than eight years with Pfizer, he served as Finance Director-Russian Federation, Global Transformation & European Decision Support Centre of Excellence Finance Lead and Head of Financial Planning and Reporting. He began his financial career with progressively more senior corporate finance roles with companies in South Africa. Mr. Nel holds a B Com with Honors in Business and Commerce from the University of Johannesburg and is a Chartered Accountant. About LUMICKS LUMICKS is a leading life science tools company that develops equipment for Dynamic Single-Molecule and Cell Avidity analysis, two rapidly emerging areas in biology research and immuno-oncology. LUMICKS' tools allow researchers to build the crucial and as yet unfinished bridge between structure and function at both a molecular and a cellular level. This is achieved by applying and measuring forces around biological interactions, enabling the detailed real-time analysis of underlying biological mechanisms. LUMICKS' C-Trap Optical Tweezers - Fluorescence & Label-free Microscopy, allows scientists to analyze complex biological processes in real-time. Similarly, the z-Movi Cell Avidity Analyzer enables the measurement and selection of immune cells based on their real-time interactions with target cells. For more information contact: Kassandra Barbetsea, media contact +31 (0) 63 482 09 48 PR@lumicks.com Joshua Young, investor contact j.young@lumicks.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1813353/Andre_Nel_CFO_LUMICKS.jpg Increase in the ageing population and subsequent rise of dental disorders are stimulating the demand for intraoral scanners in the developed and developing economies, which in turn is driving the growth of the global intraoral scanners market PORTLAND, Ore., May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Intraoral Scanners Market By Brand (Cadent iTero, 3M ESPE Lava COS, CEREC, E4D, TRIOS, CS, Others), By End User (Hospitals, Dental Clinics, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2030." According to the report, the global intraoral scanners industry was estimated at $382.52 million in 2020, and is anticipated to hit $875.60 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 18.6% from 2021 to 2030. Download [PDF] Sample at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2638 Drivers, restraints, and opportunities- Increase in the ageing population and subsequent rise of dental disorders are stimulating the demand for intraoral scanners in the developed and developing economies, which in turn drive the growth of the global intraoral scanners market. On the other hand, high cost of the device and dearth of skilled professionals impede the growth to some extent. Nevertheless, developments in scanners, which are portable and easy to fit in hands allow the dentists to freely move the equipment in all angulations inside the mouth without causing discomfort to the patients. This factor is expected to create lucrative opportunities in the industry. Covid-19 scenario- The outbreak of the pandemic gave way to fewer visits of people to dental clinics to cater to mandatory guidelines imposed by the government to curb the spread of the virus. This factor led to decreased demand for intraoral scanners that are normally used by orthodontists to capture 3D images of the mouth, which impacted the market negatively, especially during the initial period. However, the market is projected to revive very soon. The CEREC segment to dominate by 2030- By brand, the CEREC segment contributed to the major share in 2020, holding more than one-fifth of the global intraoral scanners market, owing to the advantages such as, reducing the procedural time, producing accurate results, and eliminating patients' discomfort. The cadent iTero segment, however, would cite the fastest CAGR of 10.9% during the forecast period, due to increase in the geriatric population and rise in the number of patients suffering from several dental disorders. Specific Requirement on COVID-19? Ask to Our Industry Expert: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/2638 The hospitals segment to hold the major share- By end-user, the hospitals segment accounted for the major share in 2020, holding more than half of the global intraoral scanners market. Larger number of patient visits to hospitals for treatments than in clinics propels the growth of the segment. The dental clinics segment, on the other hand, is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR of 10.1% from 2021 to 2030. Increase in the number of dental clinics drives the segment growth. Europe garnered the lion's share in 2020- By region, the market across Europe had the lion's share in 2020, generating more than two-fifths of the global intraoral scanners market, owing to the ongoing trend of preventive healthcare, and rising focus on digital dental technology products in the province. The Asia-Pacific region, simultaneously, is projected to portray the fastest CAGR of 10.1% by 2030, due to surge in demand for intraoral scanners products and availability of advanced healthcare facilities with trained medical professionals in the region. Key players in the industry- Align Technology Inc. Condor Technologies NV Densys3D Ltd. planmeca oy 3Shape midmark corporation Dental Wings Inc. Envista Holdings Corporation Guangdong Launca Medical Device Technology Co. Ltd. Dentsply Sirona Inc. Avenue Basic Plan | Library Access | 1 Year Subscription | Sign up for Avenue subscription to access more than 12,000+ company profiles and 2,000+ niche industry market research reports at $699 per month, per seat. For a year, the client needs to purchase minimum 2 seat plan. Request for 14 days free trial: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter "We have also published few syndicated market studies in the similar area that might be of your interest. Below are the report title for your reference, considering Impact of Covid-19 Over This Market which will help you to assess aftereffects of pandemic on short-term and long-term growth trends of this market." Trending Reports in Healthcare Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): Biomarkers Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2028 mHealth Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2028 Biosimilars Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2028 Flow Cytometry Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2028 Surgical Microscopes Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2028 Biomaterials Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2028 Vaccines Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2028 Medical Tourism Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2028 Catheters Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2028 HIV Drugs Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2028 About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web:https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/life-sciences Follow Us on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/life-sciences-industry-research/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2022) - Discover Wellness Solutions Inc. (CSE: WLNS) ("Discover Wellness", or the "Company") announces that the Company has been issued a cease trade order ("CTO") by the Alberta Securities Commission ("ASC") for not filing the following periodic disclosure documents (collectively "Annual Filings") by the filing deadline of May 2, 2022, namely: the audited annual financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2021; the management's discussion and analysis relating to the audited annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021; and the certification of the foregoing filings as required by National Instrument 52-109 - Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings. As announced on April 11, 2022, the Company is facing a very challenging liquidity situation and is paying only crucial vendors; the Company does not have the funds to pay for the audit of its 2021 financial statements. The Company has started the process of selling its Newell property and the proceeds will be used to repay debts and fund the audit of its 2021 financial statements and complete its Annual Filings. The Company will seek to have the ASC CTO revoked once the audit and filings are completed. Despite the CTO, a beneficial security holder of the Company who is not, and was not at the date of the CTO, an insider or control person of the Company, may sell securities of the Company acquired before the date of the CTO if the following apply: (a) the sale is made through a "foreign organized regulated market", as defined in section 1.1 of the Universal Market Integrity Rules of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada; and (b) the sale is made through an investment dealer registered in a jurisdiction of Canada in accordance with applicable securities legislation. Holders of the Company's securities are urged to consult with their own investment advisors or legal counsel about the implications of the CTO. The Company is not currently subject to any insolvency proceedings. The Company also confirms that there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed as of the date of this press release. Discover Wellness Solutions Inc. Discover Wellness is a Canadian company licensed, through its subsidiary, to cultivate, produce, process and sell cannabis in various forms. The Company intends to exit the cannabis industry and seek new business opportunities. Contact Information: Peter Cheung, Chief Financial Officer ir@discoverwellnesssolutions.ca (403) 910-9191 Certain information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements or information ("forward-looking statements"). By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Company's control, including the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, environmental risks, operational risks, competition from other industry participants, stock market volatility, and the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources. Although the Company believes that the expectations in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, its forward-looking statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events which may prove to be inaccurate. Those factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as no assurance can be provided as to future results, levels of activity or achievements. Risks, uncertainties, material assumptions and other factors that could affect actual results are discussed in our public disclosure documents available at www.sedar.com. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this document are made as of the date of this document and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The forward-looking statements contained in this document are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Trading in the securities of WLNS should be considered highly speculative. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/123167 Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - May 9, 2022) - The Stock Day Podcast welcomed RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSXV: REVO), (FSE: IJA2) ("the Company"), RevoluGROUP Canada Inc is a multi-vertical Fintech Neobank generating revenue via its RevoluPAY mobile EU PSD2, FINTRAC & USA MSB II licensed open-banking app & Visa Card. RevoluSEND Remittances & Forex, RevoluEX Crypto Exchange, RevoluCHARGE pay-as-you-go top-up, RevolUTILITY Virtual Store, RevoluREALTY real-estate, REVOLUEGAME gaming, RevoluPOS Global mobile POS, RevoluFIN Loans & Lending, RevoluVIP members only net rate Travel Club +120 countries, and more. 5 subsidiaries on 4 continents. CEO of the Company, Steve Marshall, joined Stock Day host Everett Jolly. Jolly began the interview by asking about the Company's background and current projects. "RevoluGROUP is essentially a neobank, which is a modern version of current high-street banks," explained Marshall. "We have financial licenses from 27 countries in Europe" he added, noting the Company's additional licenses in USA and Canada. "We have a mobile app, RevoluPAY, and that is associated with a Visa card, as well as a bank account on your phone, which is associated with a series of revenue verticals." Jolly then commented on the Company's impressive profit margins, and asked whether or not these numbers are typical within the fintech industry. "In 2020 and 2021, we obtained the three financial licenses that we needed to be able to carry out this particular business," said Marshall. "We then proceeded to the monetization phase," he added. "This type of financial technology that we have launched is entirely automated with almost no human intervention whatsoever," shared Marshall. "Human intervention is costly, and that then translates to these tremendous profit margins." "Who uses your platform?", asked Jolly. "Since you can download it for Apple and Android devices, it can be used anywhere in the world," said Marshall. "The people who tend to use it are those that are seeking alternative banking services," he explained, adding that there are currently millions of people around the world who are currently unbanked. "It's a simple method for banking." "What do you expect in terms of monetization from the Company's sixfold increase in users?", asked Jolly. "With 30,000 users, which we have obtained solely in the month of March, we have a sixfold increase in users," said Marshall. "For the first quarter of 2022, which begins on the first of June, we do expect and we hope to either break even or be at a reasonable profit, which is very rare for a fintech company." "How does your company intend to meet these crypto regulations to assist digital currency exchanges?", asked Jolly. "We have had to delay the launch of our Huobi and Dsdaq white labels because of the new interest in regulators to do this," shared Marshall. "As soon as the European Union introduced the guidelines for entities like us to receive approval, we applied in December for the new licensing," he explained. "Now, it is simply a waiting game," he added. "This means that we could possibly be one of the first payment institutions in Europe to be approved for bilateral crypto trading, and the ramifications of this are quite important." To close the interview, Marshall shared that the Company expects to reach the break even or profit status for the first quarter of 2022, and elaborated on the Company's exciting catalysts over the next two to three quarters. He also encouraged listeners and shareholders to keep up-to-date on the Company's updates and current projects as they continue to expand their services and look forward to upcoming launches. To hear Steve Marshall's entire interview, follow the link to the podcast here: https://audioboom.com/posts/8079969-revolugroup-canada-inc-discusses-sixfold-increase-in-revolupay-users-in-march-with-the-stock-da. Investors Hangout is a proud sponsor of "Stock Day," and Stock Day Media encourages listeners to visit the company's message board at https://investorshangout.com/. About RevoluPAY The Company's flagship Neobanking technology is RevoluPAY, the Apple and Android multinational payment app. Conceived entirely in-house, RevoluPAY features proprietary, sector-specific technology of which the resulting source code is the Company's intellectual property. RevoluPAY's built-in features include Remittance Payments, Forex, Crypto-to-fiat exchange, Retail and Hospitality payments, Real Estate Payments, pay-as-you-go phone top-ups, Gift Cards & Online Credits, Utility Bill payments, Leisure payments, Travel Payments, etc. RevoluPAY is operated by the European wholly-owned subsidiary RevoluPAY EP S.L situated in Barcelona. RevoluPAY is a licensed United States MSB, Canadian FINTRAC, and European PSD2 payment institution 6900 under the auspices of E.U. Directive 2015/2366 with EU Passporting. RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. controls five wholly-owned subsidiaries on four continents. For further information on RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. (TSXV: REVO), visit the Company's website at www.RevoluGROUP.com. The Company has approximately 186,969,692 shares issued and outstanding. RevoluGROUP Canada, Inc. "Steve Marshall" ______________________ STEVE MARSHALL CEO For further information, contact: RevoluGROUP Canada Inc. Telephone: (604) 332 5355 Email: info@revolugroup.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. This release includes certain statements that may be deemed to be "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that management of the Company expects, are forward-looking statements. Although management believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements, include market prices, exploration and development successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Please see the public filings of the Company at www.sedar.com for further information. About The "Stock Day" Podcast Founded in 2013, Stock Day is the fastest growing media outlet for Nano-Cap and Micro-Cap companies. It educates investors while simultaneously working with penny stock and OTC companies, providing transparency and clarification of under-valued, under-sold Micro-Cap stocks of the market. Stock Day provides companies with customized solutions to their news distribution in both national and international media outlets. The Stock Day Podcast is the number one radio show of its kind in America. SOURCE: Stock Day Media (602) 821-1102 NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/123186 LIMASSOL, Cyprus, May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- IronFX's forex trading competition, The Next Iron Trader Competition (TNIT) will be finishing soon on the 31st of May 2022. The competition started on the 1st of March and since then a growing number of traders have registered and put their skills to the test. Trade and win With a $500K prize pool* this is one of the most exciting forex competitions out there. $250,000, $150,000and $100,000 will go to the top 3 traders with the highest percentage of profit on the closing of the market on the 31st of May 2022. Plus, the trader with the highest trading volume on the closing of the market on the 31st of May 2022 will receive an extra bonus prize of $50,000*. Monthly Draws and Prizes 3 winners, 3 prizes for each month: Apple iPhone 13 (worth $1,000 ) Tablet Lenovo Tab M10 (worth $250 ) Smartwatch Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro (worth $200 ) How to enter the competition: Open a competition trading account. Deposit a minimum of $2,000 within the competition period. Start trading. A representative of IronFX said: "We are very pleased with the attention our competition has received, as this is a great opportunity for new traders to explore our existing and new products and services, join a community of traders and win great rewards. For those just starting with us, we offer a trading school, with tailored educational resources for beginners and professional traders, webinars and expert analysis as well as research analysis via Trading Central. Happy trading to all. May the best traders win!" About IronFX IronFX is the award-winning global leader in online trading, with more than 300 tradable instruments in forex, spot metals, futures, shares, spot indices and commodities. The broker serves more than 1 million retail clients from over 180 countries providing some of the most competitive conditions in the industry including ultra-low spreads and fast execution. The broker has recently expanded its offering by launching the copytrading platform TradeCopier. Related Links: IronFX Website:https://www.ironfx.com/ Become The Next Iron Trader and start trading online: https://www.ironfx.com/en/register Already registered? Check more details here: https://www.ironfx.com/en/client-portal All trading involves risk. It is possible to lose all your capital. *Terms and Conditions apply. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1811836/IronFX_Logo.jpg Research paper published as healthtech company gains fresh insight into Africa's diverse genomic data LAGOS, Nigeria, May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 54gene , the health technology company advancing African genomics research for improved global health outcomes, has through its non-profit initiative, the African Centre for Translational Genetics (ACTG) , completed its first consortium-led publication on over 100,000 Nigerians as commissioned in 2020 at its launch. The Non-Communicable Diseases Genetic Heritage Study (NCD-GHS) consortium has published a paper in the esteemed journal, Nature Genetics, entitled " Promoting the Genomic Revolution in Africa through the Nigerian 100k Genome Project '. Through 54gene's ACTG, the consortium operates as a unique public-private partnership involving leading African scientists guided by a team of global genomic leaders as the Scientific Advisory Board to achieve the mission of the ACTG. The consortium, which is made up of scientists from 54gene, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, and the Center for Genomics Research and Innovation at the National Biotechnology Development Agency as well as researchers from multiple academic institutions in Nigeria and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, is built on a shared vision of positioning African populations to benefit from advances in genomic science. According to the paper, as of January 2019, approximately 3% of genomic data being used for genome wide association studies (GWAS) came from people of African descent, with this statistic dropping to 1.1% in 2021. The paper details efforts in building an important resource that could significantly enable African populations to benefit from the global efforts at achieving precision medicine for various diseases. This has been achieved through the production of a comprehensive catalog of human genetic variation, examining the characteristics of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in 100,000 adults in Nigeria seeking to understand the genetic basis of the highly prevalent illnesses such as cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer's, chronic kidney and sickle cell disease, among others. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) kill more than 41 million people every year, accounting for 71% of all deaths globally. The prevalence of NCDs is projected to become higher than that of infectious diseases in Africa by 2030[1]. The study spans the breadth of the Nigerian population with data gathered from the 6 geopolitical zones in the country and sampling from the majority of the more than200 ethnolinguistic groups, with ethically consulted participants being recruited falling under two categories: disease cases recruited from disease specialist clinics, and community cases which are individuals with initially unknown diseases recruited from communities through household surveys. 54gene Founder and CEO, Dr. Abasi Ene-Obong, said, "Along with our partners, we are proud to be leading the new frontier of African genomics. Precision medicine goes against the one-size-fits-all approach to disease treatment as it is more inclusive, with people treated on their unique genetic makeup. With more than 200 ethnic groups and 500 different languages, Nigeria has one of the most diverse ethnolinguistic concentrations in the world. This pioneering study from the Nigerian population provides an excellent window into the representation of diversity across Africa. With recruitment nearly complete and the commencement of data generation and bioinformatics analysis, we are excited at how this study makes the promise of precision medicine more attainable to Nigerians, Africans and the global population." Dr. Segun Fatumo, co-lead NCD-GHS and the first author of the landmark paper said, "I am so proud of what NCD-GHS has achieved in only about two years. In our own eyes, 100K genomes of Africa are emerging from more than 300 diverse ethnic groups in Nigeria. The current lack of genomic diversity has resulted in significant missed scientific and medical opportunities, but NCD-GHS strategic vision to drive new large-scale studies with rich African genome datasets would help fill some gaps. I am deeply honoured to be a co-lead of this initiative. The NCD-GHS's public-private partnership with 54gene pioneers a model to increase diversity in genomic studies, including capacity building and plan to develop more genomic leaders in Africa." Speaking on the publication of the research paper, Colm O'Dushlaine, Vice President, Genomics and Data Science at 54gene, said, "The 100k project supports 54gene's core mission to equalize precision medicine, by building rich genomic datasets that will be used to generate powerful insights for the benefit of African, and other global populations. African populations are among the most diverse in the world. In the context of genome-wide association scans, more variation - more shots on goal - can help to provide new insights into the etiology of disease and drive novel therapeutic target discovery. The broader strategic objectives of the NCD-GHS are far-reaching. They include a focus on the creation of genomics leaders in Africa, efforts to increase the number of skilled African genomics scientists to help drive new studies and discoveries, initiatives that drive progressive health policy and practice, and the promotion of discourse and thought leadership on ethical, legal and social issues in genomics research and precision medicine. All of these are central to 54gene's mission and values." Aminu Yakubu, VP Research Governance and Ethics, said, "Building on the legacy of the H3Africa project, the capacity building objective of the NCD-GHS in the 100K Genome Project is a strategic undertaking that would catalyse the future we envisage - of Africans with the skillset and knowledge, able to lead genomic insights generation and development to address health challenges faced by Africans over the long haul. It is a people-facing impact creation initiative that puts the social value of the work we do at the center, facilitated through the African Center for Translational Genetics . The focus of one of the NCD-GHS agendas on governance and ethics was deliberate to ensure that we are aligned with existing country-specific and international best practices. Our commitment to also support academic thought leadership on ethics and governance issues in genomics research would allow us to evolve as we learn of better ways to protect the welfare of research participants and ensure fairness in research collaborations." About 54gene 54gene is a research, services and development company located in Nigeria and the United States. The company was founded in 2019 by Dr Abasi Ene-Obong to improve our understanding of the world's most genetically diverse population. 54gene utilises human genetic data from diverse African populations, to improve the development, availability and efficacy of medical products that will prove beneficial to Africans and the wider global population. About the NCD-GHS consortium NCD-GHS Consortium is a partnership of Nigerian geneticists from 54gene, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), the National Biotechnology Development Agency's Centre for Genomics Research and Innovation (NABDA-CGRI), London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). The consortium will study cardio-metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cancers that are more prevalent on the African continent, endocrine disorders and sickle cell disease. About the ACTG The ACTG is the African Centre for Translational Genomics. It is an initiative designed by 54gene to facilitate precision medicine on the African continent, provide funding for translational genomics research by African scientists and re-invest in the health ecosystem by empowering the next generation of African genomic scientists through the provision and implementation of grants, internships and training for medical researchers and students. [1] World Health Organization - Noncommunicable diseases (who.int) VICTOR, N.Y., May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ and STZ.B), a leading beverage alcohol company, announced today that the previously announced series of cash tender offers (the "Offers") for any and all of its outstanding 3.20% Senior Notes due 2023 (the "3.20% notes") and 4.25% Senior Notes due 2023 (the "4.25% notes" and, together with the 3.20% notes, the "2023 Notes"), expired on Friday, May 6, 2022 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time (the "Expiration Time"). The Offers were made on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Offer to Purchase, dated May 2, 2022 (the "Offer to Purchase") and the related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery attached to the Offer to Purchase (the "Notice of Guaranteed Delivery"). The Offer to Purchase and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery are referred to together as the "Offer Documents." According to information provided by D.F. King & Co., Inc., the tender agent and information agent for the Offers, (i) $401,778,000, or 66.96%, of the $600,000,000 outstanding aggregate principal amount of the 3.20% notes and (ii) $680,128,000, or 64.77%, of the $1,050,000,000 outstanding aggregate principal amount of the 4.25% notes had been validly tendered and delivered (and not validly withdrawn) in the Offers at or prior to the Expiration Time. In addition, $35,000 aggregate principal amount of 3.20% notes and $252,000 aggregate principal amount of 4.25% notes remain subject to guaranteed delivery procedures. Payment for the 2023 Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Offers (and not validly withdrawn) prior to the Expiration Time and accepted for purchase is intended to be made on or around May 9, 2022 (the "Settlement Date"), and payment for the 2023 Notes validly tendered pursuant to a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (and not validly withdrawn) prior to the Expiration Time and accepted for purchase is intended to be made on or around May 11, 2022 (the "Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date"). As previously announced, the applicable "Tender Offer Consideration" will be $1,008.81 for each $1,000 principal amount of 3.20% notes and $1,015.39 for each $1,000 principal amount of 4.25% notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the Settlement Date, payable on the Settlement Date or the Guaranteed Delivery Settlement Date, as applicable. The Offers were made solely pursuant to the Offer Documents and were not made to holders of 2023 Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities, blue sky, or other laws of such jurisdiction. BofA Securities acted as dealer manager for the Offers. Redemption of Remaining 2023 Notes Additionally, the company announced today that it has given notice for full redemption prior to maturity of all of its remaining outstanding 2023 Notes to be effected on June 8, 2022. The redemption price for the 2023 Notes, payable in cash, will be calculated pursuant to the formula set forth in the supplemental indentures relating to the 2023 Notes, and will include an expected total make-whole premium of approximately $7 million (after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by the Offers). The Offers and redemptions of the 2023 Notes will be funded from a portion of the net proceeds from the recently completed sale by the company on May 9, 2022 of its 3.60% Senior Notes due 2024, 4.35% Senior Notes due 2027, and 4.75% Senior Notes due 2032. This press release is for informational purposes only and shall not constitute an offer to buy or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities. If any holder is in any doubt as to the contents of this press release, or the Offers, or the action it should take, it is recommended to seek its own financial and legal advice, including in respect of any tax consequences, immediately from its stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant, or other independent financial, tax, or legal adviser. Furthermore, this press release shall not constitute a notice of redemption of the 2023 Notes. Information concerning the terms and conditions of the redemption is described in the notices distributed to holders of the 2023 Notes by the trustee under the indenture and the applicable supplemental indentures governing the 2023 Notes. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements which are not historical facts and relate to future plans, events, or performance are forward-looking statements that are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and should not be construed in any manner as a guarantee that such events or results will in fact occur. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and Constellation Brands undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Detailed information regarding risk factors with respect to the company are included in the company's filings with the SEC. ABOUT CONSTELLATION BRANDS Constellation Brands is an international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits with operations in the U.S., Mexico, New Zealand, and Italy. Constellation's brand portfolio includes Corona Extra, Modelo Especial, the Robert Mondavi Brand Family, Kim Crawford, Meiomi, The Prisoner Wine Company, and High West Whiskey. MEDIA CONTACTS INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACTS Mike McGrew 773-251-4934 / michael.mcgrew@cbrands.com (mailto:michael.mcgrew@cbrands.com) Amy Martin 585-678-7141 / amy.martin@cbrands.com (mailto:amy.martin@cbrands.com) Patty Yahn-Urlaub 585-678-7483 / patty.yahn-urlaub@cbrands.com (mailto:patty.yahn-urlaub@cbrands.com) A downloadable PDF copy of this news release can be found here: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/0ae559d1-e72c-4b41-8d39-09206f87b746 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 9, 2022 / Optima Medical Innovations Corp. (CSE:OMIC) ("OMIC" or the "Company") announces that further to the Company's press release dated April 20, 2022, the Company has received notice from the Ontario Securities Commission (the "OSC") that the OSC has not accepted the Company's management cease trade order (the "MCTO") application and the OSC has instead issued a cease trade order (the "CTO"). The Company applied for the MCTO as it anticipated it would be unable to file its audited annual financial statements, accompanying management's discussion and analysis and related CEO and CFO certifications for the year ended December 31, 2021 (the "Annual Filings") by the prescribed deadline of May 2, 2022. The MCTO would have allowed the Company's shares to continue to trade while applying a cease trade order to the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, however the MCTO was not granted. The CTO issued effective May 6, 2022, will prohibit the trading by any person of any securities of the Company, including trades in the Company's common shares made through the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company expects the CTO to remain in place until such time as the Annual Filings and all continuous disclosure requirements have been filed and the Company receives an order from the OSC revoking the CTO. The Company's board of directors and its management confirm that they are working with the Company's auditors to have the Company's Annual Filings completed. The Company will issue a further press release when the Annual Filings have been made. The Company confirms as of the date of this news release that there is no insolvency proceeding against it and there is no other material information concerning the affairs of the Company that has not been generally disclosed. For further information on the Company Please Visit:Company's Website Contact: Ommid Faghani, CEO and Director About Optima Medical Innovations Corp. Optima Medical Innovations Corp. is a public company that delivers pathways to innovative, science-based health and wellness solutions. OMIC sees the future of medicine in novel individualized and targeted treatments. The Company is a leader in multi-disciplinary pain management with focus on wellness. Our goal is to empower patients in their journey to wellness through education and best medical practices and innovations. Built upon an extensive network of scientific and medical research, OMIC is an advanced leader in the development of focused solutions, products and treatments for pain relief, wellness and Cancer therapy. Optima Medical Innovations Corp. spans the globe with its multidisciplinary pain clinics, research partners, education and advocacy programs - all working in harmony to bring health and wellness to the world, while creating value for shareholders and partners. Forward Looking Statements Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein relating to the timing of the filing of financial statements constitutes forward-looking statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. SOURCE: Optima Medical Innovations Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/700632/Optima-Medical-Provides-Update-On-Annual-Filings-And-Issuance-Of-Cease-Trade-Order RAMALLAH, Palestine, May 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Arab Palestinian Investment Company (APIC) held its extraordinary and ordinary general assembly on Monday, May 9, 2022, in Ramallah, Palestine. The meeting, which was chaired by APIC Chairman and CEO Tarek Aggad, was attended by members of APIC's Board of Directors, representatives from the Ministry of National Economy - the Companies' Controller Office, the Palestine Capital Market Authority and Palestine Exchange, the external auditor of the company, its legal counsel and many of its shareholders. In its meeting, the general assembly ratified dividend distribution for registered shareholders as of May 8, 2022, of 17.14% of APIC's paid-in capital amounting to USD 105 million to date, around 10.476% as cash dividends amounting to USD 11 million and around 6.666% as seven million in bonus shares. Accordingly, APIC's paid-in capital will reach USD 112 million following the bonus share distribution. A new board of directors was elected as well, comprising 13 board members for the next four years, businesswomen and businessmen from Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, whose expertise spans across various fields including investment, governance, manufacturing, trade, services, finance and entrepreneurship, including Tarek Omar Aggad, Tarek Shakaa, Lana Ghanem, Maysa Baransi, Hashim Shawa, Leena Khalil, Olga Aburdene, Ahmad Atwan, Nashat Masri, Mohammad Abukhaizaran, Dr. Durgham Maraee, Khalid Kayyali, and Dr. Mazen Hassounah. About APIC APIC is a foreign public shareholding investment holding company listed on the Palestine Exchange (PEX: APIC). It holds diversified investments across the manufacturing, trade, distribution and service sectors in Palestine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Turkey through its group of subsidiaries: Siniora Food Industries Company; Unipal General Trading Company; Palestine Automobile Company; Medical Supplies and Services Company; National Aluminum and Profiles Company (NAPCO); Sky Advertising and Public Relations and Event Management Company; Arab Leasing Company and Arab Palestinian Storage and Cooling Company, employing over 2,600 staff through its group of subsidiaries. For more information, visit www.apic.ps. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/640722/APIC_Logo.jpg TORONTO, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mandalay Resources Corporation ("Mandalay" or "the Company") (TSX: MND, OTCQB: MNDJF) today announced that its first quarter 2022 financial results will be released after market close on May 11, 2022, followed by a conference call with Dominic Duffy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mandalay, for investors and analysts on May 12, 2022, at 8:00 AM (Toronto time). Analysts and interested investors are invited to participate using the following dial-in numbers: Participant Number (Toll free): 877 412 4895 Participant Number: 312 281 1211 Conference ID: 13729994 A replay of the conference call will be available until 11:59 PM (Toronto time), May 26, 2022, and can be accessed using the following dial-in number: Encore Toll Free Dial-in Number: 877 660 6853 Encore ID: 13729994 For Further Information: Dominic Duffy President and Chief Executive Officer Edison Nguyen Director, Business Valuations and Investor Relations Contact: 647.260.1566 ext. 1 About Mandalay Resources Corporation: Mandalay Resources is a Canadian-based natural resource company with producing assets in Australia (Costerfield gold-antimony mine) and Sweden (Bjorkdal gold mine). The Company is focused on growing its production and reducing costs to generate significant positive cashflow. Mandalay is committed to operating safely and in an environmentally responsible manner, while developing a high level of community and employee engagement. Mandalay's mission is to create shareholder value through the profitable operation and continuing the regional exploration program, at both its Costerfield and Bjorkdal mines. Currently, the Company's main objectives are to continue mining the high-grade Youle vein at Costerfield, bring online the deeper Shepherd veins, both of which will continue to supply high-grade ore to the processing plant, and to extend Youle Mineral Reserves. At Bjorkdal, the Company will aim to increase production from the Aurora zone and other higher-grade areas in the coming years, in order to maximize profit margins from the mine. 9Unicorns, a Mumbai, India-based early-to-growth stage accelerator fund, announced the fifth closure of its maiden fund at $100m. Backed by global LPs, the fund has so far invested in 110+ idea & product startups including a few growth stage / series C players like Vedantu, ShipRocket, ShopKirana. Led by Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Managing Director and Founder, 9Unicorns plans to invest $500K to $1 million in the idea stage and, up to $2 million in high-growth stage Series C and above startups this year with a focus on DeepTech, Enterprise SaaS, Web 3.0, FinTech, Media, InsureTech, HealthTech, EduTech & D2C startups. I The fund directly allows getting early customers, distribution partnerships, cross-portfolio synergies for startups leveraging the pre-existing network of over 5500+ investors, founders, and executives in its ecosystem. FinSMEs 09/05/2022 Anja Health, a Los Angeles, CA-based personalized doctor-backed cord blood banking company, raised $4.5M in seed funding round. The round was led by Alexis Ohanians Seven Seven Six with participation from Harvest Ventures and Crista Galli Ventures, in addition to prominent athletes and executives including Aly Raisman, Cleo Abram, Chris Ovitz, Balaji Srinivisan, Zachariah Reitano CEO and founder of Ro, and Tim Lenardo CEO and founder of JetFuel. The company intends to use the funds to bolster its executive team, drive strategic growth, and continue to foster its community and reach and inform all parents-to-be. Led by Kathryn Cross, Founder, Anjah Health is a personalized doctor-backed cord blood bank that freezes umbilical cord and placentas stem cells for future disease treatment purposes. The company sends soon-to-be parents a kit leading up to their birth experience. Immediately after birth, the babys umbilical cord is clamped and cut, but Anja Healths offering is also compatible with up to 2 minutes of delayed cord clamping. Once users call the number on our collection kit to alert the shipping team that theyve given birth, a medical courier picks up the collection kit from wherever they are in the United States and speedily delivers it to a lab within 72 hours or less. Necessary processing is carried out, and cord blood, cord tissue, and placenta stem cells are stored in a liquid nitrogen. FinSMEs 09/05/2022 Appwrite OSS fund Appwrite, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based open source Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform for web, mobile and flutter developers, launched its Open Source Software Fund (OSS Fund). The fund will award $50,000 in its first year to open source maintainers whose projects provide the foundation for todays digital infrastructure but who arent being compensated as such. The fund amount will be revisited each year to adjust to best support the needs of the community. Applications are open now and will be accepted on an annual basis. Recipients will be chosen by the Appwrite Developer Relations team: https://appwrite.io/oss-fund Led by CEO Eldad Fux, Appwrite is an end-to-end Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform for Web, Mobile, and Flutter applications. It allows developers to build secure applications and integrate them with user authentication & multiple sign-in methods. It includes a database for storing and querying users and team data, storage and file management, image manipulation, Cloud Functions and more. FinSMEs 09/05/2022 Damien McDevitt, PhD, president and CEO of Aspen Neuroscience, Inc. Aspen Neuroscience, Inc., a San Diego, CA-based private biotechnology company developing autologous cell therapies, including the first iPSC-derived autologous neuron replacement treatment for Parkinsons disease (PD), closed its $147.5m Series B funding round. GV, LYFE Capital and Revelation Partners co-led the round with participation from additional new investors Newton Investment Management, Singapore-based global investor EDBI, LifeForce Capital, Medical Excellence Capital Partners, Mirae Asset Capital, NS Investment and others. The raise included investments from Series A/Seed investment teams including OrbiMed, ARCH Venture Partners, Frazier Life Sciences, Section32 and Alexandria Venture Investments. As part of the financing, Doug Fisher of Revelation Partners will join the board of directors. The company intends to use the funds to conduct the planned studies of its lead product candidate for Parkinsons disease, ANPD001, including its patient Screening Cohort study and the upcoming Phase 1/2a clinical trial, post-IND submission to FDA. Aspen Neuroscience is a development stage, private biotechnology company focused on personalized (autologous) cell therapies. The company is developing induced-pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to address diseases with high unmet medical need, beginning with autologous neuron replacement for both sporadic and genetic forms of Parkinsons disease (PD) and extending across the brain and affected organs. An iPSC platform company, Aspen combines stem cell biology with the latest artificial intelligence and genomic approaches to investigate patient-specific, restorative treatments. The company has developed a platform to create and characterize pluripotent-derived cell medicines, which includes in-house bioinformatics, manufacturing and QC. FinSMEs 09/05/2022 Fairnance, an Amsterdam, The Netherlands-based home financing platform, raised a seed funding round. The amount of the deal and the backers were not disclosed. Led by Amir Saleem, Fairnance provides a home financing platform which aims to serve people who are being excluded from homeownership for non-financial reasons. Its equity-based financing product shares risks equally between homeowner and investor. The funding was raised through Maydan Capital, an equity-focused private placement platform for early-stage and growth companies. It connects retail, accredited and sophisticated investors directly to vetted equity offerings in emerging digital businesses, providing each a direct line to growth. FinSMEs 09/05/2022 InxMed, a Nanjing, China-based clinical-stage biotechnology company, raised $15M in Series B+ funding. The round was led by Hyfinity Investments. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate ongoing clinical trials of IN10018 for multiple cancer types in both US and China, including the initiation of pivotal trials in the second half year, and advance more stroma targeting pipelines into clinics in both US and China this year, and strengthen the R&D capabilities in Nanjing. Established in the end of 2018 and Dr. Zaiqi Wang, Chief Executive Officer, InxMed is a clinical-stage biotech company that develops therapies targeting stroma microenvironment and solid tumor resistance and metastasis, especially drug development on anti PD-1/PD-L1 treatment drug resistance. IN10018 is a potent and highly selective adenosine triphosphate competitive FAK inhibitor, and InxMed has its exclusive global development and commercial operation rights. IN10018 received fast track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2021, and breakthrough designation from China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The company, which plans to disclose more data on IN10018 at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in June 2022, has established partnership with various multinational pharmaceutical companies including Merck, Roche and Boehringer Ingelheim. FinSMEs 09/05/2022 Pyramid Analytics, an Amsterdam, The Netherlands-based decision intelligence platform provider, closed a Series E funding round of $120m, bringing total venture capital raise to $211m. The round was led by H.I.G. Growth Partners, with participation from Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings, Kingfisher Capital, and General Oriental Investments, as well as existing investors JVP, Maor Investments, Sequoia Capital, and Viola Growth. The company will allocate funds to: Continuously innovate the Pyramid Decision Intelligence Platform. Expand its global geographic presence, capture a larger share of the Total Addressable Market for analytics, and increase Channel partnerships with complementary technology companies, independent software vendors (ISV), consulting firms, value-added resellers (VAR) and systems integrators (SI). Enhance the customer experience with service and support, learning and professional certification, and networking and community. Hire, reward and retain talent, including customer success, marketing, sales, and software engineering and development. Led by Omri Kohl, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Pyramid provides a decision intelligence platform, which delivers insights for anyone to make intelligent decisions. The platform provides instant access to any data, enables automated governed self-service for any person, and serves any analytics need, from the simple to the sophisticated. By combining Data Prep, Business Analytics, and Data Science with AI guidance in a single environment, the platform reduces cost and complexity while accelerating growth and innovation. Pyramid Analytics is incorporated in Amsterdam and has regional headquarters in global innovation and business centers, including London, New York City, and Tel-Aviv. FinSMEs 09/05/2022 Southie Autonomy, a Boston, MA-based developer of an intelligent robotic automation company, raised $2.5M in Seed funding. The round was led by BootstrapLabs, with participation from Ocean Azul. Kineo Finance participated in the equity round and is providing an additional $5m in venture leasing to support its robot-as-a-service business model. BootstrapLabs will join the board of Southie Autonomy. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate customer acquisition, build out the network of distribution partners, scale its operations and expand the commercial and technical team. BootstrapLabs will join the board of Southie Autonomy. Founded in 2018 by Draper alumni Rahul Chipalkatty and Jay M. Wong, Southie Autonomy has developed a robot arm solution for automating packaging assembly, palletization and kitting. The AI/AR platform creates a program for the robot to follow, enabling it to pick up objects of varying shapes and sizes. The software is compatible with any robotic hardware and is currently being deployed by a handful of customers. FinSMEs 09/05/2022 A car that crashed into a power pole in Albany on Monday morning, May 9 left thousands of homes, businesses and traffic lights in the dark. According to Pacific Power spokesperson Drew Hanson, the outage was first reported at around 8 a.m. and initially affected about 3,600 customers. The crash happened at Queen Avenue Southeast and Clay Street Southeast. The driver of the 2014 black Kia Soul was uninjured, according to Albany Police Department Public Information Officer Laura Hawkins. A traffic advisory sent out by the Albany Police Department said traffic lights along Santiam Avenue and Waverly Drive Southeast were down. Pacific Power's Hanson said engineers and crew members went to the site to start repairs. At about 9 a.m., according to Hanson, engineers had to take an additional line out of service to start repairs on the power pole. This took the number of customers without power to about 5,500. By 9:40 a.m., around 3,500 customers had their power restored, according to Hanson. By 10:30 a.m., the number of customers without power was 745. Crews had to replace the power pole, Hanson said, which took another 2 1/2 to three hours. Crews are actively working on repairs as quickly and safely as possible, Hanson said while the outage was still ongoing. At The Corvallis Clinic's QuickCare office near Heritage Mall, patients were seen by cellphone flashlight and coronavirus shots were suspended, as the vaccine needs to remain at very cold temperatures. Maddie Pfeifer covers public safety for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6091 or Madison.Pfeifer@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @maddiepfeifer_ Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 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. Fundraiser for the Corvallis Sister Cities Association's Uzhhorod (Ukraine) Refugee Fund. Earl Newman, an artist and screen printer who lives in Summit, has created and donated a screen-printed poster illustrating support for Ukraine. Two hundred numbered posters will be printed; several framed posters will be available. The prints will sell for $100 each to be donated to the refugee fund; framed prints will cost extra. Information: 541-760-8081 or caroltrueba@gmail.com. Rally to support Ukraine, noon to 2 p.m. Saturdays, Benton County Courthouse, 120 NW Fourth St., Corvallis. All are invited to come show solidarity with Ukraine in an event that is not antiwar or anti-Russia but pro-Ukraine. Those attending can bring Ukrainian flags, sunflowers and signs showing support. Updates on the humanitarian aspect of the war will be given. Information: 7442117@gmail.com. Fundraiser to support refugee fund: Four-notecard packs and 8 x 10 prints featuring paintings by Corvallis sisters Allessandra Bakker, 16, and Isabella Bakker, 13, are available for purchase at Visit Corvallis and Benton County Historical Societys Corvallis and Philomath museums for $25 and $30, respectively. Proceeds go toward the Corvallis Sister Cities Associations Uzhhorod Refugee Fund. Benefit for refugee fund: Celtic music by Corvallis band Loose Flagstone, 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 13, Old World Deli, 341 SW Second St. Proceeds will go to the Corvallis Sister Cities Association Uzhhorod Refugee Fund. Suggested donation: $5 to $20. Musicians include Leslie Glassmire (flute), Jennifer Parke (fiddle), Tracy Daugherty (bodhran) and Marjorie Sandor (guitar). Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. New York, New York, April 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NANO Nuclear), a company emerging from the shared micro Small Modular Reactor (SMR) ambitions of a world-class nuclear technical team working alongside business and industry professionals, possessing strong relationships with both government as well as the private and public nuclear industries, is pleased to announce that Winston Chow has been appointed to the role of Chief Policy Officer (CPO) and as part of the Board of Directors of NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. The Path to Zero starts here. NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. strives to disrupt the SMR space, principally in underdeveloped nuclear areas, and advance micro SMRs towards development and deployment in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. NANO Nuclear Energy is committed to building smaller, cheaper, and safer nuclear energy while incorporating the latest technology into its own proprietary mobile and on-demand capable nano nuclear reactors, novel reactor designs, intellectual properties, and research methods. Mr. Winston Chow has served as Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy on East Asia, where he implemented two US-China Agreements on clean energy between Presidents Barack Obama and Hu Jintao. Hes also worked across Asia and Africa as a diplomat for intergovernmental U.N. observer organization, Global Green Growth Institute, to decarbonize Chinas global Belt and Road Initiative. The U.S. Department of Energy has bestowed two meritorious service awards for his work. Mr. Chow has led the international adoption of sustainable energy and infrastructure for almost two decades, helping finance and deploy over $2 billion in projects. Mr. Chows career in the renewable energy space involved building the worlds largest solar power plant and providing access to clean energy to more than 37 million people. It is a great pleasure to welcome Winston to the NANO Nuclear team, said Jay Jiang Yu, Founder, Chairman and President of NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. Winston has a wealth of knowledge and knowhow that will be extremely important in ensuring that NANO Nuclear stays at the front of the pack and continues to bring about innovative changes to this growing market. His accolades at the government level, in particular with the DOE, will be essential to navigating regulatory hurdles and challenges. His meticulous and detail-oriented nature makes Winston the perfect fit for the role, and I am convinced that his work ethic and international presence will help take this company to the next level. The importance of government involvement in accelerating innovation in the nuclear space has come to the fore in recent years, as numerous countries have laid the groundwork to help develop the marketplace. In 2020, the NRC issued the first of its kind final safety evaluation report for an SMR in the United States. In 2021, TerraPower, a start-up co-founded by Bill Gates, chose Kemmerer, Wyoming, as the preferred location for its first demonstration reactor. On the other side of the Atlantic, the U.K. government backed Rolls-Royce SMR project with a 210 million investment. This year, a strategic plan on the use of SMRs was released on March 29th by the governments of New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Shortly thereafter, on April 7th, the Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland outlined Canadas commitment to including nuclear technologies in efforts to shift towards a net-zero economy and meet ambitious climate plans, with specific funding for SMRs. Furthermore, the U.K.s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, accelerated a timeline set by his own government in regards to SMRs in the United Kingdom on March 30th and South Korea's SK Group was said to be mulling investments in small-sized nuclear reactors on April 11th. Additionally, on April 19th, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced plans to seek applications and sealed bid submissions under the $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit Program (CNC) to support the continued operation of U.S. nuclear reactors. Ive never seen such momentum as we are currently witnessing in this market landscape, especially in terms of government support and assistance for the nuclear industry. All in all, I believe this is a critical moment, not only for this market, but for the future of humanity and our planet, Mr. Winston Chow, Chief Policy Officer and Board Member of NANO Nuclear Energy Inc., stated. Micro SMRs are the next logical step to ensuring that we achieve sustainable and clean energy and foster independence from foreign nations oil, gas, and coal by supplementing existing renewable energy grids with rapidly deployable and highly scalable modular reactors. Mr. Chow will oversee Nano Nuclear Energys government funding opportunities, both domestically and abroad, while co-leading the companys international expansion strategy. About NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. The Path to Zero starts here. NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. is a company emerging from the shared micro Small Modular Reactor (SMR) ambitions of a world-class nuclear technical team, working alongside business and industry professionals, possessing strong relationships with both government, and the private and public nuclear industries. Our Company is looking to disrupt the SMR space, principally in underdeveloped nuclear areas, and advance micro SMRs towards development and deployment in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. NANO Nuclear Energy is committed to building smaller, cheaper and safer nuclear energy, while incorporating the latest technology into its own proprietary mobile and on-demand capable nano nuclear reactors, novel reactor designs, intellectual properties, and research methods. For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/ For further information, please contact: Email: Info@NanoNuclearEnergy.com Business Tel: (212) 634-9206 PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE: NANO Nuclear Energy LINKEDIN NANO Nuclear Energy YOUTUBE NANO Nuclear Energy TWITTER NANO Nuclear Energy INSTAGRAM Attachment Windsor, Berkshire, United Kingdom, May 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Argentum 47, Inc. (www.arg47.com) (OTC: ARGQ) is extremely delighted to announce that, on April 29, 2022, the Company has acquired The Data Source (UK) Limited (TDS / www.thedatasource.co.uk), an artificial intelligence driven sales and marketing company based in Berkshire (United Kingdom). The basis of the transaction was for Argentum 47 Inc. to acquire 100% of The Data Source (UK) Limited by way of management relinquishing their personal right, title and interest in (i) 40,000,000 shares of Argentums issued and outstanding Series B Preferred Stock, (ii) 4,378,888 shares of Argentums issued and outstanding Series C Preferred Stock and (iii) 21,500,000 shares of Argentums issued and outstanding Common Stock, which shares of Series B and C Preferred Stock and Common Stock constitute 51% of the voting stock of Argentum on fully diluted and converted basis (Control Block). Additional shares of Argentum 47, Inc. Common Stock will be issued to the TDS shareholders post-closing. Since launching in 2014, The Data Source (UK) Ltd. has been supplying blue-chip clients with data and marketing services that they need to succeed. Under the leadership of renowned business partner Mr. Robert Stephenson, this small company has grown into one of the market's leading players, providing data intelligence solutions to some of the biggest corporations around the world. Through an unwavering commitment to excellence and a strong focus on building strong partnerships with key clients, The Data Source (UK) Ltd. has successfully established itself as a trusted provider of cutting-edge data solutions. Whether working with large companies or individual entrepreneurs, Stephenson and his team are driven by a shared goal of helping their clients achieve their business goals using the most up-to-date and accurate data available. With a proven track record of success and an unshakeable commitment to customer satisfaction, The Data Source (UK) Ltd. is poised for continued growth well into the future. In 2020, this commitment to growth and innovation fueled the company's decision to incorporate artificial intelligence into its lead generation data intelligence solutions. With AI, The Data Source (UK) Ltd. helped its clients improve their sales and marketing strategies, becoming one of the most trusted providers of data intelligence in the United Kingdom. Its products and services are used by some of the country's largest companies, thanks to the company's commitment to quality and reliability. Whether it is providing access to accurate consumer data or creating targeted marketing strategies tailored specifically for clients such as American Express, Vodafone, or Revolut, The Data Source (UK) Ltd. has become a leader in the field of data intelligence due to its extensive expertise and unparalleled knowledge of current trends in technology. Thus, it is no surprise that this innovative company has established itself as a leader in its field - an achievement that will undoubtedly continue well into the future as new technologies emerge. The Data Source (UK) Ltd. has been experiencing incredible growth over the past few years. This results-driven company has been investing in the latest AI data-collection technologies, lead generation analytics platform and staff training and development, positioning it to be a leader in its field. Its commitment to excellence is paying off. The Data Source (UK) Ltd. has already generated $1.1M in sales in Q1 of this year and is expecting to grow at a rapid rate given its investment into its technology. With its cutting-edge proprietary tools and skilled team, The Data Source (UK) Ltd. is well positioned for continued success in the coming years. The Data Source (UK) Ltd. is expected to acquire in the region of 600 new clients throughout 2022 and into 2023. Many of these will derive from their existing client base and from the companies that The Data Source (UK) Ltd. will acquire. The primary customer acquisition channel will be predominantly their highly trained in-house sales team. The customer and revenue stream are expected to quadruple, and then grow organically at a steady rate from 2023 onwards. This growth is attributable to The Data Sources extensive database, excellent customer service, and technology. Prior to closing the transactions, Mr. Peter Smith resigned as sole director of the Company and Mr. Nicholas Tuke also resigned as the companys President, CEO and Secretary. Mr. Alan Devlin, the Companys newly appointed President, CEO and Secretary, and Mr. Kieran Sweeney, the newly appointed Chairman of the Board and Director, are repositioning The Data Source (UK) Ltd. as an aggressive company this year by taking an integrated approach and focusing on results rather than pursuing a single variable or strategy at the expense of others. This includes leveraging both organic growth and complementary acquisitions, as well as pursuing new business verticals that can be brought into the group. Furthermore, the company is constantly looking for innovative ways to launch new products and brands, as well as expanding their reach through investment in cutting-edge technologies such as digital marketing, AI, 5G, analytics, lead generation, data management, and blockchain. Through these efforts and others, The Data Source (UK) Ltd. will strive to remain a leader in today's rapidly changing business landscape. Whether through organic growth or complementary acquisitions, The Data Source (UK) Ltd. is committed to achieving continued growth for years to come. About The Data Source (UK) Limited The Data Source (UK) Ltd. is a cutting-edge B2B and B2C company that specializes in using the latest digital marketing technology to help businesses stay ahead of their competitors. Utilizing advanced AI capabilities, the company is able to provide clients with high-quality leads at reduced costs, resulting in increased ROI. With an extensive range of services that span across AI, analytics, data storage, and digital marketing, The Data Source (UK) Ltd. works with clients in a variety of sectors to maximize their data potential and optimize their online campaigns across multiple channels. About Mr. Alan Devlin Mr. Alan Devlin has always been at the forefront of the digital industry, with a career that spans nearly two decades. His immense knowledge and expertise in this field has allowed him to build strong networks both in Ireland and around the world, giving him unparalleled reach within the tech sector. Moreover, Alan's work in promoting business growth within this field is truly exemplary. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of both business and technology, constantly pioneering innovative ideas and strategies to help businesses thrive. Whether through providing expert advice or spearheading groundbreaking initiatives, Alan is a true pioneer in the tech industry - a visionary who is at the very forefront of innovation and progress. Since his career began in 1996, Alan has founded and exited several leading digital businesses. He built Ireland's largest digital agency as the commercial director of Webfactory, which he sold in 2015 to start eDot Invest, a digital industry venture capital and incubator that has helped several technology companies reach their full potential. Alan has won numerous digital industry awards and has several other digital industry investments in both domestic and international markets. Over the last four years, Alan and his team at eDot have been instrumental in generating new business and collaborating with The Data Source (UK) Ltd. to develop and implement new and highly effective business strategies for the company. In his role as CEO of Argentum 47 Inc., Alan and his team will be responsible for increasing shareholder value, expanding into new markets and restructuring the company in order to absorb and deliver on the company's phenomenal current and future growth potential. About Mr. Kieran Sweeney Former Program Director for Version 1, the largest indigenous IT Consultancy firm in Ireland. Version 1 employs over 1,000 people in the UK and Ireland and has a turnover of 80 million Euros. (Winner of the Deloitte Best Managed Company for 5 years running.) Kieran joined Version 1 in 2006 (when it had less than 100 employees) and was instrumental in its growth to its current status. Kieran is relentless in his pursuit of technological and digital innovations that will disrupt and transform the world. He has a deep understanding of how to leverage technology for business and is unrivaled in bridging the gap between technology and the executive table. Kieran began his career in Andersen Consulting following his receipt of a masters in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 1995 and also a Masters in Executive Leadership awarded in 2010. Kieran is a sought-after speaker and advisor, and he is passionate about helping businesses unlock the power of technology. Safe Harbor Statement This press release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to anticipated revenues, expenses, earnings, operating cash flows, the outlook for markets and the demand for products. Forward-looking statements are no guarantees of future performance and are inherently subject to uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon, among other things, assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management, including managements own knowledge and assessment of the Companys industry and competition. The Company refers interested persons to its most recent Annual Disclosure and other disclosure documents uploaded to OTC Markets for a description of additional uncertainties and factors, which may affect forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no duty to update its forward-looking statements IR Contact Details: Mr. Stanley Wunderlich Consulting for Strategic Growth 1, Ltd. Royal Palm Place, 101 Plaza Real South, Suite 612, Boca Raton, 33432 Florida, U.S.A. Telephone: (516) 729 3714 Email: swunderlich@cfsg1.com Company Contact Details: Mr. Alan Devlin (CEO) / Mr. Kieran Sweeney (Director) 27 Sheet Street, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1BN United Kingdom Telephone U.S.: (833) 568-8228 Telephone U.K.: +(44) 121 615 4720 Email: info@argq.io BASF and UC Berkeley extend alliance for another five years Research advancements presented at Spring Review event Notable research progress in inorganic and biobased materials FLORHAM PARK, N.J., May 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The California Research Alliance (CARA) by BASF has led to 100 research projects between the chemical company and the more than 10 universities that are part of CARA since its establishment in 2014. The research projects in the areas of new functional materials, catalysis, chemical synthesis, engineering processes, biosciences, formulations and digitalization, have generated more than 30 patent applications and nearly 70 peer-reviewed articles. To continue this successful research approach, BASF and the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) signed a five-year extension of the CARA collaboration at its Spring Review event. The continuation of our partnership reinforces the importance of academic collaboration to support industry innovation for BASF, said Dr. Detlef Kratz, designated President of Group Research, BASF SE. At BASF, tackling sustainability challenges requires innovation and collaboration with external partners. As we have seen over the last eight years, the combination of our research power with the strength of the CARA network has led to many sustainability-driven breakthroughs and we are eager to see how they evolve into commercial products in the next years. The open relationship created between BASF scientists and researchers in my group at UC Berkeley, and across the entire UC system, have enabled discussions in many forms, said Professor John Hartwig, Henry Rapoport Chair, Department of Chemistry, UC Berkeley. These discussions have led both sides to see opportunities for collaborative research on topics we never would have imagined alone and create opportunities to take academic research into new directions with an eye for practical outcomes with a positive effect on sustainability. Notable progress in inorganic material research to enable energy savings CARA is a multidisciplinary research center, headed by the College of Chemistry at UC Berkeley. Since CARA began, BASF experts and researchers from UC Berkeley, UC San Diego and several other leading universities in California have worked together on multiple research projects to test new materials, evaluate new technologies and explore new processes that will help address key sustainability challenges. A joint team in the field of inorganic material research is developing a stable, ligand-free semiconductor ink based on lead-free halide perovskites, which can potentially be used in coatings, electronics and catalysis. Traditional semiconductor materials are usually not readily solution-processable and result in complex and energy-intensive fabrication processes. Based on its research, the CARA team has developed a novel semiconductor ink that can be patterned onto various materials and converted back to the pure solid-phase in air. The unique ability to rapidly transform back and forth between an easily processable semiconductor ink and the solid-state perovskite crystalline systema potentially enables energy-efficient fabrication processes, said Dr. Kerstin Schierle-Arndt, Vice President of Research for Inorganic Materials at BASF and Associate Director of CARA. The deep know-how on inorganic materials and applications from the CARA team combined with the guidance provided by UC Berkeley Professor Peidong Yang is proving decisive for the development of this new material. Algae in focus for biobased and biodegradable polymeric materials Professors Steve Mayfield and Mike Burkart at UC San Diego aspire to develop novel biobased and biodegradable polymeric materials. Supported by CARA, they are working to develop aliphatic isocyanates from algae biomass using phosgene-free flow chemistry and demonstrate their biodegradability. In addition, the project secured $6 million in funding from two Department of Energy grants. Professor Burkart has demonstrated flow chemistry-based production of aliphatic heptamethylene diisocyanate from algae-sourced azelaic acid on bench scale, while Professor Mayfield is working on engineering algae to produce new precursors. BASF expertise in polyurethane formulation and polymer biodegradation has been key to this projects continued success with the goal to identify and commercialize biobased and biodegradable materials to achieve sustainability commitments and meet customer needs. About BASF BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 16,700 employees in North America and had sales of $25.9 billion in 2021. For more information about BASFs North American operations, visit www.basf.com/us. At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of 78.6 billion in 2021. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com. Media Relations contact: Betsy Arnone 973-519-9808 betsy.arnone@basf.com MELBOURNE, Australia, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With SMEs facing many hurdles during the past two years, Liberty says exploring flexible business loans can help business owners prepare for future unexpected events. From cyberattacks to supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and a global pandemic, Australian SMEs have dealt with various unforeseen issues affecting their operations. While optimism is growing among business owners currently rebounding from these difficulties, attention should now turn to longer-term planning and preparation. Securing fast access to funding through a business loan ahead of time can provide businesses with an extra cash buffer when the unexpected happens. For non-bank lender Liberty, helping business owners actively prepare for the future with the right finance solution is an important part of their service. Liberty's Head of Consumer Communications, Heidi Armstrong, said: "With help from specialist lenders such as Liberty, Australian small businesses have greater opportunities to return to full strength and achieve their goals." Adopting a personalised approach allows Liberty to provide tailored solutions suited to the unique needs and circumstances of each business owner. While many businesses are still seeking traditional business loans, Liberty says line of credit facilities are an increasingly popular solution for SMEs thanks to their flexibility. Liberty Access is the lender's own line of credit business loan designed to help businesses gain the credit they need to grow, seize new opportunities and succeed. Unlike other business loans, Access only sees interest charged on the amount used. Common uses for line of credit facilities such as Liberty Access include paying staff wages, covering invoices, buying urgent stock and paying suppliers. Liberty also offers interest-only options and business loans without mortgage security requirements. And, with fast turnaround times, Liberty is well-equipped to support business customers to gain funds when required. Even those with a less-than-perfect business credit score are encouraged to speak with a Liberty Adviser for help to find a solution that matches their needs. There may be more options available than first thought. Approved applicants only. Lending criteria apply. Fees and charges are payable. Liberty Financial Pty Ltd ACN 077 248 983 and Secure Funding Pty Ltd ABN 25 081 982 872 Australian Credit Licence 388133, together trading as Liberty Financial. Contact Heidi Armstrong Group Manager - Consumer Communications P: +61 3 8635 8888 E: mediaenquiries@liberty.com.au Related Images Image 1: Business Loans Business Loans This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment English French REGULATED INFORMATION Preliminary documents for the Annual and Extraordinary General Meeting have been made available on companys website Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium, 9 May 2022, 7am CEST BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the cell therapy company addressing unmet medical needs in orthopedics, invites its shareholders and the holders of registered subscription rights and registered convertible bonds of the Company to the Annual General Meeting to be held on Wednesday 8 June 2022 as from 4:00 pm CEST, at Rue Granbonpre 11, Building H, 1435 Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium. Bone Therapeutics also invites its shareholders and the holders of registered subscription rights and registered convertible bonds of the Company to the extraordinary general meeting which will be held on the same day as from 6:00 pm CEST, at Rue du Fort 24, 6000 Charleroi, Belgium. If the quorum is not reached at this extraordinary general meeting, a second extraordinary general meeting will be convened and held on 27 June 2022 from 11:00 am, at Rue du Fort 24, 6000 Charleroi, Belgium. The notices for the meetings, including the agenda of the day as well as the motions to vote, are published today in the Belgian Official Gazette and La Libre Belgique. The documents and preliminary information concerning these meetings have been made available and can be consulted on Bone Therapeutics website, under the section Investors / Shareholders meeting, in compliance with the applicable law and regulations. It is also possible to receive the documents without charge upon simple request by email to generalassembly@bonetherapeutics.com or by telephone on +32 (0)493 09 73 66. The documents are also available at the Companys headquarters, Rue Granbonpre 11, Building H, 1435 Mont-St-Guibert, Belgium. About Bone Therapeutics Bone Therapeutics is a leading biotech company focused on the development of innovative products to address high unmet needs in orthopedics and other diseases. Currently Bone Therapeutics is concentrating specifically on the development of its most advanced clinical asset, the allogeneic cell therapy platform, ALLOB. Bone Therapeutics core technology is based on its cutting-edge allogeneic cell and gene therapy platform with differentiated bone marrow sourced Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) which can be stored at the point of use in the hospital. Its leading investigational medicinal product, ALLOB, represents a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration, which turns undifferentiated stromal cells from healthy donors into bone-forming cells. These cells are produced via the Bone Therapeutics scalable manufacturing process. Following the CTA approval by regulatory authorities in Europe, the Company has initiated patient recruitment for the Phase IIb clinical trial with ALLOB in patients with difficult tibial fractures, using its optimized production process. ALLOB continues to be evaluated for other orthopedic indications including spinal fusion, osteotomy, maxillofacial and dental. Bone Therapeutics cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) standards and are protected by a broad IP (Intellectual Property) portfolio covering ten patent families as well as knowhow. The Company is based in the Louvain-la-Neuve Science Park in Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium. Further information is available at www.bonetherapeutics.com. For further information, please contact: Bone Therapeutics SA Miguel Forte, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer Tel: +32 (0)493 09 73 66 investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com For Belgian Media and Investor Enquiries: Bepublic Bert Bouserie Tel: +32 (0)488 40 44 77 bert.bouserie@bepublicgroup.be International Media Enquiries: Image Box Communications Neil Hunter / Michelle Boxall Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 4685 neil.hunter@ibcomms.agency / michelle@ibcomms.agency For French Media and Investor Enquiries: NewCap Investor Relations & Financial Communications Pierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Arthur Rouille Tel: +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 bone@newcap.eu Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such persons officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Pune, India, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global solar thermal market size is prognosticated to rise exponentially owing to the rise in the use of solar power for various applications. A report on the market by Fortune Business Insights titled, Solar Thermal Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Collector Type (Evacuated Tube Collector, Flat Plate Collector, Unglazed Water Collector, Air Collector), By Type of System (Thermosiphon Solar Heating Systems, Pumped Solar Heating System) By Application (Domestic Hot Water Systems, Large DHW Systems, Solar Combi Systems, Swimming Pool Heating, Others), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026, studies various growth trajectories of the market in details. According to the report, the global solar thermal market size will increase from 496.15 GW in 2018 and reach 767.73 GW by the end of 2026. The forecast period is set from 2019 to 2026, and the market will exhibit a CAGR of 5.6%. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/solar-thermal-market-101920 Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2019-2026 Forecast Period 2019 to 2026 CAGR 5.6% 2026 Value Projection 767.73 GW Base Year 2018 Market Size in 2018 496.15 Historical Data for 2015-2017 No. of Pages 140 Segments covered Collector type, Type of System, Application, Growth Drivers Renewable Target Rollouts by Governments Are Projected to Fuel Solar Thermal Industry Growth Growing Adoption of Clean Fuel Alternatives Will Cater to Solar Thermal Market Growth Rise in Adoption of Clean Fuel to Propel Market Growth The rise in demand for clean energy to replace fossil fuels and serve various applications is a major factor boosting the solar thermal energy market growth. Additionally, the rise in emphasis on the adoption of clean fuel for controlling carbon emissions is expected to attract high solar thermal power market revenue in the forecast period. Besides this, the economic and operational advantages of using solar power as fuel and the service provider are further expected to help increase the solar thermal market size in the coming years. Click here to get the short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on this Market. Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/solar-thermal-market-101920 Asia Pacific to Continue Dominance Owing to Rising Demand for Energy to Suffice to Needs of Growing Population From a geographical perspective, the global solar thermal market analysis foresees Asia Pacific to emerge dominant in the past with market size of 375.54 GW in 2018. This region is likely to continue dominating the market during the forecast period as well. This is owing to the increasing demand for energy in the region, further attributed to the rise in population and urbanization in the past years. In addition, there is a rise in the deployment rate of solar power in Asia Pacific on account of green energy targets set by various nations. At present, China is leading the market, both regionally and internationally. This solar thermal energy market trend is further anticipated to continue in the coming years as well. Fragmented Nature to Intensify Market Competition Among Players The competitive landscape of the overall solar thermal energy market is fragmented nature-wise, owing to the presence of both regional and international players. Significant solar thermal power market manufacturers are investing huge sums into research and development activities for utilizing sun rays to the maximum and attaining higher efficiency. Players are also focusing on the geographical expansion of their products to gain a competitive edge and toughen the competition for others. Quick Buy Solar Thermal Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/101920 Some of the key industry developments in the solar thermal market are: November 2019 The launch of commercially concentrated solar energy for exceeding temperatures above 1000 degrees called Heliogen, was announced by a clean energy company in Lanchester, California. Heliogen is anticipated to take the place of fossil fuels in the near future. This will be applicable in cement production, steel production, and petrochemicals and also help in reducing the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. November 2019 The synchronization of the turbine at the Luneng Haixi 50GW solar thermal power plant, China, was carried out successfully by Abengoa. This project is being carried out as a part of the renewable energy program launched by the Chinese government since 2018. This plant aims at achieving a solar thermal installed base with a capacity of at least 27 GW by the end of 2030. Some of the significant solar thermal power market manufacturers include: Lointek Parvolen CSP Technologies Trivelli Energia SolarReserve Siemens BrightSource Energy SCHOTT Sener Abors green GmbH Torresol Energy Acciona Abengoa Solar Speak To Analyst: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/solar-thermal-market-101920 Market Segmentation: By Collector Type: Evacuated Tube Collector Flat Plate Collector Unglazed Water Collector Air Collector By Type of System: Thermosiphon Solar Heating Systems Pumped Solar Heating System By Application: Domestic Hot Water Systems Large DHW Systems Solar Combi Systems Swimming Pool Heating Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/solar-thermal-market-101920 About Us Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. New York, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Cognitive Computing: Applications and Global Markets" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05445373/?utm_source=GNW Using 2020 as the base year, the report provides estimated market data for the designated forecast period from 2021 to 2026.Revenue forecasts for this period are segmented based on component, deployment mode, organization size, end user, application, and geography. Market values have been estimated based on the total revenue of cognitive computing solution providers. The report covers the market for cognitive computing regarding the user base across different regions.It also highlights major trends and challenges that affect the market and the vendor landscape. The report estimates the global market for cognitive computing in 2020 and provides projections for the expected market size through 2026. The scope of the study includes cognitive computing solutions and associated services, and services associated with the platform. Hardware (e.g., data centers), however, have been excluded from the study. Report Includes: - 51 data tables and 34 additional tables - An up-to-date overview of the global markets for cognitive computing technologies and applications - Analyses of the global market trends, with data from 2020 and 2021, estimates for 2022, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2026 - Evaluation and forecast the cognitive computing market size, and corresponding market share analysis by component, deployment mode, organization size, application, end-user vertical, and geographic region - In-depth information (facts and figures) concerning market drivers, market deterrents and other macroeconomic forces affecting the current and future market outlook - Highlights of the upcoming market potential and areas of focus to forecast this market into various segments and sub-segments - Insight into the recent industry structure, current competitive landscape, increasing investment on R&D activities, key growth strategies, and company revenue share analysis - Descriptive company profiles of the leading global players, including Accenture plc, Cisco Systems Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Microsoft, Intel Corp. and NVIDIA Summary: BCC Research examines the ways in which the cognitive computingmarket is changing and how it has evolved.This analysis includes a detailed survey of both newand existing organizations in the market. At the industry level, BCC Research identifies, examines, describes, and provides global and regional market sizes for 2020, and forecasts demand from 2021 through 2026. The adoption of cognitive computing technology is based on factors such as the adoption of AI by businesses to automate processes and integrate human computer interaction (HCI).Most players in market are developing cognitive services that are accessed by application developers, or end users who deploy solutions at their systems and servers. Use cases of cognitive computingwere seen in financial institutions, retail and healthcare, where HCI applications are being deployed at a fast pace. The media and advertising sector has also begun developing cognitive services. The global cognitive computing marketwas estimated to be worth $REDACTED billion in 2020.It is projected to grow at a CAGR of REDACTED%, and it is forecast to reach $REDACTED billion by 2026. Rising computation power, increasing implementation of HCI applications and rising implementation of AI are key factors driving the growth of the cognitive computingmarket. The inability of small companies to supportcognitive systems, high implementation costs and the shortage of skilled workforces are among the factors hindering market growth. In this report, the global market of cognitive computing has been segmented based on component, deployment mode, organization size, end user, application and geography.Based on component, the cognitive computing market has been categorized into solutions and services. The REDACTED segment currently REDACTED the market. It was valued at $REDACTED billion in 2020. It is estimated the cognitive computingmarket for solutionswill grow at a CAGR of REDACTED%, and it is forecast to reach $REDACTED billion by 2026 Based on organization size, the cognitive computing market is categorized into SMEs and large enterprises.Based on deployment mode, the market is segmented into cloud and on-premises. Based on end user, the market is segmented into BFSI, retail, media and advertising, education, healthcare, life science, IT and telecom. Based on applications, the market is segmented into speech recognition, image recognition, fraud detection and risk assessment, chatbots and sentiment analysis. By geography, the cognitive computingmarket is segmented into North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region and RoW.The REDACTED region is currently the REDACTED market for global cognitive computing market. In 2020, total revenue from the REDACTED cognitive computingmarket reached $REDACTED billion, REDACTED% of the global market. The presence of leading companies, robust technology infrastructure, a surge in demand for voice technology and HCI applications and high adoption ofadvanced technologies (e.g., AI, IoT, cloud) are some of the key factors driving theREDACTED market. Asia-Pacific is currently the fastest-growing globalmarket for cognitive computing. This market was valued at $REDACTED billion in 2020. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of REDACTED% and forecast to reach $REDA CTED billion by 2026. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05445373/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via InvestorWire --- Roth Capital Partners, LLC (Roth) www.roth.com and Roth Canada, Inc. (Roth Canada), announce that they will co-host the Roth Canada Showcase Day on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. The event will celebrate Roth Canadas 2nd anniversary as an IIROC Investment Dealer and will be held at 1 Hotel Central Park, 1414 Avenue of the Americas (58th Street), New York, NY 10019. This event will provide institutional investors the opportunity to hear from and meet with C-suite leaders and executive management teams from innovative Canadian-listed companies in the sectors of Technology & Media, Consumer, Healthcare, AgTech and Sustainability. The meetings will consist of 1-on-1, in-person conversations between investors and the management of companies that are currently listed on Canadian and United States exchanges, or are considering dual listing in the near term. Our conferences provide unique opportunities for meaningful conversations and fostering relationships between companies and a wide spectrum of investors, says Brady Fletcher, President & Head of Investment Banking of Roth Canada. At Roth Canada, we pride ourselves as a leader in capital formation, and advisory services for growth oriented Canadian-listed companies seeking better access to the US market. Technology & Media, Consumer, Healthcare, AgTech and Sustainability are among the most promising, exciting and necessary areas of the North American economy. Institutional investors in attendance at the Roth Canada Showcase Day will benefit from company presentations, insights and operational updates select small and micro-cap companies showcased during this event. For more information, and to register please visit: https://www.roth.com/Canada2022 The conference is intended for qualified investors, companies, service providers and members of the media/press related to ROTH Capital Partners and Roth Canada. In 2021, Roth Canada has been involved in 36 transactions with an aggregate transaction value of over $1.47 Billion. (Source: Roth Canada | 4/30/2022) Participating Companies as of 05/06/2022: Company Name Sub-Sector Company Website (URL) Anaergia Inc. (TSX: ANRG) Sustainability https://www.anaergia.com/ CubicFarm Systems Corp. (TSX: CUB) Agtech https://cubicfarms.com/ Dialogue Health Technologies (TSX: CARE) Healthcare https://www.dialogue.co/en/ E Automotive Inc. (TSX: EINC) Technology and Media https://e.inc/ East Side Games Group Inc. (TSX: EAGR) Technology and Media https://www.eastsidegames.com/ Farmers Edge Inc. (TSX: FDGE) Agtech https://www.farmersedge.ca/ Flow Beverage Corp. (TSX: FLOW) Consumer https://flowhydration.com/ Kits Eyecare Ltd. (TSX: KITS) Consumer https://www.kits.com/ LifeSpeak Inc. (TSX: LSPK) Technology and Media https://lifespeak.com/ Meta Materials Inc. (CNSX: MMAX) Technology and Media https://metamaterial.com/ Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc. (TSXV: PINK) Healthcare https://perimetermed.com/ Sernova Corp. (TSXV: SVA) Healthcare https://www.sernova.com/ Titanium Transportation Group Inc. (TSXV: TTR) Business Services https://www.ttgi.com/ Vitalhub Corp. (TSX: VHI) Technology and Media https://www.vitalhub.com/ WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL) Healthcare https://well.company/ Wildpack Beverage Inc. (TSXV:CANS) Consumer https://wildpackbev.com/ For this special event, Roth is partnering with B2i Digital to offer full profiles on each of the participating companies Please go to https://b2idigital.com/roth-conference-canada for profiles. Agenda - TUESDAY | MAY 17, 2022 (All times are in Eastern Time (ET) ) 7:30am - 8:00am Registration & Morning Coffee 8:00am - 1:00pm Company Presentations 12:00pm - 2:00pm Buffet Lunch 1:00pm - 4:00pm 1-on-1 / Small Group Meetings 4:00pm - 5:00pm Cocktail Reception Thank you to the event sponsors: Company Name Mobile Friendly URL B2I DIGITAL, Inc. https:www.b2idigital.com BTV - Business Television https://b-tv.com/ InvestorBrandNetwork https:www.investorbrandnetwork.com Marcum LLP https://www.marcumllp.com/ Nasdaq http://business.nasdaq.com/ New York Stock Exchange https://www.nyse.com/index Pryor Cashman LLP http://www.pryorcashman.com Toronto Stock Exchange & TSX Venture Exchange https://www.tsx.com/listings/listing-with-us/sector-and-product-profiles/united-states About Roth Capital Partners Roth Capital Partners, LLC (Roth) is a relationship-driven investment bank focused on serving emerging growth companies and their investors. As a full-service investment bank, Roth provides capital raising, M&A advisory, analytical research, trading, market-making services, and corporate access. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, Roth is privately held and owned by its employees and maintains offices throughout the U.S. For more information on Roth, please visit www.roth.com. About Roth Canada, ULC: Roth Canada, Inc., is a Canadian IIROC Dealer Member focused on serving emerging growth Canadian companies and their institutional investors. Roth Canada is headquartered in Toronto and maintains an office in Vancouver. Investor Contacts: Roth Capital Partners Isabel Mattson-Pain Director of Marketing & Corporate Access 949.720.7117, Imattson-pain@roth.com Roth Capital Partners Member FINRA/SIPC www.roth.com Roth Canada, Inc. Ted Roth, CEO, troth@rothcanada.ca Brady Fletcher, President & Head of Investment Banking, bfletcher@rothcanada.ca Media Contact: IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork) Los Angeles, California www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 310.299.1717 Office Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com NEW YORK, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Epiq, a global technology-enabled services leader to corporations and law firms, has launched Metrics that Matter, Epiqs legal operations performance management solution that provides complete metrics and reporting for General Counsel, Legal Operations, and other legal managers. Metrics that Matter addresses an industry-wide need for actionable legal and business intelligence in the face of an increasing need to integrate data from various legal technology sources. The Metrics that Matter Solution, powered by the Epiq Service Cloud , is a cornerstone of the Epiq Legal Service Management vision of the unified professional management of legal services by modern legal departments. Metrics that Matter brings legal metrics together in one easy-to-use and deploy platform. The intuitive dashboards feature: The ability to deploy dashboards in weeks, not months A Dashboard and KPI catalog with over 100 Operational, Process, Performance, Financial, and Service Level KPIs for every legal persona The ability to synthesize information and identify data gaps while leveraging Epiqs proprietary data models Access to Epiqs Hyperion Research legal intelligence, benchmarking, and performance data As part of the Metrics that Matter Solution, Epiqs Legal Business Advisory experts deliver a metrics assessment, develop a business intelligence data map, design a fully functional set of operational dashboards, provide training on dashboards, and provide ongoing performance management support. Through our advisory work with Global 1000 corporations, we found that law departments continue to face impediments to effectively collecting, analyzing, and presenting data, said Eyal Iffergan, Managing Director, Epiq Legal Business Advisory. The top challenge to achieving effective reporting was the lack of well-defined actionable metrics and the lack of training or skill sets. We built the Metrics that Matter Solution to address those gaps, enabling us to help complex, global corporations build and run world-class legal operations. Metrics that Matter is the latest solution from Epiq that empowers teams to achieve their short- and long-term goals with business intelligence and insights that cut across the entire legal department. Epiq developed our Legal Service Management framework from our conversations with corporate clients that want to take advantage of the latest technology to strengthen the management of the corporate legal function, said Epiq Legal Solutions President and General Manager Roger Pilc. Clients want to incorporate the best possible combination of people, process, technology, and data in their legal department to achieve the outcomes their internal stakeholders are requiring. Metrics that Matter, powered by the Epiq Service Cloud, can help clients understand and track the progress they are makingin real timetoward achieving the Legal Service Management vision for modern legal departments. Epiq Legal Service Management Epiq has already been working to deliver these improved outcomes with the recent public unveiling of its Epiq Service Cloud, a suite of legal service management productivity and intelligence tools, legal services, and dashboards that provides to clients a centralized digital experience of Epiqs proprietary technology and other third-party industry tools. It is designed to assist with the effective and efficient management of legal technologies and legal services. Currently, more than 350 Epiq clients are leveraging the Epiq Service Cloud, with client growth currently at 10-15% per month. Additional Resources: About Epiq Epiq, a global technology-enabled services leader to the legal industry and corporations, takes on large-scale, increasingly complex tasks for corporate counsel, law firms, and business professionals with efficiency, clarity, and confidence. Clients rely on Epiq to streamline the administration of business operations, class action and mass tort, court reporting, eDiscovery, regulatory, compliance, restructuring, and bankruptcy matters. Epiq subject-matter experts and technologies create efficiency through expertise and deliver confidence to high-performing clients around the world. Learn more at https://www.epiqglobal.com . Press Contact Jessica Abad-Serpas Epiq +1 713 471 6702 jessica.abad-serpas@epiqglobal.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f5f306df-a116-4268-9f2c-f3c82e3d5243 Major General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz (3rd L, front) visits the camps of Chinese peacekeepers in Lebanon on March 28, 2022. BEIRUT, May 9 -- The new commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Major General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz spoke highly of the work done by Chinese peacekeepers when having a video meeting with Chinese ambassador to Lebanon Qian Minjian on May 5. He commended the professionalism and dedication of Chinese peacekeepers and expressed appreciation for the consistent contributions made by China to the world's peacekeeping cause. During the meeting, Major General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz praised the 20th Chinese peacekeeping force to Lebanon for their outstanding performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that they had actively supported local people and helped minimize the impact of the pandemic on their lives, which would have been impossible without the Chinese peacekeepers' dedication and persistence. It is learned that Major General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz officially took over as UNIFIL's Head of Mission and Force Commander on February 28 and visited the camp of Chinese peacekeepers in southern Lebanon on March 28. Ambassador Qian congratulated Lazaro on his new role, introduced China's Global Security Initiative and its stance on and contributions to the UN peacekeeping missions, and also stressed China's commitment to supporting UNIFIL in maintaining security in southern Lebanon and peace and stability in the region. China has totally dispatched more than 7,000 peacekeepers to Lebanon since 2006. In the past 16 years, Chinese peacekeepers have accomplished all orders and tasks commanded by UNIFIL and made great contributions to the peace and stability in southern Lebanon, winning affirmation and extensive commendation from the local and international community at large. In particular, Chinese peacekeeping forces have detected and cleared more than 15,000 landmines and explosives of other types so far. Major General Aroldo Lazaro Saenz (5th L, front) visits the camps of Chinese peacekeepers in Lebanon on March 28, 2022. FRANKLIN, TN, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wesley Mortgage, LLC, the official mortgage provider of the Tennessee Titans, continues to build the companys regional and national footprint with the appointment of three well-known mortgage industry leaders in key positions. Steve Medes has joined the company as president, along with John Page, who will serve as Chief Operating Officer, and Brian McGuinness, Wesley Mortgages new head of sales. The three had previously worked together at Franklin American Mortgage Company. Wesley Mortgage, part of Franklin-based entrepreneur Chuck McDowells extensive business holdings, launched last fall with the intent of building a base in Middle Tennessee and then expanding regionally and, ultimately, nationally. Through the companys partnership with the Titans and other marketing activities, Wesley Mortgage has created strong brand awareness in the greater Nashville market. Tennessee is more than a key market for us. Its home, McDowell said. Steve, John and Brian are hometown mortgage industry veterans who have proven they have what it takes to build a thriving mortgage company in Middle Tennessee and beyond. They have deep roots in the Nashville community that we can leverage to build on the groundwork weve laid and take us to the next level. Medes had served as Executive Vice President of the Retail Division of Franklin American Mortgage prior to its acquisition by Citizens Bank in 2018. Most recently, he served as the Executive Vice President of Mortgage at Commonwealth Bank & Trust. Page comes to Wesley Mortgage from FirstBank, where he served as Vice President of Product and Innovation. He had previously spent nearly 18 years in the Retail Division at Franklin American Mortgage. McGuinness, most recently of New American Funding, brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as head of sales including 15 years at Franklin American Mortgage. John, Brian and I are excited to be a part of the Wesley team, said Medes. Its not often you get the opportunity to become part of a company that already has such great brand recognition. We can apply the efficient processes that help consumers reach their end goal of financial and personal security that weve honed over the years, in addition to leveraging the great relationships we have both in Middle Tennessee and nationally, to make Wesley Financial a force in mortgage lending. Wesley Mortgage offers conventional, non-QM and Jumbo loan products, and is expected to obtain its VA and FHA Title II in the very near future. In addition to Tennessee, Wesley Mortgage is currently licensed in Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. The company is currently in the licensing process in Texas, with plans to expand to all 50 states. The company utilizes configurable technologies to capture employment, deposit and other verifications necessary in the mortgage approval process, allowing for faster approval turn times than traditional lenders. More information on the company, based in Franklin, Tenn., can be found at www.WesleyMortgage.com. --30-- Attachments Boulder, Colo., May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Automox will spotlight its award-winning cloud-native IT operations platform at this years RSA Conference, June 6-9, 2022, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. The company, which is transforming modern day IT operations, is set to debut and demonstrate disruptive new platform innovations that will help organizations accelerate their cyber resilience. Keeping endpoints continuously updated and secure has become even more challenging over the past year as IT professionals continue to struggle to do more with insufficient resources. To support businesses and IT teams during these challenging times, Automox makes it easy to keep every macOS, Windows, and Linux endpoint automatically configured, patched, and secured from anywhere in the world. Visit Automox in Booth #3410 in the Moscone South Expo RSA attendees who visit the Automox booth can: Talk with Automox experts; meet special guest and Agent of Action, Otto; and see the fastest way to automatically find and fix vulnerabilities. See how to eliminate soul crushing manual tasks by utilizing one cloud-native platform to automate the configuration, patching, and compliance of Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. Pre-schedule time with an Automox expert to learn more about automating vulnerability remediation, eliminating risk, and stopping the cross-departmental finger-pointing. Meet with industry colleagues at the Automox For Fix Sake cocktail reception on Tuesday, June 7, at 6 p.m. PT. Join the team for food, beverages, and the best views of the city! Sign up here. Come by to see Automox in this years RSA Expo Pub Crawl on Wednesday, June 8, from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. PT stop by the booth and enjoy complimentary beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. About Automox Automox is the cloud-native IT operations platform for modern organizations. It makes it easy to keep every endpoint automatically configured, patched and secured anywhere in the world. With the push of a button, IT admins can fix critical vulnerabilities faster, slash cost and complexity, and win back hours in their day. Join thousands of companies transforming IT operations into a strategic business driver with Automox. Learn more at: www.automox.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram. 2022 Automox Inc. All rights reserved. Automox, Automox Worklet and the Automox logo are registered or unregistered trademarks of Automox Inc. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners. Automox may use the brands of third parties to identify their products and services. ### DENVER, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AidKit is proud to announce a new partnership with the Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP) to provide a modern, secure, and efficient platform to provide Refugee Cash Assistance to Afghan evacuees arriving in Colorado as the State scales its 2022 capacity to serve those who have fled Afghanistan. AidKit leverages human-centered design to help make receiving cash assistance as simple to administer and dignified as possible. Communications for the Colorado Refugee Services Program's cash assistance for Afghan evacuees are available in Farsi and Pashto and cash is either distributed on preloaded debit cards or deposited directly into evacuees' newly established bank accounts; individuals are able to select their preferred method of payment. AidKit added a new feature specifically for this programthe ability to split monthly payments onto multiple debit cardswhich gives spouses the ability to split the funds and make purchasing decisions as individuals. "This is an important resource for putting families on the path to long-term wellbeing. People are able to access their funds much more quickly than in the past when they were handed a physical check and they had to walk to the bank and cash it." - Troy Cox, Data Analyst, Colorado Department of Human Services. AidKit grew out of a pandemic relief program that delivered millions in direct aid to workers without documentation in Colorado. The founding team that built AidKit designed a series of features and automations to accelerate impact and efficiency for Colorado's Left Behind Workers Fund and soon began receiving inquiries from other organizations looking to overcome the many challenges programs face when trying to deliver cash assistance. In 2021, AidKit was launched to enable emerging direct cash and guaranteed income programs to operate at scale. To date, AidKit has partnered with more than 60 community-based organizations in six states to deliver more than $55 million in financial assistance to populations in need. About AidKit: AidKit is a social impact startup that enables nonprofits and governments to quickly and securely deliver direct cash assistance and guaranteed income to those in need. We integrate automations and leverage technology to make eligibility determinations and reduce the burden of proof required for applicants. AidKit supports programs that serve diverse populations, including undocumented workers, low-income families, the unhoused, childcare providers, and refugees. About the Colorado Refugee Services Program: The Colorado Refugee Services Program (CRSP) is the state refugee office, situated in the Colorado Department of Human Services. CRSP's mission is to Ensure the effective resettlement of refugees and promote refugee advancement past self-sufficiency and to long-term integration. This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. FAIRFAX, Va., May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Three Fairfax County public safety agencies, Fairfax County Police Department, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, and Fairfax County Sheriffs Office, all recently made the decision to transition to the innovative eSOPH background investigation system by Miller Mendel, Inc. and in doing so, the agencies joined the largest public safety background investigation network in the nation. All three agencies are participating in a three year agreement to use the software and each expects to process at least 250 applicants per year using eSOPH. In addition to taking advantage of eSOPHs industry-leading standard functionality, the Fairfax County agencies will utilize several of eSOPHs optional features, including the Smart Fax feature, which uses eSOPHs global database of agency fax numbers to easily connect to other law enforcement agencies and courts for local records checks. The three Fairfax County agencies will also utilize eSOPHs optional Social Media Screening, and On-Demand Credit Reporting. Background investigations are not one size fits all. So while all three Fairfax County public safety agencies are implementing eSOPH, each agency is going to be able to take advantage of the unmatched customization capabilities that eSOPH offers. This way the software works for each individual agencys needs. Across the board though, Fairfax County is going to benefit immensely from the efficiencies the software brings and the increased quality of investigations, says Miller Mendel President and CEO, Tyler Miller. eSOPH, which stands for electronic Statement of Personal History, has been used by city, county, and state police agencies across the nation for over eleven years to conduct over one hundred thousand pre-employment public safety background investigations. Agencies using eSOPH report saving fifty percent or more of their time per background investigation. ABOUT FAIRFAX COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT The Fairfax County Police Department is a full-service law enforcement agency, located in Northern Virginia. The agency services a population of over one million residents within 400 square miles of Fairfax County, Virginia. The Departments vision is to provide ethical leadership through engagement with the community to prevent and fight crime, improve the culture of safety at work and within the community to preserve the sanctity of all human life, and to keep pace with urbanization. ABOUT FAIRFAX COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is a combination career and volunteer organization providing fire suppression, emergency medical, technical rescue, hazardous materials, water rescue, life safety education, fire prevention and arson investigation services. The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is committed to providing emergency and non-emergency services to protect the lives, property, and environment of the community. ABOUT FAIRFAX COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE The Fairfax County Sheriffs Office is responsible for operating the Adult Detention Center, providing security in the Courthouse and serving civil law process. The Sheriff's vision is to be known as the most professionally run, economically efficient, innovative organization among its peers. ABOUT MILLER MENDEL, INC. Miller Mendel, Inc. (MMI) creates, sells, and supports its software technology solutions for local, state, and federal public safety agencies and is the holder of two patents (U.S. Patent No. 9070098 and U.S. Patent No. 10043188) related to the features of its flagship product, eSOPH. Our primary focus is to turn past practices used by city, county, and state governments into efficient and cost-effective electronic solutions. MMI is known for creating category-leading systems and providing responsive, exceptional support to all our clients. We place great pride in straightforward and transparent operational practices that foster a high level of respect and praise from our government clients. CENTREVILLE, Va., May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) is honored to have been prime contractor for the Baltimore Corps of Engineers on the Glenbrook Road Remedial Design/Remedial Action Spring Valley project that received the 2022 Secretary of Defense Environmental Award for Environmental Restoration, Individual/Team. Parsons has supported the US Army Corps of Engineers on Spring Valley for 28 years, and the 9-year remediation project, which concluded in November 2021, was honored for safe, thorough remediation of chemical warfare materiel and related artifacts, including military munitions, in the middle of a residential Washington, D.C. neighborhood. I could not be prouder of the team that contributed to the successful clean-up of the Spring Valley site, said Sean Buckley, program director for Parsons. Our company is committed to cultivating a responsible enterprise through commitment to environmental, social, and governance work, and we are honored to be part of the team recognized by the highest levels of the DoD for living our core principle of delivering a better world. In 1993, the suburban Spring Valley neighborhood was discovered to have been home to one of the largest chemical weapons research sites in the United States during World War I. Parsons served the US Army Corps of Engineers from the start, leading site investigations and remediation projects which covered 1,200 residential properties, while protecting the safety of workers and residents alike. Our work with the Corps underscores the breadth of knowledge our experts provide to both the infrastructure and federal markets, said Jon Moretta, president, engineered systems, for Parsons. We look forward to continuing to support the Corps as they put the $17 billion of funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to work delivering on their mission to provide vital engineering solutions to secure our Nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk. Parsons is continuing to leverage the companys expertise across environmental, industrial, and technology markets to deploy an array of advanced solutions to remediate Munitions, Explosives of Concern, and Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste across current and former defense sites around the United States and abroad. The company has supported U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects around the world for decades, including program and construction management, architecture and engineering, master planning and design, and electronic security in addition to extensive environmental remediation work. To learn more about Parsons munitions and chemical warfare materiel remediation capabilities, visit www.parsons.com/environmental/. About Parsons: Parsons (NYSE: PSN) is a leading disruptive technology provider in the national security and critical infrastructure markets, with capabilities across cybersecurity, missile defense, space, connected infrastructure, and smart cities. Please visit parsons.com, and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook to learn how were making an impact. Media Contact: Bernadette Miller +1 980.253.9781 Bernadette.Miller@Parsons.com Investor Relations Contact: Dave Spille + 1 571.655.8264 Dave.Spille@parsons.com CHICAGO, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dresner Partners, a leading FINRA-registered, middle-market investment bank and Mergers Alliance member firm, is pleased to announce that it advised Vic West Brands, creator of Grandpa Guss Natural Pest Control Products, in its sale to VCM Products, LLC (VCM), owner of BuggyBeds and EcoBuggy brands. Vic West Brands founder, Nick Olynyk, will remain part of the executive management team, overseeing the companys e-commerce strategy and growth plans. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, Vic West Brands is a leading direct-to-consumer online pest control manufacturer. The company specializes in the creation and innovation of plant-based pest solutions and sells across all retail channels in multiple countries. The company also maintains shelf placement in brick and mortar stores throughout North America, and appears on QVC and in mail-order catalogs. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Freehold, New Jersey, VCM is a leading pest repellent manufacturer and wholesaler with products sold nationally at major retailers and online. VCM is also a portfolio company of Rock Mountain Capital, a private equity firm focused on working with entrepreneurs and management teams in the consumer goods and services, healthcare services, and technology, media and telecom (TMT) sectors. Financing for the acquisition was provided by Plexus Capital, the companys existing lender. Commenting on the transaction, Nick Olynyk said, I would like to thank Christopher Kampe and the Dresner team for helping us complete this transaction. By partnering with Rock Mountain Capital and VCM Products, we expect growth across multiple channels to accelerate exponentially. Our combined industry experience, technology and management teams create a true synergy of product, knowledge and ambition within the consumer pest control space. Steven M. Dresner, President of Dresner Partners said, The combination of Vic West Brands with VCM Products creates a very strong portfolio of complimentary and counter seasonal brands. We look forward to watching the combined entities expand their market leadership in the natural, plant-based pest and insect control product categories. Christopher Kampe, Managing Director, Consumer and Retail at Dresner Partners, who led the project team added, This highly synergistic transaction brings together the Grandpa Guss, BuggyBeds, and EcoBuggy natural pest-repellant brands. While VCM Products are well known in the mosquito repellent and bed bug categories, and sell through major national big box retailers, Vic West Brands, DBA Grandpa Guss, is best known for rodent repellents and are sold primarily through the direct-to-consumer and online marketplace channels. About Dresner Partners Dresner Partners is a FINRA-registered, middle-market investment bank headquartered in Chicago, with offices in New York City, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dallas, Texas, and Palo Alto, Calif. For more than 30 years, Dresner Partners has provided financial advisory services to middle-market companies throughout the world including merger and acquisitions advisory, institutional private placements of debt and equity, financial restructuring, valuations, and strategic consulting services. Dresner Partners has extensive international and cross-border transaction experience and is a member of Mergers Alliance, one of the worlds leading global mergers and acquisitions partnerships focused on the middle market. An affiliated company, Dresner Corporate Services, is a strategic communications firm specializing in public relations, investor relations and corporate development. More information is available at www.dresnerpartners.com. You can also follow Dresner Partners on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DresnerPartners. For Media Inquiries David Gutierrez, Head of PR, IR and Corporate Development, (847) 533-5082, dgutierrez@dresnerco.com For Transaction Related Inquiries Christopher Kampe, Managing Director, Consumer and Retail, (617) 548-6741, ckampe@dresnerco.com Steven M. Dresner, President, (312) 780-7206, sdresner@dresnerco.com MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J., May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. ("OPT" or "the Company") (NYSE American: OPTT), a leader in innovative and cost-effective low-carbon marine data, power, and consulting service solutions, today announced that Ethan Butler joined the Company as Vice President of Engineering & Operations. Mr. Butler is an accomplished leader with more than 25 years of experience executing commercial and government development programs for products in and around the ocean. He was most recently Director of Program Management with Insulet Corporation and has held leadership positions with Ginko Bioworks, General Dynamics Mission Systems (formerly Bluefin Robotics), Passport Systems, and Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "Ethan's experience which includes leading the design and customization of autonomous underwater vehicles for the oil and gas industry, first responders, and government agencies around the globe is tailor-made for this moment at OPT," said Philipp Stratmann, OPT President and Chief Executive Officer. "As the new fiscal year kicks off, we plan to scale production of WAM-V autonomous surface vehicles, deploy our Maritime Domain Awareness hardware and software, and continue demonstrating our integration capabilities. Ethan will ensure we utilize agile engineering operations that allow continued innovation while accelerating the global adoption of our solutions. His background in autonomous and integrated technology programs makes him a terrific addition to the OPT leadership team." "I see a unique opportunity to have an impact on a critical stage in the development of OPT," Mr. Butler said. "With a unique combination of data intelligence, offshore power, and engineering capabilities, OPT is poised for growth. I am excited to lead the Company's efforts to integrate PowerBuoy and WAM-V technologies, expand and enhance customer-focused solutions, and increase production capacity." Mr. Butler is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received master's degrees in engineering management and ocean engineering. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Miami, where he majored in marine science and physics and minored in mathematics and mechanical engineering. Employment Inducement Grant The Company granted an inducement award to Ethan Butler, the Company's new Vice President, Engineering & Operations. This award was granted under the Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. Employment Inducement Incentive Award Plan. The Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors granted the inducement award pursuant to Section 711 of the NYSE American Company Guide, consisting of 50,000 restricted shares of the Company's common stock that will vest as to 100% of the granted shares one year after the Grant Date. The award is subject to the same terms and conditions as the equity awards to other officers under the Company's 2015 Omnibus Incentive Plan. This award was made as an inducement, material to obtain the employee's acceptance of employment with the Company. About Ocean Power Technologies OPT provides intelligent maritime solutions and services that enable safer, cleaner, and more productive ocean operations for the defense and security, oil and gas, science and research, and offshore wind markets. Our PowerBuoy platforms provide clean and reliable electric power and real-time data communications for remote maritime and subsea applications. We also provide WAM-V autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) and marine robotics services through our wholly owned subsidiary Marine Advanced Robotics. We are headquartered in Monroe Township, New Jersey, and have offices in Houston, Texas, and Richmond, California. To learn more, visit www.OceanPowerTechnologies.com. Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements that are within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are identified by certain words or phrases such as "may", "will", "aim", "will likely result", "believe", "expect", "will continue", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "contemplate", "seek to", "future", "objective", "goal", "project", "should", "will pursue" and similar expressions or variations of such expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations about its future plans and performance. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions and estimates that could be inaccurate and subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from those anticipated or expressed in any forward-looking statement made by the Company. Please refer to the Company's most recent Forms 10-Q and 10-K and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. The Company disclaims any obligation or intent to update the forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. VENICE, Italy, May 09, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carole A. Feuerman returns to Venice for the occasion of My Stories, her solo show in the Church of the Pieta, in parallel with the Biennale di Arte, Venezia. The show continues until November 27, 2022. Presented by Bel-Air Fine Art, her exhibition focuses on the human body through the double treatment of the immediate to eternity, to reveal the expressive path of the artist who has founded and marked the history of hyperrealist sculpture over the last 50 years. My Stories is a summation of the artist's narrative, ranging from her childhood to her more recent encounters in which she captivates the essence of a person's feelings in a single pose. Her journey is revealed through the dialogue with the exhibition space of the Church of the Pieta, also known as "Vivaldi's Church," because this is where the great Maestro worked. The artist subtends a part of herself in each work to bring out universal feelings of survival, strength, and perseverance. In her sculptures 'Serenity' and 'Perseverance', the inspiration is linked to a specific feeling that is reflected in the movement of the sculptures. 'Eyes Open', created during the pandemic, is precisely in the divergence between the title and the work, depicting a woman with her eyes closed, that the artist invites us to reflect on these tumultuous times. The exhibition is curated by Paolo De Grandis and Carlotta Scarpa, of PDG Arte Communications, and is organized by Bel-Air Fine Art. ABOUT THE ARTIST Feuerman is an American sculptor and author working in hyperrealism. She is one of the three artists credited with starting the movement in the late 1970s. She is known for her figurative works of swimmers and dancers. She is the only artist to make this type of life-like outdoor sculptures and the only woman to sculpt in this style. Her work has been included in exhibitions globally, from Central Park to Avenue George V, and from the Smithsonian to the Galleria d'Arte Moderna and recently to the Palazzo Reale in Milan. Her work is in the collections of 31 museums and owned by the City of Peekskill, New York, the City of Sunnyvale, California, Former President Clinton, Frederick R. Weisman Foundation, Steven Cohen, Maluma, Alexandre Grendene Bartelle, and the Forbes Magazine Collection. She has taught, lectured, and given workshops at the Metropolitan Museum, and the Guggenheim Museum. In 2011, she founded the Carole A. Feuerman Sculpture Foundation. Contact: Giulia Briccardi Bel Air Fine Art - Venice Calle dello Spezier, 2765 | San Marco 30124 - Venice T: +39 041 52 26 529 www.belairfineart.com Related Images Image 1: Perseverance 'Perseverance' at Santa Maria della Pieta Image 2: Carole Feuerman Serenissima 'Serenissima' at Santa Maria della Pieta Image 3: Justice and Serenity 'Justice' and 'Serenity' at InParadiso Art Gallery This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Politics makes for compelling content in plays, but seldom do politicians serve as playwrights. Shadows On the Wall is an exception. The new play is written by former Stamford Mayor, T. Michael (Thom) Serrani, and it will be presented as a free reading on Monday, May 9, at 7 p.m., in Stamfords Curtain Call in the Dressing Room Theatre. Now based in Ludlow, Vt., Serrani has been writing screenplays for a dozen years as a hobby. He had not tried to get any published but something about this story of two soldiers from opposing governments and philosophies kept at him. Over the last year, he boiled down a previous screenplay into a one-act, 2-man play his first play set in the summer and fall of 1968 at East Berlins Checkpoint Charlie. Serrani, who also served as a Connecticut state senator and state representative, was in East Berlin in 1970 during a solo European trek visiting ten countries. The gated checkpoint was by the White Line drawn down the middle of Friedrichstrasse (Frederick Street) dividing West and East Berlin during the Cold War. Soon after the line was painted, a 96-mile long wall was erected to keep people in East Berlin, especially border guards who tried to escape the Soviet sector of the city. That always impressed me as a story Id like to write someday, he said. File photo Directing this reading is Serranis long-time friend, former state senator John Atkin, who has directed many shows throughout Fairfield County, but most recently, Happy Birthday at Curtain Call. I love supporting new works plays and musicals and doing presentations like this is the best way for authors to get a feel for how their work is progressing," said Lou Ursone, Curtain Call executive director. Curtain Call has a history of presenting original works. While the dialogue between the two characters is the focus, Serranis play weaves in history, philosophy and major current events at the time, notably the space race where the Russians and Americans were trying to get to the moon first. Its background to move the story forward, Serrani said, noting he took six months of events and condensed them into the play. Jessie Wright/ Contributed photo A key plot device is a copy of Platos Republic, which Russian captain Dmitri Prasolov is reading, but he drops it near the White Line so the American soldier Larry Simmons retrieves it and reads. While younger and less educated than the Russian captain hes been talking to across the border, Simmons better understands the allegory of an imprisoned soldier in the book, whose reality and truth are the shadows on the wall he sees in front, instead of what is happening behind him that create the shadows. By the end of the play, the American questions the Russian on his peoples oppression and asks him to look behind, instead of only seeing the shadows. As a director, Atkin was immediately drawn to the story. Its an interesting concept first of all the Cold War, Checkpoint Charlie, and its basically a conversation between the Russian and American so its a slice of life thing, he said, saying he remembers the tension of the Cold War from his own childhood. It brought me back to that time and it was really well written. I ran it by Lou at Curtain Call and thought it was worth giving a staged reading. Putting his artistic vision into the plays staging, Atkin and Serrani are using period music and recording of JFK speeches referenced as the play is mostly dialogue. To spice it up, I am using sound effects and we pulled a lot of the original audio he describes in the original play. That alone is going to bring it to life. The Dressing Room Theatre is at The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Avenue. Doors open one half hour before show time. Reservations for this free event may be made by calling 203-461-6358 or online at curtaincallinc.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) The last thing the family of two sisters slain in a tiny South Carolina town had heard about the man who confessed to killing them was that he was headed to a mental hospital in 2012 to be treated for schizophrenia so he could later be tried for murder. For 10 years, they heard nothing. Then, a few months ago, friends started to call a son of one of the women with the news that they had seen Joseph Jermaine Brand around Kingstree, family attorney Lori Murray said. Darren Tisdale, a son of the other sister and mayor of the town of 3,100, then began searching for Brand, spotting him just a couple of miles from where police said he confessed to shooting the two women in the head after breaking into their home in October 2010. Tisdale called prosecutors but got no answers. He executed two elderly women, Murray said. I cant believe he isnt a danger to the whole town just out walking around. Murray and the families of Naomi Johnson, 65, and her 74-year-old sister Thelma Haddock, gave the sparse court records they could find and other information to The Associated Press in advance of a news conference. Then they asked reporters for help. We need closure. I dont know about you, but yesterday there was a big hole in my heart when I dont have my mama on Mother's Day, Darren Tisdale said. At the courthouse, a clerk said there was no record of Brand's arrest or indictments for two counts of murder, armed robbery, first-degree burglary and a weapons charge. The records could not be found online either, although there were some court records still available in a file where the arrest warrants were kept. Other public records show Brand, 43, registered to vote from an assisted living home near Columbia in 2016. At one point, he also had a Facebook page. That's the only tangible piece of evidence about where Brand was until he showed up in Kingstree again. No one has given the family any explanation for why his charges just disappeared. A judge's order in 2012 said if Brand's mental competency was restored, he was to be brought back to Williamsburg County and held without bond for his trial. Under the law, a prosecutor could seek 30 years to life in prison for Brand, with the possibility of a death penalty trial. Prosecutors have promised to reinstate the charges and said they will ask a grand jury to indict Brand again at the end of the month, Murray said. Solicitor Chip Finney didnt return a phone message or email from the AP. Neither did the assistant prosecutor who signed off on dropping the charges because of the competency problem or Brand's public defender at the time. A woman in Kingstree identifying herself as Brands grandmother hung up on an AP reporter Monday. No one responded to a message left at a telephone number listed for Brands mother. Members of the sisters' family said they had faith in the system, even when a call to Finney to check on the case in 2018 went unanswered. That was, until they saw Brand walking around free. It has been very hard on the whole family having to relive this event all over again," the family said in a statement issued through their attorney. We want justice for our mothers. We want closure for our families, we want Joseph Brand to pay for his crimes and we want answers as to how and why he was released without prosecution. And Tisdale added Monday I hope Mr. Finney does what's right." Brand lived a few doors down from Johnson and Haddock in 2010. He had moved to Kingstree to live with his father after a stint in a Nevada prison on charges of robbery, drugs and firing a gun out of a vehicle, according to legal records. Brand came over to the sisters' house and asked to spread pine straw for money. When they refused, Brand barged into the home, wrested a gun away from one of the sisters and shot them several times, including in the head, Williamsburg County deputies said. Brand's father found him walking aimlessly in the sisters' front yard, investigators said. The father saw their door was open and poked his head in to apologize. That's when he discovered the bodies. Brand confessed to the killings, according to arrest warrants. But the records show that his mental problems kept him from being able to assist his attorney, prompting a judge to order a psychiatric evaluation. A psychiatrist's report stated that Brand had schizophrenia and his thinking was completely disorganized. The report indicated that Brand refused to take his medicine and that if he did take it, his competency could be restored. When asked his age after his arrest, Brand responded, Seventy-nine in Islam years. Then he said he was 34. One of the two psychiatrists who examined him corrected him, saying court records listed him as being 33. And a half! Brand yelled back, according to the report on his mental state. When asked how he hoped his case would turn out, Brand, who once lived in Reno, Nevada, said he wanted to return back to the biggest little city." "I want to return back to life as a rock star, he said, according to the report. Brand was first sent for temporary psychiatric treatment, but remained incompetent to stand trial, according to Circuit Judge Clifton Newman, who in November 2012 ordered him to be confined until he was better. That's where the paperwork trail ends, aside from the record of his registering to vote from the assisted living home in Blythewood in 2016. No one quite knows how Brand ended up back in Kingstree last year. Murray said even though the solicitor has promised to bring the case before a grand jury, she is concerned about whether that will actually happen because it isn't clear whether Brand was declared mentally competent. She said she still can't get answers from Finney's office. The charges are gone. The record is expunged. Mr. Brand is walking around as free as a jaybird, Murray said. State mental health officials said privacy laws prevent them from releasing any details of Brands treatment. But in a statement Monday, the Department of Mental Health said patients charged with crimes who need long-term care are committed by a probate judge and both that judge and prosecutors are informed when the patient no longer needs involuntary treatment. Finney's office told the family that investigators have been keeping an eye on Brand since they realized he was back in Kingstree, but Murray said that is little comfort. She worries now he may run since he knows a grand jury is going to hear the case again at the end of the month. He's still out there, Murray said. And I think if there wasn't any problem with the case, they could have brought him back in. ___ Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP. The Womens Choice Awards has named Greenwich Hospital as one of Americas Best Hospitals for Patient Experience and Cancer Care in 2022. By carrying the Womens Choice Award, Greenwich Hospital is part of an elite national network of health-care facilities committed to providing the highest level of care and empowering individuals to make informed health-care choices. The two top Womens Choice Awards are among several presented to Greenwich Hospital. Were so proud that this award recognizes the excellent care provided by our staff based on the opinions of the satisfied patients in our community, said Diane Kelly, president of Greenwich Hospital. This is a testament to our ongoing commitment to provide an exceptional patient experience each and every time. The Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center in Greenwich is accredited by the American College of Surgeons as a comprehensive community cancer program, offering advanced diagnostic, treatment, rehabilitation and survivorship services. The Patient Experience Award is presented to organizations whose patients said they would definitely recommend the hospital when completing the federal Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey. Locals make Deans List at James Madison James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., announced that two local students made the Deans List for the fall 2021 semester for earning a GPA of between 3.5 and 3.899. The honored students are Katherine Walko of Cos Cob, who is majoring in kinesiology, and Elizabeth Stahl of Greenwich, who is majoring in psychology. SUNY Oneonta honors local student Thomas Julian Nonkovic of Greenwich was one of 1,411 students at State University of New York College at Oneonta who earned Deans List honors for the fall 2021 semester. Nonkovic is studying music industry. To qualify for the Deans List, a student must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. In addition, Nonkovic and fellow students from SUNY Oneonta met online with alum Katie OGara, a member of the Class of 2018 who is a publicity assistant at Island Records, for the colleges Mixing Board to Management alumni networking event during the fall semester. The Mixing Board to Management event is designed to inspire students to jump-start their careers by building their professional networks. It is funded by the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association through charitable gifts to the Fund for Oneonta. Local students honored at Miami University Five local students have been named to the Deans List at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, for the fall semester after they were ranked in the Top 20 percent of undergraduate students. The honored students are Carly Badini of Old Greenwich, who is studying nursing; J.R. Coster of Greenwich, who is studying university studies; Izzy Jankovich-Besan of Old Greenwich, who is studying anthropology; Thomas Jedlicka of Greenwich, who is studying business economics; and Jack Plaster of Cos Cob, who is studying finance. Local students earn honors at UNH The following local students have been named to the Deans List at the University of New Hampshire in Durham, N.H., for the fall 2021 semester. Harley Guerrieri of Old Greenwich earned highest honors for a semester grade point average of 3.85 or higher out of 4.0. Jessica Marzullo of Old Greenwich, Giovanni Pastore of Cos Cob, and Phoebe Myers and Ryan Carbino, both of Greenwich earned high honors for receiving a GPA of 3.65 to 3.84. Jaclyn Hartog of Greenwich and Madeline Brooks of Old Greenwich earned honors for achieving a GPA of 3.5 through 3.64. Mercersburg honors Greenwich student Maia Somma of Greenwich, who is in Grade 10, was named a distinguished scholar during the winter term at Mercersburg Academy in Mercersburg, Pa. Somma earned the honor of distinguished scholar for posting all her grades at 90 or above. Celebrating the birth of a baby, an engagement or a wedding; a high school or college graduation; or an honor at work or through volunteering? Send information on celebrations involving Greenwich people or places to gtcitydesk@hearstmediact.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) Eight Turkish citizens have been kidnapped in Haitis capital, an official told The Associated Press on Monday, apparently the latest in a string of high-profile kidnappings by powerful gangs. Hugues Josue, Turkeys honorary consul in Haiti, said the group had boarded a bus in the neighboring Dominican Republic and were kidnapped late Sunday afternoon in the Croix-des-Bouquets neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Those kidnapped were five men and three women, he said. Josue said he did not have any details on a potential ransom request, and no additional information was immediately available. Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters that a crisis desk had been set up in Haiti and that Turkey was following the issue closely. They are thought to have been kidnapped for ransom, Cavusoglu said. There is negative concerning the state of their health at the moment. Croix-des-Bouquets is controlled by the 400 Mawozo gang, which kidnapped 17 members of a U.S.-based missionary group in the same area last October. The gang demanded $1 million in ransom and held most of them until December. A diplomat from the Dominican Republic was kidnapped in the same neighborhood earlier this month and later freed. Last week, Haitis National Police announced that one of the top leaders of the 400 Mawozo gang, Germine Joly, was extradited to the U.S. He faces charges involving kidnapping, smuggling and import of weapons of war. The violence and insecurity has prompted Haitians to organize protests to demand safer neighborhoods. Gang violence has forced dozens of schools and businesses to close in recent weeks and displaced thousands of families, with many of them seeking temporary shelter in schools and shelters as aid groups note an urgent need for food and items including blankets and mattresses. The United Nations announced Friday that at least 75 people had been killed in the most recent gang clashes, including women and children, and more than 65 injured. It also noted gang rapes of children as young as 10, adding that the violence has greatly limited travel from the capital to Haiti's northern and southern regions. ___ Associated Press reporter Suzan Frazer in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH Aid has been flowing steadily to Ukraine and the millions of refugees who have fled the war-torn nation, producing a vast amount food, medical supplies and monetary contributions, with over $1.5 million from UJA-JCC Greenwich committed to the humanitarian project. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, local efforts have emerged to help, with a bake sale by a local teenager, a food packathon drive at Christ Church Greenwich, a collection of goods by a local resident and numerous other drives both large and small. Now, the United Jewish Appeal/Jewish Community Center of Greenwich announced last week that it had raised $1.5 million. A donor and organizer with UJA/JCC, Christine Toback, wrote on social media that she and others felt a sense of urgency. There has not been a more devastating event in our history as the destruction of the Ukrainian people and Ukraine. This is the time to step up for others, she said. A $1 million gift was given by Jane and Stuart Weitzman, longtime Greenwich residents who are both famous for their work in the fashion industry. A Stuart Weitzman shoe store once operated on the corner of Lewis Street off Greenwich Avenue. The Jewish aid and charity organization, which has an office on Holly Hill Lane, said the money would go quickly to work assisting the 5.8 million Ukrainian refugees, mostly women and children, who have fled the attacking Russian forces. The organization has a longstanding affiliation with groups in Eastern Europe. Because they were already there, our partners were able to jump right in with relief and evacuation immediately once Ukraine was invaded, the UJA/JCC said in a recent statement, The funds we raise via this campaign to assist Ukraine are being used strategically to provide critical housing, clothing, medication, cash assistance, mental health services, security and transportation for refugees fleeing the war, and for those seeking to make Aliyah (relocate) to Israel. The Jewish community in Ukraine was estimated to be about 200,000 people. The UJA/JCC is helping people of all religious faiths, the UJA/JCC said. The Greenwich organization is helping to support medical professionals on the ground in Poland and Moldova that are treating large numbers of incoming refugees. This spring, there have been numerous rallies in Greenwich by pro-Ukrainian activists, aiming to build public support for the Ukrainian people as well as to raise money for refugees and the embattled eastern European nation. The outpouring of support has been amazing from organizations and individuals as well, said Jaroslaw Palylyk, a leader in the regional Ukrainian-American community. The images of the destruction across Ukraine and cruelty of Russian troops have moved millions of people around the world to act in support of Ukraine, he said. The sympathy being expressed by these donations is brought on by the terrorist, genocidal activities of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, his commanding generals and his army. Any normal human would feel sympathetic to these ungodly actions. Sincere appreciation is given to the amazing donations and work of volunteers here in the U.S. and around the world, said Palylyk, president of the Westchester branch of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and a resident of Rye, N.Y. As Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo told a gathering of local residents at a pro-Ukraine rally at Town Hall in March, Anything you can do to help these people will be greatly appreciated. The UJA/JCC campaign is ongoing. To make a donation for its Emergency Support of Ukraine, visit https://www.ujajcc.org/index.php?src=forms&ref=Emergency_Ukraine. rmarchant@greenwichtime.com A Guam businessman pleaded guilty in the 2021 hit-and-run death of a rappers father and will spend no more than a year in jail. Owner of Allied Pacific Environmental Consulting, Charles Polevich admitted to hitting 64-year-old Robert Maraj at a Long Island New, New York, intersection. Minaj died the next day, according to New York state court documents. Maraj is the father of rapper Nicki Minaj, who was born Onika Tanya Maraj. After hitting Maraj, Polevich initially got out of his car to see Maraj on the ground, but then drove back home to hide the car under a tarp in his garage, documents state. Polevich will be sentenced for the charges in August, but was promised by Judge Howard Sturim of Nassau County Polevich would get no more than one year in jail, along with community service and a suspended license, according to the Associated Press. Both Nassau County prosecutors and Marajs wife, Carol Maraj, disagreed with Polevichs expected sentence for the crimes. Carol Maraj, who filed a $150 million lawsuit against Polevich, said she was not happy with the sentence and seeing Polevich in court left her shaking with the memory of her husband in the hospital, Associated Press states. The Nassau County District Attorney said in a statement the sentence was not appropriate for the severity of Polevichs conduct. As for Polevich, his attorney said the hit-and-run was completely out of character and his client feels remorseful for Robert Marajs death. At the time of Robert Marajs death, Minaj wrote her fathers death was the most devastating loss of her life. According to PDN files, Polevichs company provides services to Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. He owns a home on Guam and also lives on Saipan, according to federal documents from an unrelated civil case. Guam Memorial Hospital kicked off National Hospital Week Monday with an in-person and virtual proclamation signing at the hospital grounds, followed by a rally and wave at the ITC intersection. Observed all across the U.S., National Hospital Week honors the dedication of hospital staff. In my view, whether youre the environmental services technician, housekeeping team members, administrative support, staff security ... you are all essential, integral and public health professions in your positions, said CEO Lillian Perez-Posadas. You carried out your regular duties and responsibilities, in addition to all of the extraordinary duties and tasks because of all mandates and regulations. You all went into battles unknown, and yet you persevered. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero also acknowledged the sacrifices staff had to make while still continuing their duties to ensure residents health and safety during the pandemic. She thanked them along with hospital officials for how they responded to the virus, and commended how both civilian hospitals, GMH and Guam Regional Medical City, worked together. We came through, we are now only two COVID patients in the hospital, and weve remained that low for many weeks, said Leon Guerrero. This is a whole community effort and everyone came through and why? Because the end goal was save peoples lives. Now that we are in that era, were now going to work hard towards our economic recovery, and I want to say things are going to get better. As a registered nurse herself, Leon Guerrero especially wanted to highlight how nurses have gone above and beyond their duties as they were constantly in contact with COVID patients. Of course, I am biased for the nurses, and the reason I want to do that is during the whole COVID, the nurses were there, she said. Family couldnt be there. Patients were dying without their families, the nurses were there holding their hands. The nurses were there giving them comfort and peace during the last minute of their last breath. They did what they could humanly do. As the community still continues to recover from the pandemics effects, with this years theme, We Are Health Care, its reassured that hospital front liners are still at work. This is such an exciting time for our hospital and a wonderful way to be celebrating both our clinical and nonclinical staff here at GMHA after very, very long and trying two years, said GMH spokeswoman Mai Habib. We are here in person, and although were not truly out of the woods yet, we have come such a long way in our COVID recovery, and it is thanks in large part to the men and women who show up to our island hospitals every single day. For the rest of the week, GMHA staff will be taking part in various activities that includes raffles, food trucks, live bands and games. For the first time in more than two years, military officials are scheduled to brief Guam lawmakers about the status of the Guam buildup during an informational public hearing today. Since 2009, there have been 270 military projects started or completed in connection with the realignment of U.S. forces in Guam, at a total cost of $1.63 billion, according to the latest federal report on the Guam military buildup, issued in February. The military plans to transfer as many as 5,000 Marines from Okinawa and elsewhere to Marine Corps Camp Blaz, which is under construction in Dededo, as part of a larger realignment of U.S. military forces in the Asia-Pacific region. The first large group of Marines isnt expected in Guam until 2025, with others being gradually transferred to Guam through 2027. The total relocation is expected to cost about $8 billion, with Japan providing about $2.8 billion. The last time the military briefed Guam lawmakers about the buildup was during a public hearing in November 2019. The pandemic postponed further updates until now, according to Vice Speaker Tina Muna Barnes, the buildup committees chairwoman. The committee has scheduled four one-hour panel discussions, starting at 10 a.m., in the Legislatures public hearing room. The first panel will provide an update on the governors Community Defense Liaison Office, which the governor created by executive order in November 2020. It is the single point of contact for all DOD current and future growth activities. The second panel will provide information from the East-West Center, which received a federal grant to examine the relationship between the United States and Pacific Island countries and territories. Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum, president of the East-West Center, is scheduled to discuss the recent publication, The Pacific Islands Matter for America/America Matters for the Pacific Islands. The third panel, which includes representatives from island business organizations, will discuss the economic impact of the military buildup. The military, during the fourth panel discussion, will provide an update on buildup-related construction and mitigation. It is imperative that we gather all relevant stakeholders to get a more accurate picture of the military buildup and what its gonna look like in the near future, Muna Barnes said, noting Camp Blaz should be built and operating by 2025. Muna Barnes said the military, after the 2019 briefing, accepted written questions submitted by lawmakers and responded to them in about a month. Everything was answered, she said, and the information was posted on the Legislatures website. The questions and answers are on the 36th Legislatures site, under the Directories menu. Muna Barnes said lawmakers will have another opportunity, in connection with Tuesdays briefing, to submit more questions to the military. During this informational briefing we will be hearing not only from the federal partners but also from the government of Guam agencies on the impact of federal policy for the island and how we can best respond to these external issues, Barnes said. Tuesdays briefing will be streamed live on the Legislatures YouTube channel. A link to the channel is on the Legislatures website, guamlegislature.com. The military during the coming months will reposition Guams existing missile defense systems as it continues to work on a permanent defensive system for the island, according to Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, commander of Joint Region Marianas. A new 360-degree missile defense system for Guam, which currently is being evaluated by the Missile Defense Agency, could cost nearly $900 million, according to the proposed defense budget for next fiscal year. Weve done quite a bit of evaluation work to see what that comprehensive system would look like, Nicholson said in a video message released late last week. In addition to that, weve also held a few training exercises, introducing a few different operational strategies. The military late last year temporarily deployed an Iron Dome missile defense system at Andersen Air Force Base, and in March deployed a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery to the airport in Rota. A U.S. Army THAAD missile defense system has been stationed at Andersen since 2013. Weve done some other things as well that you may have not seen or heard about because theyve been on remote areas of DOD property, Nicholson said, adding that all the missile defense systems in Guam will be on military property. Nicholson in February said Guams missile defense system, for safety reasons, must be spread over different locations on island. It likely will include multiple radar systems and missile launchers and command-and-control facilities. As weve been doing the research for the permanent long-term solution for 360-degree defense of the island from multiple threats, weve also learned that there are some ways we can optimize some of the systems that we currently have, Nicholson said, which means existing systems will be moved to new locations on island. It might be over the next few months that you see some equipment moving to different places. You might see that as we do different exercises, we try things in different areas, and I dont want you to be alarmed, he said. This is all part of the process as we try to figure out the best way we can put together the systems to protect the island and protect the region. Former Gov. Carl TC Gutierrez is the president and CEO of Guam Visitors Bureau, permit czar, and chairman of the Governors Economic Strategy Council. Send comments or questions to GVB at communityrelations@visitguam.org. Lillian Perez-Posadas, Guam Memorial Hospital administrator/CEO, addresses those in attendance during a ceremony held in celebration on National Hospital Week at the Guam Memorial Hospital in Tamuning on May 9, 2022. Haiti - USA : Haitian Heritage Month, statement by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson In recognition of Haitian Heritage Month, celebrated this May, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24) declared : ""Haitian Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich culture, history, achievements, and contributions of the global Haitian community. From contributions to art, music, and history, Haitian heritage is an indispensable part of South Florida's unique identity. I proudly honor the Haitian American community in South Florida and throughout the nation. "The Republic of Haiti was born out of a spirit of independence and justice fighting the French empire for their freedom and becoming the first republic founded by formerly enslaved people. This spirit has shone especially bright through the most difficult times. "Through unimaginable poverty, disaster, and political instability, the Haitian people have persevered and demonstrated the vigor of their will. The last few years have been especially difficult for Haiti, but I am confident in their ability to keep moving forward with our aid and support. "For the hundreds of thousands of Haitians who have sought out a better life on our shores, this month serves to celebrate their connection to home and to each other. Haitian Americans form integral parts of our local civic, entrepreneurial, and artist landscapes, and I will continue to fight for their rights to be respected. "As we celebrate Haitian Heritage Month, we must call attention to the multitude of crises facing Haiti. I reiterate my calls on the United States government to provide greater security assistance to Haiti and support Haitian-led solutions to crises." HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... UDMO frees a hostage, one of the kidnappers arrested On Sunday afternoon, police officers from the Departmental Unit for Maintaining Order (UDMO) / West 2 and a Public Security patrol from Croix-des-Bouquets freed a young boy aged 19 years old who had been kidnapped on Thursday May 5, 2022, at his home, in Beudet 7 extended by 4 unidentified armed bandits. One of the kidnappers Jephte Joseph (21) who was watching the hostage was arrested. Kenskoff : an assault rifle seized Sunday, May 8, as part of a joint operation, agents of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) and a representative of justice, proceeded to the search of an abandoned house in Kenskoff, in which they found and seized an assault rifle and other equipment including a communication radio. 5th week of strike by clerks The National Association of Haitian Registrars (ANAGH) announces the continuation of the strike movement launched since April 12 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36418-haiti-news-zapping.html Despite several meetings, the authorities seem indifferent to the demands of the Clerks, who demand in particular respect for the 2017 agreement. Cuba Tragedy : Words from the Chancellor "Jean Victor Geneus the Minister of Foreign Affairs learned with dismay the terrible news of the accident at the Saratoga hotel. He expresses his deepest sympathy to the relatives and friends of the victims and asks them and the Cuban Chancellery to receive his sincere greetings." Let's recall that a gas leak according to initial information, destroyed the first four floors of the 5-star Saratoga hotel (under renovation) in Havana and left at least 31 dead and 24 injured, including 7 in critical condition and 6 in serious condition (assessment dated May 9, 2022). Eco-citizen reforestation day the International Organization for Migration (IOM - Haiti) supports peace and social cohesion in the border area of Damessou, where an Eco-citizen Day of reforestation was organized at the initiative of the mayor of Carice (Dept. North-East), with the participation of young people from the municipalities of Haiti, thanks to the support of "UN Peace building" Arrest of an 18-year-old robber The National Police in the South Department arrested in the town of Les Anglais an individual identified as Jameson St-Fleur (18 years old) in possession of a 9mm pistol. Jameson St-Fleur working in the public transport sector, in particular boarding passengers in vans. He is charged with robbery and armed robbery. HL/ HaitiLibre Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up Email Password Password Username Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password. Stay logged in Help IT specialists would certainly have a few words to say to their team leaders about successful or unsuccessful project management if the latter listened to them. But most software developers don't pick up their pens right away, and in very few cases would it become a bestseller that managers actually read. In the run-up to the inside agile conference, heise Developer invited Dutch computer scientist Jurgen Appelo to talk to us. Appelo is not only technically well-versed, but has also written nonfiction books on leadership topics that have resonated. What spurred him to write, his relationship to the "agile gurus" and the Agile Manifesto, but also his preferences in programming as well as low code and blogging are part of the conversation, which took place in English in the original. A slightly shortened German version is also published at Heise. heise Developer: Jurgen, you've taken on many roles in your professional life: Author, speaker, entrepreneur, but also software engineer and CIO of large development teams. What exactly do you do for a living today, and what path led you there? Interview with Jurgen Appelo Jurgen Appelo is a Dutch serial entrepreneur, author and speaker, and computer scientist. He is considered an expert on agile leadership topics and describes himself as a creative networker. In addition to his blog, he writes books, including "Management 3.0", "Startup, Scaleup, Screwup 42 Tools to Accelerate Lean & Agile Business Growth". Blog Noop.nl: The Creative Networker Pioneering management for creative organizations Website of Jurgen Appelo German version of the interview at Heise Jurgen Appelo: I am originally a software engineer. I studied at the University in Delft, University of Technology, I studied Software Engineering, Computer Science. But I was never really a nerd or a geek. I love programming, but my interests were far too wide. I also like bookkeeping and marketing and leadership, creating content and many things. And if you have so wide interests, then you cant just keep up with all the things that are happening in technology. So I had to give that up. I havent written a single line of code in, I think, twelve years or so. Maybe some day when Im old I might get back to programming as a hobby or something. "I love my C64, I knew it inside out" heise Developer: What was your first programming language that got you into programming? Appelo: Basic, on my Commodore64. I love my C64, I knew it inside out. I also did a little bit of machine language on it, and then I moved on to Turbo Pascal which was used at university. Then I learned other languages, of course. C++ and even COBOL we learned a little bit. heise Developer: COBOL is recently in demand again because of legacy code. If you know how to handle COBOL, there is definitely something you can turn back to for retirement. With a twinkling eye: would you? Appelo: No, I already knew back then in 1987 that this was horrible. I focused on Turbo Pascal and then I moved on to Microsoft .NET, and then I sort of quit. I became a manager, I was Chief Information Officer (CIO), and I managed up to 100 people at some point, multiple software teams, project managers, product managers and everything. In 2010 I quit my job and became independent because my book came out, Management 3.0. That sort of changed my whole life. Since then I have been independent: speaker, writer, entrepreneur. Trying all kinds of things. Some things work, most things dont thats how it is. Fur Fuhrungskrafte und Product Owner: Konferenzreihe inside agile Jurgen Appelo war Keynoter bei der agilen Konferenz "inside agile" am 3. und 4. Mai 2022. In der Konferenzreihe geht es online weiter mit dem Vierten Product Owner Day (POD) am 30. Juni 2022 (online): Produkte sollen Endkundinnen und -kunden begeistern. Product Owner und Produktmanagerinnen stellen sicher, dass die richtigen Produkteigenschaften gewahlt werden, sodass begeisternde Produkte entstehen. In der agilen Welt stellen sie uber kontinuierliches Inspizieren und Adaptieren sicher, dass ihre Produkte tatsachlich die Kundenbedurfnisse befriedigen. Themen des 4. POD: Meinungsverschiedenheiten: Komplexitat braucht die Mehrperspektivitat Product Discovery in Scrum integrieren Skalierungsframeworks uber Menschen statt Frameworks skalieren Richtig gute Produkte entwickeln Moderationsskills Werkzeugkasten fur jede/n Product Owner:in Ask Me Anything mit Roman Pichler Die Konferenz richtet sich an Product Owner und Produktmanagerinnen, die die agilen Grundlagen kennen und bereits Erfahrung in der Rolle mitbringen. Tickets sind bis 8. Juni zum Fruhbucherpreis von 199 Euro (zzgl. MwSt.) erhaltlich. Alle Infos zum Programm stehen auf der POD-Website. heise Developer: Management 3.0 what made you write this book? Appelo: I actually wanted to write a book about complexity science because I was very much interested in pop science around chaos theory and complexity, end of the 90s, early 2000s. Then Agile emerged in 2001, and I got interested in that for professional reasons of course, in my job in the next ten years as CIO, I introduced Scrum into my organization, and I actually learned how to be a manager in an agile context. And I noticed this topic was not really addressed by any of the "gurus" at the time. They focused on the team level mainly in the early years. heise Developer: The "gurus" at that time, who were they? Appelo: The ones who wrote the Agile Manifesto. Such as: Jim Highsmith, Ken Schwaber, Kent Beck, Martin Fowler... They had a technical emphasis of course. I devoured all the books. But I sensed: You cannot just change how software teams work without changing the rest of the organization. I struggled with that as the manager of multiple teams. So I thought: Okay, lets make that my topic. I went all in. Then I thought: Actually, this would be a much more interesting book. So I changed my perspective and it helped me to understand: How do management and leaders operate in the agile world? This was the problem that needed to be solved, and this territory was not yet claimed. With the research that I was already doing into complexity science and system thinking, I had a solid background to be able to write that book. That combination worked really, really well. Its just a great fit, system thinking and Agile. I could explain the management side of it, being inspired by how to manage complex systems. I am still proud of the book I wrote at that time, it cost me a number of years. It was boom, it was a bestseller, I did not really expect that. I had never written a book before. I had tried a novel a couple of years earlier, but that was a failure. Short Cycles, Fast Feedback heise Developer: What was your impetus to try again, this time with nonfiction? Appelo: I was in this role of a manager trying to figure out how to help this organization be a success, not having much to lean on in terms of available literature except for generic management or leadership books, of course. Those offered some suggestions, but they had no technical angle on things. I started with a blog, noop.nl, which I launched in 2008. For a couple of years, I just wrote. And that was one of the insights that was very agile: I wrote blog posts, short pieces of text that I got feedback on. I have often explained this as an agile principle outside of the software development work: If you write a book, begin with a blog! Because then, while writing, you can figure out what it is that people find most interesting. Where do you get the best feedback on? And where do you get peoples corrections and new insights through the interaction on the blog? At that time, there was not even Social Media. Everyone was publishing blogs at the time. That short feedback cycle is something that I learned from the agile gurus. But they applied it mostly to the technical side of things, getting fast feedback on programming, whether features work or not, whether they are being used by users or not. I applied the same principle then to management and leadership: How you get fast feedback with team leadership. The principle remained the same, the practices become completely different.These are things that I did as a manager, this is one of many examples where I had to practice what I preach. When I began my position, the turnover was about 15 or 17 percent in the company of people, engineers and others quitting their jobs, and I was able to bring it back down to zero. heise Developer: How did you manage? Appelo: Nobody left their jobs anymore. Because we introduced Scrum, I helped install self-organizing teams, they did their own planning, they did stand-up meetings, and they did retros and stuff like that. It was new and exhilarating to be part of that transformation. The funny thing was that we had a big open office space at the time, actually a very famous building in Rotterdam that was re-designed as an office space. The rest of the company saw the engineering part doing stand-up meetings and things like that. It was a big open space. I loved that kind of environment, but not everyone does, lets be honest, but that was what we had. At some point, Sales and Marketing was also doing stand-up meetings because they saw us doing that on the other side of the floor. That was pretty cool. I suddenly saw them doing stand-ups on the other side of the office. I thought, what the heck is going on? Word goes around. Usually the smokers of course shared these kind of things because they get together across departments outside of the building. heise Developer: Two crucial elements emerge - architecture can be helpful, and smoking breaks apparently were: do you see a connection between such breaks and creativity? Appelo: These are unintended but useful side effects of things that are actually harmful. Open-plan offices aren't so good for your health either, they have figured out by now but they do have some benefits: You can literally see what's going on on the other side of the company. Everyone has an Achilles heel, here it was travel heise Developer: Before Heise, I had also worked in an open-plan office. The pandemic then sent us into isolation. What was that time like for you? Appelo: I have been doing remote work since 2011 because I did not have an office anymore. I have my home and I travel a lot. I spoke at conferences, at events, all over the world, doing workshops, and I love that. I had some businesses that I had launched, licensing around my courseware that really took off. So, in 2019 I was travelling about 250 days, which is insane. I had a lot of different clients and customers, wasn't dependent on anyone. As an entrepreneur, you don't want to be dependent on one major client, that would be risky. At the time, I thought I had that covered. I didn't realize that I had an Achilles' heel, which was traveling. Thats how I made money, by travelling, and suddenly that stopped in March 2020 from one moment to the other. All the events in my calendar, all wiped out within a couple of weeks. Everything was cancelled. And I was like: oh my God! What is happening here? Thats all my income for this year that just evaporates. That impact was huge on me, on my business. Fortunately I had other things still going on that licensing revenue on my workshops that still continued, royalties from books. But the big thing had been the events, losing those was painful. But never waste a good crisis. This was the moment to try something new. I was mostly at home for two years, testing different businesses to generate revenue like a real entrepreneur should. And I think Im coming out of it better than I was before. Less dependent on travel, which is good. One thing that I learned: theres probably always an Achilles' heel, no matter what you do, and you should be aware of that. I wasnt aware of it, that it was travel. Who would have expected that suddenly travel would drop that way, worldwide, globally. I had never predicted that. But if youre agile, and I was, within two or three weeks I had the prototype of a new business running, and Ive been experimenting ever since, and now I have a new business model that Im working on, new revenue coming in. 1880s Saluda Inn shows off its renovation The Saluda Inn will show off its newly renovated historic building with a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. Thursday followed by a community open house from 11:30 a.m. to 2 pm. The community will be able to enjoy a self-guided tour of the inn and some delicious small eats prepared by Good Life Catering from Greenville, South Carolina. The inn, which features a combination of 12 uniquely styled guest rooms and suites with private upscale bathrooms, has been transformed with todays most seasoned luxury traveler in mind. A curated collection of furnishings and artwork will tempt guests to explore every inch of the property. While the historic inn holds true to its 1880s roots, it includes state-of-the-art technology and legendary hospitality, promising a seamless guest journey. Guests of the Inn can expect a complimentary continental breakfast each morning overlooking the Grand Lawn, and afternoons can be soaked in with complimentary tempting tastes to prime the palate and to ensure the start to the perfect evening, either on property or off. Reservations may be made online at www.thesaludainn.com or by calling 828-388-9027. Drug traffickers sent to prison Multiple drug dealers and drug traffickers pleaded guilty and were sent to prison in a term of Henderson County Superior Court April 27-29, District Attorney R. Andrew Murray announced. Superior Court Judge Peter Knight sentenced the defendants in these cases: Juan C. Vera, 27, of Hendersonville, was convicted of trafficking in heroin and received an active prison sentence of 90 to 120 months. Christina L. Duncan, 32, of Hendersonville, was convicted of trafficking in heroin and received an active prison sentence of 70 to 93 months. Jodi A. Mace, 50, of Horse Shoe, was convicted of possession with intent to sell and/or deliver methamphetamine and for being a habitual felon. Mace received an active prison sentence of a minimum of 44 to 65 months. Dakota C. Bass, 26, of Hendersonville, was convicted of possession with intent to sell and/or deliver .18 grams of fentanyl, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bass received an active prison sentence of a minimum of seven to 18 months. James M. Sanders, of Fletcher, was convicted of possession with intent to sell and/or deliver methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Sanders received an active prison sentence of a minimum of 48 to 86 months. All the cases were investigated by the Henderson County Sheriffs Office. Murray commended the Sheriffs Office for its "steadfast commitment to eradicating the distribution of illicit drugs from our streets and in our neighborhoods. Assistant District Attorneys Heather Brittain and Lisa Morrison partnered with the sheriffs investigators in the drug charges against the defendants from arrest through final guilty pleas. By uniting with our dedicated and professional law enforcement partners, we were able to ensure multiple drug traffickers and sellers will not be poisoning the streets of Henderson County for a while to come, Murray said in a news release. Collectively, we are working hard to make Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania counties a safer place to live, work, play and raise a family." MICHELLE THOMAS is the new mayor of Henley and took office today (Monday) following a ceremony at the town hall. Councillor Thomas succeeded Sarah Miller who handed over the chain of office in front of about 100 people, including family and friends. She pledged to use her position to create a volunteer network to bring people together and also create a fund to help primary schools support their children affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Cllr Thomas said: The effect of the covid pandemic on children is long-lasting and complex. Researchers are just starting to analyse the way in which our children have been affected. She also looks forward to being part of the planting of trees in every school in the area for the Platinum Jubilee next month and the visit from Henleys twin town Leichlingen in Germany in October. Councillor Kellie Hinton paid tribute to Councillor Miller describing her as a tough act to follow. Also at the ceremony, Councillor Donna Crook was elected Deputy Mayor and named her daughter Katie as her consort. Cllr Crook said: It is an honour and a privilege to be stood here and I really look forward to being Deputy Mayor. For the full story and more pictures, pick up a copy of the Standard, out on Friday. By Wen Weiru JMSDF and the UK navy hold joint military exercise. Foreign media reported that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Asian and European countries from April 29 to May 6. Tokyo's purposes and intentions for making these visits are worth close attention because they have assumed new implications given the complexity and sensitivity of the current international situation. Fumio Kishida's intensive foreign trip was allegedly purported to realize a so-called free and open Indo-Pacific initiative and to intensify cooperation with those countries on regional issues such as the "Korean Peninsula". No matter how fancy and plenty the Japanese government tried to make the topics sound, their prime minister's Asia-and-Europe trip actually had clear goals. One is to establish a favorable image for Japan and gather power for revising the Peace Constitution. During his visits to Asia and Europe, Kishida held talks with the leaders of relevant countries on regional affairs and hotspot issues, demonstrating Japan's attitude and resolve to engage in international affairs to the global community, and trying to increase his exposure and portray himself as an internationally active leader at home. Kishida had said that he would continue to push the revision of Japan's Constitution previously, and his attitude on the issue is said to affect the public attitude of the Japanese people. The second goal is pitching for the US and luring ASEAN countries to pick sides in the major-country competition. At present, the US and NATO are having an all-round strategic wrestling against Russia and continuously expanding their circle of friends to form a besiegement of it. Kishida has obviously picked the countries he visited carefully Indonesia is the rotating chair of the G20, Thailand holds the rotating chair of the APEC forum, and Italy and Britain are members of the G7, all of which have a say over regional affairs to varying degrees. During the visits, the Japanese leader was peddling Americas "Indo-Pacific strategy" by promising to make more investments and increasing military aid, and tried to lure his hosts to support the "Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific" and play a part in it when discussing international issues. The third goal is tightening the economic and security ties with ASEAN for long-term considerations. Seeing ASEAN as a key arena to scramble to get more say in the Asian-Pacific region, Japan has taken the initiative to improve its relations with ASEAN countries in recent years. In the economic and trade sector, Tokyo sees Southeast Asia as the destination of industrial transfer and investment and an emerging consumer market; in security, it regards Southeast Asia as an entry point to meddle in the South China Sea and a market of its weapons and equipment exporting. It is reported that during his visit to Indonesia, Kishida decided to provide an additional JPY 70 billion loans (about USD 533 million) for the country's port construction, as well as patrol vessels to enhance its maritime security capability. When in Vietnam, Kishida promised to carry out defense cooperation with Hanoi and aid its military development. It must be pointed out that Southeast Asian countries are only too aware of what Japan is up to and have generally kept a sober mind. Thailand's ex-finance minister Tirachai posted on his social media account that Thailand should not embroil itself in the major power competition despite the olive branches from the US and Japan. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presented to his visiting counterpart a calligraphic work that read "Sincere, Affection, Trust", which are the exact words that Kishida should bear in mind when engaging in regional or international affairs. Only well-meant moves could bear good fruits. Those who fan flams and form gangs will only backfire themselves. As recently as a year ago, sources of capital for U.S. oil and gas producers were extremely scarce and only came at a premium. Today, with oil prices mostly hovering around $100-per-barrel, the outlook is dramatically different. Now producers have many options for raising the money they need to ramp up operations or refinance to reduce debt payments. While this is a good position to be in, producers are now faced with tough decisions over which option is best or whether its a good idea to have a diverse set of investors providing capital. It is important to act with urgency while these sources of capital are available so that growth, development, or repositioning plans may be put into place and funding secured while market conditions are favorable. Its also important to negotiate terms that permit the company to perform through market fluctuations and uncertain times. Confronted with many choices, a company should consider its own fundamentals and objectives. Many debt-financing opportunities have differing maturity timelines and repayment options. Additionally, some lenders will tie up free cash flow for required debt repayments, while others may allow greater flexibility on repayment before maturity. Some may allow a borrower to pay dividends to investors with available cash from operations. In many cases, it is possible to combine more than one of these sources of capital to obtain enough financing for the oil and gas producers long-term budget. Among new financing sources that have emerged during the challenging times of the last few years for oil and gas producers are credit funds, which are lenders but not typical big box banks. These lenders tend to focus on more specific company profiles rather than try to service entire sectors. Credit funds absorbed a portion of the market share for senior secured loans when borrowers and institutional lenders dried up. Many such non-traditional lenders were successful in identifying high-performing borrowers that were being unreasonably hampered by general market sentiment. On HoustonChronicle.com: Will blockbuster oil profits mean more jobs, stronger recovery for Houston? Another new source of capital involves securitizations of producing wells. By bundling many different oil and gas producing assets and hedging price exposure, these structures can achieve investment-grade ratings for notes secured by oil and gas assets, and they attract a new investor class. Presidio Petroleum of Fort Worth, Diversified Energy of Birmingham, Ala., and PureWest of Denver have all recently announced securitization transactions. This new product has become a useful tool to replace all or a portion of an existing loan from a traditional big box bank. Securitizations also frequently provide enough proceeds to fund growth or pay dividends to shareholders. In addition, these companies reap the benefits of any improvement in performance or unhedged pricing from the securitized assets. Cash (flow) is king One common theme, however, both from traditional sources of capital and from new entrants has been a focus on free cash flow cash after expenses and a demand for more discipline in producing excess cash. Independent producers have heard the message and clearly understood the assignment. Many public companies have cleaned up their balance sheets to generate more cash, and, in many cases, to pay shareholder dividends. At the same time, many oil and gas companies have been able to raise investments by issuing rated notes and bonds, while not being investment grade issuers. Although the investor appetite for these products has been off-and-on this year, the companies with the strongest balance sheets have been able to raise funds with these products. On HoustonChronicle.com: Oil majors Exxon and Chevron yield hefty profits despite a world of chaos Now, with rising commodity prices and most producers recent results showing lower costs and greater cash flow, many traditional sources of capital are returning to the sector. Reserve-based lending by banks and other traditional institutions credit based on proved oil and gas reserves has rebounded in recent months, and high-yield issuances have been robust for financially responsible producers over the last few quarters. Meanwhile, the new and creative capital solutions remain available. These non-traditional lenders continue to be opportunistic, and securitization structures are becoming more common and easier to execute. At the same time, investments in public oil and gas companies have been performing well the past few quarters, driven by sound fundamentals and rising prices. For the moment, however brief, the outlook seems far better than it has in a few years. Daniel Allison is an energy and global finance lawyer in the Houston office of Sidley Austin LLP. CHICAGO (AP) Facial recognition startup Clearview AI has agreed to restrict the use of its massive collection of face images to settle allegations that it collected people's photos without their consent. The company in a legal filing Monday agreed to permanently stop selling access to its face database to private businesses or individuals around the U.S., putting a limit on what it can do with its ever-growing trove of billions of images pulled from social media and elsewhere on the internet. The settlement which must be approved by a county judge in Chicago will end a 2-year-old lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups over alleged violations of an Illinois digital privacy law. The company still faces a separate privacy case before a federal judge in Illinois. Clearview is also agreeing to stop making its database available to Illinois state government and local police departments for five years. The New York-based company will continue offering its services to federal agencies, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and to other law enforcement agencies and government contractors outside of Illinois. This is a huge win," said Linda Xochitl Tortolero, president of Chicago-based Mujeres Latinas en Accion, which works with survivors of gender-based violence and was a plaintiff in the case along with the ACLU and other groups. Among the concerns raised by Tortolero's group was that photos posted on social media sites such as Facebook or Instagram and turned into a faceprint by Clearview could end up being used by stalkers, ex-partners or predatory companies to track a person's whereabouts and social activity. A prominent attorney who was defending Clearview against the lawsuit said the company is pleased to put this litigation behind it. The settlement does not require any material change in the companys business model or bar it from any conduct in which it engages at the present time, said a statement from Floyd Abrams, a lawyer known for taking on high-profile free speech cases. Abrams noted that the company was already not providing its services to police agencies in Illinois and agreed to the 5-year moratorium to avoid a protracted, costly and distracting legal dispute with the ACLU and others. Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act allows consumers to sue companies that dont get permission before harvesting data such as faces and fingerprints. Another privacy lawsuit over the same Illinois law led Facebook last year to agree to pay $650 million to settle allegations it used photo face-tagging and other biometric data without the permission of its users. It shows we can fight these companies when they're taking these kinds of actions," Tortolero said of the Clearview settlement. It also highlights the fact that there are many ways that social media and the technology companies that collect this kind of information can be harmful to Americans." The settlement document says Clearview continues to deny and dispute the claims brought by the ACLU and other plaintiffs. But even before Monday's settlement, the case has been curtailing some of the company's controversial business practices. Clearview AI co-founder and CEO Hoan Ton-That told The Associated Press in April that the company was preparing to launch a new consent-based business product to compete with the likes of Amazon and Microsoft in verifying peoples identity using facial recognition. The new venture would use Clearview's algorithms to verify a persons face, but would not involve its trove of some 20 billion images, which Ton-That said is now reserved for law enforcement use. That's a shift from earlier in Clearview's business history when it had pitched the technology for a variety of commercial uses. Regulators from Australia to Canada, France and Italy have taken measures to try to stop Clearview from pulling peoples faces into its facial recognition engine without their consent. So have tech giants such as Google and Facebook. A group of U.S. lawmakers earlier this year warned that Clearview AIs technology could eliminate public anonymity in the United States. While Mondays settlement reins in Clearviews practices significantly, it should not end scrutiny of the company by Congress, state legislatures and regulators, said Nathan Freed Wessler, deputy director of ACLUs speech, privacy and technology project. Much of the strength of Clearviews artificial intelligence technology now a selling point for police and other uses is that it was able to learn from all of the faces it scanned across the publicly accessible internet. This companys approach was effectively a Silicon Valley mentality of lets break things first and then figure out how to clean up the mess later in order to try to make a profit, Wessler said. They broke through a very strong taboo that had kept big tech companies like Google and others from building the same product that they had the technological capability to do. O'Brien reported from Providence, Rhode Island. This story has been corrected to reflect that the settlement awaits approval from a county judge, not a federal judge. A fistfight erupted into a deadly shooting early Monday outside a motel in southeast Houston, police said. One man was fatally shot and another injured in the shooting around 4 a.m. at Diamond Inn, 8920 Gulf Freeway near Canniff east of the greater Hobby area, police said. HOUSTON CRIME: HPD: Teen shot in the back during robbery over shoes in Westchase Two men were fistfighting at the motel, Houston Police Department Lt. JP Horelica told Metro Video, recounting what he saw on surveillance video. Others then joined in the fight. Gunfire then broke out, with several people shooting across the parking lot, he said, adding he was unsure how many people were involved. This whole parking lot was full of people, Horelica said. Several people left in their cars, but Horelica said it was possible some were not involved in the shooting and left out of fear. The injured man was taken to a local hospital. No further information was immediately available. A man was fatally shot early Monday outside a home in south Houston, police said. The man was sitting outside a home in the 7700 block of McLean near Teton, in the Brookhaven neighborhood, when three masked people approached him about 1:45 a.m., police said. HOUSTON CRIME: Fistfight erupts into deadly shooting outside southeast Houston motel, police report The gunmen, who were also wearing hoodies, then opened fire, striking the man several times. The shooting was reported on Shot Spotter, police tweeted. Metro Video reported that the man was sitting in the front yard with his girlfriend when he was shot. No further information was immediately available. Jay Jordan Two men fatally shot each other at a game room in the Houston Gardens area, police said. Police identified the men as Anthony Craig Galentine, 60, and Joshay Craig Baldwin, 40. A fire that broke out overnight Monday at a power plant southeast of Richmond is under control, authorities said. No injuries have been reported at the fire, which broke out after midnight Sunday, at W.A. Parish Generating Station, Fort Bend County authorities reported. The facility is at 2500 Y. U. Jones Road. Emergency and fire crews are checking for hot spots, according to the Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management, which described the blaze as a hydrogen fire. The cause of the fire is still undetermined. A spokesperson for NRG told KHOU and other media outlets early Monday that the fire started in one of the coal-fueled steam-powered units at the facility. That portion of the plant, which was knocked offline as a result of the blaze, accounted for about 16 percent of the plant's output, spokesman David Knox told KHOU and other outlets. The plant is owned by NRG Energy and uses both natural gas and coal to create power. Several agencies responded to the fire, including Richmond Fire Department, Fort Bend Countys Office of Emergency Management, Hazmat Response Unit and Houston Fire Department. There were nearly two dozen emergency crews from surrounding counties who responded and assisted our Fire Marshall and Hazmat crew with this fire. It has definitely been a team effort with our most pressing concern, of course, being for the safety of any employees and our first responders, stated Fort Bend County Judge KP George. The power plant is capable of producing more than 3,600 megawatts of electricity.. That represents more than 4 percent of the power generation capacity within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT. While the rest of the plant is expected to stay online, demand for power is predicted to reach record highs on Monday thanks to hot weather blanketing much of the state. ERCOT estimated Texans could use about 71,900 megawatts of power. That's still less than the record of 74,800 megawatts of demand set in August 2019, but it's far higher than what is typical early in the summer. To meet the demand, ERCOT officials told power generators to bring back online any power plants that were down for routine maintenance. ERCOT and NRG officials did not immediately respond to questions about whether the W.A. Parish plant was offline for maintenance in the past two weeks or if it had been brought back online to help handle the increase in demand. "We have a number of plants around Houston and we will be doing what we can to make sure that all of those plants are available to make up for any loss power from the parish plant," Knox told media outlets Monday morning. Even with help from constables offices, Harris County again was the last of the states largest counties to finish counting Saturdays election results, turning its final tally to the Texas Secretary of States office after 9:30 Sunday morning. In a move touted by the Harris County Elections Administrators Office, constable deputies picked up ballot boxes from the 465 polling locations on Election Day and delivered them to the countys central counting station. Typically, that responsibility has fallen to election judges, the final task at the end of their 15-hour day. Even with deputies taking over delivery duties, results from Harris County slowly trickled in hours after other big Texas counties had reported their tallies. Dallas County and Tarrant County sent complete results to the state shortly after midnight, while Harris Countys results came in around 9:37 a.m. Sunday, according to the Texas Secretary of States office. With hundreds of polling locations spread out over 1,700 square miles, the states most populous county has a history of delayed election returns. Outgoing Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria announced her resignation following a botched March primary election. The county took 30 hours to finish counting and then two days later announced it found 10,000 ballots that had not been included in its final vote count. Longoria took the blame for the miscues and resigned days later. Her resignation takes effect July 1. The Harris County Elections Commission consisting of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth, Tax Assessor-Collector Ann Harris Bennett and the heads of the county Democratic and Republican parties voted last month to hire a national search firm to find Longorias replacement. Deputy constables have picked up and delivered ballot boxes during early voting in previous elections, but this time they delivered ballot boxes on Election Day, as well. Nadia Hakim, a spokesperson for the Elections Administrators Office, said the constables also will assist with the primary runoff election set for May 24. The countys elections office boosted its staff on Election Day by bringing in employees from most constables offices, along with Harris County employees across several divisions who were available to help, Hakim said. The process, she said, went smoothly. Asked why the county was the last to report results, Hakim noted Harris County still was within the 24-hour deadline for reporting results to the state, and said there was no issue. Harris County is the third-largest county in the country, she added. The Harris County Democratic Party issued a statement attributed to Chair Odus Evbagharu that largely echoed Hakim. Given that Harris County is about double the size of Dallas and Tarrant counties, we would expect the process to take longer, it said. We would never push for rushing through the steps required to ensure ballots are valid and counted correctly simply to finish faster than another county. Accuracy is essential to preserving our democracy, and we want the EAs office to be right rather than rushed. The Harris County Republican Party did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the length of time it took to count votes Saturday night. GOP Chair Cindy Siegel, who has been calling for Longoria to be fired since the day after the March 1 primary, reiterated that in a tweet Sunday morning, saying, Unofficial turnout for the May 7th election is 114,521 and still waiting for final count. What is going to happen in November? Go to Commissioners Court on Tuesday and tell them to get rid of Isabel now! Editors note: An earlier version of this story misstated the makeup of the Harris County Elections Commission. jen.rice@chron.com Jude Sanford spoke to his mother in 2010 one last time. She offered him $10 for his birthday. She wanted to be a mother who gave her child something, Sanford, 38, on Monday said in court. Before the years end, police found his mother, Sara Sanford, 48, fatally shot, nude and bound with rusty handcuffs. They arrested Steven Hobbs soon after in her death and that of a second woman, Patricia Pyatt, 38. Both victims were sex workers who had encountered the Crosby security guard. HOBBS: 3 Harris County defendants no longer to face death penalty prosecutions Investigators said they believe Hobbs had been targeting sex workers in east Harris County, near where he worked. Last week, Hobbs pleaded guilty to two murder charges in the hours before his trial was set to begin. He will serve two consecutive life sentences. Victims and their loved ones, Sanford among them, waited more than a decade to offer their victim impact statements. Hobbs, 51, was jailed in Harris County for more than a decade following his 2011 arrest amid repeated trial delays. Sanford, before a filled courtroom and with Hobbs sitting alongside his lawyers, spoke of how his mother struggled with addiction. I try my best to tell people who she was I know who she was labeled as, Sanford said. At some point, she turned to drugs. Dont know why and thats how she came to him. The son lamented that his mother would never know her grandchildren or the man he had become. He recalled her tears and guilt she expressed to him for selling a stolen jacket for drugs. Throughout all her struggles, she should have been loved more, he continued. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The 351st District Court was slated on Friday to hear from Sanfords son and survivors of his attacks but Hobbs was mistakenly transported last Thursday to Texas Department of Criminal Justice facilities, prosecutors said. He could not be brought back to Harris County from Huntsville in time for the hearing. Prosecutors brought to the witness stand a woman who said Hobbs raped and left her for dead along a road. She survived. Her account led to an aggravated sexual assault charge against Hobbs which was then dismissed as part of the plea agreement. HOBBS CASE: Suspect considered in deaths of 15 women The victim said not a word until the end but stood by as another woman read a statement on her behalf. The Chronicle does not identify victims of sexual assault. He tried to kill me, the woman read from the prepared remarks. Youre a monster and the worst kind of predator you decided my life didnt matter. She said Hobbs beat her, tried strangling her and then raped her with a gun against her head. He only stopped when a car drove by. Im rejoicing that you will spend the rest of your life behind bars, she continued. The victim then spoke up and said she was praying for Hobbs. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The daughter of another woman, Wanda Trombley, was expecting to speak in court but the defense objected to her moment on the witness stand at the last minute, officials said. Hobbs never faced charges in Trombleys death but authorities have long suspected that he was responsible for her death blaming a lack of evidence. Trombleys daughter, Mariah Trombley, said her 57-year-old mother vanished in 2011 and following an 87-day search. A police officer found her skeletal remains in September of that year on a property near where Hobbs worked while preparing to conduct radar enforcement. Police arrested Hobbs while investigating Trombleys death. Prostitutes in the Sheldon area, where she worked, described having been assaulted by a man matching Hobbs description. Investigators were unable to glean enough evidence to link Hobbs to her death because her body was too decomposed, the daughter said. She was identified through dental records. On HoustonChronicle.com: Amid claims of innocence, Andre Jackson sentenced to life in prison for murder of Josue Flores The daughter, outside the courtroom shakily read from a statement that prosecutors earlier distributed to Hobbs and Judge Natalia Cornelio. Her body was recovered behind a billboard sign in Pasadena off of Red Bluff Road, the daughter, who was 17 at the time of her mothers death, said. For the months and years that went on, I was losing hope in the justice system that my mother's suspected killer was never going to get justice he deserved until today. Mark Mulligan, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer She credited her mother, who once worked as a Galena Park ISD teacher, as the reason Hobbs was captured. If she could have saved more women from you quicker, to get you off the street sooner, she would have gotten into that van over and over again in a heartbeat, she continued. At the time of Hobbs arrest, homicide investigators looked into the deaths of 15 sex workers in eastern Harris County to determine if they were linked to him. He previously faced the death penalty but members of a Captial Review Committee with the Harris County District Attorneys Office in 2020 determined that he and two others were not appropriate for the punishment. nicole.hensley@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. Sign up for their newsletters, and follow them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. The last time the other prisoners saw Jacinto De La Garza alive, he had his face pressed against the glass panel of his cell door, his mouth contorted and gasping for breath. Black smoke curled around his head, they said, and flames leapt from the burning pile of clothes behind him. The other men shouted and threw trash at the lone guard on duty, trying to goad him into action. Minutes passed. The smoke thickened. Then, we didn't hear anything, said Elijah Woods, who lived in the cell next door in a high-security section of the Gib Lewis prison in East Texas. Woods is among a half dozen incarcerated men who described the Nov. 11, 2021, blaze in interviews with and letters to The Marshall Project. Prison investigators first described the 26-year-old De La Garzas death as a heart attack. But in a later report, they said that he died of smoke inhalation, trapped in his burning cell. His was one of two such deaths in the Texas prison system in less than six months. In March, Damien Bryant, 31, died in a cell fire at a prison 120 miles away; the corrections department said he may have been suicidal. At some Texas lockups, cell fires are part of life behind bars. For years, prisoners and staff say, starting them has been one of the ways that men in solitary air their grievances when they cant get medical attention, warm food or a chance to go outside for recreation. But if the state had done its part years earlier, the deaths of De La Garza and Bryant might have been prevented. For more than a decade, the Texas prison system has flouted state fire-safety standards by failing to address inspectors concerns about inadequate alarm systems. Without sprinklers to douse a blaze or functioning alarms to force guards to respond, prisoners have said, fires in some housing areas have burned for hours. The Marshall Project first uncovered the safety failings in late 2020, when men reported setting fires to protest deteriorating COVID conditions. A state report issued one month after De La Garzas death shows that while the agency corrected some violations, it did not come close to fixing the problem, noting that most of the fire alarm systems arent functioning properly. At Gib Lewis, the most recent fire safety inspection report from 2018 found that there were no sprinklers, the smoke detectors had not been maintained and there was no power going to the fire alarms in many housing areas.. An agency spokesman confirmed that the fire alarm system there is still not functional in all housing areas. But he disputed that fire-equipment lapses played a role in De La Garzas death. Staff failed to follow policy or training, Robert Hurst wrote in an email. It was their level of complacency and not an equipment issue that resulted in the serious incident. How cell fires get started There are a few ways to start a fire in a Texas lockup. Because lighters and matches are banned, prisoners repurpose wires from fans, radios and hot pots to create a heating coil, or they stick razors and graphite pencils into the outlets in their cell walls to spark flames. Then, they hold pieces of paper close by to catch the blaze. When the fires get big enough, they often toss the flaming balls of paper out of their cells to burn in common areas. Fires happen all the time, Maurice Christie, who is also incarcerated at Gib Lewis, wrote in a letter. Its been going on forever I started my first fire because the pill lady passed my cell and wouldnt acknowledge me. Amid staff shortages and months-long lockdowns during the pandemic, some prisoners used contraband phones to share images of the fires with The Marshall Project. Many states have fire-safety systems in all areas housing prisoners. Of the 30 prison agencies that responded to The Marshall Projects questions, 25 said there were alarms or sprinklers in housing units. Three states indicated that was true in most prisons, and one Florida refused to say. Texas did not respond to questions about whether its fire-safety systems cover all housing areas. Several prisoners laughed when asked if theyd ever lived in prison housing with working smoke detectors or sprinklers. That's not in our vocabulary, said David Pedraza, who befriended De La Garza in his final days at Gib Lewis, which is on the outskirts of Woodville, south of Lufkin. 'Officer on duty' recalls blaze When De La Garza went to prison for aggravated assault in 2019, his family visited regularly, relatives said. But then the corrections department moved him further from their home in South Texas, and the pandemic shut down all visitation. His letters home remained upbeat, but he was rarely able to use the phone, said his sister, Emily De La Garza. He would go months without him reaching out to us, she said. Relatives began to worry hed fall back into depression, or drug use. Other prisoners all described him as quiet, but several said they noticed a change in early November. They watched him pace in his cell, talking to himself. Next door, Woods heard him raging. He was beating on the steel bunk and toilet, he said. For three or four days this was going on. It seemed that his neighbor was frustrated because he hadnt been outside for days, Woods said. The prison, like many others in Texas, was understaffed, with almost half the guard positions unfilled. The officer on duty a new hire named Cody DeGlandon said in an interview that De La Garza seemed agitated and paranoid. Eventually, the man threatened to set a fire if the officer didnt get someone higher up to come down. And a little after 7 p.m., DeGlandon called for help, he said, but higher-ups told him to wait to see if the situation got more serious. So he turned his attention to other tasks. The blaze started small, but then De La Garza added more fuel, tossing on his jacket and the stuffing from his mattress. The flames reached half the door and I couldn't see my friend anymore, wrote Pedraza, who lived in a cell across from De La Garza. When I no longer saw him at the door, I called the guard and told him he better do something to get him out of there, or Id misbehave. The other men started shouting and banging. As the smoke grew thicker, Woods struggled to breathe in his own cell, he said. When DeGlandon noticed how big the blaze was, he said, he called again for help. He was worried that opening the high-security cell without back-up could violate agency policies hed just learned about during his six-week training. On the other hand, he didnt want De La Garza to get hurt. I was so concerned about making the right decision, he said. It was damned if I do, damned if I dont. From the neighboring cell, Woods watched as Sgt. Danna Warren finally arrived, to see if the officers might open the cell door and save De La Garza. But they did not. I dont care if he dies, Woods remembered hearing the sergeant say. Other prisoners and the guard had similar recollections. The sergeant could not be reached for comment. The agency said it could not confirm her remark. By the time the sergeant left, Woods estimated, more than half an hour had passed since the blaze began and De La Garza remained trapped in the cell. Even as the flames died, the smoke kept swirling. Panicked, DeGlandon poured buckets of water through the small gap at the bottom of De La Garzas door. I wish I could have done more, he said. 'Long history of noncompliance' For at least a decade, the State Fire Marshals Office has dinged Texas prisons for a long history of noncompliance with state fire-safety standards. Last years annual inspection report found more than 1,600 violations, including the non-functional fire alarms, and no clear timeline for fixing them. The corrections department also failed to install smoke detectors in many staff housing areas, had no records of inspection or testing for fire doors and had electrical violations in every unit inspected. Prison officials said the agency plans to ask Texas state lawmakers for the more than $55 million in funding needed to tackle the remaining issues system-wide. To experts, the continuing inability to meet state safety standards indicates a major problem. Fire safety is one of the things that is so fundamental for prison officials, said Michele Deitch, a senior lecturer in criminal justice at University of Texas at Austin. Youve got a trapped population with no ability to get them out quickly or easily. Investigation ongoing By the time DeGlandon called for help a third time and a lieutenant showed up with a team of officers, Woods estimated that some 45 minutes had passed. The guards opened De La Garzas door, and smoke billowed out. There was no movement inside. Officers pulled out his body. One of his thick rubber shower shoes was melted onto his foot, prisoners said. They took him out on a gurney, but we all knew the truth, Woods said. He was dead. Afterwards, investigators showed up to ask questions and take statements. Almost a month later, DeGlandon resigned. I spent a year in Iraq with the Army and everyone came back alive, and I spent two months in prisons and this happened, he said. The sergeant involved in the incident was fired and the lieutenant resigned, according to the prison agency. Another sergeant was demoted and a captain given six months of probation. None of them could be reached for comment. Though a November report showed the inspector generals office opened a manslaughter investigation, prosecutors said no charges have been filed because the death is still being investigated. The agency said the deaths of De La Garza and Bryant were both isolated incidents and that contractors had been selected to fix infrastructure problems at both prisons. Meanwhile, De La Garzas family has retained Houston-based lawyers Randy Sorrels and Ruth Rivera to look into the incident. Back at Gib Lewis, the men who witnessed his death said it still haunts them. I still sometimes envision him struggling for his life, Pedraza said, putting his face in that little window, trying to get air. Ask yourself: If Texas voters are truly clamoring loud and clear, in broad daylight, for the voting restrictions that GOP leaders tell them will protect election security, why do lawmakers insist on passing the legislation in the dead of night? Theres a certain irony, and brazen hypocrisy, in the fact that Republican senators were perfectly comfortable voting past midnight last month on a bill that would ensure Texas voters cannot do the same at the late-night polling places Republicans are trying to ban. Of course, resorting to desperate and unusual methods to pass controversial pet legislation is not novel in Texas. Back in 2016, the conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals remarked with obvious skepticism at the virtually unprecedented treatment officials gave Texas harsh voter ID legislation in 2011 such as bestowing it with emergency designation, suspending rules to expedite, bypassing regular committee processes in both chambers. The court said the radical procedural departures lent credence to accusations of discriminatory intent. 2022 PULITZER PRIZE WINNER The Big Lie: An Editorial Board Series This editorial is part of "The Big Lie," the Pulitzer Prize-winning series from the Houston Chronicle Editorial Board about voter suppression in America. Read the full series here. You dont say. A voting bill that truly protects peoples rights instead of raiding them doesnt need a shroud of darkness or legislative chicanery to prevail. It doesnt run from the sun or shrivel under scrutiny. Only lies do. The biggest problem Republican lawmakers have in pushing restrictive voting legislation in the name of integrity is that they themselves have none. The latest example came Thursday, as the House Elections Committee abruptly took up Senate Bill 7, the upper chambers main voter-suppression legislation, without any warning and leaving no room for public comment. The bill aids voter intimidation by letting partisans film voters they find suspicious and takes aim at voting innovations that helped increase turnout in blue Harris County, including drive-thru voting. Chairing the Elections Committee is none other than state Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, a young lawyer who earned his stripes in Texas-style voter integrity politics by proudly tweeting a photo of himself in November, in aviator glasses and a cowboy hat pulled low, announcing that he was headed to Pennsylvania to join Donald Trumps quest to overthrow the presidential election through baseless allegations of voter fraud. It surprised many when incoming House Speaker Dade Phelan entrusted Cain with his first chairmanship. It has been less surprising that Cains excellent adventure in committee leadership has, well, flunked most heinously. Last week, Cain blindsided fellow lawmakers by introducing a motion to substitute SB 7 with the language of his own bill, HB 6. His move, to hear him reason it, required no public discussion, since the committee had already discussed and approved the House bill. Cain played it coy as Democrats sought clarification and questioned whether this would gut SB 7 and replace it wholesale with the language in HB 6. I wouldnt say that, he responded. Lesser and greater evil HB 6 gives partisan poll watchers almost unlimited freedom inside a polling place and limits when they can be ejected to a narrow set of circumstances. It further criminalizes the electoral process, targeting elections officials who may fear that making a mistake could land them in jail (say, when trying to kick out a disruptive poll watcher). It also puts new burdens on those who assist voters who are elderly, disabled or have limited English proficiency, while also threatening them with a felony for even accidental violations of their oath. SB 7 also contains broad protection of partisan poll watchers while also giving them the ability to record voters if they think they are violating election law. It increases burdens on volunteers that help people get to the polls, regulates the distribution of polling locations in large urban counties and bans mega voting sites, 24-hour poll locations and drive-thru voting. See More Collapse Cain, speaking over lawmakers objections that they didnt have time to consider the substituted language, likely would have bullied through if not for his fellow Republican, state Rep. Travis Clardy, of Nacogdoches, refusing to cast a vote. After the committee reconvened later that day, Clardy supported the measure and the revised SB 7 to mirror HB 6 passed on a party-line vote. Still, it was nice that however briefly, at least one Republican on the committee believed that if you claim election bills are about honest elections, you should show a little honesty in discussing them. In March, Chairman Cain yet, again broke with legislative rules in a decidedly less successful scheme. He left about 200 people who traveled to the Capitol to testify on HB 6 twiddling their thumbs after he strayed from procedure in a hasty attempt to block testimony from Rep. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus. In April, the Senate approved SB 7 in the middle of the night after a slew of amendments that few had a chance to read in full with few people watching. As reported by the Chronicle, lawmakers adjourned at 1:39 a.m. April 1, then cleverly reconvened one minute later at 1:40 a.m. to declare a new legislative day, complete with a new roll call and a fresh prayer thus complying with public notice rules without slowing down the bills passage. If you really think youre securing the election, do it in the light of day, says Emily Eby, an attorney with the Texas Civil Rights Project. If you really think youre preserving the integrity of the ballot box, do it in front of Texans. Of course, Republican lawmakers dont think anything of the sort. Not if they understand basic math, anyway. An analysis of voter fraud cases by this editorial board found that over the past 15 years and more than 94 million votes cast in Texas elections, the Texas Attorney Generals Office has prosecuted only 155 people, with few of them facing charges serious enough to warrant jail time. The GOPs true motivation is not preventing fraud in voting, but preventing broader voting across demographic lines from an electorate thats growing younger and more diverse. The only threat at the polls is the GOPs attempt to bar the door. In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland sent Thursday, Democrats on the elections committee expressed their dismay at Cains actions, and the GOPs disregard for dissent. The viewpoints of minorities are an unimportant nuisance that is an obstacle to their continued control of Texas, the legislators wrote. The double meaning there is painfully clear, as minority voters who tend to cast their ballots for Democrats are the expressed target of voting restrictions. Some might suggest that we take comfort in the fact that HB 6 doesnt curb voter rights quite as much as SB 7. But thats like choosing whether to take an ice pick or a chainsaw to democracy. Texans should not be forced to suffer either when there is absolutely no cause at least, no cause other than the partisan one that Republicans dutifully serve at Texans expense, in the wee hours, when they think you are sleeping. Lawmakers in an advanced nation with deeply religious roots waded into the vexing issue of abortion last month, several weeks before someone leaked a draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion overturning Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 ruling granting women a right to an abortion in this country. The bill the legislative body approved calls for up to three years of jail time jail time, that is, for impeding a womans access to abortion. Its designed to protect women who often have to run through a gantlet of loud, sign-waving anti-abortion activists as they enter clinics. Another cohort of lawmakers in another advanced nation with deeply religious roots also waded into the vexing issue of abortion last week. On Wednesday, the legislators advanced a bill that would classify abortion as a homicide and allow prosecutors to criminally charge a woman who has one. The first group of lawmakers was in Spain, where abortion has been legal since 1985 in cases of rape, fetal deformity or serious physical or psychological risk to the mother. Most Western European countries, including traditionally Catholic Spain, have reached a position of relative consensus on abortion, acknowledging that it has always been a complicated issue, legally and morally, but not one that easily lends itself to sanction. Though exceptions are often granted, many nations in Europe bar abortion after 15 weeks about 5 weeks sooner than U.S. courts have generally allowed states here to bar them. The latter group of lawmakers is in America, where a committee of the Louisiana House of Representatives voted 7-2 to advance a bill that goes even further than the so-called heartbeat bill passed in Texas recently and under view by the courts. That bill outlaws abortion at six weeks and allows private-citizen vigilantes to sue anyone who facilitates an abortion. Experts told the Washington Post that the Louisiana bill, if it passes, might restrict in vitro fertilization and emergency contraception, because it would define a person with constitutional rights from the moment of fertilization. We offer up the contrasting perspectives on abortion to underscore both the wide range of deeply held views and the fluid nature of those views over time. Although we tend to presume that abortion positions are set in stone, as timeless as the Ten Commandments, that has never been the case. It took the Catholic Church centuries to arrive at its position that life begins at conception and that abortion from that precise moment is a sin against God. It preached from its earliest days that abortions were to be avoided, but also conceded they were necessary in some cases. As for the argument that life begins at conception the very thing that the majority in Roe said couldnt be decided with certainty? That was hardly an original position for the Church. As late as in the 13th Century, St. Thomas Aquinas was arguing that ensoulment didnt happen until around 40 days for male fetuses. (He thought it took about twice that long for females.) Evangelical churches in this country, considered the bedrock of anti-abortion views today, didnt discover the issue until yesterday, so to speak. Randall Balmer, a Dartmouth historian who writes frequently on American religion, argues in his 2021 book Bad Faith that conservative Christians as recently as the 1970s considered abortion a Catholic issue. Writing earlier in Politico, Balmer recalled that in 1971, delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis passed a resolution encouraging Southern Baptists to work for legislation that will allow the possibility of abortion under such conditions as rape, incest, clear evidence of severe fetal deformity, and carefully ascertained evidence of the likelihood of damage to the emotional, mental, and physical health of the mother. The convention reaffirmed that position in 1974, one year after Roe, and again in 1976. Balmer also recalls that when the Roe decision was handed down, W.A. Criswell, the legendary pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas and former SBC president, voiced his approval. I have always felt that it was only after a child was born and had a life separate from its mother that it became an individual person, and it has always, therefore, seemed to me that what is best for the mother and for the future should be allowed. Like Saul of Tarsus, people can always see a light, can always change their minds, but abortion among people of good will has never been black and white. Righteousness is not limited to one side of the debate. Alitos dismissive repudiation of Roe in his draft opinion is probably a portent, not only of how he and other conservatives on the court will rule in a few weeks but also regarding whats in store when they turn their attention to other constitutional rights. The right to use birth control, the guarantee of marriage equality, perhaps even the right to marry someone of another race and granted by decisions that rely at least in part, as did Roe, on the constitutional right of privacy could be in danger. The tide will turn. However long it takes, the tide will turn as it did in Europe over the years. Emily Matchar, writing in Atlantic magazine, points out that European countries gradually moved away from the notion of abortion as strictly a moral issue. In America, she writes, anti-abortion activists and politicians construe abortion as a clear-cut moral issue: abortion is murder, I am a person, not a choice. Western Europe has, in contrast, mostly come to see abortion as part of a larger conversation about what Matchar calls the collective good. Abortion laws there are more amenable to change and reasoned discussion, because they are not seen through the lens of fixed moral imperatives. Even in Ireland, where Catholic teachings have dominated public and private mores for centuries, the approach to abortion has evolved over time. In 2018, the Irish voted to repeal one of the worlds most restrictive abortion bans. That might not sound likely in America, where our fights over abortion have been so intense and imbued with a religious fervor that makes compromise seem out of reach. But if the court does eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion, supporters shouldnt lose hope. The theocrats may be leading the charge in places such as Louisiana, but Americans support for abortion has slowly grown in the years since Roe. That might not offer much comfort to women facing hard decisions about their own bodies in places where abortion may soon become a crime. But as the battle lines form for the coming political war, supporters should take heart from that trajectory. The choice before Republican voters for county judge may feel familiar to some in Harris County. A youngish woman with impressive energy and intellect (and a slight edge in the primary) but no political experience, is facing off against a longtime Houstonian and established party man who, in this case, is not an incumbent but certainly has the Rolodex of one. Alexandra del Moral Mealer, 37, is a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army captain who had hundreds of soldiers under her command in Afghanistan in her 20s. Vidal Martinez, 67, has been a fixture in Houston, serving on influential boards, working a short stint as a federal prosecutor as well as helping lead the lawsuit that brought two new city council seats to Houston to increase representation for the citys Hispanic residents. Their positions are often remarkably similar. The editorial board found subtle but significant differences in how they presented these positions. On the most prominent campaign issues, crime and criminal justice, theyve both promised to dismantle the consent decree in a federal lawsuit that addressed Harris Countys unconstitutional misdemeanor bail practices and took aim at racial disparities in pretrial detention and posttrial outcomes as well as money bails tenuous connections to public safety. I agree your wealth should not be (an) indicator of whether youre behind bars or not, Mealer told us in our candidate screening. Still, both she and Martinez insisted that judges making decisions in felony cases have succumbed to political pressure to show leniency to pretrial defendants, at times setting initial bail too low and at times failing to revoke others who have reoffended. Misdemeanor reform, said Martinez, started out nobly but leaked into the felony area. While we agree that the reformist spirit of some Democratic felony judges has led to poor decisions, were frustrated that both candidates willfully conflate that phenomenon with the outcomes of court-ordered misdemeanor bail reform, which seem largely positive. Both candidates insist on linking, with little evidence, the misdemeanor bail reform settlement with the citys recent increase in homicides. Its clear why theyre doing it: to pin the rise in violent crime on the Democratic incumbent they hope to face in November, Lina Hidalgo, who signed off on the settlement. But its disingenuous, confusing to the public and frankly, a waste of time when the bigger factors namely, a years-long courthouse backlog need urgent attention. Thankfully, the Republican candidates acknowledge that backlog and both say they would increase funding for law enforcement, and address District Attorney Kim Oggs ongoing requests for additional prosecutors. While Mealer said she would seek to grant her full request part of Mealers repeated promises to fully fund law enforcement in general Martinez proposed a more incremental approach to assess how effectively her office put those new funds to work. More Information Early voting in the May 24 runoff elections for the 2022 Texas primaries is available May 16-20. For more on where and how to vote, please see harrisvotes.com. See More Collapse Their views also overlapped on other issues, such as management of the flood bond and doing away with the new election administrator position that was at the center of the botched primary elections. The decision for GOP primary runoff voters, then, comes down to whose profile inspires trust, confidence and enthusiasm, and who has the best chance of beating Hidalgo in the fall. In Martinezs favor is his long tenure in the community. As we wrote in February, he brings four decades in the legal system, including as former chairman of the State Bar of Texas and has honed broad knowledge of the regions economy, infrastructure and other issues during his time on various boards, including the Greater Houston Partnership, the Port of Houston and the Houston Methodist Hospital System. We particularly appreciate Martinezs commitment to boost the share of Harris County children with health insurance. But some of his rhetoric, including accusations aimed at Mealers deceased grandfather, has been distasteful. His claim that illegal(s) applying for asylum were behind a spike in crime is the kind of reckless, inflammatory speech that has led the Republican Party away from the real work of governing. Certainly, Mealer engages in occasional hyperbole about crime, telling us at one point that she couldnt walk down her own street in the Heights, a claim we find dubious since shes faced far more dangerous situations defusing bombs in Afghanistan. Overall, though, her tone seems more respectful, and more conducive to building relationships on Commissioners Court. While we appreciate Martinezs connections to Austin he told us hes known George P. Bush since he was born, for example hes also ended up in his own political drama while working as a lawyer for Houston Community Colleges board. Given Harris County governments culture of cronyism and weak ethics laws, we wouldnt advise Republicans to replace a first-term Democratic incumbent who ran as an outsider reformer with a longtime Republican insider. Mealer, whose outsider credentials rival Hidalgos when she bested popular Republican incumbent Ed Emmett four years ago, told us it was her relative lack of connections that made her the better fit. She pointed to the election issues and the recent IT glitch that led Harris County courts to release nearly 300 criminal defendants as instances where she claimed connected Democratic individuals ended up in roles they should not have. She also touted her mission mindset from her time in the military defusing bombs and her ability to stand up to scrutiny from her time in energy investment banking. Given the overlap between the candidates, we considered yet another situation: the next Hurricane Harvey. Do Martinezs connections outweigh Mealers emergency response capabilities developed under high pressure? We dont think so. Mealer is politically green, her delivery is rough, she can be easy to rile and she doesnt know Harris County like Martinez. Shes also sharp, impressively nerdy with numbers, reasonable and authentic in a one-on-one conversation, and we think shell bring the energy needed to take on Harris Countys most popular elected official in the fall. We urge Republicans to back her in this runoff. Regarding 17 must-visit restaurants for Houstons Asian Restaurant Month, one for each cuisine, (May 3): Houston, as you know ranks high in diversity, and it was nice to see the Chron recognize some element of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month. But this article shouldve been written by a set of writers familiar with Asian cuisine, as wide-ranging as its scope was. Some of the choices sadly appear lumped together. Himalaya is a spectacular Indian-Pakistani restaurant, yes, but how could represent the many exceptional restaurants from the north, south, east, west of India, which has over 1.3 billion people and its own hefty representation in Houston. Theres an entire district in the southwest of Houston that features an assortment of delectable dishes from the many different countries that make up South Asia. Yes, we also have a substantial China Town, but three of the 17 entries in the article are from regions in China (typical American palate choices, I might add), and two entries for Japan (ramen and sushi, more American-oriented favorites). Yes there are mentions of Filipino, Thai, Malaysian, South Korean and Taiwanese food, but hundreds of better options exist. What it tells me, an Asian-American, is that the Chron couldnt care to celebrate the truly magnificent repertoire of culture we have in this city because it doesnt fit the bland palates of its primary readers. The Chron missed a great opportunity. Have you sampled Houstons food from Indonesia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Laos, and the fusion food that our melting pot has spurred? Sonal Patel, Houston Student loans Regarding Activists keep up pressure as Biden weighs student debt move, (April 30): President Biden continues to consider forgiving contractually obligated student loans. As a taxpayer, I dont remember co-signing these loans. I dont remember agreeing to the degree programs or loan amounts. I dont remember where the Constitution allows the government to print yet more money to buy votes of a generation. Bryan Roy, Cypress Why is Joe Biden only looking at forgiving student loans and ignoring everybody else? If he wants to be fair and equitable, shouldn't he be taking into consideration those students who actually repaid their student loans or the students who struggled to work their way through college and getting them some form of relief? And would there be any kind of forgiveness for the open balances on second mortgages or loans that parents took out to pay for their kid's college education? And what form of reimbursement will there be for parents who tapped their retirement accounts to pay for a college education? Just how far back should this forgiveness go? Robert M. Louie, Houston I am very much in favor of the government canceling student debts, especially since I would think that they will also reimburse those of us who have already struggled through many difficult years paying off our student loans. Debbie A. Schnautz, Pasadena Regarding Opinion: Bidens trying to buy votes with student loan forgiveness, (May 1): In a recent letter to the Houston Chronicle, David Reynolds claims that a lot of college graduates cant pay off their debts because they chose the wrong major and couldnt get a good paying job, saying, 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. I have news for David. My wife earned a degree in chemistry from the Illinois Institute of Technology and still struggled to find a good-paying job after we married. Mr. Reynolds, you know what they say about assuming, dont you? David Kelly, Spring Sick policies Regarding Houston ER doctors say they were urged to work through illness and avoid COVID testing in new lawsuit, (April 27): As a patient safety activist, I work with many frontline caregivers in the medical professions. They tell me that, one is often expected to work, if possible, while ill. Of course, there is a limit to this when the illness becomes overwhelming. There are indirect ways to impel work while sick. One way is for the employer to combine annual leave and sick leave into a single category. By doing that, an ill employee knows that she is giving up leave if she does not work during her illness. In health care, this may be an invitation to suboptimal care for the patient. Managing medical professionals during the height of the pandemic was not easy but expecting employees to work through their sickness seems a bit cruel to me. John T. James, Houston Win McNamee, Staff / Getty Images WASHINGTON The father of a Texas man who was imprisoned for years in Russia says U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz didnt do anything to help get his son home. Trevor Reed, a former U.S. Marine, was freed last month as part of a prisoner swap in Turkey. His father, Joey Reed, told the Dallas Morning News that he called Cruzs office on at least two occasions to ask for help with his sons case and was told the senator wouldnt be able to help publicly. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. 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. The warming center in Pittsfield opened last year as a collaborative effort to provide services and a place to keep warm during the hours the emergency shelter was closed. Pittsfield Warming Shelter to Close at the End of the Month PITTSFIELD, Mass. The city's warming shelter located at the Christian Center will be closing at the end of May after opening last year. Its last day of operation will be on May 27 and the structure itself will be removed on June 3. "I just wanted to make you aware that the warming shelter is closing the first week of June," Director of Community Development Justine Dodds reported to the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday. "It was put in place in February, as you all remember, 2021 when we were in the middle of the pandemic and there was a lack of public spaces for people to do exactly what we've been talking about, just to get warm, charge their phone, just rest," "And so the Christian Center has housed that for us, ServiceNet has been staffing it on a regular basis and it was a temporary trailer so the time has now come for that to be removed." The 24-by-60 foot trailer was a partnership between the city, the Christian Center, and ServiceNet. Opened in February 2021, it offered housing-insecure folks a warm place to reside in the hours that ServiceNet's shelter at the former St. Joseph's High School was closed. Christian Center Food Director Karen Ryan assured the panel that the center will continue to support the community with its services, as it has throughout the entire pandemic. A large tent has been set up on the property with tables and chairs and there are usually 50 to 70 people at the center for lunch, which is also available as takeout. A boutique that offers both clothing and housewares is available without an appointment and the center's food pantry operates Monday through Friday. Referral services are also offered. "Basically we were the hub. Up until like two years ago, the Christian Center was open and people would leave the shelter and come here, so our hours are a little different. They are limited at this time, but we're still here," Ryan said. She reported that there are a few people they have concerns about and are working to find resources for a senior woman who uses a walker so she can get into an assisted living situation. "The shelter's leaving but we are still here and we're still continuing services and, anything that's needed, we're here five days a week," Ryan asserted. During the meeting, she also reported that the Christian Center is working with an architect for a building on the property to house offices for agencies, showers, washers and dryers, and a place for people to be able to get mail. "It's going to be a few years but that's that's one thing, that's our dream is to add on to the existing building of the Christian Center, where we'll be day services, be working hours like nine to five where they'll be able to come," Ryan explained. "Agencies can have offices, they can take showers, our food pantry would move over there, so just to put that out to everybody that's our goal, that's what we're working on right now." The committee also got a presentation from Judi Barrett, a planner hired from the Berkshire Housing Development Corp., on a housing resource center that is in the works. Members had previously agreed that they would like to see the city adopt a facility similar to Behavioral Health Network's "The Living Room" in Springfield, which is a one-stop place for showers, sleep, restrooms, food, and social services. Local Author Will Discuss New Book at the Lenox Library LENOX, Mass. The Lenox Library will host local author Kevin O'Hara to discuss his new book, "Ins and Outs of a Locked Ward: My 30 Years as a Psychiatric Nurse," in conversation with Bill Everhart, former Editorial Page Editor of The Berkshire Eagle, on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of The Bookstore. Kevin O'Hara worked for three decades as a psychiatric nurse at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He is also the author of "Last of the Donkey Pilgrims," and "A Lucky Irish Lad." Now O'Hara tells the stories of the many colorful characters he encountered on the locked ward over those years, and of the camaraderie of hospital workers. Though intended to be entertaining, "Ins and Outs of a Locked Ward" has much to say about changes in the medical profession and mental health treatment over those years. Set within the framework of a transformative week near the end of his career, O'Hara careens freely through the years to tell his story and those of others. Berkshire Money Management Supports United Way DALTON, Mass. Berkshire Money Management is supporting Berkshire United Way's (BUW) #HereForGood Volunteer Month. As part of this year's initiative, the wealth management company with offices in Dalton and Great Barrington, has contributed $10,000 in sponsorship support, staff volunteer hours, and use of the Model Farm to host BUW's annual Live United Community Celebration on Wednesday, May 18. "Giving back to the local community is a core part of our company culture," said Berkshire Money Management co-founder and active United Way volunteer Stacey Carver. "Berkshire United Way sees, understands, and is working in so many ways to address the needs of the individuals in our county who struggle to feed themselves and their families. Volunteering for BUW is one of the most humbling and joyous things I've done in my life, and we as a team are proud to partner with this vital organization to improve quality of life in the Berkshires." iciHaiti - FLASH : Launch of test broadcasts of Radio Tele Educative (Program) The Ministers Nesmy Manigat (Education) and Emmelie Prophete-Milce (Culture/Communication) will launch this Monday, May 9, 2022 the test broadcasts of Radio Tele Educative (RTE) on the National Radio of Haiti (105.3 in FM) while waiting that the 102.1 frequency be entirely dedicated to RTE. These shows will air Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon. The executives of the Ministry of National Education are invited to provide all their support by actively participating in the programs. The Ministry also relies on the collaboration of all stakeholders in the educational community (parents, teachers, school principals, etc.), researchers in education or in related fields. National and international partners are encouraged to participate in these broadcasts and make suggestions that could help in the success of this initiative. Programming for May 9, 2022 : 8:00 a.m. - 8:05 a.m.: Introduction by the host ; 8:05 a.m. - 8:20 a.m.: History of Educational Radio TV; 8:20 a.m. - 8:25 a.m.: Musical break; 8h25 - 9h00: Interview with the Ministers of National Education and Culture around the project; 9:00 a.m. - 9:10 a.m.: musical break; 9:10 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.: Interview with Renan Michel, Director of BUNEXE, around state exams; 9:30 a.m. - 9:35 a.m.: Musical break; 9:35 a.m. -10:25 a.m.: Interview with Kendy Nicolas Director of Basic Education and Miguel Fleurijean Director of Secondary Education, around preparations for state exams; 10:25 a.m. - 10:35 a.m.: Musical break; 10.35 a.m. - 1.15 a.m.: Interview with Franck Wilbert Georges, Director of Training and Development, around ENI exams; 11.15 a.m. - 11.25 a.m.: Musical break; 11:25 a.m. - 11:55 a.m.: Discussions with Dr Erold Joseph on school health; 11:55 a.m. 12:00 p.m.: Closing. IH/ iciHaiti iciHaiti - PNH : Arrest of 3 individuals and seizure of 2 assault rifles Saturday, May 7 in the morning the National Police of Haiti (PNH) of the Center arrested in the commune of Lascahobas, three individuals Wisler Israel, Norilus Camilus and a woman Cathiana Jean, in possession of two assault rifles (an AR15 and an M14) that were seized. Since the proliferation of police operations in several neighborhoods, particularly in the Plaine du Cul-de-Sac, several gang members are seeking to settle in other regions of the country. The PNH has already arrested several of them in different provincial towns. IH/ iciHaiti PLDT, together with wireless unit Smart and ICT unit ePLDT, affirmed its support to the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), extending connectivity facilities, communications, and ICT services to the PPCRV-KBP Command Center for the National and Local Elections 2022. PLDT FVP and Enterprise Revenue Group Head Victor Y. Tria, PLDT FVP Group Corporate Communications Head Cathy Yap-Yang, and Smart VP and Enterprise Customer Operations Management Head Raymund Rivadelo, joined PPCRV Chairman Myla Villanueva, KBP Chairman Jun Nicdao, Comelec Chairman Saidaman Pangarungan, UST Secretary General Rev. Fr. Louie Coronel, OP, AMA Chairman Dr. Amable Aguiluz, and former PPCRV Chair Amb. Henrietta De Villa in the official opening of its command center set up in Manila. These services include high-speed fiber and data servers in their command center hosted in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Quadricentennial Pavilion, and Smart mobile handsets, SIMs and load credits for its personnel and volunteers. By providing these critical services to PPCRV, PLDT, Smart, and ePLDT are helping PPCRV in its poll-watching functions during the course of the elections. It ensures that the public, especially media and other parties, are able to monitor in real-time the unofficial election results being transmitted and received via the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Transparency servers. PLDT FVP and Enterprise Revenue Group Head Victor Y. Tria, PLDT FVP and Group Corporate Communications Head Cathy Yap-Yang, and Smart VP and Enterprise Customer Operations Management Head Raymund Rivadelo, joined PPCRV Chairman Myla Villanueva, KBP Chairman Jun Nicdao, Comelec Chairman Saidaman Pangarungan, UST Secretary General Rev. Fr. Louie Coronel, OP, AMA Chairman Dr. Amable Aguiluz, and former PPCRV Chair Amb. Henrietta De Villa in the official opening of its command center set up in Manila. "Over the years, PLDT and Smart have strongly supported the credible institutions that enable Filipinos to exercise their right to vote. Through its telecommunications services, the PLDT Group commits to provide the necessary support in keeping Filipinos empowered and informed as part of its efforts toward nation-building," said Tria. "We and our volunteers are grateful for all the support the PLDT Group has provided throughout our journey. Their support is very meaningful, in our difficult task and mission," said Villanueva. Earlier this year, Smart provided PPCRV with logistical support to engage and empower more youth volunteers across the country. It set up a dedicated mobile hotline for PPCRV, turned over mobile phones, and committed prepaid load assistance to the elections watchdog, as well as donated over 390,000 shirts, which will serve as the official identity shirts of PPCRV volunteers. The PLDT Group enables the country through its delivery of innovative and relevant technology and services to customers, enterprises, and the public sector both through fixed and mobile. It currently operates the most extensive fiber network in the country spanning 803,000 kilometers delivering connectivity and links the country to the rest of the world. These efforts are in line with the commitment of PLDT and Smart to help the country attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UNSDG 16 which calls for strong institutions. Back by popular demand in the Philippines, The Pokemon Collection by Secretlab is back for a limited time only! Combining the award-winning comfort of the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 with two of the most beloved Pokemon of all time, the Secretlab Pokemon #025 and Pokemon #006 Edition chairs are designed for the most fervent Pokemon fans. The Pokemon Collection by Secretlab brings together years of research and science-backed ergonomics to deliver a world-class sitting experience for Pokemon fans. Upholstered in Secretlab NEO Hybrid Leatherette for plush, supple comfort and featuring your chosen Pokemon stitched onto the backrest, the chairs are a one-of-a-kind memorabilia for fans across generations. Complete your setup with your favorite Pokemon by your side. The Secretlab Pokemon #025 Edition delivers an electric edge with Pikachu stitched on in soft velour, while the Secretlab Pokemon #006 Edition turns up the heat at your battlestation with detailed Charizard embroidery. Debossed motifs of your chosen Pokemon are found along the chairs side panels, embellished with Poke Ball detailing on each chairs shoulder and finished with a unique tab showcasing each Pokemons type atop the backrest. Available in sizes Small (retailing at Php27,490) and Regular (retailing at Php27,490), the Pokemon Collection by Secretlab will let fans of the long-standing franchise take delight in and choose either Pikachu or Charizard as their seat of choice while enjoying the latest ergonomic upgrades of the Secretlab 2022 series. Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. Receive information of your transactions directly from Exchanges on your mobile / email at the end of day and alerts on your registered mobile for all debits and other important transactions in your demat account directly from NSDL/ CDSL on the same day." - Issued in the interest of investors. KYC is one time exercise while dealing in securities markets - once KYC is done through a SEBI registered intermediary (broker, DP, Mutual Fund etc.), you need not undergo the same process again when you approach another intermediary. No need to issue cheques by investors while subscribing to IPO. Just write the bank account number and sign in the application form to authorise your bank to make payment in case of allotment. No worries for refund as the money remains in investor's account." www.indiainfoline.com is part of the IIFL Group, a leading financial services player and a diversified NBFC. The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others. In a diplomatic Bluebook, Japan described four disputed islands with Russia as illegally occupied areas. The new claim has increased the tension in the relationship between the two countries. Japan is having a territorial dispute with Russia and South Korea as well. Three of the countries call the name of islands differently. Japan refers to them as Northern territories, Russia calls them the Kuril Islands and South Korea named them as Dokdo islands. Agencies It is noteworthy that Japan and Russia have not yet signed a peace treaty to end World War II because of the issue. What is a diplomatic Bluebook? The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan publishes an annual report on the foreign policy and international diplomacy of Japan every year. The first issue was published in September 1957. What is the dispute? TASS The dispute is over the sovereignty of the South Kuril Islands, comprising Etorofu island, Kunashiri island, Shikotan island and Habomai island. Japan and Russia claim their territorial ownership of the land. Presently, as a successor state to the USSR, Russia has occupied the region but Japan continues to stake its claim on the islands. Why are countries fighting over it? The Kuril Islands stretch from the Japanese island of Hokkaido to the southern tip of Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula separating the Okhotsk Sea from the North Pacific Ocean. These are part of the Ring of Fire belt and have over 100 volcanoes, of which 35 are said to be active volcanoes along with hot springs. The location of the islands is significant because they have rich fishing grounds and are expected to have offshore reserves of oil and gas. The islands are significant because of their strategic locations as Russia has deployed its missile systems in the areas and also intends to start a submarine project to prevent American military use in the region. Japan claims its sovereignty TASS Claiming historical rights to the southernmost islands, Japan has been trying to persuade the USSR and, from 1991, Russia to return those islands to them. During the East Asia Summit in 2018, the Russian President and the Japanese Prime Minister talked about the issue and agreed to negotiate based on the 1956 declaration. As mentioned above, the declaration states that Japan gave up two islands to maintain peace with Russia. However, Russia indicated that the declaration does not clarify any countrys sovereignty and also has no mention of the reason to return the Habomai and Shikotan islands. In 2019, the Japanese PM stated that he will not withdraw control over the Islands and the country will not sign peace treaty till the issue is resolved. Several treaties failed to resolve the dispute To resolve and maintain peace in the region, several treaties and agreements were signed between Russia and Japan but failed to settle the dispute. In 1855, the Treaty of Shimoda was signed between Japan and Russia which gave Japan control of the four southernmost islands and the remaining land was given to Russia. AA.com After 20 years in 1875, the two signed the Treaty of Saint Petersburg and Russia in exchange for control of Sakhalin Island ceded the ownership of the Kurils islands to Japan. However, Soviet Russia seized the region again at the end of the world war. The Yalta Agreement was signed in 1945 and formalised in 1951 as a treaty of peace with Japan. Under this agreement, the islands were ceded to Soviet Russia and Japanese people were deported and replaced by the Soviets. In 1951, the Allies (France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union) and Japan signed the San Francisco Peace Treaty and made Japan give up its rights, title and claim to the Kuril Islands. Also, the treaty does not recognise the sovereignty of the USSR on them. With the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration in 1956, the diplomatic relations were restored and improved between the countries and Soviet Russia offered to give away the two islands closest to Japan but was rejected by Japan as these two constituted only 7 percent of the land. Despite taking many efforts to settle the dispute, the tension remains the same and Japan continues to claim its inheritance rights over the islands. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. A California-based Punjabi family was celebrating a pre-wedding function (Jaggo ceremony) last month. Due to loud celebrations, the cops had to reach the event since they received a noise complaint. Punjabi couple Mandiver Toor and his fiance Raman got nervous after two deputies of the Sheriff's department knocked on their door. However, the fear soon subsided when the deputies decided to dance along with them on the dance floor and groove to some Punjabi tracks. The video of the same was captured by wedding photographer Kanda Productions and was shared on Instagram with a caption reading, "When the cops get called, but its a Punjabi Wedding (wait for the flashlight) #RamoTakesAToor." According to ABC10, the incident took place on April 13 in the city of Tracy ahead of the marriage of Toor's brother Mandiver to his fiancee Raman. Manpreet Toor said, "We just sang, we danced, we just partied because we were super excited. The music was really loud because it was an outdoor event." The party which went beyond 10 pm was disturbed by neighbours and this was when they decided to complain about the loud noise. When the cops arrived, they asked the family to lower the noise. But the family agreed to do so on one condition, that the cops will dance with them. Instagram Instead of shutting everything down, the cops agreed to join them. Manpreet continued, "We spoke to them, they were super cool, super chill. We asked them to dance and then I taught him two moves, 'turn the doorknob', 'turn the lightbulb', 'crush the cigarette' and he got up there and he just did his own thing. He was awesome." "As soon as they started dancing, everyone went crazy," Manpreet said. "Everyone had their phone out, the camera guy was on stage recording him, we were super excited." Later, in a tweet, the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office praised everyone for their kindness. The tweet read, "Our Deputies were thrilled with the kindness and hospitality of the guests! It should be noted that the homeowners did agree to turn the music down (sic)." This is what happened when @SJSheriff deputies were called to a Punjabi Wedding to shut it down they decided to turn it up! People involved in the wedding tell me they loved the deputies energy and respect! @ABC10 pic.twitter.com/oIPYCWtzvK Madison Wade (@madisoncwade) April 15, 2022 The couple even sent their reception invitation to the two deputies. Follow us on telegram. New York City will pay $10.5 million to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by a man who spent 24 years in prison on a murder conviction that was overturned after a witness who had placed him at the crime scene recanted, city officials said Thursday. The conviction of Shawn Williams, who was freed in 2018, was the 14th overturned conviction linked to retired Detective Louis Scarcella, a former Brooklyn homicide detective who has been accused of coercing witnesses and framing suspects during the high-crime era of the late 1980s and 1990s. Williams, who is now 47, was convicted in 1994 in the fatal shooting of his neighbor Marvin Mason the year before. Absent any forensic evidence tying Williams to the crime, prosecutors relied on the testimony of a woman who said she had seen him at the scene with a gun. The woman recanted her testimony in 2013, saying she had been coerced into naming Williams as the gunman by Scarcella. The $10.5 million settlement with Williams to settle his lawsuit against Scarcella and two other officers was first reported in The New York Times. No amount of money can give me back the years they took from me, Williams said in a statement to the Times. But I am going to keep rebuilding my life and looking ahead to a brighter future. A spokesperson for New York Citys law department said the settlement was in the best interest of all parties. The city has paid millions of dollars in settlements over other cases linked to Scarcella, who has denied any wrongdoing. Richard Signorelli, an attorney for Scarcella, said the retired detective categorically denies all the allegations of misconduct in Williams case. Signorelli said the settlement agreement does not constitute any admission of liability or wrongdoing on Det. Scarcellas part. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits New York A three-judge New Jersey Superior Court appellate panel has ruled that an intra-family liability exclusion in a Travelers (St. Paul) auto insurance policy amounts to a hidden pitfall and is unenforceable because it was not cited on the policys declarations page. While not finding the exclusion itself ambiguous, the judges said a clearly worded exclusion can still function as a hidden trap if the remainder of the policy, and particularly the declarations sheet, would lead a reasonable policyholder to expect different coverage. The declarations sheet clearly stated that plaintiff, who was severely injured as a passenger in an insured car driven by her husband, had $100,000/$300,000 liability limits. Nothing on this page referred by cross-reference or otherwise to the list of exclusions. The plaintiff and, the court noted, even the experienced claims adjuster in an initial erroneous offerassumed the plaintiff had a $100,000 policy limit; however. the step-down meant she only had $15,000, the minimum recognized by New Jersey law. It in no way informed plaintiff the policy was subject to any exclusions under which an insured would not be covered in the full amount listed on the declarations pages, the court stated of the policy. The lower Hudson County court judge had found the step-down exclusionary clause to be patently unfair and against public policy. While the appellate judges did not rule on the exclusion itself, they did describe it as troubling because, they said, most auto policy purchasers in the state likely assume that an injured family member passenger in an insured auto would have the benefit of the full policy limits purchased and would be surprised to learn otherwise. The judges posited that this exclusion would mean a child severely injured in an accident caused by the parent-drivers negligence could recover only $15,000 in personal injury damages under a $100,000/$300,000 policy as in this case, whereas the childs friend sitting next to her and also severely injured could recover the $100,000 policy limits. The step-down in coverage and benefits is so contrary to the reasonable expectations of the typical auto policyholder in light of the declarations sheet that we will not enforce it, the judges concluded. The plaintiff, Cristina Dela Vega, was severely injured in the accident, exhausting the entirety of the $250,000 personal injury protection (PIP) benefits available to her under the St. Paul policy. Dela Vega testified that she consciously chose the $100,000 liability limits. Four months after the accident, a St. Paul claims adjuster offered the plaintiff the $100,000 liability limit on the couples $100,000/$300,000 policy. Four months later, the adjuster rescinded the offer, advising the company had made an unfortunate mistake and after further review determined the policy would only afford a bodily injury liability benefit of up to $15,000, and not more. The adjuster explained shed offered what she incorrectly assumed were the $100,000 liability limits of the policy to settle this claim pre-suit because the company had already paid $250,000 in PIP benefits for plaintiffs medical treatment and liability seemed clear. The adjuster claimed, in making the offer, that she had relied on her experience adjusting auto liability claims and hadnt actually read plaintiffs policy. The judges commented that prior rulings made clear that insureds should not be subjected to technical encumbrances or to hidden pitfalls and their policies should be construed liberally in their favor to the end that coverage is afforded to the full extent that any fair interpretation will allow.' The case is Dela Vega v. The Travelers Insurance Co. Topics New Jersey Relatives of the missing in Cubas capital desperately searched Saturday for victims of an explosion at one of Havanas most luxurious hotels that killed at least 26 people. They checked the morgue, hospitals and if unsuccessful, they returned to the partially collapsed Hotel Saratoga, where rescuers used dogs to hunt for survivors. A natural gas leak was the apparent cause of Fridays blast at the 96-room hotel. The 19th-century structure in the Old Havana neighborhood did not have any guests at the time because it was undergoing renovations ahead of a planned Tuesday reopening after being closed for two years during the pandemic. Havana city officials raised the death toll to 26 on Saturday, according to the official Cubadebate news site. The dead included four children and a pregnant woman. Spains President Pedro Sanchez said via Twitter that a Spanish tourist was among the dead and that another Spaniard was seriously injured. Cuban authorities confirmed the tourists death and said her partner was injured. They were not staying at the hotel. Tourism Minister Dalila Gonzalez said a Cuban-American tourist was also injured. Representatives of Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA, which owns the hotel, said during a news conference Saturday that 51 workers had been inside the hotel at the time, as well as two people working on renovations. Of those, 11 were killed, 13 remained missing and six were hospitalized. Gonzalez said the cause of the blast was still under investigation, but a large crane hoisted a charred gas tanker from the hotels rubble early Saturday. Search and rescue teams worked through the night and into Saturday, using ladders to descend through the rubble and twisted metal into the hotels basement as heavy machinery gingerly moved away piles of the buildings facade to allow access. Above, chunks of drywall dangled from wires, desks sat seemingly undisturbed inches from the void where the front of the building cleaved away. At least one survivor was found early Saturday in the shattered ruins, and rescuers using search dogs clambered over huge chunks of concrete looking for more. Relatives of missing people remained at the site while others gathered at hospitals where the injured were being treated. A desperate Yatmara Cobas stood outside the perimeter waiting for word of her daughter, 27-year-old housekeeper Shaidis Cobas. My daughter is in the Saratoga; shes been there since 8 a.m. (Friday), and at this time I dont know anything about her, Cobas said. Shes not at the morgue, shes not in the hospital. The mother said she had gone everywhere seeking answers from authorities, but coming up empty. Im tired of the lies, she said. Lt. Col. Enrique Pena briefed Comandante Ramiro Valdes, who fought alongside Fidel Castro, on the search efforts at the site Saturday morning. Pena said the presence of people had been detected on the first floor and in the basement and four teams of search dogs and handlers were working. He did not know if the victims were alive or dead. I dont want to move from here, Cristina Avellar told The Associated Press near the hotel. Avellar was waiting for news of Odalys Barrera, a 57-year-old cashier who has worked at the hotel for five years. She is the godmother of Barreras daughters and considers her like a sister. Neighbors were still in shock a day after the explosion. I thought it was a bomb, said Guillermo Madan, a 73-year-old retiree, who lives just meters from the building, but was not injured. The three-decade resident of the neighborhood was cooking and watching television when he heard the blast. My room moved from here to there. My neighbors window broke, the plates, everything. Katerine Marrero, 31, was shopping at the time. I left the store, I felt the explosion, she said. Everyone started to run. Although no tourists were reported injured, the explosion is another blow to the countrys crucial tourism industry. Even before the coronavirus pandemic kept tourists away from Cuba, the country was struggling with tightened sanctions imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump and kept in place the Biden administration. Those limited visits by U.S. tourists to the islands and restricted remittances from Cubans in the U.S. to their families in Cuba. Tourism had started to revive somewhat early this year, but the war in Ukraine deflated a boom of Russian visitors, who accounted for almost a third of the tourists arriving in Cuba last year. Dr. Julio Guerra Izquierdo, chief of hospital services at the Ministry of Health, said at least 74 people had been injured. Among them were 14 children, according to a tweet from the office of President Miguel Diaz-Canel. A 300-student school next to the hotel was evacuated. Havana Gov. Reinaldo Garcia Zapata said five of the students suffered minor injuries. The emblematic hotel had a stunning view of Cubas center, including the domed Capitol building about 110 yards (100 meters) away. The Capitol suffered broken glass and damaged masonry from the explosion. The hotel was renovated in 2005 as part of the Cuban governments revival of Old Havana and is owned by the Cuban militarys tourism business arm, Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA. The company said it was investigating the cause of the blast and did not respond to an email from the AP seeking more details about the hotel and the renovation it was undergoing. In the past, the Hotel Saratoga has been used by visiting VIPs and political figures, including high-ranking U.S. government delegations. Beyonce and Jay-Z stayed there in 2013. Garcia Zapata said structures adjacent to the hotel were being evaluated, including two badly damaged apartment buildings. Diaz-Canel said families in affected buildings had been transferred to safer locations. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was scheduled to arrive in Havana for a visit late Saturday and Mexican Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said the visit would still take place. Photograph: People watch the rescue effort at the site of a deadly explosion that destroyed the five-star Hotel Saratoga, in Havana, Cuba, on Friday, May 6, 2022. Photo credit: AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Chubb Canada, insurtech MGA Loadsure and Lloyds re/insurer Canopius. A summary of these new hires follows here. Chubb Names Johnstone President of Canadian Operations as Alfieri Retires Chubb announced that Paul Johnstone will assume the role of country president of the companys business operations in Canada, subject to regulatory approvals. Currently, Johnstone serves as chief operating officer in Canada. In his new role, which becomes effective July 1, Johnstone will have executive operating responsibility for the organizations retail property and casualty insurance business, including its high-net-worth personal lines and accident and health offerings for Canadian-based clients served by independent brokers and agents. Johnstone succeeds John Alfieri, who will retire from Chubb in July after serving the company for nearly two decades. Johnstone will report to Chris Maleno, senior vice president, Chubb Group, and division president, North America Field Operations. Johnstone has nearly three decades of experience in the Canadian insurance market, spanning the reinsurance and P/C sectors. Prior to ACEs acquisition of Chubb in January 2016, he served as senior vice president, of Chubbs Personal Risk Services business in Canada, where he oversaw the modernization of its operating systems and strategic expansion of distribution. He joined Chubb in 1994 as an associate in Commercial Insurance. Johnstone holds a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Windsor and holds a CRM and a Certificate in Public Administration. John [Alfieri] has been a tremendous colleague and influential leader throughout his career at Chubb. He joined the company in 2004 and played many pivotal roles, including developing the New York Region into what it is today and shaping our client executive team and overall field structure for our division that serve large national and multinational commercial clients, said Maleno. Under Johns leadership, Chubbs Canadian commercial and personal lines of business have experienced significant growth, in turn preparing his successor to further that upward trajectory. We thank John for his many contributions and wish him the very best in his retirement. *** Insurtech MGA Loadsure Promotes 2 for Senior Team Insurtech MGA Loadsure announced it has promoted Nathan Trimble to chief commercial officer and Kate Lawson to head of People & Culture, effective immediately. They both report to Jim Heide, chief operating officer. Trimble has over 20 years of industry experience and joined London-based Loadsure in 2021 as executive vice president Sales & Business Development. He previously held a variety of senior sales roles at insurance firms including insurtech MGA Corvus Insurance. At Loadsure he is responsible for managing the market strategy, client engagement, sales activities, and growing sales team. His proven history of ensuring customer success has become an integral part of powering Loadsures growth. Lawson brings with her more than 20 years of administrative experience, 12 of which she had a specialist focus in HR and is Level 5 CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) qualified. In this new role, she will be heading Loadsures strategy to support and maintain the companys open and entrepreneurial culture, supporting its growing workforce, as well as efforts to continually recruit the best talent possible. About Loadsure A Lloyds coverholder, Loadsure leverages AI and automation to provide pay-as-you-go, digital insurance for brokers, shippers, and carriers. Through Loadsure.net and leading transport management systems (TMS) platforms, transactional coverage can be automatedor secured in less than 40 secondswith claims resolved in minutes. *** Canopius Names Atriums Wallace as Head of Marine Treaty Canopius Group, the London-based specialty re/insurer, announced the appointment of Claire Wallace as head of Marine Treaty, effective immediately. Based in London and reporting to Canopius head of Specialty Reinsurance Chris Gray, Wallace will be responsible for leading a team of global underwriters writing marine and energy treaty reinsurance. Wallace joins Canopius from Atrium, where, since 2014, she held the title of marine reinsurance underwriter, writing the marine and energy excess loss account, for London and international clients. Prior to that, she worked for Canopius, where she began her underwriting career in 2008. Before that, she spent 18 years as a marine and energy reinsurance broker, most recently for Aon. About Canopius Canopius is a global specialty re/insurer with underwriting operations in Australia, Bermuda, China, Singapore, the UK and US. It underwrites through Lloyds Syndicates 4444 (managed by Canopius Managing Agents Ltd.), a U.S. surplus lines insurer, Canopius US Insurance Inc. and Canopius Reinsurance Ltd, a Bermuda based Class 4 Reinsurer. Topics Insurance Wholesale Canada Chubb Christian Klein was in his second year as chief executive of SAP SE in January 2021 when he addressed a staff meeting to field questions about the imminent launch of a new push into cloud computing. A staffer took Klein, 42, to task over female representation. If gender equality and women in leadership is important to SAP, why are there no female speakers? one employee asked through a moderator, concerning the event planned for the announcement later that month. Kleins response took the audience aback. He said the question was fair, and that SAP needs to improve its diversity. However, he added that he couldnt change the status quo overnight. You cant just have anyone on the stage who has no clue on the topic, Klein said, according to a recording of the event. Several female employees found his response offensive because it suggested he regarded women as unknowledgeable, and they lodged complaints seen by senior management, according to people with direct knowledge of the interchange. While Klein later walked back the comments, the clash struck at the heart of SAPs struggle to elevate and retain women in some of its senior-most positions, including the former co-CEO and a one-time president of SAPs operations in Asia. Although the companys policy permits close personal connections between colleagues as long as they avoid conflicts of interest, some women believe the policy tacitly condones inappropriate behavior. The software company has hosted networking events that involve heavy drinking and have resulted in unwelcome advances from senior male managers toward female colleagues, according to more than a dozen current and former SAP employees. Some women who have complained about mistreatment, such as bullying, unfair treatment, or offensive sexual advances, found HR to be unhelpful or hostile, in some cases moving women to other roles or pushing them out of the company entirely, several people said. The people who spoke to Bloomberg requested anonymity because they fear reprisals and dont want to jeopardize their job prospects. SAP has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment and unlawful discrimination of all kinds, Joellen Perry, an SAP spokeswoman, said in a statement. We have a robust process for investigating 100% of reported allegations, and consequences for those found to be in violation of our policies can and have included termination of employment. Walldorf, Germany-based SAP is Europes largest technology company, but its businesses span the globe, and it employs more than 31,000 people in the U.S. SAP has been struggling with a new strategy and fierce competition from rivals including Microsoft Corp., Oracle Corp. and Workday Inc. The stock has declined about 25% this year, giving SAP a market capitalization of about 115 billion euros ($122 billion). The swoon reflects a pandemic-related drop in demand for the companys Concur travel-expense management software, as well as concerns that Kleins strategic shift toward cloud-based products has yet to bear fruit. Companies across the technology industry have struggled to promote women to the highest levels. Research has shown that executives rarely attempt to change their company in a structural way to improve gender equality, and a PwC study of 2,000 UK university students showed 78% of students cant name a famous woman working in technology. But while major U.S. tech companies have been accused of failing to support women, many of their European rivals have largely managed to avoid similar scrutiny. In the U.S., technology bellwethers, from Activision Blizzard Inc. to Uber Technologies Inc., have well-documented histories of failing to combat harassment. Others, including Intel Corp. and Hewlett-Packard, have removed CEOs after learning that they were involved in intimate relationships with colleagues. Google parent Alphabet Inc. pledged $310 million in 2020 to expand diversity efforts and resolve shareholder litigation that alleged the companys board to failed to prevent sexual harassment and hid misconduct by executives. In Europe, more than a dozen people made public claims of sexual harassment and abuse against employees of French game-maker Ubisoft. SAP made history in 2019 when it promoted Jennifer Morgan, 51, to the role of co-CEO, alongside Klein. She was the first woman to lead one of Germanys 30 largest listed companies. But the pair disagreed on key issues from the start, Klein said in an interview in 2020. The co-CEO structure was disorganized and, at times, chaotic, a person with knowledge of the matter said at the time. Morgan helped oversee operations from SAPs U.S. office outside Philadelphia, while Klein worked from headquarters in Walldorf, remaining close to Hasso Plattner, 78, SAPs influential co-founder and chairman. After less than a year, Morgan was on the way out. She is currently global head of portfolio operations at Blackstone Inc. Eight months after Morgans exit, Adaire Fox-Martin, an executive board member and the former president of SAPs Asia Pacific Japan business through 2017, announced her departure. Fox-Martin was a mentor to many women at SAP, and her resignation caused shockwaves among senior female leaders, several employees said. Fox-Martin, who has since taken a role leading Googles European cloud business, didnt respond to LinkedIn messages requesting comment. Morgan did not respond to requests for comment. SAP added new female employee representatives to its board in 2019, and it hired former Microsoft executives Sabine Bendiek, 55, and Julia White, 48, to senior roles in 2021. About a third of SAPs staff are female, with 28.3% in leadership roles in 2021, up from 26.4% in 2019, according to company data, putting it on par with some peers. Even so, the departures fueled concern that women are unable to thrive in senior leadership roles at SAP, according to people who spoke to Bloomberg. Fox-Martins exit was particularly demoralizing for women in SAPs Asia-Pacific region, which has experienced instances of inappropriate behavior in and out of the office, several employees said. After a company event in Sydney in January 2019, a group of executives and employees visited Frankies Pizza, a rock-and-roll-themed dive bar at the center of the city, according to people in attendance. A senior Australian executive made unwanted advances, including groping, toward a junior female colleague, the people who were there said. The woman didnt file a formal complaint because she didnt think SAPs human resources department would help, and the executive was never disciplined, said a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Such incidents werent confined to the Asia-Pacific region, current and former employees said. In Europe, after an alcohol-fueled event in Barcelona in 2020, a male sales executive took photos of a female colleague who had fallen asleep on a bus. The photos were passed around a WhatsApp group consisting of male sales staff, one person said. SAPs Perry said the company was unable to verify any of the incidents reported by Bloomberg. SAP is committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace, she said. We have often been recognized by independent external parties as an outstanding place to work for women and employee feedback suggests the strong majority of employees agree we create and maintain an equitable workplace. Many women, including senior managers, said they have been conditioned to avoid events like these. Others said female employees often feel compelled to attend because they present a rare opportunity to network. SAP requires staff to complete diversity and inclusion training every year. The company said its employees have a variety of options for reporting instances of harassment, and that 81% of employees surveyed in 2021 believed that SAP has equal opportunities regardless of gender or age. Bloomberg spoke with female executives who said they found SAP to be supportive of their careers. They asked not to be identified because they arent authorized to speak to reporters without a managers approval. Even so, some employees said that they are reluctant to complain to HR for fear of reprisals or because they doubt HR will take action. One UK employee who left an unflattering review of her manager in an anonymous questionnaire said he confronted her about the issues shortly afterward. She said that the experience made her afraid to bring up more serious complaints after she experienced discrimination and inappropriate sexual advances at work at a later date. This was among the instances SAP said it was unable to verify. Another high-ranking former female employee in Asia said she complained to HR about a manager who made inappropriate comments and asked her to keep her webcam on during the day. She said that after her complaint, which occurred in recent years, she was put on a performance plan, an initiative aimed at boosting the output of underperformers that often serves as a prelude to firing. A woman who said she was harassed by male executives at off-site events in recent years said she didnt go to HR in part because of the companys reputation for pushing out people who complain. One female executive whos since left the company said her direct reports, including men and women, told her they believed they could go only to her, and not HR, with problems. Their concern, they told her, was that HR ignored complaints and acted in the interests of managers not rank-and-file workers. Bloombergs failure to provide sufficient information means weve been unable to verify the four anecdotes provided across three years and three continents, Perry said. SAPs gender-related issues have surfaced in at least one court case. A former executive in Singapore, Billie Jean Burlingame, said that her job was cut in a reorganization last year after she spoke out against gender discrimination at the company, according to an ongoing lawsuit filed with the countrys High Court in December 2020. Burlingame, one of the highest-ranking women in the country, said in filings that she met or exceeded her performance targets and was on her former bosss succession plan. Even so, SAP said she was unsuitable for her former managers role or any others she applied for after her position was eliminated, according to the court documents. SAPs Perry said the company doesnt comment on ongoing litigation. Two weeks after Kleins comments at the company meeting in January last year, he attempted to make amends in a video shared internally. I was by far not clear enough, he said, adding that hed spent time reflecting on past hiring. I can absolutely say, no, I wasnt always looking at diversity and inclusion, he said. And that isnt a bad intention, but you pick the people you know around you. With assistance from Tom Giles. Photograph: The SAP SE logo sits on display at the companys headquarter campus site in Walldorf, Germany, on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. Photo credit: Alex Kraus/Bloomberg Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. The European Union is set to soften its sanctions package on Russian oil exports after a weekend of wrangling, though it aims to keep a key shipping provision that will hinder Moscows ability to export its crude. The bloc will drop a proposed ban on EU-owned vessels transporting Russian oil to third countries, according to documents seen by Bloomberg and people familiar with the matter. Critically, a prohibition on insurance remains in the works and would remain a significant impediment to exports. EU Seeks to Target Russias Global Oil Exports With Insurance, Services Ban Greece, whose economy is heavily reliant on shipping, was among the member states that pushed the provision on exporting to third countries to be dropped from the EUs sixth package of sanctions over Russias invasion of Ukraine, the people said. The lack of a single position among Group of Seven nations was central to the proposal being dropped. The measure would have further dented Moscows exports a vital source of hard currency especially given that Greeks own more than a quarter of the worlds oil tankers by capacity. But current proposals will nevertheless make life considerably harder for Moscow, assuming they are adopted. The ban on providing insurance would span the vast majority of the global fleet of oil tankers seeking to transport Russian barrels. Tanker companies insure their vessels collectively against risks including oil spills. Through an over-arching organization called the International Group of P&I Clubs in London, vessel owners collectively purchase cover from 80 reinsurers, including from more than 20 of the 25 largest providers in the world. As such, an insurance ban would make it all but impossible to obtain such cover given how many reinsurers are European, according to a senior lead underwriter directly involved in the trade. The International Groups members sort out cover for 95% of the tanker fleet for spills and other maritime liabilities. If they could no longer do so, then it would force Moscow or its buyers to come up with alternative arrangements at a time when Russia is already being heavily sanctioned. EU countries are still debating the sixth package, with diplomats trying to overcome objections from Hungary to a proposed ban on Russian oil. They were unable to reach a deal over the weekend. In its initial proposal, the EU had planned to prohibit the transportation, including through ship-to-ship transfers, to third countries of crude oil and petroleum products that originate in Russia, or have been exported from Russia. That has now been dropped. The EUs executive arm is also proposing to ban European companies from providing services, including insurance, that are needed to transport Russian oil anywhere in the world. That provision is expected to stay, despite a reluctance from some member states, the people said. Discussions are ongoing and measures could change by the time they are approved by all 27 countries. Under the current proposals, the ban will fully exempt goods that dont originate in Russia even if they transit through the country. That would free up oil from Kazakhstan or other third countries. The EUs proposal seeks to ban crude oil imports into the bloc over the next six months and refined fuels by early January. European companies would be barred from providing technical assistance, brokering services, financing or financial assistance or any other services related to those prohibitions. Shipping Bottleneck The EU had offered Hungary and Slovakia until the end of 2024 to comply with the measures and the Czech Republic until June of the same year since they are heavily reliant on Russian crude. Bulgaria was also seeking a similar transition period, the people said. The EU had hoped to reach an agreement on Sunday to align with a G-7 announcement to phase out Russian oil, ahead of Moscows Victory Day parade, which commemorates Russias defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. The people said Hungarys stance wasnt political and that Budapest was seeking technical assurances that would guarantee its energy security given how reliant the country is on Russian supplies. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that his country needs more time and investments to make the transition. Diplomats remain confident that an agreement can be reached in the coming days. One of the people said that, as well as the importance of supplies from Kazakhstan, guarantees on the investments needed to finance the transition away from Russia, are also central to the discussion including for infrastructure in Croatia. The ongoing haggling over oil has meant that the rest of the measures the EU has proposed as part of its sixth suite of sanctions are also in limbo. Other measures steps include cutting more Russian banks off the international payments system SWIFT, including Russias largest lender Sberbank; restricting Russian entities and individuals from purchasing property in the EU; and a ban on providing consulting services to Russian companies. In the round, the full range of currently proposed measures will still likely restrict Russian sales of crude and fuels. Youll find an entire of the shipping market will need to be dedicated to this trade. There are many words for it, but its clearly not mainstream, Mike Muller, head of Asia at Vitol Group, the worlds largest independent oil trader, said Sunday on a podcast produced by Dubai-based Gulf Intelligence. The oil will trade at a discount and the ships will trade at a premium because the ship owner engaging in this business may find his ships arent accepted by anybody else for some time to come. With assistance from Zoltan Simon, Alaric Nightingale and Paul Wallace. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Russia Europe Energy Oil Gas The Minnesota Senate last week voted unanimously to create a framework for distributing about $300 million that the state is receiving as part of a settlement with opioid distributors and manufacturers. Counties and cities across Minnesota will be receiving a portion of the settlement, including more than $42 million to Hennepin County, the states most populous county, $10 million to the city of Minneapolis and $8 million to St. Paul. About a quarter will go to the states Opioid Response Advisory Council while the rest of the funds _ about $222 million _ are meant to flow to cities and counties for treatment and prevention against the addictive painkillers, which have claimed the lives of more than 5,400 Minnesotans since 2000. The Senate passed the bill on a 66-0 vote. Unfortunately, there is a tremendous amount of work that needs to continue in stopping the illicit drugs like heroin and fentanyl in our communities, Republican Sen. Julie Rosen, of Fairmont, the bills chief author, said on the Senate floor before the vote. But for now, we can be assured that there is compensation for the abuse we have endured at the hands of these large companies. The money is part of a $26 billion nationwide settlement with manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson last year to resolve more than 3,000 lawsuits against the four companies. Minnesota will receive about $296 million over the next 18 years with larger payment amounts frontloaded in the first five years. The bill also extends the states license and registration fees imposed on opioid manufacturers by the Legislature in 2019. The fees were created to fund the advisory council and wont expire until the state has collected $250 million from the companies, which Rosen estimates wont be until 2031. The League of Minnesota Cities, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities and Association of Minnesota Counties sent a joint letter to lawmakers urging them to pass the legislation and get the funds to local governments to bolster treatment, enforcement and prevention efforts. The cities and counties worked with lawmakers and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to determine how much of the funds would go to local governments before landing at 75%. Ellison, who represented Minnesota in the legal action against the companies, thanked lawmakers for moving the legislation forward and told reporters he hopes the funds start flowing to local governments as soon as possible. Ellison also thanked local Minnesota prosecutors for playing a role in the litigation by filing their own lawsuits against the companies. Thats another thing thats just been a team effort, because we believe public safety is public safety wherever it might be, he said. Rosen told reporters after the vote that the House is expected to quickly pass the legislation, and the money is expected to start flowing to local governments as soon as Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signs the bill into law. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Minnesota Politics U.S. agricultural equipment maker AGCO Corp. said on Friday a ransomware attack was affecting operations at some of its production facilities, and dealers said tractor sales had been stalled during the crucial planting season. Georgia-based AGCO said in a statement it expects operations at some facilities to be affected for several days and potentially longer. The ransomware attack comes at a time U.S. agricultural equipment makers were already facing persistent supply chain disruptions and labor strikes that left them unable to meet equipment demand from farmers. AGCO did not disclose the names of the facilities or if any data was stolen, but said it was still probing the extent of the attack that occurred on Thursday and working to repair its systems. Tim Brannon, president and owner of B&G Equipment Inc in Tennessee, told Reuters he has not been able to access AGCOs website for ordering and looking up parts since Thursday morning. We just have to trust that it will be over as soon as possible because we are coming into our busiest time of the year and it will be very damaging to our business and customers, Brannon said. AGCO, which competes with larger rival Deere & Co, sells tractors and combines, manufactures and assembles products in 42 locations worldwide with 1,810 dealerships in North America. Dealers are now struggling to keep up with orders that were already backlogged. The company told dealers that it was prioritizing the most business critical systems in an e-mail read to Reuters by a dealer who declined to be identified. Ive got about nine orders that I need to place right now, said the dealer. He said AGCO told him digital systems had been impacted worldwide. AGCO did not respond to requests for additional comment. AGCOs shares were down 6% at $125.55 in late afternoon trading. Ransomware attacks have targeted food and fuel companies in the United States in recent years, including the Colonial Pipelines oil network and meat processing company JBS JBSS3.SA. Last autumn, at least three grain handlers in the Midwest were hit with ransomware attacks. Topics Cyber USA Tech The embattled director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department resigned and the state filed a lawsuit against the operator of six state park restaurants. The actions come amid investigations by state lawmakers and the state auditor into a multimillion-dollar contract between the parks department and Swadleys Bar-B-Q to renovate and rebrand restaurants at six parks under the name Swadleys Foggy Bottom Kitchen. The state announced it was ending that contract. Gov. Kevin Stitt announced the resignation of department parks director Jerry Winchester. Were committed to getting to the bottom of this, Stitt said. There are a lot of different investigations going on right now and I think we can all agree that the most important things are protecting the taxpayers and shining a light on any corruption or bad actors. Winchester said in his resignation letter that he was stepping down immediately. I regret that it is in the best interest of the department to resign, Winchester wrote. I am confident that the current audits will reveal that the department has been acting in the best interest of the state and we will fully cooperate to ensure a swift resolution. The lawsuit alleges breach of agreement and calls for Swadleys to provide its financial information regarding the restaurants operations. Swadleys said in a statement that the extent of neglect at the restaurants was more than expected and was costly. Swadleys is proud of the work it has done in Oklahomas beautiful state parks, it said. Despite these immense challenges, Swadleys completed and opened restaurants at the six parks. The March 2020 contract allows Swadleys to have the state subsidize more than $2 million in operational losses at the park restaurants. The states tourism department said Monday the contract was terminated due to suspected fraudulent activity. State House Speaker Charles McCall on announced a special committee investigation of parks and tourism department contracts to be chaired by Rep. Ryan Martinez. This is a positive first step, Martinez said in a statement. The former director will still be called to testify before our committee, and we look forward to full cooperation from him, the executive branch and all other parties that will be receiving requests for testimony and documents, Martinez said. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Oklahoma Restaurant A Florida power company has agreed to pay a $500,000 fine for a 2017 explosion that left five workers dead. Tampa Electric Co. has pleaded guilty to violating an Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard, causing death, according to a plea agreement filed Friday in Tampa federal court. It was one of two accidents at one of its power plants that year that seriously injured workers. The agreement outlines safety procedures that TECO must follow in the future. The agreement also notes that the company previously reached confidential civil settlements with the families of the victims and others injured by the explosion. All of us at Tampa Electric hold the families of our late colleagues and coworkers in our hearts, TECO president and CEO Archie Collins said in a statement. We have accepted full responsibility, and we hold ourselves accountable as we continuously work to improve our safety programs and safety culture. The explosion occurred at TECOs Apollo Beach power plant, located just off Tampa Bay, in June 2017. Workers had been performing maintenance on a slag tank when the substance unexpectedly poured out, officials said. One TECO employee and four contractors died following the blast. Hot slag is a molten byproduct created when coal is burned for electricity. Chunks of it fall into cooling tanks and the remnants, which are black and glasslike, are recycled and used in sandblasting and roofing. The accident was the first of two incidents at a TECO facility that year. In October 2017, two contract employees were seriously injured at TECOs Big Bend Power Station south of Tampa. Donald Gansner and James Carter were working for Zachary Industrial when they were sent to repair a leak. The two were about to perform work on an access door on one of the condenser units at the plant when the door blew open, slamming the workers with a massive column of water, the court explained. Gansner was unable to return to work, one lawsuit said. Carter fractured his spine. The men received workers compensation benefits through Zachry Industrial, but they and their families also filed a negligence lawsuit against TECO, charging it had caused the mishap at the power station. Floridas 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled in November that the utility company was shielded by the workers comp statute. The court had initially held that TECO was liable. But after rehearing the case last fall, the appeals court found that TECOs obligation to maintain its Big Bend Power Station was required by regulation and, thus, the company may be considered a statutory employer, immune from high-dollar lawsuits and bound only by the exclusive remedy of workers comp. Another contract employee was killed in an incident at a TECO power station early in 2021. Photo: Visitors to the Tampa Electric Companys manatee viewing site in Apollo Beach. An outflow of warm water from the power plant attracts the manatees in winter. (AP Photo/Chris OMeara) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Workers' Compensation West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice declared a state of emergency for three counties following heavy rains that caused significant local flooding. The emergency was declared for Cabell, Putnam and Roane counties. The severe rainstorm Friday caused flooding and power outages and blocked roads in the three counties, state officials said. More rainstorms are expected in coming days. The governor authorized the West Virginia Division of Emergency Management to support the rain-swamped counties and to use all state resources necessary, officials said Saturday. Meanwhile, the body of a West Virginia man who was swept away in floodwaters while operating a farm tractor has been recovered, authorities said. Cabell County Sheriff Chuck Zerkle said the man was identified as Denver Edmunds, 63, of Milton, media outlets reported. His body was recovered Friday evening. Crews were on the scene much of the day searching for Edmunds, including members of the sheriffs department, the West Virginia Fire Marshals Office and the Milton Volunteer Fire Department. Heavy rains Friday resulted in rapidly moving floodwaters several feet deep. Schools were dismissed early Friday afternoon in Cabell and Wayne counties. First responders helped guide families out of their homes in some areas. In Cabell County, homes in Enslow Park, Barboursville, Milton and along Fourpole Creek experienced high water and led to some families abandoning their homes or requiring rescue from the Huntington Fire Department, The Herald-Dispatch reported. Photo: A vehicle stuck under a bridge after being swept away by Fridays flash flooding in Huntington, West Virginia, on Saturday. (Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch via AP) Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Flood Virginia An armored car company has settled its lawsuit that accused the San Bernardino County sheriff of illegally seizing over $1 million in cash it was transporting from medical marijuana businesses in California. The settlement for no financial compensation allows Empyreal Logistics to resume services after two transports of money were stopped and cash was seized in November and December, The Sun of San Bernardino reported. Deputies said in a search warrant that there was probable cause a felony had been committed when the vehicle was stopped Nov. 16 and $700,000 was seized. Although California is one of 37 states that allow medical use of marijuana and one of 18 that legalized its recreational use, the drug remains illegal under federal law. Because big banks and credit card companies have shunned the industry, it largely operates on a cash basis. As a result, some businesses have turned to armored cars to transport large quantities of cash. In a statement, the sheriffs department said it recognized Empyreal acted in good faith. Both sides also acknowledge that Empyreal is part of the solution to help with financial transparency and that San Bernardino Deputies are not highway robbers as previously reported in the media, the statement said. The company previously reached an agreement in which participating federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration, agreed to return the money. Empyreal CEO Deirdra OGorman said the company sued in federal court because its state-licensed cannabis customers and financial institution clients operate legally. Now that the funds have been returned and after meeting with the sheriff, we are confident that we can continue serving state-legal businesses without future disruptions, OGorman said in a statement. Under federal civil forfeiture laws, if law enforcement had been entitled to seize the money as proceeds of a crime, San Bernardino County would have been able to keep 80% of the cash and the federal government would get the rest. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits California Auto With wildfires becoming bigger and more destructive as the West dries out and heats up, agencies and officials tasked with preventing and battling the blazes could soon have a new tool to add to their arsenal of prescribed burns, pick axes, chain saws and aircraft. The high-tech help could come by way of an area not normally associated with fighting wildfires: artificial intelligence. And space. Lockheed Martin Space, based in Jefferson County, Colorado, is tapping decades of experience of managing satellites, exploring space and providing information for the U.S. military to offer more accurate data quicker to ground crews. They are talking to the U.S. Forest Service, university researchers and a Colorado state agency about how their their technology could help. By generating more timely information about on-the-ground conditions and running computer programs to process massive amounts of data, Lockheed Martin representatives say they can map fire perimeters in minutes rather than the hours it can take now. They say the artificial intelligence, or AI, and machine learning the company has applied to military use can enhance predictions about a fires direction and speed. The scenario that wildland fire operators and commanders work in is very similar to that of the organizations and folks who defend our homeland and allies. Its a dynamic environment across multiple activities and responsibilities, said Dan Lordan, senior manager for AI integration at Lockheed Martins Artificial Intelligence Center. Lockheed Martin aims to use its technology developed over years in other areas to reduce the time it takes to gather information and make decisions about wildfires, said Rich Carter, business development director for Lockheed Martin Spaces Mission Solutions. The quicker you can react, hopefully then you can contain the fire faster and protect peoples properties and lives, Carter said. The concept of a regular fire season has all but vanished as drought and warmer temperatures make Western lands ripe for ignition. At the end of December, the Marshall fire burned 991 homes and killed two people in Boulder County. The Denver area just experienced its third driest-ever April with only 0.06 of an inch of moisture, according to the National Weather Service. Colorado had the highest number of fire-weather alerts in April than any other April in the past 15 years. Crews have quickly contained wind-driven fires that forced evacuations along the Front Range and on the Eastern Plains. But six families in Monte Vista lost their homes in April when a fire burned part of the southern Colorado town. Since 2014, the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control has flown planes equipped with infrared and color sensors to detect wildfires and provide the most up-to-date information possible to crews on the ground. The onboard equipment is integrated with the Colorado Wildfire Information System, a database that provides images and details to local fire managers. Last year we found almost 200 new fires that nobody knew anything about, said Bruce Dikken, unit chief for the agencys multi-mission aircraft program. I dont know if any of those 200 fires would have become big fires. I know they didnt become big fires because we found them. When the two Pilatus PC-12 airplanes began flying in 2014, Colorado was the only state with such a program conveying the information in near real time, Dikken said. Lockheed Martin representatives have spent time in the air on the planes recently to see if its AI can speed up the process. We dont find every single fire that we fly over and it can certainly be faster if we could employ some kind of technology that might, for instance, automatically draw the fire perimeter, Dikken said. Right now, its very much a manual process. Something like the 2020 Cameron Peak fire, which at 208,663 acres is Colorados largest wildfire, could take hours to map, Dikken said. And often the people on the planes are tracking several fires at the same time. Dikken said the faster they can collect and process the data on a fires perimeter, the faster they can move to the next fire. If it takes a couple of hours to map a fire, what I drew at the beginning may be a little bit different now, he said. Lordan said Lockheed Martin engineers who have flown with the state crews, using the video and images gathered on the flights, have been able to produce fire maps in as little as 15 minutes. The company has talked to the state about possibly carrying an additional computer that could help crunch all that information and transmit the map of the fire while still in flight to crews on the ground, Dikken said. The agency is waiting to hear the results of Lockheed Martins experiences aboard the aircraft and how the AI might help the state, he added. The company is also talking to researchers at the U.S. Forest Service Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory in Montana. Mark Finney, a research forester, said its early in discussions with Lockheed Martin. They have a strong interest in applying their skills and capabilities to the wildland fire problem, and I think that would be welcome, Finney said. The lab in Missoula has been involved in fire research since 1960 and developed most of the fire-management tools used for operations and planning, Finney said. Were pretty well situated to understand where new things and capabilities might be of use in the future and some of these things certainly might be. However, Lockheed Martin is focused on technology and thats not really been where the most effective use of our efforts would be, Finney said. Prevention and mitigation and preemptive kind of management activities are where the great opportunities are to change the trajectory were on, Finney said. Improving reactive management is unlikely to yield huge benefits because the underlying source of the problem is the fuel structure across large landscapes as well as climate change. Logging and prescribed burns, or fires started under controlled conditions, are some of the management practices used to get rid of fuel sources or create a more diverse landscape. But those methods have sometimes met resistance, Finney said. As bad as the Cameron Peak fire was, Finney said the prescribed burns the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests did through the years blunted the blazes intensity and changed the flames movement in spots. Unfortunately, they hadnt had time to finish their planned work, Finney said. Lordan said the value of artificial intelligence, whether in preventing fires or responding to a fire, is producing accurate and timely information for fire managers, what he called actionable intelligence. One example, Lordan said, is information gathered and managed by federal agencies on the types and conditions of vegetation across the country. He said updates are done every two to three two years. Lockheed Martin uses data from satellites managed by the European Space Agency that updates the information about every five days. Lockheed is working with Nvidia, a California software company, to produce a digital simulation of a wildfire based on an areas topography, condition of the vegetation, wind and weather to help forecast where and how it will burn. After the fact, the companies used the information about the Cameron Peak fire, plugging in the more timely satellite data on fuel conditions, and generated a video simulation that Lordan said was similar to the actual fires behavior and movement. While appreciating the help technology provides, both Dikken with the state of Colorado and Finney with the Forest Service said there will always be a need for ground-truthing by people. Applying AI to fighting wildfires isnt about taking people out of the loop, Lockheed Martin spokesman Chip Eschenfelder said. Somebody will always be in the loop, but people currently in the loop are besieged by so much data they cant sort through it fast enough. Thats where this is coming from. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters InsurTech Wildfire Data Driven Rockford, IL., April 25, 2022 Insurance King is a high-volume non-standard insurance agency and they are taking additional steps to educate their customers with one of their carriers of the potential for a 500% surcharge on vehicles with UMPD or Physical Damage coverages. This could happen in the first 30 days of inception or within 30 days of a reinstatement or endorsement. Says Dan Block president of Insurance King. Insurance King has been told by this company that we are their largest agent so it is highly likely to happen to our customer base. In 22 years in business, I have never heard of any other company having language like this in their policy! Insurance Carriers used to mail out physical policies, but over the years the carriers just post them as a PDF on their website in lieu of mailing them out. I could not find the policy on the carriers website so we uploaded it to our website for all to review. Here is the link to the auto policy. Insurance King founded in 2001 is headquartered in Rockford, IL offering affordable Auto, Motorcycle, Renters, and SR-22 currently in CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, MO, MS, OH, TN, TX, and WI. Insurance King is a sponsor of NASCAR driver Josh Bilicki. www.insuranceking.com/ Media Contact Dan Block support@insuranceking.com 888-839-1365 Topics Training Development News Global MoSi2 Powder market trend 2023-2030 What is Molybdenum Silicide MoSi2 Powder? by Newsintegra927 Following the progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks, the gold price fell more than 1% the next day, hitting its lowest in a month, and palladium prices briefly tumbled by nearly 9%. "We have seen metal prices going into free fall when the Russia-Ukraine situation is likely to see a major detente, which spurred people's risk preference and optimism that the war could end at a time," said OANDA senior market analyst. A Russian deputy defense minister says Moscow has decided to sharply curtail its military activities around Kyiv and Chernikov in Ukraine, following talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Istanbul. Where the prices of metals, natural gas, and commodities like the MoSi2 Powder will go in the future, is still very uncertain. Introduction to Molybdenum Silicide MoSi2 Powder Molybdenum silicide was discovered in 1906. Under different conditions, silicon and molybdenum can form molybdenum trisilicide (Mo3Si), molybdenum pentasilicate (Mo5Si3), and molybdenum disilicate (MoSi2). The most important one is the Molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2), which is a Dalton-type intermetallic compound. The atomic combination in its crystal structure shows the coexistence of metal bonds and covalent bonds, and has excellent high-temperature essential characteristics. Molybdenum disilicide is an inorganic compound, the chemical formula is MoSi2, gray metal solid. Insoluble in most acids, but soluble in nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid. The two kinds of atoms have similar radii and electronegativity, which is similar to metal and ceramic. Molybdenum disilicide is electrically conductive and at high temperatures forms a passivation layer of silicon dioxide on the surface to prevent further oxidation. It can be applied as high-temperature oxidation-resistant coating materials, electric heating elements, integrated electrode film, structural materials, composite reinforcement, wear-resistant materials, structural ceramics, and other fields of bonding materials. Physicochemical Properties of Molybdenum Silicide MoSi2 Powder MoSi2 is a kind of intermediate phase with the highest silicon content in the Mo-Si binary alloy system, and it is a Dalton-type intermetallic compound with a fixed composition. It has dual characteristics of metal and ceramic, and is a kind of high-temperature material with excellent performance. Good high-temperature oxidation resistance, oxidation resistance temperature up to 1600, and SiC equivalent; Moderate density (6.24g/cm3); Low thermal expansion coefficient (8.110-6K-1); Good electric conductivity; Higher brittle and ductile transition temperature (1000) below the hard brittleness of ceramics. Above 1000 it is metal-like soft plastic. MoSi2 is mainly used as heating elements, integrated circuits, high-temperature oxidation-resistant coating, and high-temperature structural material. In MoSi2, molybdenum and silicon are bonded by metal bonds, while silicon and silicon are bonded by covalent bonds. Molybdenum disilicide is gray tetragonal crystal. Insoluble in general mineral acids (including aqua roya), but soluble in nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid mixed acid, has good high-temperature oxidation resistance, can be used as high temperature (<1700) oxidation atmosphere work heating element. In an oxidizing atmosphere, a protective film is formed on the surface of dense quartz glass (SiO2) burned at a high temperature to prevent continuous oxidation. When the temperature of the heating element is higher than 1700, SiO2 protective film is formed, which is thickened at the melting point of 1710 and fused with SiO2 into molten droplets. It loses its protective ability due to its surface-extending action. When the element is used continuously under the oxidant, it forms a protective film again. It should be noted that this element cannot be used for long periods at 400-700 due to strong oxidation at low temperatures. Molybdenum Silicide MoSi2 Powder Properties Other Names molybdenum disilicide, MoSi2 powder CAS No. 12136-78-6 Compound Formula MoSi2 Molecular Weight 152.11 Appearance gray to black powder Melting Point 1900-2050 C Boiling Point N/A Density 6.23-6.31g/cm3 Solubility in H2O N/A Exact Mass 153.859261 Molybdenum Silicide MoSi2 Powder CAS 12136-78-6 Applications of Molybdenum Silicide MoSi2 Powder MoSi2 is widely used in heating elements. Molybdenum disilicide heating elements can be used at temperatures up to 1800C for electric furnaces used in laboratories and production environments in glass, steel, electronics, ceramics, and for heat treatment of materials. Although these components are brittle, they can operate at high power without aging, and their resistivity does not increase with operating time. Main Supplier of Molybdenum Silicide MoSi2 Powder Luoyang Tongrun Nano Technology Co. Ltd. (TRUNNANO) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12-year-experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials, including silicon powder, nitride powder, graphite powder, zinc sulfide, calcium nitride, 3D printing powder, etc. If you are looking for high-quality molybdenum silicide MoSi2 powder, please feel free to contact us and send an inquiry. ([email protected]) The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic not only had a significant impact on public health, it also severely affected one of the linchpins of the global economy the tourism industry. As many countries introduced curfews and travel restrictions to contain the spread of the virus, travel across the world significantly declined from early 2020 onwards. The financial repercussions of the coronavirus have already begun to manifest themselves within the tourism industry. In 2020, global revenue from the travel and tourism industry was estimated to drop from a forecasted 711.94 billion U.S. dollars to 568.6 billion U.S. dollars, representing a decrease of over 20 percent. The region predicted to see the highest decline in revenue was Europe, decreasing from 211.97 billion U.S. dollars in 2019 to roughly 124 billion U.S. dollars in 2020.The downturn in tourism has caused the recession, and the weakening of the economy has also affected the market demand for MoSi2 Powder. Recently, however, the demand for MoSi2 Powder has increased, so contact us for the latest news on MoSi2 Powder. Inquery us Just under three in five (59%) of people agree that Ireland should be part of increased EU defence and security co-operation, a new survey has found. Research from Red C published today by European Movement Ireland found that the proportion of the population who agreed that Ireland should be part of some form of increased EU defence agreement has risen five percentage points since last year. More than 1,000 members of the public were surveyed in mid-March for this research, in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war, further scrutiny has been put on Irelands stance of neutrality and its ability to defend itself from potential threats. Last week, the Taoiseach condemned a sinister and intimidatory Russian TV report simulating a devastating nuclear attack on Ireland and Britain. Meanwhile, a large majority of citizens believe that Ireland should remain a member of the EU, with 88% in support, 7% saying that Ireland should leave and 5% saying they dont know. Noelle OConnell, European Movement Ireland CEO, welcomed the support for the EU revealed in the poll, but said 'opinion remains quite uncertain' about any military involvement. File picture: Julien Behal A further four in five (79%) said they agreed that EU membership has had a positive impact on their lives, while 76% of people agreed that they had a good understanding of how the EU works. The findings of this study echo a recent Eurobarometer report for Ireland which said that Irish citizens are clearly the most pro-European of all European citizens. The belief that both the EU and their own country was going in the right direction contrasted sharply with the findings of other EU member states, Eurobarometer said. Commenting on the latest study, European Movement Ireland said it was encouraging to see support for the EU so strong in Ireland on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Irish electorate choosing to join the EU on May 10, 1972. Over 70% of the electorate turned out to vote on the referendum for the third amendment of the Constitution of Ireland, with 83.1% of people voting to join the EU. Ireland then formally joined the then-European Economic Community on January 1,1973. In the context of the war in Ukraine, European Movement Ireland CEO Noelle OConnell said any perceived support for Ireland to have more of a role in European defence was far from clear. Then president Paddy Hillery and taoiseach Jack Lynch signing accession papers to join the then European Economic Community. The Third Amendment to the Constitution was passed on May 10, 1972. File picture: Irish Examiner Archive "Peoples attitude to increased EU defence and security co-operation has fluctuated over the years, she said. It averaged 58% from 2017-19, dropped to 49% in 2020, then increased to 54% in 2021 and rose further to 59% this year. While the war in Ukraine may account for this slight increase in support, the data shows that opinion remains quite uncertain. Ms OConnell said that while support for the EU in Ireland remains strong compared with other member states, work must continue to maintain that support as things can change rapidly. A conference on the future of Europe, which closes today, must adopt the recommendations made following engagement with thousands of citizens across the bloc, she added. European Movement Ireland added it will conduct further research into Irish attitudes to the EU later in the year. A major business group has expressed concern at the uncertainty over the return of fully functioning government at Stormont. The new 90 MLAs elected are set to have their first day in Parliament Buildings on Monday. However, the DUP says it will not nominate ministers until the British government has acted over issues with the Northern Ireland protocol. Party leaders are set to meet with British secretary of state Brandon Lewis across the day. FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) NI said the prospect of lengthy post-election negotiations and uncertainty over the return of the Stormont Executive is causing concern in the business community. It said this comes at a time when the need for economic policy interventions could not be greater. Parties have mooted discussing the next programme for government and budget in the interim before the next executive is formed. FSB NI said there was an onus on the next executive to carry out its activities in a business-like and transparent manner. It is urging parties to transform the business rates system, revisit the transfer of corporation tax powers and reduce the tax rate. It also calls for a flexible skills system that is fit for purpose for small and medium businesses and the implementation of a full childcare strategy. FSB NI chief Roger Pollen said: With so much at stake, our priority is to see the formation of a stable executive which can take decisions that will provide stability for SMEs at a time of rising costs and deep uncertainty. We look forward to engaging with assembly members to press the need for Stormont to get behind small businesses. It is only through effective collaboration that we will begin to see progress on many outstanding economic policies that will help protect jobs and boost prosperity right across Northern Ireland. WARNING: Some readers may find this report upsetting Two Limerick men have been sentenced to 12 years in prison, with one year suspended, for what a judge described as the cynical and calculated rape of a 14-year-old girl. The men, aged 27 and 26, both deny raping the teenager when she was comatose with alcohol on the night of April 22, 2017. The men, who cannot be named in order to protect the statutory anonymity of the complainant, were convicted following their trial at the Central Criminal Court last November. Passing sentence on Monday, Justice Eileen Creedon said the men had taken the girl to an isolated area, given her more alcohol and raped her in succession, robbing her of her innocence in extremely degrading and humiliating circumstances. She said it was a cynical, calculated and egregious crime and that the men had taken advantage of a young and vulnerable child when she was comatose with alcohol. At an earlier hearing, the complainant told the court that the rape had changed her from a carefree, bubbly child to a frightened, guilt-ridden victim. She said she still feels shame and anxiety as a result of the events that night. Justice Creedon said there was very little by way of mitigation for the two accused given that they completely denied and continued to deny the offences. The judge said this left the complainant without any acknowledgement of the hurt and harm caused to her. Probation reports said the men had no victim empathy and were at moderate risk of both sexual and non-sexual violent re-offending. The court heard that both men considered themselves to be victims in the case and had told gardai that they believed the girl was aged 16 at the time. The 27-year-old defendant, who was 22 at the time, was convicted on the single count of rape. His 26-year-old co-accused, who was 21 at the time, was convicted of rape and an additional charge of sexual assault. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for the sexual assault charge, to run concurrently. Case background The court heard that on the night in question, the girl was drinking alcohol with her group of friends and that the two defendants joined them. At some point, the victim's friends dispersed and she was left alone with the two men, who took her to an isolated area and gave her more alcohol to drink. She told gardai later that she was very drunk and had limited memory of where she was. She said she was in a mess. She said she was passed out and woke up to find the 21-year-old taking down her leggings and with his mouth on her genital area. The complainant said she was falling in and out of consciousness and came to again a little later to find the 21-year-old raping her. She said when he finished, he said to the other man, It's your turn. She said this man began raping her while the first man masturbated. She said that after both men had ejaculated, they walked back with her across the fields to a nearby residential area where they were met by her mother who was out searching for her. Alice Fawsitt SC, prosecuting, told the court previously that the complainant knew she was in trouble then, she was in a mess, she was extremely drunk. She said her mother was extremely cross and the complainant said nothing about the sexual activity. A week later the teenager feared she was pregnant and bought a test. This came back negative but her mother found the packaging and confronted the girl who told her she had been raped. Victim impact statement In her victim impact statement, the girl said that rumours spread in the locality and she became marked as the girl who was raped and that some people said vulgar things about her. She said she and her family decided to leave the area to get away from this. She said she had left her home on the night of the rapes a bubbly, fun-loving, outgoing kid and came home a frightened, confused, guilt-ridden victim. She said her family had to uproot their lives. Continue to claim innocence Lawyers for both men told the court that their clients did not accept the jury verdicts and continue to protest their innocence. Counsel for the younger defendant said his client felt hard done by and wronged by the conviction. He said his client was a young man who has started a family since these events and has held down a job. Counsel for the now 27-year-old asked the court to consider that he was still a relatively young man and had no other relevant criminal convictions. Justice Creedon suspended the final year of the sentence and ordered both accused to abide by the supervision of the probation services and to attend offence-focused work and additional support services as directed. - If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please click here for a list of support services. The chief executive of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork is to be honoured with the Freedom of the City. The Lord Mayor announced on Monday that Mary Crilly[ would be the next recipient of the honour. Ms Crilly is getting the award in recognition of her work in the areas of sexual and domestic violence, sex trafficking, female genital mutilation and stalking. The Dublin-born woman is a founder of the Sexual Violence Centre Cork, which first opened in 1983 as the Cork Rape Crisis Centre. The centre provides services to survivors of rape, sexual assault and child sexual abuse and was the first organisation in Cork to introduce counselling and support to women, men and teenagers who have experienced sexual violence or child sexual abuse. We are so proud this evening thank you @corkcitycouncil https://t.co/ggraTOlQCi Sexual Violence Centre Cork (@SVCCork) May 9, 2022 In a post on social media, the centre said they are "so proud" that Ms Crilly is receiving the award. Previous recipients of the Freedom of the City included Munster and Ireland star Ronan O'Gara, Chernobyl Children International founder Adi Roche, comedian and actor Niall Toibin and President Michael D Higgins. A statement from Cork City Council said the Lord Mayor of Cork "is honoured to bestow the Freedom of the City award on Mary Crilly". South Koreas departing president has defended his policy of engaging North Korea, saying in his farewell speech that he hopes efforts to restore peace and denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula will continue. Moon Jae-in leaves office on Tuesday following a single five-year term, handing over presidential power and responsibilities to conservative Yoon Suk Yeol, who has accused him of being subservient to North Korea and promised to take a tougher stance on the Norths nuclear programme. Peace is the condition for our survival and prosperity. I heartily hope that efforts to resume dialogue between South and North Korea and establish denuclearisation and peace would continue, Mr Moon said in the nationally televised speech. When Mr Moon took office in 2017, he found little room to manoeuvre diplomatically because of North Koreas torrid run of nuclear and missile tests. The reason why we failed to move forward further wasnt because we lacked efforts and a determination to do that. There was a barrier that we cant overcome only with our determination. Its a barrier that we should overcome But he eventually seized an opportunity to reconcile with North Korea when its leader Kim Jong Un abruptly reached out to Seoul and Washington in early 2018 for talks on the future of its advancing nuclear arsenal. Mr Kim first sent his powerful sister to South Korea for talks with Mr Moon and to let her to attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in South Korea in February 2018. The two Korean leaders met three times for summits later in 2018, taking steps to lower tensions at the border and allowing rare exchange programs involving singers, basketball teams and others. Mr Moon also lobbied hard to broker now-stalled nuclear diplomacy between Mr Kim and then-US President Donald Trump. But after the North Korea-US diplomacy collapsed in 2019, Mr Moon has faced withering criticism that his engagement policy only helped North Korea buy time and prefect its weapons programme in the face of US-led sanctions and pressure campaign on the North. Pyongyang eventually urged Mr Moon not to interfere in its dealings with the United States and unleashed crude insults on him. In his last speech, Mr Moon claimed his government helped ease the danger of war on the Korean Peninsula and bring up hopes for peace through diplomacy. The reason why we failed to move forward further wasnt because we lacked efforts and a determination to do that. There was a barrier that we cant overcome only with our determination. Its a barrier that we should overcome, Mr Moon said, without clarifying what the obstacle was. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP, File) Last month, Mr Moon and Mr Kim exchanged their final official letters expressing hope for improved bilateral relations. But some experts say the way North Korea described the letters, in which it highlighted Mr Moons vow to continue campaigning for Korean reunification even after leaving office, reflected its intent to divide public opinion in South Korea and discourage Seouls new government from taking a hard line toward Pyongyang. During a massive military parade in Pyongyang three days after the letter exchange was announced, Mr Kim pledged to speed up the development of his nuclear weapons and threatened to use them proactively if provoked. In recent months, Mr Kims military has also been test-launching a spate of missiles targeting South Korea, Japan or the mainland US. Some experts say Mr Kim aims to rattle Mr Yoons incoming government while modernizing his weapons arsenal and pressuring the Biden administration into relaxing sanctions on it. South Korean officials say North Korea also appears to be preparing for its first nuclear test since 2017. Russian President Vladimir Putin used his countrys biggest patriotic holiday to again justify his war in Ukraine but did not declare even a limited victory or signal where the conflict is headed. The Russian leader oversaw a Victory Day parade on Moscows Red Square on Monday, with troops marching in formation and military hardware on display to celebrate the Soviet Unions role in the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany, as his forces pressed their offensive with few signs of progress. But his much-anticipated speech offered no new insights into how he intends to salvage the grinding war, and he instead stuck to allegations that Ukraine posed a threat to Russia, even though Moscows nuclear-armed forces are far superior in number and firepower. The danger was rising by the day, Mr Putin said. Russia has given a pre-emptive response to aggression. It was forced, timely and the only correct decision. He steered clear of battlefield specifics, failing to mention the potentially pivotal battle for the vital southern port of Mariupol and not even uttering the word Ukraine. On the ground, meanwhile, intense fighting raged in Ukraines east, the vital Black Sea port of Odesa in the south came under bombardment again, and Russian forces sought to finish off the Ukrainian defenders making their last stand at a steel plant in Mariupol. Mr Putin has long bristled at Natos creep eastward into former Soviet republics, and argued on Monday that Russia had to invade Ukraine before an inevitable clash. Ukrainian leaders and their western backers have denied that Kyiv or Nato posed a threat. As he has done all along, Mr Putin falsely portrayed the fighting as a battle against Nazism, thereby linking the war to what many Russians regard as their finest hour: the triumph over Nazi Germany. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what Russia refers to as the Great Patriotic War. He also sought to depict the offensive underway for control of the Donbas region in the east Moscows focus after its abortive attempt to storm the capital, Kyiv as a fight on Russias historic lands. (PA Graphics) He has long sought to deny Ukraines own 1,000-year history. Progress in the east, though, has been slow going, and many analysts had suggested Mr Putin might use his speech to declare some sort of victory potentially in Mariupol to counter discontent over Russias heavy casualties and the punishing effects of western sanctions at home. Others suggested he might declare the fighting a war, not just a special military operation, and order a nationwide mobilisation, with a call-up of reserves, to replenish the depleted ranks for an extended conflict. Neither step was announced. Critics said the speech skirted some uncomfortable realities that Mr Putin is facing; with the campaign in Ukraine faltering, he has not asked Russians to accept sacrifices to weather the sanctions and diplomatic isolation. He also left unanswered the question of whether and how Russia will marshal more forces in the face of significant losses. Without concrete steps to build a new force, Russia cant fight a long war, and the clock starts ticking on the failure of their army in Ukraine, tweeted Phillips OBrien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Despite Russias efforts to crack down on dissent, anti-war sentiment has seeped through. People carry portraits of relatives who fought in the Second World War as well as the letters Z and V during the Immortal Regiment march towards the Red Square, marking the 77th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, i A few scattered protesters were detained around the country on Victory Day, while editors at one pro-Kremlin media outlet revolted by briefly publishing a few dozen stories criticising Putin and the invasion. In Warsaw, anti-war protesters splattered Russias ambassador to Poland with what appeared to be red paint as he arrived at a cemetery to pay respects to Red Army soldiers who died during the Second World War. As Mr Putin laid a wreath in Moscow, air raid sirens echoed again in the Ukrainian capital. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared in his own Victory Day address that his country would eventually defeat the Russians. Very soon there will be two Victory Days in Ukraine, he said in a video. He added: We are fighting for freedom, for our children, and therefore we will win. Russia has about 97 battalion tactical groups in Ukraine, largely in the east and the south, a slight increase over last week, according to a senior US official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the Pentagons assessment. Each unit has roughly 1,000 troops, according to the Pentagon. Soldiers place the Ukrainian flag on the coffin of volunteer soldier Oleksandr Makhov, 36, a well-known Ukrainian journalist killed by Russian troops, at St Michael cathedral in Kyiv (Efrem Lukatsky/AP) The official said that overall, the Russian effort in the Donbas has not achieved any significant progress in recent days and continues to face stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian military warned of a high probability of missile strikes around the holiday, and some cities imposed curfews or warned people not to gather in public places. More than 60 people were feared dead over the weekend after Russian bombardment flattened a Ukrainian school being used as a shelter in the eastern village of Bilohorivka, Ukrainian officials said. With the war in its 11th week, Russia was perhaps closest to a victory in Mariupol. The US official said roughly 2,000 Russian forces were around Mariupol and the city was being pounded by airstrikes. As many as 2,000 Ukrainian defenders were believed to be holding out at the steel plant, the citys last stronghold of resistance. The fall of Mariupol would deprive Ukraine of a vital port, allow Russia to complete a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, and free up troops to fight elsewhere in the Donbas. It would also give the Kremlin a badly needed success. "The truth is that Russia's General Staff are failing and they know it". - @BWallaceMP The Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, delivered a speech at the National Army Museum earlier today. #StandwithUkraine pic.twitter.com/pwtJ8ivMTz Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) May 9, 2022 Odesa, too, has increasingly come under bombardment in recent days. Ukrainian officials said Russia fired four cruise missiles targeting the city on Monday from Crimea. It said no civilians were hurt but did not elaborate on what was hit. The war in the country long known as the breadbasket of Europe has disrupted global food supplies. I saw silos full of grain, wheat and corn ready for export, Charles Michel, president of the European Council, lamented in a tweet after a visit to Odesa. This badly needed food is stranded because of the Russian war and blockade of Black sea ports. Causing dramatic consequences for vulnerable countries. Burma Chinese Mining Giant Wanbao Fears Myanmar Resistance Attacks Chinese technicians at Letpadaung copper mine in 2014. / The Irrawaddy Chinese mining firm Wanbao has expressed deep concerns in response to threats from resistance groups fighting Myanmars military regime. In partnership with the military-owned Myanma Economic Holdings Ltd, Wanbao and its two subsidiaries, Myanmar Wanbao Mining Copper Ltd. and Myanmar Yang Tse Copper Ltd. run three copper mines Letpadaung, Sabetaung and Kyesintaung in Salingyi Township, Sagaing Region. Sixteen resistance groups from Salingyi and neighboring Yinmarbin in April warned the mines to halt operations and called on miners to down tools and join the civil disobedience movement (CDM) by May 5. Following the warning, the regime has increased security at the mines and imposed tighter restrictions on residents. Wanbao is a subsidiary of the Chinese state-owned defense firm China North Industries Corporation. In July 2021, the US sanctioned Wanbao Mining and its entities for supporting Myanmars regime and has also banned the trade of copper from the mines on the London Metal Exchange. In a May 5 statement signed by deputy general manager Dong Shiyong of the copper mines, the company said it is closely monitoring the situation for the safety of staff, their families, contractors and the community. Many rumors, false assumptions and baseless accusations regarding our projects have emerged recently and we are deeply concerned about the threats to our staff and their families, the statement said. As Wanbao is attempting to resume mining after output has been restricted by striking employees since last years coup, resistance groups said they will attack all sources of funding for the dictatorship by any means. Junta soldiers were reportedly killed on May 4 when resistance groups carried out a mine attack on three junta vehicles traveling to copper mines to enhance security. This month, 558 revolutionary organizations sent an open letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, asking Beijing to respect the wishes of Myanmars people and not to support the regime. The letter warns that Chinas continued support for the regime will prompt revolutionary groups to target Chinese businesses in Myanmar while fueling anti-China sentiment. Those copper mines fund the regime to buy bullets to suppress the people. The projects provide some of the largest sources of income for the regime. We have urged them not to cooperate with the regime and if they continue they will become the primary target of revolutionary groups, said a leader of the strike committee in Monywa. Wanbo in its statement says it has paid staff while the projects are suspended and has spent large sums on health, education and environmental conservation in the region. Those mines have long been a source of public fury for destroying the environment and seizing peoples land. For many years, the Letpadaung copper mine has made headlines due to land disputes and a series of violent crackdowns against anti-mine protesters. Residents have long opposed those projects. The Chinese company always says it is taking measures to protect the environment. Wanbao cooperates with the regime and [the mines] are a joint venture between Wanbao and the regime. Those mines make it possible for the regime to commit violence against the people. So we will continue to work to crush any business partnering with the regime, said a leading member of the Monywa Strike Committee. A report by Publish What You Pay Australia a coalition of 30 organizations campaigning for transparency and accountability in the extractive industries said Chinese-backed mines were financially propping up the junta. The report, How Chinese Mining Investment Funds Myanmar Military, released in November last year, said the Chinese-run Letpadaung, Sabetaung, Kyesintaung and Tagaung Taung mines in Sagaing paid an estimated US$725 million to the military during the 2020-21 financial year. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Rejects ASEAN Envoys Request to Meet Shadow Govt Representatives Myanmar Junta Team to Make 1st Appearance Before ICJ in Rohingya Genocide Case Junta Watch: Military Throws a Party as COVID Rages; Another ASEAN Snub and More Burma Junta Bars UN Special Envoy on Myanmar From ASEAN Meeting Noeleen Heyzer, the UN Special Envoy for Myanmar (left), and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The UN Special Envoy for Myanmar was blocked by the countrys junta from attending a meeting on humanitarian assistance for the Southeast Asian nation, which has been devastated by last years military coup. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday held the meeting in Cambodia to discuss plans to deliver aid to Myanmar. The regime was represented by its Minister for International Cooperation Ko Ko Hlaing, the juntas point man on provision of assistance to Myanmar. Absent from the meeting in Phnom Penh was Noeleen Heyzer, the UN Secretary Generals Special Envoy for Myanmar. According to the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar (SAC-M), a group of former UN experts on Myanmar, and the group ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, her attendance was blocked by the junta. She was invited and then disinvited, SAC-M said in a statement. Heyzer was appointed as United Nations special envoy on Myanmar late last year to help solve the Myanmar crisis and facilitate the provision of humanitarian assistance. The reason she was banned from the meeting was not clear, but it appears likely the move was prompted by her recent meetings with the parliamentary body of Myanmars shadow National Unity Government (NUG) and its relief and resettlement minister Dr Win Myat Aye to discuss issues including humanitarian assistance for Myanmar. The regime has branded the NUG as a terrorist organization. Even international diplomats who mention the NUG are subject to junta condemnation. When Malaysian Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah proposed that ASEAN engage informally with the NUG to discuss how humanitarian aid can be distributed to the people of Myanmar, the regime rejected the remark as irresponsible and reckless, and warned Malaysian officials against contacting or supporting what it calls a terrorist group. Heyzer has turned out to be the first international envoy to publicly engage with the NUG. Her meetings came after ASEAN was condemned for its failure to make progress on its peace plan for Myanmar. Despite the criticism, the blocs officials havent met with the shadow government, while being pressed to do so. Calling Heyzer a crucial actor, the NUGs Foreign Ministry on Monday said her exclusion from the meeting was yet another insult against the United Nations. The National Unity Government also extended its support to the UN envoy and expressed its deep appreciation for her engagement with the National Unity Government and local stakeholders on provision of ASEAN humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, it said. The outcomes of the consultative meeting in Phnom Penh included plans for the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management (AHA Centre) to deliver aid to areas identified by the Myanmar military junta and in coordination with the junta. The SAC-M condemned this as flouting fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence, saying it would advance the military objectives of the Myanmar junta. The group said there are 14 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Myanmar, while an estimated 800,000 people are displaced inside the country. Most are seeking refuge from the juntas attacks in territory along Myanmars borders outside the juntas control. The junta refuses to permit cross-border aid into these areas. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Team to Make 1st Appearance Before ICJ in Rohingya Genocide Case Junta Watch: Military Throws a Party as COVID Rages; Another ASEAN Snub and More Myanmar Junta Jails Ousted NLDs Bago Chief Minister for 20 Years Burma Myanmar Junta's Peace Talks in Disarray as Major Ethnic Armies Reject Invitations KNLA troops at the Karen National Unions headquarters in Paan District, Karen State. / The Irrawaddy The Myanmar regime leaders attempt to persuade the countrys ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) to join peace talks has turned out to be fruitless as the major groups fighting against his army have officially rejected his peace offer. Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing late last month invited the leaders of all the countrys ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) for talks to end armed conflict. Coming after a year of clashes with newly formed anti-regime resistance forces who have been fighting along with ethnic armed groups to topple his regime, Min Aung Hlaings offer of peace is, many believe, a pretext to persuade the armed groups to stay away from the resistance forces. On Monday, Myanmars oldestand one of its most powerfulethnic armed groups, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), refused to attend the peace meeting, saying it is not all-inclusive, becoming the latest EAO to boycott the talks. The regime has set Monday as the deadline for EAOs to register for the talks. As the invitation for the talks is limited [in terms of participants] and not all-inclusive, we believe they wont bring sustainable peace or end armed conflict. The talks dont create a situation in which all stakeholders can take part, and we wont join the meeting, said a statement released by the Karen National Union (KNU), the political wing of the KNLA. The regimes invitation to the talks excludes Myanmars shadow National Unity Government (NUG) and its armed wing, the Peoples Defense Force (PDF), who have been fighting along with ethnic armed groups like the KNLA against the regime. Many people in Myanmar see the NUG as their legitimate government and the PDF as their army. The KNLAs refusal to join the meeting came a few days after another of Myanmars powerful ethnic groups, the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), condemned the talks, citing the meetings non-inclusiveness. The KNU and KIAs rejection of the talks can be seen as a big blow to the junta, because they are among the countrys largest EAOs and have been fighting along with PDF groups in Myanmars north, northwest and south. Apart from them, ethnic Karenni armed group the Karenni Army (KA) and Chin armed group the Chin National Army (CNA) also rejected the meeting. Like the KNU and KIA, both the Chin and Karenni armed groups are fighting along with PDFs in their areas of control in Myanmars northwest and southeast. A local analyst who has been studying armed conflicts in Myanmar said the rejections by EAOs active in current battle zones mean there would be more fighting there, and expected that Min Aung Hlaings peace process would achieve nothing. With the major players boycotting his peace talks, how could they be successful? he said. On Sunday, the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) said it would not attend the juntas peace talks, either. The CNA, KA and ABSDF all said the talks limitation on participants made them turn down the offer. Myanmar has around 20 EAOs, of which only 10 have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement so far. The ABSDF, KNU and the CNAs political wing, the Chin National Front (CNF), are signatories but have opposed the regime since the coup. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Jails Ousted NLDs Bago Chief Minister for 20 Years Notorious Junta General Removed from Upper Myanmar Command as Resistance Intensifies Myanmar Junta Denies Medical Treatment to Political Prisoners News Resistance Ambush Kills 25 Myanmar Junta Troops: Kayah Rebels Military trucks burning in Hpruso Township, Kayah State, on May 7 after the resistance ambush. / KNDF About 25 junta soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, were killed when the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force (KNDF) and Karenni Army (KA) attacked a military convoy on Saturday in Hpruso Township, Kayah State. The convoy, including 20 military trucks, from Bawlakhe Township in the state, was attacked by the KNDF and KA at Law Kyal Khu village on Saturday morning and the fighting lasted around two hours, according to the KNDF. The armed resistance group said the final four trucks were burned and around 18 regime soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel, were killed. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the report. The KNDF said it found food, weapons and the bodies of 66 Light Infantry Division (LID) soldiers on the trucks. Regime forces returned and two more hours of fighting took place in the afternoon. Around seven regime troops were killed, bringing the total to 25, said a KNDF spokesman. An online video showed KNDF and KA troops firing near the military trucks. Some bodies of regime soldiers can be seen beside the road. The KNDF said one of its fighters was lightly injured. On December 24, 66 LID soldiers are believed to have massacred 35 civilians, including children, women and two members of the Save the Children, and burned seven vehicles in Hpruso Township. The United Nations Security Council condemned the slaughter and called for all the violence to stop, calling for respect for human rights and safety for civilians and accountability for the killing. Fighting began in Kayah State more than a year ago with the junta using airstrikes and artillery and a majority of the 200,000 residents being displaced. Analysis Military Tensions Rise in Western Myanmar as Arakan Army Chief Warns Regime Arakan Army (AA) commander-in-chief, Major General Tun Myat Naing. / The Irrawaddy Major-General Tun Myat Naing, chief of the powerful ethnic armed organization (EAO) the Arakan Army (AA) based in western Myanmars Rakhine State, has issued a public warning to the head of the Myanmar militarys Western Command, raising the prospect of renewed fighting in Rakhine. Htin Latt Oo, dont go too far. You have been irritating. I wont give a shit about peace [if you carry on]. I will come to your place and crush it, wrote the AA chief on his Twitter on May 7. Major General Htin Latt Oo is the head of the Western Command, which oversees Rakhine State. In response to the AA chiefs warning, ethnic affairs analyst U Maung Maung Soe wrote on his Facebook I hear a loud thunder from Rakhine. It is still unclear why the AA chief has issued such a strong statement. Rakhine is currently largely stable and peaceful, compared to other parts of the country, but sources in Rakhine say the situation could change quickly. Behind the curtain in Rakhine State The AA and the Myanmar military were once bitter enemies. Established in 2009, the AA has been fighting the military in Rakhine State since 2015 for self-determination for ethnic Rakhine [also known as Arakan] people. It enjoys the support of the Rakhine population and inflicted huge casualties on government forces in Rakhine and neighboring Chin State, until an informal ceasefire was agreed in late 2020. At an October 2019 press conference, then military spokesperson [and current junta spokesperson] Major-General Zaw Min Tun admitted that it is hard to fight the AA. I have never seen a cowardly and cunning group like the AA among the EAOs that have emerged since independence, he said. The Maj-Gens choice of words was controversial, but it revealed the militarys feeling of powerlessness towards the AA. When the Union Election Commission decided to cancel the 2020 general election in many parts of Rakhine State due to instability, military chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing played the situation to his advantage and offered the armys help to stage the election, which led to an informal ceasefire with the AA that ended two years of intense fighting. With the involvement of Nippon Foundation chairman Yohei Sasakawa, the military and the AA reached a gentlemens agreement to stop the clashes. However, since last years coup the Myanmar military has been overwhelmed with the armed resistance that has erupted in many parts of the country, and so has had no time to deal with the AA. The militarys struggle provided an opportunity for the AA. Since the coup, the United League of Arakan, the AAs political wing, has established a parallel administration in Rakhine State with its own judiciary, revenue department, public security offices and other governmental institutions. Maj-Gen Htin Latt Oo, the head of the militarys Western Command based in Ann Township, may have felt insulted by the AAs growing influence. The junta has attempted to counteract the AA, with regime troops inspecting villages and tightening security checks on roads and in towns. The regime has once again started detaining and interrogating people it suspects of having ties to the AA, something it has not done since the 2020 ceasefire. Those inspections and arrests surged around mid-April. Even before Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naing issued his strong warning, military tensions were rising in Rakhine because of the juntas actions, said Rakhine politicians. In early April, the AAs spokesperson Khaing Thukha called on the regime not to interfere in its administration in Rakhine, saying that will spark an armed conflict. He then told an online press conference: Tensions are rising between the Myanmar military and the Rakhine peoples authority led by the AA. We have been talking through intermediaries to ease tensions and avoid confrontation. But if the junta continues to interfere, we cant guarantee peace. So the regime needs to be careful, he added. Not only the AA chief, but its troops on the ground cannot put up with the regime, said sources close to the AA. The junta, which is struggling against the Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) in many parts of the country, will not want to open a new front in Rakhine State, said analysts. An exhausted regime changes its tune In response to Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naings warning, junta spokesperson Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun told the BBC that the regime does not want to fight the AA. In the interview, he urged the AA chief to talk with Min Aung Hlaing when he meets the junta leader in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw. Min Aung Hlaing has called for face-to-face peace talks with the leaders of EAOs. Several EAOs, including powerful ones like the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Karen National Liberation Army, have said publicly they wont join the talks. Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tuns change of tone is in stark contrast to his remarks on the AA two years ago. Military analysts said that the army might be upset, and that it might only be tolerating the AAs stance because it is doing badly in the conflicts elsewhere in the country and because of the junta chiefs proposal of peace talks. Military analysts believe the regime will fight a war against the AA if it can gain the upper hand against the PDFs. But there is also the possibility that fresh fighting could break out before then, they added. AA chief tries to kill two birds with one stone Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naings interviews and social media posts show that he does not have a tendency to make rash statements. His recent challenge came as a bomb that has been detonated in timely fashion. The regime has called on the EAOs to reply by May 9 as to whether they will attend the peace talks offered by Min Aung Hlaing. The AA has not yet responded to the regimes proposal, and Maj-Gen Tun Myat Naings warning came a day after the KIA rejected the talks. The AA chiefs warning means that he shares the same view as the KIA, and that he is trying to deter junta activities in Rakhine. The challenge is another insult to the Western Command chief, said an observer. If the military regime does fight a war in Rakhine, it will likely be a suicide mission for its troops. But if it does not fight, the junta will only be able to watch helplessly as the AA further expands its influence in Rakhine State. You may also like these stories: Myanmars Revolution Must Succeed: NUG Humanitarian Minister Regime Forces Loot and Torch Over 200 Houses in Upper Myanmar Myanmar Junta Officially Endorses Militias to Attack Anti-Regime Civilians Australian-listed payment solutions and service firm QuickFee has announced the successful completion of a $4.0 million share placement at an issue price of $0.10 cents per share to strategic, institutional, sophisticated and professional investors in a strongly supported capital raising. QuickFee says the placement was supported by new and existing institutional, family office and sophisticated investors and following QuickFee USs highest-ever volumes in ACH, Card and Financing in March 2022, the company has raised new capital to enable it to accelerate its proven go-to-market strategies and leverage its completed proprietary technology stack. The combination of these is already delivering higher volumes, higher yield, higher revenue and lower operating expenses, which in turn will enable QuickFee to achieve profitability, said QuickFee. Commenting on the placement, QuickFee managing director and CEO Eric Lookhoff said I am delighted by the progress QuickFee has made in accelerating our path to profitability. This financial year we have grown our US Pay Now volume by 47%, US Financing volume by 14% and US BNPL volume by 83%. We have successfully increased revenue yields on our ACH, Card, and Lending volumes and at the same time reduced our operating expenses2, with expected annualised savings of $4.0 million to A$4.5 million in FY23. We have attracted industry-wide professionals to our team and completed our proprietary payment technology stack, QUBE. These accomplishments taken together not only accelerate our path to profitability, but have also generated a greater competitive position, particularly in the US market. Our capacity for continued growth in the US professional services space has attracted the support and partnership of world-class payments organisations. Participating in this capital raise is Payroc, a global credit card and ACH processor, which globally facilitates US$65 billion of payments volume annually, along with the investment and continued confidence of existing major shareholders. I am grateful for their participation and that of our retail and institutional shareholders, which ensure that QuickFee is fully-funded as we continue to execute on our growth strategies and achieve near term profitability. Payroc CEO James Oberman said Our relationship with QuickFee has been a key source of growth for Payroc since 2016. We are pleased not only to have provided QuickFee merchants with valuable Card acceptance services, but also witnessed QuickFees impressive evolution and growth. Joining the register as a shareholder just made sense as an investment, and we look forward to our continued partnership into the future. QuickFee lists placement details and use of proceeds and says the placement, at an issue price of $0.10 per share, represents the first stage of its broader capital raising, comprising: an offer of 36,500,000 million new shares under a placement (tranche one placement) to raise $3.65 million; an offer of 3,500,000 new shares under a further placement (tranche two placement) to related parties of QuickFee to raise up to $0.35 million, subject to receiving shareholder approval; and an offer of up to 5,000,000 new shares under a non-underwritten share purchase plan (SPP) to eligible shareholders with a registered address in Australia and New Zealand to raise up to $0.5 million, New shares issued under the Capital Raising will rank pari passu with QuickFees existing ordinary shares and QuickFee has engaged Bell Potter Securities to act as lead manager and Arnold Bloch Leibler to act as Australian legal counsel for the capital raising. QuickFee says the proceeds from the capital raising will be used: to provide additional working capital to achieve increased scale in QuickFees US target markets; to enable QuickFee to continue to invest in integrations and product enhancements to drive increased usage of the QuickFee products; and to fund the costs and expenses associated with capital raising. The tranche one placement comprised an offer of 36,500,000 fully paid ordinary shares in QuickFee at an issue price of $0.10 per share, raising a total of $3.65 million. The issue price is equal to the last close price, and represents a discount of 5.3% to the 15-day VWAP prior to the trading halt, on Thursday, 5 May 2022. The tranche one placement shares will be issued under the companys existing 25% placement capacity for the purposes of ASX Listing Rules 7.1 and 7.1A and the tranche two placement shares are expected to settle on Thursday, 12 May 2022 and will be issued on Friday, 13 May 2022. QuickFee says the tranche two pllacement will comprise an offer to related parties of Dale Smorgon of 3,500,000 fully paid ordinary shares in QuickFee at an issue price of $0.10 per share, raising a total of $0.35 million. The company will seek shareholder approval to issue the tranche two placement shares for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 10.11. Shareholder approval will be sought at an extraordinary general meeting. The date of the mxtraordinary general mMeeting will be provided at a later date. In addition to the two tranche placements, QuickFee announced that eligible shareholders will have the opportunity to purchase new shares under the SPP.. QuickFee says it will offer approximately 5,000,000 new shares under an SPP to eligible shareholders with a registered address in Australia and New Zealand to raise up to $0.5 million. The record date for participation in the SPP is 7:00pm (Sydney time) on Friday, 6 May 2022. The SPP will provide each eligible shareholder with the opportunity to apply for up to $30,000 worth of new shares. The new shares under the SPP are to be issued at the lower of the tranche one placement price ($0.10 per share) and the price that is a 5% discount to the VWAP of ordinary shares in QuickFee traded on the ASX over the five trading days up to, and including, the day on which the SPP closes. The eligibility criteria and other terms and conditions of the SPP will be set out in the SPP booklet and despatched to eligible shareholders in due course. The SPP aims to raise $0.5 million, however, the company may determine to raise a higher amount, or decide to scale back applications under the SPP in its absolute discretion, QuickFee concluded. CSIRO and Microsoft Australia have collaborated to launch a STEM education initiative that will see students witness the future of farming, exposing them to concepts like cloud computing and data and artificial intelligence. With funding from Microsoft, CSIRO piloted Microsoft Farmbeats, an initiative wherein Years 9 and 10 students participate in a hands-on AI sustainable learning experience, playing smart farming techniques to food production. Students and teachers received lesson plans aligned to the Australian Curriculum, tools, and technology to explore how big data, AI, machine learning, and Internet of Things technologies apply to real world agricultural challenges through inquiry-based learning. Teachers also received specialised professional development helping them to use the technology to support their students. Schools were given FarmBeats kits featuring a Raspberry Pi device as well as soil moisture, light, ambient temperature, and humidity sensors to be used in student projects. Real data, real impact Using the Indra platform, students gained access to historical data from local areas to examine the changes in climate over time to consider how those changes impact current and future growing conditions. Indra is a climate and hazard risk analytics engine designed to trawl big data collections and provide insights about challenges facing selected geographical areas. Indra forms part of the Climate Services for Agriculture (CSA) digital platform developed by CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology to deliver predicted climate information at a 5 km resolution. Information about past and predicted rainfall, temperature, heat, and frost risk and evapo-transpiration is presented to farmers through a dashboard. During the inquiry phase of the program, some students used the CSA prototype to plan their own investigation with the Microsoft FarmBeats kit. With the CSA platform, students understood how much rainfall their area had received over 10 years, taking averages of those data points, and comparing it to the rainfall needs of plants they might grow for their investigation. Students also had access to Microsoft Lobe a no-code machine learning application that students and teachers were able to train for various applications such as counting number of insects, recognising insect types, and identifying ripe fruits. These technological advantages allowed students to consider how to adapt growing practices for optimum yield. The teachers selected for the FarmBeats for Students initiative demonstrated passion for teaching AI. Many reported that the inquiry nature of the program allowed them to extend their students STEM skills, critical thinking, and creativity. It was great to see so many different schools and teams participating in the pilot, which reached 397 students from 18 schools, including year 10 all-female digital technology students from St Margaret Marys College in Townsville, says CSIRO director education and outreach Ruth Carr. Pioneering FarmBeats for students Microsoft FarmBeats took concepts that we understand in a familiar, very deep technical sense and allowed us to take a step back and look at them as a solution to a problem. In this context it was an agricultural problem with a societal impact, looking at the benefits of how that is going to change the way that we live, our future well-being and ability to survive, says Christ Church Grammar School computer science teacher Graham Nolan. We learned a lot about the technology and its application and were able to use it as a great extension to our Science Inquiry and Earth and Space Sciences content. Were even looking to modify our Year 12 Integrated Science course to be based on the FarmBeats program, says Warwick Senior High School science teacher Kiara Marzohl. The Lobe activities helped build students understanding of visual recognition technology and use. It was good for them to really see that in process as they guided the model through by adding their own photos and testing its accuracy, says Caritas College South Australia STEM teacher Nathan OBrien. FarmBeats for Students provides hands on learning opportunities for both teachers and students and fosters an important understanding of how data and AI are reshaping our world, it equips students with critical digital skills and insights that set them up for success. In 2022 we hope to expand this opportunity to more high schools all around Australia, says Microsoft ANZ director of education Tiffany Wright. Microsoft Australia says digital agriculture will be critical to meet the needs of a global population estimated to top nine billion people by 2050. Australian technology services and solutions provider Data#3 has appointed Mike Hobson to the role of general manager of its ACT branch. "In recent years, the ACT has seen strong revenue growth across the business and that growth is expected to continue," said Data#3 executive general manager Brad Colledge. "Our ongoing local investment ensures that our ACT customers are leveraging innovative technology to deliver their business and IT outcomes. It's a pleasure to welcome Mike to the Data#3 management team," Data#3 CEO and managing director Laurence Baynham added "This is an exciting time in the technology industry, and I look forward to working with Mike to achieve our vision to harness the power of people and technology for a better future." Hobson joined the company from DXC Connect, where he most recently worked as a branch manager. He began his Australian career in management consulting, then took on various leadership roles at organisations including IBM, EDS/HP, the Department of Finance and the Department of Home Affairs. Hobson studied in the UK at Leeds Beckett University and the University of Westminster. "I am excited to be joining Data#3 to lead its ACT business in delivering great value for Federal Government and ACT customers," Hobson said. "As a member of the Data#3 national management team, I look forward to shaping how the company continues to embrace the opportunities and challenges of the ever-changing IT landscape." Chinese President Xi Jinping meets via video link with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing, capital of China, May 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping had a virtual meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday, saying it is particularly important for the two countries to better harness the stabilizing, constructive and steering role of their relationship. Xi noted the ongoing complex changes in the international landscape and the marked rise in difficulties and challenges for global security and development, and highlighted the pressing need to bring more stability and certainty to an age of instability and transformation. Both China and Germany are major countries with important influence. Under the current circumstances, it is particularly important for the two countries to maintain sound and steady growth of bilateral ties and better harness the stabilizing, constructive and steering role of this relationship. This not only serves the interests of the Chinese and German peoples but will also contribute significantly to world peace and tranquility, said Xi. Xi stressed that China-Germany relations have seen high-quality development over the past five decades, during which the two sides have developed together and contributed to each other's success through deepening practical cooperation. This is essentially attributable to a commitment to mutual respect and win-win cooperation, a valuable piece of experience and important principle that should be upheld all along. Xi said there is no change in China's commitment to developing ties with Germany; there is no change in China's sincere wish for closer cooperation with Germany; and there is no change in China's conviction that China and Germany can make greater differences together. It is important that the two sides stick to the keynote of dialogue and cooperation, make good use of bilateral dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, and conduct dialogue in such areas as climate change, macroeconomic policy, financial stability, energy security, food security and the stability of industrial and supply chains, so as to further enrich this bilateral relationship. The two sides should tap the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation, and actively explore cooperation in new technologies including environmental protection, trade in services, artificial intelligence and digitalization. China is speeding up efforts to foster a new development paradigm, which means broader market opportunities for Germany and all other countries, he said. The two sides should stand for true multilateralism, uphold international fairness and justice, defend the UN's central role in international affairs, safeguard basic norms governing international relations, promote an open world economy, and make global development more balanced, coordinated and inclusive, Xi said. Xi expressed his hope for Germany's active support for and participation in the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, with a view to building a community with a shared future for mankind. Xi underscored that China and the EU are comprehensive strategic partners and each other's opportunity, and that the two sides have far more common interests than differences. China supports the strategic autonomy of the EU. The China-Europe relationship is not targeted at, subjugated to, or controlled by any third party. This is a strategic consensus that both sides must follow in the long run. It is important that the two sides, with a dialectical and long-term view, with mutual respect and with the right perception, increase communication and enhance mutual trust. In face of geopolitical crises, the two sides need to advocate dialogue and cooperation and offset complex changes in the international landscape with the stability of China-EU relations. In face of challenges to post-COVID recovery, the two sides need to seek greater synergy between their development strategies, step up policy coordination, and promote the stability and growth of the world economy with the openness of China-EU cooperation. In face of global challenges, the two sides need to focus on areas that bear on the future of humanity such as climate change and sustainable development, and promote further development of global governance through their wide-ranging dialogue. Xi expressed his hope for Germany to play a positive role in the steady and sound development of China-EU relations. Scholz noted the very good development of Germany-China relations in recent years, and called on the two sides to carry forward the good tradition and keep up the sound momentum of bilateral relations. Germany will work with China on the celebration of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, maintain close communication and exchanges at all levels, ensure the success of the next round of inter-governmental consultation, have dialogue on maintaining stable global supply chains, macroeconomic policy coordination and other important topics, and step up cooperation in a wide range of areas including trade and investment, climate change, COVID-19 response, health and medical care, and education and culture. Germany welcomes China's commitment to expanding high-standard opening-up, which will bring more opportunities to Germany. Germany is prepared to enhance communication and coordination with China on the multilateral front and promote the sound development of Europe-China relations, he added. The two leaders also had an in-depth and candid exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine. Xi stressed that China always stands on the side of peace and makes its conclusion independently based on the merits of each matter, and that China has been working in its own way to promote peace and defuse tensions. The Ukraine crisis has once again brought European security to a crossroads. It is important to make every effort to prevent the conflict from intensifying or magnifying to a point of no return. Xi said the European side needs to show historical responsibility and political wisdom, bear in mind the long-term stability of Europe, and promote a solution in a responsible manner. The security of Europe should be kept in the hands of Europeans themselves. China supports Europe in playing a positive role in promoting peace talks and in the eventual establishment of a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture. China welcomes all international efforts conducive to promoting peace. Relevant parties need to support Russia and Ukraine in realizing peace through negotiations, Xi added. Semiconductor company Qualcomm Technologies announces the sampling and availability of its Wi-Fi capable Qualcomm Networking Pro Series Gen 3 family of platforms to partners. Building upon Qualcomm Networking Pro Series platforms, the products combine Wi-Fi 7 features with Qualcomms multi-channel management technologies to improve speed, lower latency, and enhance network utilisation of Wi-Fi 6/6E devices. Combining support for the latest Wi-Fi 7 innovations with our unique product platform architecture, the platform enables solutions ranging from whole-home mesh to powerful connectivity networks for large public venues. With this product line, we anticipate a new class of customer systems for both todays applications and the emerging Wi-Fi 7 ecosystem, says Qualcomm Technologies senior vice president and general manager wireless infrastructure and networking Nick Kucharewski. Introducing Wi-Fi 7 innovations such as Simultaneous Multi-Link Operations, 4K QAM, quad-band configurations in a highly scalable, modular, and optimised architecture, Qualcomm Technologies is raising the table stakes once again and driving the industry into the 10Gbps+ era, Counterpoint Research vice president research Neil Shah says. This third generation of the Qualcomm Networking Pro Series enables systems with peak aggregate wireless capacity of 33Gbps and point-to-point connections exceeding 10Gbps. With features for interference detection and multilink operation, the Wi-Fi 7 Network Pro Series showcases low latency across challenging shared wireless environments, enabling application performance rivalling private spectrum. The products can support high speed low latency wireless backhaul for home mesh Wi-Fi and enterprise infrastructure despite interferences. With a combined internet access such as 5G fixed wireless access or 10G PON fibre, Qualcomm says customers may experience high resolution videoconferencing, augmented or virtual reality, and cloud gaming. Available in tri-band, and quad-band configurations, the Qualcomm Networking Pro Series features Wi-Fi connectivity across 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz spectrum. Qualcomm Networking Pro Series Wi-Fi 7 platforms key features include: Support for Wi-Fi 7 320MHz channels (delivering a 2x increase in throughput over Wi-Fi 6) provides maximum throughput and latency for real-time gaming, streaming, video sharing, and XR applications. Multi-link technology enables customer traffic to aggregate or alternate bands to avoid wireless interference and deliver low latency in heavily congested environments. When paired with leading Wi-Fi 7 client systems, like the Qualcomm FastConnect 7800, Qualcomm Networking Pro Series, Gen 3 platforms can offer support for High Band Simultaneous (HBS) Multi-Link. HBS Multi-Link leverages only 5 and 6GHz bands to deliver the throughput and latency Multi-Link performance. To maximise 6 GHz operation, including long-range and outdoors, the Qualcomm AFC service is a turnkey solution for hardware and software, available for customer device integration today across Qualcomm Networking Pro Series and Qualcomm Immersive Home platforms. As with previous generations, the third-generation Qualcomm Networking Pro Series platforms ensure customer quick time-to-market in a wide range of connectivity solutions. The platform architecture leverages common software and hardware development approach to deliver configurations that support optimised multiband channel utilisation schemes to address varied regional spectrum availability. Customers can select from a range of platforms, whether targeting enterprise, small/medium-sized business, carrier gateway, prosumer mesh, or home deployments. The full range of platform offerings include: Qualcomm Networking Pro 1620: Quad-band, 16-stream, 33.1Gbps peak wireless capacity for stadium, large enterprise, premium home mesh systems. Qualcomm Networking Pro 1220: Tri-band, 12-stream, 21.6Gbps peak wireless capacity for enterprise, SMB, prosumer, and premium home mesh systems. Qualcomm Networking Pro 820: Quad-band, 8-stream, 13.7Gbps peak wireless capacity for enterprise, SMB, prosumer, and premium home mesh systems. Qualcomm Networking Pro 620: Tri-band, 6-stream, 10.8Gbps peak wireless capacity for enterprise, SMB, gaming, and home mesh systems. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 6 May 2022. Finnish telecommunications equipment provider Nokia has completed a network trial with telecommunications company Tim Italy using Nokia PSE-Vs fifth generation super coherent optics. The said trial demonstrated 600G transmission over a 1008 km live link in Tim's backbone network in Italy. This trial will allow Tim Italy to increase its optical network capacity and support 500 Gigabit Ethernet (400GE) services across its long-haul network. The trial leverages Tims long-haul network based on Nokias CDC-F ROADM architecture. It operated with 100GHz WDM channels to maximise network capacity. With the introduction of the PSE-Vs super coherent capabilities, we enable scale made simple across our entire 1830 portfolio. Nokia is enabling spectrally-efficient network capacity over real-world long-haul networks while setting new milestones for capacity-reach performance, comments Nokia head of optical networks division James Watt on the trial. This live network field trial validates our plans to scale network capacity everywhere over our existing long-haul network, using the latest generation of high-performance coherent optics, says Tim Italy head of IP, transport, and SDN engineering Alberto Maria Langelloti. The trial was performed on a long-haul route connecting Tims live network of mixed SMF/Leaf fibre using Nokias 1830 PSI-M compact modular disaggregated transport system. Tim and Nokia performed at 600Gb/s over a 1008km link from Torino to Rome, consisting of 18 fibre spans and through five ROADMs nodes and 400Gb/s over a 2140km link from Torino to Catania, Sicily, consisting of 37 fibre spans and 12 ROADMs nodes. The Nokia PSE-V is a digital coherent optics (DCO), powering Nokias transponders, packet-optical switches, disaggregated compact modular, and subsea terminal platforms. The PSE-V super coherent DSP (PSE-Vs) implements second generation probabilistic constellation shaping (PCS) with continuous baud rate adjustment, and supports higher wavelength capacities over longer distances including support for 400G over any distance over 100GHz WDM channels while further reducing network costs and power consumption per bit. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 6 May 2022. A woman wearing a burka and her children walk in front of their house in Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, May 8, 2022. Afghan women are furious and fearful over a recent decree by the country's Taliban leaders that reinstated the burqa and similar outfits as mandatory for them in public. But some are defying the strict interpretation of Islamic dress codes, venturing out with less restrictive versions than that which the Taliban demanded outfits that only reveal their eyes. Cheese may be a staple of southern cooking, but it wasnt until chef Kelsey Barnard Clark started training in the French style that she began to understand its culinary power beyond the comfort of its ooey, gooey goodness. It opened my world, introducing me to the fact that there were a ton of different types of cheeses and that you could use it in different ways, says the owner of KBC restaurant in Dothan, Alabama. One of her favorite tricks, for example, is simmering a Parmesan rind in soups, stews and broths. Youre not technically adding an ingredient, but the way it makes [the food] feel in and coats your mouth makes everything come alive, she explains. After returning to the south from New York City to open her catering company and restaurant, Barnard Clark used her experience with cheese to elevate southern favorites, capturing the perfect balance between what people expect and expanded, exciting and nuanced flavors. Using a ripe cheese adds some brininess or a sourness that normally wouldnt be there, while a very aged cheese adds umami; you can get this whole layer of flavor you couldnt otherwise create or get from anything else, says the Top Chef season 16 champ. Its simple, but theres depth there, and to me, thats what makes the best food its just simple and well done. Barnard Clark shares three classic recipes, each with a simple but modern twist: A pimiento grilled cheese with bacon that gives a hint of smoke and Cajun kick, grits with a trio of cheeses that hold its own next to savory grillades, and a Caesar salad made special (and uniquely southern) with a secret ingredient in the dressing and a crispy-outside-melty-inside sidekick. Ready to dig in, yall? Johnson City, TN (37604) Today Sunny to partly cloudy. High near 80F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low near 55F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. SWISS-BELHOTEL INTERNATIONAL UPS EXPANSION PLANS Swiss-Belhotel International has announced ambitious expansion plans with a strategic focus on Central and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. SWISS-BELHOTEL INTERNATIONAL UPS EXPANSION PLANS Swiss-Belhotel International has announced ambitious expansion plans with a strategic focus on Central and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Industry economy - Hotel projects This is a press release Category: Worldwide This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2022-05-09 Swiss-Belhotel International is looking at other asset management alliances globally to support its expansion and is presently negotiating on more opportunities. This is a real pivot and change in the expansion approach by working with third party asset managers and investment bankers. Making the announcement just before the Arabian Travel Market, Mr. Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, stated, We are well placed to take advantage of the growing confidence in travel and very excited to continue our global expansion with a strong focus on Central and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. These regions hold enormous potential for our brands and are important growth markets for us. Today we are at 125 hotels and are aiming towards a healthy growth of 250 hotels by 2030. Working closely with our owners we have been successfully navigating the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic and look forward to driving value to our owners, associates, employees, and guests through our diverse brands. As part of its robust expansion in Southeast Asia, Swiss-Belhotel International has recently set up a regional office in Thailand. The company is looking to capitalize on new opportunities in priority markets like Thailand and Vietnam where it has multiple hotel projects in advanced negotiations. Mr. Faull added, While we are particularly pleased with our progress in Thailand and Vietnam, Southeast Asia as a whole offers tremendous opportunity to expand our footprint further. Our collaboration with the Odyssey Group, which is one of Asias leading mid-market private market asset managers providing differentiated and bespoke investment solutions across multiple asset classes, is aimed at bolstering our expansion in Japan. As the travel market continues to recover, Swiss-Belhotel International is also looking to increase its presence in Africa with several deals under negotiation. African countries are still underserved by branded hotel supply despite solid domestic demand. We are witnessing strong owner interest in our brands across Africa with many promising opportunities in the pipeline that we expect to finalise soon. About Swiss-Belhotel International Swiss-Belhotel International is currently in 19* countries, managing a portfolio of more than 125* hotels, resorts and projects located in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland and Tanzania. The Group provides comprehensive and highly professional development and management services in all aspects of hotel, resort and serviced residences. Offices are strategically located in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, China, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Vietnam and Thailand covering Oceania, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and India regions. *numbers may fluctuate A Russian strike on a school sheltering civilians claimed 60 lives, Ukraine said Sunday, as the G7 reaffirmed their unity with Kyiv on the eve of Moscows ostentatious plans for a World War II victory celebration. As intense fighting continued, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the death toll in Saturdays Russian air strike on a school in the eastern village of Bilogorivka. That would be one of the highest one-day tolls since Russia invaded on February 24. Russian President Vladimir Putin leads commemorations Monday of the Soviet Unions defeat of Nazi Germany, but Ukraine, under unrelenting attack, is desperate to deny Moscow any sense of military invigoration. Putin is expected to flaunt his military might during the symbolically important event. Huge intercontinental ballistic missiles will be towed for official review through Moscows Red Square, and a planned flyover will feature fighter jets in a Z formation showing support for the war. The Victory Day parade is a longtime tradition in Russia, but Mondays has taken on great prominence as Putin seeks to justify a war that has gone on far longer and at far higher cost than expected. Putin has sought to legitimise the invasion by comparing it with the previous struggle against Nazism and the national pride it brought. Today, our soldiers, as their ancestors, are fighting side by side to liberate their native land from the Nazi filth with the confidence that, as in 1945, victory will be ours, Putin said. Zelensky also marked the end of the 1939-1945 war by comparing Ukraines battle for national survival to the regions war of resistance against its former Nazi occupiers. Decades after World War II, darkness has returned to Ukraine, and it has become black and white again, he said, in a monochrome social media video shot before a bombed-out apartment block. Evil has returned, in a different uniform, under different slogans, but for the same purpose. Earlier, in the latest shows of Western support, US First Lady Jill Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made unannounced visits to Ukraine, and G7 leaders joined Zelensky on a video call before pledging new support including a key vow to ban or phase out imports of Russian oil. Meantime, depleted Ukrainian forces are bracing to defend their final bastion in the devastated port city of Mariupol. Fresh sanctions After Zelenskys video conference with G7 leaders, the group comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States said in a statement that Putins unprovoked war of aggression had brought shame on Russia and the historic sacrifices of its people. The White House said the G7 was committed to phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil. But EU diplomats will meet again next week to hammer out the details of their latest sanctions package, after a proposed embargo on Russian oil exposed rifts in the bloc. Separately, the White House said the United States would sanction three major Russian television stations and deny all Russian companies access to US firms consulting and accounting services. Trudeau said Putin was responsible for heinous war crimes as he visited Irpin, a Kyiv suburb that was the scene of heavy fighting in the early weeks of the conflict. Separately, First Lady Biden met her Ukrainian counterpart Olena Zelenska at a school sheltering civilians, including children displaced by the conflict, near Ukraines border with Slovakia. I wanted to come on Mothers Day, Jill Biden told reporters, saying she wanted to demonstrate US support for Ukraine. Tunnel network Civilians have now been evacuated from Mariupols Azovstal steelworks, witnesses said. An AFP reporter in the city of Zaporizhzhia said Sunday that eight buses carrying 174 civilians including 40 evacuated from Azovstal had arrived in that Ukrainian-controlled city. Im relieved to confirm that we managed to bring 174 more people to safety from the hell of Mariupol today, Osnat Lubrani, the UNs humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, tweeted. That left a small force of defenders holed up in Azovstals sprawling network of tunnels and bunkers. The complex the final pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the Black Sea port city has taken on symbolic value. We, all of the military personnel in the garrison of Mariupol, we have witnessed the war crimes performed by Russia, by the Russian army. We are witnesses, said Ilya Samoilenko, an intelligence officer with the far-right Azov regiment defending the site. Surrender is not an option because Russia is not interested in our lives, he said. Full control of Mariupol would allow Moscow to create a land bridge between the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, and eastern regions run by pro-Russian separatists. In one of those regions, Lugansk, Ukrainian forces are now mounting a last-ditch defence of the city of Severodonetsk, formerly an industrial city of 100,000 people. Lugansk region governor Sergiy Gaiday said rescuers in Bilogorivka were searching for survivors in the debris left by the Russian attack on the school there, though the outlook was bleak. Bombs fell on the school, he said on Telegram, and unfortunately it was completely destroyed. The attack on the school appalled UN chief Antonio Guterres, his spokesperson said. The secretary-general reiterates that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be spared in times of war, the spokesperson added. Filtration camps Rescuers were also looking for survivors in the neighbouring village of Shepilivka after a strike hit a house where 11 people were sheltering in the basement, Gaiday said. Civilians who escaped Mariupol describe passing through Russian filtration sites where several evacuees told AFP they were questioned, strip-searched, fingerprinted, and had their phones and documents checked. They asked us if we wanted to go to Russia or stay and rebuild the city of Mariupol, said Azovstal evacuee Natalia, who asked that her full name not be published. But how can I rebuild it? How can I return there if the city of Mariupol doesnt exist anymore? burs-dc/imm/raz/bbk/mlm Britains defence minister on Monday called out the absurdity of Russias bemedalled military top brass at the annual Victory Day parade in Moscow, highlighted by President Vladimir Putins speech. Putin addressed a vast parade on Red Square in Moscow for a public holiday celebrating Soviet victory in World War II, as the Russian armed forces have suffered major losses in Ukraine. UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, himself a former soldier, was due to give a speech at the National Army Museum later Monday. All professional soldiers should be appalled at the behaviour of the Russian Army, he will say, according to excerpts released in advance by his department. Not only are they engaged in an illegal invasion and war crimes but their top brass have failed their own rank and file to the extent they should be court martialled. Putin on Monday gave a speech to troops telling them they are defending the Motherland in Ukraine. He has justified Russias military actions by saying they are carrying out denazification of the neighbouring country. Wallace said he wanted to call out the absurdity of Russian generals resplendent in their manicured parade uniforms and weighed down by their many medals, saying they were utterly complicit in Putins hijacking of their forebears proud history of repelling fascism. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday spoke of his pride in Ukrainians who fought to defeat Nazism, saying he would not allow victory in World War II to be appropriated by Russians. This case opening on Monday is a fourth universal jurisdiction trial for crimes committed during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. After a record 22 years of proceedings since the first complaint filed by the International Federation for Human Rights in January 2000 in the town of Troye (eastern France) near where he lives, Bucyibaruta who is very ill, according to a source close to the defence will have to answer to the many charges brought against him. Over the course of two months, the court will hear from some 115 people, including experts, witnesses to the events and witnesses for the civil parties. Bucyibaruta, who is not in detention, has always denied his involvement in the genocide, although he remained a prefect until the fall of the interim government in early July 1994. According to the indictment of the Paris Court of Appeal dated January 21, 2021, he is accused of having, between April and July 1994, in his prefecture of Gikongoro committed serious attacks on the life and physical and mental integrity of people grouped at the sites of the ETO [technical school] of Murambi, Tutsi prisoners in the Gikongoro prison, and people arrested at the roadblocks and during local roundups, in execution of a concerted plan aimed at the total or partial destruction of the Tutsi ethnic group. In addition, he was allegedly complicit in massacres perpetrated in the parishes of Kibeho, Cyanika, Kaduha and of students of the Marie-Merci school in Kibeho, by knowingly helping the perpetrators of the said acts in order to facilitate their preparation or execution. In total, more than 110,000 Tutsis were killed at these six crime scenes, according to censuses carried out in Rwanda at the genocide sites in the Gikongoro prefecture. ICTR investigation The delays in the proceedings are all the more difficult to explain since a complete investigation file was transmitted to France by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR). The Arusha tribunal, which indicted Bucyibaruta on June 16, 2005, prosecuted him on six counts: genocide, complicity in genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, and crimes against humanity consisting of acts of extermination, murder, and rape. He was individually responsible and as a hierarchical superior, according to this indictment. Nevertheless, at the end of the French investigation, several facts were dismissed: the murders of a gendarme and a woman, as well as his complicity in the rapes committed in the Gikongoro prefecture. The ICTR withdrew from the case on November 20, 2007, as well as from another historic case, the case of Father Wenceslas Munyeshyaka, which is symptomatic of the length of time Rwandan cases have taken to be tried in France. Murambi, night of April 20-21, 1994 Right up to April 1994, the ETO in Murambi was a construction site, begun in 1990, intended to become a school complex. During the first month of the genocide, it is estimated that 50,000 people were massacred there. They were Tutsis living on the hill and surrounding area whom the local authorities and armed forces had been told to gather there under the pretext of guaranteeing their safety. Murambi was a testing ground for the appalling tricks designed to lure the Tutsis, make them suffer and massacre them, according to Stanley Mugabarigira, who is in charge of the Murambi Memorial. The Tutsis, whose homes were burned, who were hunted and killed, came to seek refuge at the ETO. The killers, who converged on Murambi in organized transport, laid siege to them during the night of April 20-21. The final assault began in the middle of the night. The school complex, which consisted of twelve rooms and their annexes, became a memorial and is now a place where human remains and objects used by the killers are displayed. Cyanika, afternoon of April 21 Those survivors from Murambi who were able to get to Cyanika were no more fortunate. They were killed there on the afternoon of April 21. It was here that we were massacred, women were raped before being killed with wooden spikes driven into their bodies, murmured one woman. Before April 1994, Hutus and Tutsis often met and gathered in Cyanika church to pray and hug each other for peace. Cyanika is also the name of the health centre that adjoins the church built in 1935, which used to welcome everyone without discrimination. Today, its Tutsi ex-abbot Joseph Niyomugabo rests among some 47,035 bodies in a memorial built in place of the presbytery. Kaduha, April 21 The parish of Kaduha is located in the heart of Bunyambiriri, a mountainous region in the foothills of the Nyungwe rainforest. According to Bernard Mutagoma, local president of the Ibuka victims association, in Kaduha before the genocide there were numerous inter-ethnic marriages, people gave each other cows, lent each other money and helped their neighbours in the fields. However, another survivor recalls, with the beginning of the war of liberation by the Rwandan Patriotic Front in October 1990, a climate of suspicion began to poison our relations in the village, in the schools, to the point of no longer drinking together. A former militiaman from Kaduha who participated in the genocide and calls himself Hamadi to protect his safety, remembers bars for Tutsis that closed very early, and others where Hutus met to plot their extermination. For example, there is one called La Vedette, where, according to him, local authorities and other influential people met shortly before April 21 with Prefect Bucyibaruta, Bishop Augustin Misago [Bishop of Gikongoro, tried and exonerated in June 2000] and Abbe Robert Athanase Nyandwi. Remy Kamugire, a survivor of Cyanika and vice-president of Ibuka for the Nyamagabe district, says Bucyibaruta could not have been in Murambi, Cyanika and Kaduha at the same time to supervise the April 21 massacres. But according to both him and gacaca testimonies notably from former militiamen, he coordinated by telephone from his office the action of his lieutenants, Karama mayor Desire Ngezaho and deputy prefects Joseph Ntegeyintwari in Cyanika and Joachim Hategekimana in Kaduha. For Remy Kamugire, a survivor of Cyanika and vice-president of Ibuka for the Nyamagabe district, the prefect of Gikongoro, Laurent Bucyibaruta, could not be in Murambi, Cyanika and Kaduha at the same time to supervise the massacres of 21 April 1994. However, according to him, he was following the operations by telephone. Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP Marie-Merci school Kibeho, May 7 According to a 2020 report by the Commission for the fight against Genocide (CNLG), gendarmes and the school authority prevented the Tutsi students who were massacred at Marie-Merci school in Kibeho from fleeing. On May 4, 1994, a meeting was organized by the school principal, Father Emmanuel Uwayezu, in the presence of several dignitaries including Bucyibaruta, the report said. On May 7, shortly before noon, the 100 Tutsi students under siege were attacked. Only eight of them survived. If Bucyibaruta and Bishop Misago had wanted to save us, they could have done because they had the upper hand over the gendarmes who were guarding us, said Theophile Zigirumugabe, one of the few survivors from Marie-Merci School. Bucyibaruta has not only left very bad memories, but above all he has tarnished the image of the administrative authority here in Nyamagabe, laments Hildebrand Niyomwungeri, the current mayor of Nyamagabe, a new district that includes the former prefecture of Gikongoro. The mayor points to the Murambi memorial about a kilometre away down below. From here, Bucyibaruta could easily observe everything in April 1994, from the mass influx of refugees to their massacre, The choice of passivity or crime In her report Leave None to Tell the Story, American human rights activist Alison Des Forges devotes a passage to the genocide in Gikongoro. Some of the earliest attacks as well as some of the worst massacres of the genocide took place in Gikongoro, she wrote. MRND [ruling party] supporters launched the violence at three points and from there spread it into adjacent areas, much as they expanded disorder outward from Kigali and its vicinity into the prefecture of Gitarama. The prefect, Laurent Bucyibaruta, was originally from Gikongoro and had devoted himself to the service of party and state through the decades when the two were identical, says the 1999 report by Human Rights Watch and the International Federation for Human Rights. The prefect, a MRND loyalist, was one of the first officials to come out in support of the interim government on national radio but he seems to have been less important in the early onset of violence and in its later expansion than some of his subordinates, such as Damien Biniga, and some party leaders who were not part of the administration. In some communes, like Musebeya, Kivu and Kinyamakara, administrators opposed the genocide and initially drew strength from the people in their communes who refused to kill, Des Forges adds. But as prefectural authorities failed to act against the violence and national authorities pressured for more and faster slaughter, they lost power to local rivals who saw the killing campaign as an opportunity to establish or re-establish their power. The dissenters judged continuing opposition futile and dangerous and either withdrew into passivity or themselves took up the role of killers. From May 9 to July 12, the Paris Court of Assizes will have to decide whether Bucyibaruta is innocent or guilty. President Vladimir Putin on Monday insisted Russia was defending the Motherland by its war in Ukraine, as Moscow staged a show of force at a military parade marking the 1945 victory over Nazi Germany. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky sought, however, to undercut his Russian rivals display of might, saying Kyiv would not allow Moscow to appropriate the Soviet Unions triumph in World War II. Putin blamed the West and Ukraine for todays conflict, telling thousands of troops in Moscows Red Square that Russia faced an absolutely unacceptable threat and warning against the horror of a global war. But as huge intercontinental ballistic missiles rumbled through the square, Putin made no major announcements, despite reports in the West that he could unveil an escalation of the Ukraine invasion. The war, now well into its third month, is currently focused on eastern Ukraine. Russia is seeking to secure the region, having tried and failed to take the capital Kyiv and the north. An AFP team saw columns of trucks filled with soldiers and heavy equipment move down the main road leading away from the city of Severodonetsk, suggesting Ukraine was giving up the defence of its last stronghold in the eastern Lugansk region. Russian forces were heavily shelling the roads, while the Ukrainians were firing back to help cover the apparent pullout. Officials said 60 civilians were killed in a Russian air strike on a school in the eastern village of Bilogorivka on Sunday one of the highest single death tolls since the February 24 invasion. Lugansk region governor Sergiy Gaiday said on Monday there were very serious battles around Bilogorivka and Rubizhne, as Russia tries to take the Russian-speaking Donbas. Donbas encompasses Lugansk and the neighbouring region of Donetsk. Free our land The war is mired in history between the two ex-Soviet nations Putin has said the so-called special military operation in Ukraine is in part to de-Nazify the country. As troops poured into Moscow for the Victory Day celebrations, in Kyiv the commemoration day was largely shunned as life slowly returned to normal weeks after fierce fighting raged in its suburbs. The capitals Maidan square was largely empty. Small patrols of police and Ukrainian armed forces kept watch with air sirens temporarily disrupting the quiet morning, as people waited for any sign from Putin of an upcoming escalation. Whatever he says, we need to do what we need to win and free our land. And thats it, said retired diplomat Mykola, 75. Its scarier today, so its important to be attentive and to respond to the sirens and other threats, said 24-year-old media worker Diana. Zelensky earlier invoked the ghosts of the Second World War to chide Russia, saying Ukraine was proud of its role in ousting Nazi Germanys forces. And we will not allow anyone to annex this victory. We will not allow it to be appropriated, he said in a video speech. He listed several cities currently under Russian control from which he said Ukrainians had ousted Nazi German forces during World War II, adding: We won then. We will win now. One city he named was the devastated southern port of Mariupol, where depleted Ukrainian forces are defending their final bastion at the Azovstal steelworks. Scores of civilians have been evacuated in recent days. An AFP reporter in the city of Zaporizhzhia said on Sunday that eight buses carrying 174 civilians including 40 evacuated from the plant had arrived in that Ukrainian-controlled city. Full control of Mariupol would allow Moscow to create a land bridge between the Crimean Peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, and eastern regions of Ukraine run by pro-Russian separatists. Historical lands Putin used the annual Victory Day parade to rally support for a war that has dragged on for longer than Russia expected, and at far greater cost. The celebration in Red Square featured some 11,000 troops and more than 130 military vehicles, including giant missiles, although a planned military flypast was cancelled. Addressing Russian forces in Ukraine, he said: You are fighting for the Motherland, for its future, so that no one forgets the lessons of the Second World War. Putin said Kyiv and its western allies had been preparing an invasion of our historical lands, including in Donbas region and in Crimea. An absolutely unacceptable threat to us was being created, directly on our borders, Putin said, pointing to NATO weapons deliveries to Ukraine and the deployment of foreign advisors. The West has rallied behind Zelensky and hailed him as a hero. G7 leaders met him via video conference on Sunday to discuss the conflict. US First Lady Jill Biden made an unannounced visit to western Ukraine on Sunday, meeting her Ukrainian counterpart Olena Zelenska at a school sheltering displaced civilians. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meanwhile said Putin was responsible for heinous war crimes as he visited the devastated Kyiv suburb of Irpin. The Wests show of unity has, however, come up against its reliance on Russian energy exports. Diplomats from the European Union will meet again this week to hammer out the details of their latest sanctions package against Moscow, after a proposed embargo on Russian oil exposed rifts in the bloc. Battle for the east On the ground, the key battles are being fought in Ukraines east. In Severodonetsk, the easternmost city still held by Ukraine, a Ukrainian soldier with the nom de guerre Koval said that Russians had now entered its northern side. We are defending the southern half of the city, the soldier told AFP. The toughest toll has been on Ukraines civilians, who still try to go about their lives despite the carnage around them. They get frightened when there is shelling. It has to be silent when you fish, said angler Artur Cherepovskiy as he dangled a line from a bridge in Slovyansk, lamenting how the ferocity of the war has harmed his catch of carp. burs-dk/gil A former senior Rwandan official went on trial in Paris on Monday accused of complicity in the African nations genocide, the most high-ranking figure yet to face justice in France over the 1994 massacres. The case of Laurent Bucyibaruta is the fourth from the Rwandan genocide to come to court in France, which had long been under pressure from activists to act against suspected perpetrators who had taken refuge on French soil. An estimated 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus perished in 100 days of slaughter in 1994 in which Hutu militiamen massacred Tutsis taking cover in churches and schools. Standing trial on charges of genocide, complicity in genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity, Bucyibaruta faces a life sentence if convicted. He is the highest-ranking Rwandan official to be tried in France. At the heart of the case are several security meetings, either ordered by Bucyibaruta or in which he participated. The accusation says they were slaughter-planning sessions. The 78-year-old, who suffers from health problems, entered the courtroom in a wheelchair, a walking stick in his hand. Bucyibaruta, in a hoarse voice, asked if he could remain seated, as offered by the courts president. The defendant suffers from severe heart disease and diabetes, said one of his lawyers, Jean-Marie Biju-Duval. He can appear in court, he can express himself, but is he in a condition to defend himself? asked Biju-Duval. Tens of thousands killed In particular the former prefect of the southern province of Gikongoro is accused of persuading thousands of people to take refuge in the Murambi Technical School, by promising them food, water and protection. But days later, in the early hours of April 21, tens of thousands of Tutsis were executed in one of the genocides grimmest episodes. The court will also discuss Bucyibarutas responsibility in the massacre of around 90 Tutsi pupils at the Marie Merci school in Kibeho on May 7, 1994 and in the execution of Tutsi prisoners including three priests in Gikongoro prison. Bucyibaruta denies the charges and refutes any involvement in the killings. Defence lawyers asked for the case to be thrown out, due to unreasonable delays as the proceedings began 22 years ago. The court rejected this request. The trial is expected to last two months and feature over 100 witnesses including survivors from Rwanda, who have flown over or will appear via videoconference. Bucyibaruta, who has been in France since 1997 and is under judicial supervision, has myriad health problems which should limit the hearings to seven hours a day. Four people in three cases have already been convicted in French courts over the genocide: a former hotel driver handed a 14-year sentence, an army officer jailed for 25 years and two mayors given life sentences. The destruction of shrines in Malis fabled city of Timbuktu was a result of the negligence of the west African countrys French colonisers, the International Criminal Court heard Monday. A police chief who is accused of playing a pivotal role during the 2012-13 jihadist occupation of the city, known as the Pearl of the Desert, is on trial at the Hague-based tribunal for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The events of 2012 are the result of corruption and the negligence of the French colonisers, said Melinda Taylor, defending Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz Ag Mohamed Ag Mahmoud. The state of Mali was a fiction created by French colonisers that existed on paper, but never in reality, Taylor told the judges on the opening day. The French left the north of the country to fend for themselves, according to tribal and religious practices, the lawyer said. Timbuktu was occupied by the jihadist group Ansar Dine, one of the Al-Qaeda-linked factions which controlled Mali in 2012 before being driven out by a French-led international intervention. During the occupation, the jihadists also took pickaxes to 14 of the towns famous mausoleums of revered Muslim figures. Al Hassan however should not be convicted because he happened to live in the wrong place at the wrong time and because of his ethnicity, said Taylor. The question is not whether these crimes were committed in Timbuktu but whether this person sitting in front of you should bear the responsibility for these crimes, she added. Prosecutors say Al Hassan, 44, was a key figure in the police and court system set up by the militants after they exploited an ethnic Tuareg uprising in 2012 to take over cities in Malis volatile north. Al Hassan committed unimaginable crimes, personally overseeing corporal punishments, including floggings and amputations as well as arranging for women and girls to be forced to marry militants as part of a system of gender-based persecution, prosecutors said. He is the second Islamist to face trial at the ICC for the destruction of the Timbuktus shrines, following a landmark 2016 ruling at the worlds only permanent war crimes court. ICC judges found Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi guilty of directing attacks on the UNESCO World Heritage site and sentenced him to nine years in jail. The UN Human Rights Council announced it will convene a special session on Thursday to address alleged Russian human rights violations during its war in Ukraine. More than 50 countries on Monday backed a request from Kyiv and demanded an extraordinary meeting of the UNs top rights body to examine the deteriorating human rights situation in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression. Yevheniia Filipenko, Ukraines ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said it would send a strong signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin about Moscows international isolation. Together, we are sending another strong message to Putin and his clique of war criminals: you are isolated as never before, she said in a video message on Twitter. We want to see the UN take practical steps to address Russias violation of human rights in Ukraine and the war crimes which it commits daily against our people. This includes an investigation by the Commission of Inquiry into Russias crimes committed in Bucha and other liberated areas. This is also an opportunity for the international community to focus on the situation in Mariupol, as well as forced transfers of our population, and other violations and abuses against innocent Ukrainian civilians. We will not rest until we ensure that those who commit these crimes are held to account. The meeting will convene at 0800 GMT and be webcast live in the six official UN languages. The support of 16 members of the council a third of the membership is required to convene a special session. The call received the backing of members including Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Ukraine and the United States. Outside the council, observer states including Canada, Colombia, Italy, Moldova, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey backed the call. British ambassador Simon Manley tweeted that he was proud that the UK was standing with Ukraine in calling for a special session in the face of the appalling atrocities being perpetrated in Mariupol and elsewhere in Ukraine. Accountability matters, he added. Russia was a member of the Human Rights Council until the UN General Assembly in New York voted on April 7 to suspend them from the body and from sitting in judgement of other nations human rights records. Russia then immediately withdrew from the council. It will only be the 34th extraordinary meeting of the UNs top rights body since its creation in 2006. The UN Human Rights Council announced it will convene a special session on Thursday to address alleged worsening Russian violations in its war in Ukraine. More than 50 countries on Monday backed Kyivs request for an extraordinary meeting of the UNs top rights body to examine the deteriorating human rights situation in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression. Yevheniia Filipenko, Ukraines ambassador to the UN in Geneva, said the move would send a signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he insisted Russias war in Ukraine was necessary to defend the Motherland. Together, we are sending another strong message to Putin and his clique of war criminals: you are isolated as never before, Filipenko said in a video message on Twitter. We want to see the UN take practical steps to address Russias violation of human rights in Ukraine and the war crimes which it commits daily against our people. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, triggering a wave of international condemnation. Russia was a member of the Human Rights Council until the UN General Assembly in New York voted on April 7 to suspend it from the body and from sitting in judgement of other nations human rights records. Russia then immediately withdrew from the council. Bucha, Mariupol focus During an urgent debate on the invasion, the body voted on March 4 to trigger a commission of inquiry the highest-possible level of investigation into alleged Russian violations during the war. Filipenko said Monday she wanted the inquiry to probe Russias crimes committed in Bucha and other liberated areas, referring to the town outside Kyiv that has become synonymous with allegations of Russian war crimes. A team of AFP journalists saw 20 bodies on Yablunska Street in Bucha on April 2. The Russian army said the scene had been staged. This is also an opportunity for the international community to focus on the situation in Mariupol, as well as forced transfers of our population, and other violations and abuses against innocent Ukrainian civilians, Filipenko added. We will not rest until we ensure that those who commit these crimes are held to account. The meeting will convene at 0800 GMT and be webcast live in the six official UN languages. As an ordinary observer, following its withdrawal from membership of the council, Russia will have the right to interject, as will its handful of regular allies. Horrendous abuses The support of 16 members of the council more than a third of the membership is required to convene a special session. The call received the backing of members including Britain, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Ukraine and the United States. Outside the council, observer states including Canada, Colombia, Italy, Moldova, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey supported the call. Kyivs mission in Geneva said the council has to act in response to horrendous human rights abuses and war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. The Human Rights Council holds three regular sessions a year, in March, June and September. Thursdays session will only be the 34th extraordinary meeting of the UNs top rights body since its creation in 2006. UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said in late March that Russias widespread and indiscriminate attacks in Ukraine were of immense concern, warning that they could amount to war crimes. These fan-favorite K-Drama stars might be bigger than one might actually think! In South Korea, Asia Pacific countries and even Hollywood, they prove that they're equipped with unbeatable acting prowess! Here are some Korean celebrities who are successful in Hollywood! Read to know more! Jung Ji Hoon/Rain Jung Ji Hoon, most professionally known as Rain, is one of South Korea's biggest stars who's talented in singing, dancing and acting! Recently, he showed off his brilliant acting chops in the medical drama series "Ghost Doctor" with Kim Bum, Uee and Son Naeun. In particular, he's an established actor in the country with a wide array of works under his belt including "Full House," "My Lovely Girl," "Sketch" and more. But did you know that he's also big in Hollywood? He made a great impact in the west after starring in the films "Speed Racer" and "Ninja Assassin," working alongside Naomie Harris and more. Lee Byung Hun Known as the one of the hottest and manliest South Korean stars, Lee Byung Hun also made a mark in Hollywood. He's known for his impactful roles in the GI Joe film series where he played the role of Thomas Arashikage or Storm Shadow. Lee Byung Hun also led the new Terminator movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Emilia Clarke! Currently, he appears in the star-studded on-going weekend melodrama "Our Blues" with Shin Min Ah. Claudia Kim Actress Claudia Kim, also known as Kim Soo Hyun, has the most diverse filmography as she goes back and forth in South Korea and the US to widen her career. She recently starred in the crime investigation drama "Chimera" with "Squid Game" star Park Hae Soo in 2021. Although she might look like a fresh face on the small screen, she already dominated the Hollywood scene with acting skills. Claudia Kim took on the challenge and appeared in the popular films "Avengers: The Age of Ultron"and "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald," the two most famous franchises in the film industry. BONUS! Jung Ho Yeon Following the success of her television debut, the "Squid Game" star Jung Ho Yeon is now ready to take on a new adventure! Jung Ho Yeon makes her Hollywood debut with a Joe Talbot film entitled "The Governess," which is slated to air sometime in 2022. It tells the story of three rebellious women who want to explore the world amid the patriarchal society. She leads the new film with award-winning actress Renate Reinsve and Lily-Rose Depp. Moreover, she is set to work with sterling stars Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen and Kodi Smit-McPhee in the upcoming Apple TV+ series "Disclaimer." In the drama, she portrays the role of Kim, an ambitious Korean-American who wants to reach her goals through connections and a little bit of hard work. "Disclaimer" is expected to be released in the first half of 2023. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Jeong Jong Seo is winning and in love and in her career after the actress confirmed her relationship with "The Call" director Lee Choong Hyun. In December 2021, the actress' label, My Company, set the record straight and confirmed that she is dating the young filmmaker, who is also her director in the 2020 thriller movie. As noted by News 1 Korea, Jeong Jong Seo's agency explained that "the two of them had good feelings for each other and recently began a romantic relationship." Moreover, director Lee Choong Hyun also spoke about being Jeong Jong Seo's boyfriend. In his exclusive interview with JTBC news, he also confirmed his relationship with the actress. The young filmmaker expressed the same stance and revealed that he and the award-winning actress "became naturally interested in each other while filming "The Call'" where Jeong Jong Seo plays the female antagonist alongside Park Shin Hye. In addition, Lee Choong Hyun also shared that their friendship "naturally turned to dating." As for why they kept their romance under wraps for quite some time, he said that their colleagues and acquaintances knew that they were dating. Jeong Jong Seo Boyfriend: Who is Lee Choong Hyun? Aside from being "The Call" director and screenwriter Lee Choong Hyun, he made his debut as a head director of various full-length commercial films. Interestingly, he made his way to filming movies. His first was the 2015 short film "Bargain," which follows the story of a middle-aged man who was fascinated by a high school girl and bargained with them about the payment for their "extra service." It was then followed by the award-winning film "The Call," which he directed and screenwrite. In the same year, Lee Choong Hyun also released a romance fantasy short film, "Heart Attack," with Lee Sung Kyung. Is Jeong Jong Seo Still Dating Director Lee Choong Hyun? Months after the couple confirmed their relationship, there were no reports or rumors circulating about the split, which means Jeong Jong Seo is still in a relationship with Lee Choong Hyun. In fact, the actress will be reuniting with the director for her upcoming movie "Ballerina." Netflix announced the cast lineup, which the 27-year-old actress will headline alongside Kim Ji Hoon as Choi Pro and Park Yoo Rim as Min Hee. In the upcoming film, Jeong Jong Seo will portray Ok Joo, a revenge-driven woman who avenges the tragic death of her best friend. Jeong Jong Seo's new movie will be released sometime in 2023. On the other hand, she is among the cast of "Money Heist: Korea - Joint Economic Area." In the Korean adaptation, she will play the role of fearless Tokyo, which was initially portrayed by the Spanish actress Ursula Cobrero. "Money Heist" Korea's release date is scheduled for June 24, with 12 episodes in total. KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Kim Min Gyu appeared in MBC's "The Manager" and talked about his relationship with Seol In Ah and the rest of his "A Business Proposal" co-stars. Prior to the broadcast of the SBS romantic-comedy series "A Business Proposal," viewers were already in love with Kim Min Gyu and Seol In Ah's characters, and it grew more when they evolved as a love team. Their reel chemistry was so strong that the audience wished they would be a couple in real life. With their undeniably huge impression on the public, the second lead stars created a bigger buzz as they were rumored to be in a relationship after the drama concluded. The speculations increased when both of them made guest appearances on SBS radio show and admitted that they liked each other. Kim Min Gyu then finally addressed the rumor. Kim Min Gyu Speaks Out on Real Score With Seol In Ah On May 7, the "Snowdrop" actor appeared as a guest on MBC's variety show "The Manager." As the conversation went on, one of the program's hosts, Hong Hyun Hee, mentioned Min Gyu's kiss scene with Seol In Ah, where he took off his glasses, in "A Business Proposal." The South Korean star humbly said that he didn't know that it would get popular. He added, "When I watched the scene (again), I found it sexy even when I looked at it." The host raised suspicion about dating and said, "Seeing you keep talking about it, I feel like there is something with you and Seol In Ah." In response, Kim Min Gyu said that the four of them - himself, Seol In Ah, Ahn Hyo Seop, and Kim Sejeong - are very close to each other. He also revealed that they remain in touch even after the drama ended. Lee Young Ja a Huge Fan of Kim Min Gyu and Seol In Ah's Love Team Though the "Backstreet Rookie" star neither confirmed nor denied the dating rumor, another hostm Lee Young Ja, showed love for their love team saying, "I was a huge fan, so I hope it will actually come true." In return, Kim Min Gyu stated that hearing such a reaction made him proud as an actor because he and Seol In Ah showed a beautiful teamwork in expressing their characters well. They may be dating or not, Seol In Ah and Kim Min Gyu successfully won the viewers' hearts with their natural chemistry on and off the screen through their first drama team-up in "A Business Proposal." Got any thoughts? Share them with us! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, follow and subscribe to KDramastars. KDramastars owns this article. Shai Collins reported this. Previously, old friends Shin Min Ah and Lee Byung Hun reconcile at the beautiful heart of Jeju Island after so many years. In "Our Blues" episode 10, Lee Byung Hun accompanies Shin Min Ah as she goes back to Seoul, facing the biggest life-changing battle in her life. 'Our Blues' Episode 10: Old Friends Min Seon Ah, Lee Dong Seok Reunite After their sour separation in the past, Min Seon Ah (Shin Min Ah) and Lee Dong Seok (Lee Byung Hun) reunited after talking things through. The two old friends set aside their grudge against each other, and tried to understand their pain, worries and dreams. Both wounded, Min Seon Ah and Lee Dong Seok find refuge in each other, just like when they were younger. Min Seon Ah Returns To Seoul Although Min Seon Ah was prohibited to visit her son, she insisted on going back to Seoul to see him on his special day. Worried, Lee Dong Seok accompanied her and made sure she's free from any danger. Min Seon Ah prepared a lot of gifts for her son, including a tour at the aquarium. The mother and son duo enjoyed their spontaneous trip, as they both miss one another. However, Min Seon Ah's husband wasn't amused with her return, and even that he'll sue her if she comes to see their son once more. The Life-Changing Trial Because of her severe depression, Min Seon Ah couldn't function properly as an adult. She easily forgets things and oftentimes loses track of her time, failing her to accomplish simple tasks. After their divorce, the two fought one on one for their child's custody, which is in favor of her ex-husband. The judges strongly think that Min Seon Ah is not adequate to mother her child due to her severe mental illness. "Our Blues" episode 10 takes a much emotional turn as Min Seon Ah loses the custody battle against her ex-husband. Lee Dong Seok Brings Heartwarming Comfort In the previous episodes, Lee Dong Seok is depicted as a man who has some attitude problems and anger issues due to his upbringing. But when he's with Min Seon Ah, his childhood friend and first love, he becomes softer and more gentle. When he learns about Min Seon Ah's pain, he tries very hard to comfort her in his own little way. So when she decided to return to Seoul, he insisted on coming with her. Lee Dong Seok is a breath of fresh air for Min Seon Ah, whose life is clouded by sorrow. At the end of the episode, Lee Dong Seok holds Min Seon Ah's hand as they walk together, bringing comfort and assurance that she's never alone in the world. YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS: 'Our Blues' Achieves Highest Rating Yet With Latest Episode KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Ji Chang Wook and SNSD Sooyoung's forthcoming series "Tell Me Your Wish" is confirmed to release on KBS this coming August! 'Tell Me Your Wish' Scheduled To Premiere in August on KBS Newsis stated on May 9 that the upcoming K-drama "Tell Me Your Wish" starring Ji Chang Wook, idol-actress Choi Sooyoung, and veteran actor Sung Dong Il is about to premiere in August under one of the known broadcasting companies, KBS. It will also be broadcasted on A&E Korea's Lifetime Channel. It is considered one of the highly anticipated series in the second half of 2022. "Tell Me Your Wish" is a healing drama that follows the story of a precarious young man, driven to the end of his life, who grants the last wishes of people he meets at the hospice hospital. Ji Chang Wook gears up for another drama following Netflix's "The Sound of Magic." He takes the role of Yoon Gyeo Rye, who has lived in an orphanage and spent his time in a juvenile detention center and jail. But because of an accident, he ended up volunteering in a hospice where he'll meet volunteer team leader Kang Tae Sik (played by Sung Dong Il) and nurse Seo Yeon Joo (played by SNSD's Sooyoung). Producer of 'D.P.' and 'Hellbound' In Charge of KBS' 'Tell Me Your Wish' Climax Studio, which handled Netflix's series "D.P." "Hellbound," and "Monster" is in charge of the production. Meanwhile, the script will be pen by writer Jo Ryeong Su and director Kim Yong Wan will helm the series. Furthermore, "Tell Me Your Wish" is the first drama production that A&E will have a 100 percent production investment, the said company has been consistently investing in Korean content, that's why it is expected that A&E will play a huge role as a global media company leading the Korean drama market overseas. SNSD's Sooyoung and Ji Chang Wook Updates Girl's Generation member Choi Sooyoung will transform into a nurse in her new series "Tell Me Your Wish." This marks her first lead drama to premiere this year. However, it will be Ji Chang Wook's second drama series for 2022. The "Suspicious Partner" actor just had his drama premiered on Netflix last May 6, "The Sound of Magic." It continued to make headlines as it received new achievements, thanks to the overwhelming love and support of fans and viewers in Korea and abroad. The two are ready to meet their supporters this coming August with the K-series, "Tell Me Your Wish." YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Wi Ha Joon To Reportedly Join Ji Chang Wook in New Drama 'The Worst Evil' Are you excited about Ji Chang Wook and Choi Sooyoung's drama? Share your comments with us! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars. Kdramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Click or tap above for these highlights and more: On Sundays anniversary of the Victory Day in Europe, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev as a show of support as the country continues to defend itself against Russias invasion. Fighting continued in Eastern Ukraine and fighters continued to defend the besieged steel plant in Mariupol. Strong winds in the Southwest are hampering efforts to contain a wildfire in New Mexico. In Wisconsin, and arson investigation is underway after an explosion at an anti-abortion office in Madison. Gas prices continue to rise and are up 15 cents over the past few weeks for an average of 4.38 a gallon, with diesel fuel up even higher. And Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness led the way at theaters as the summer blockbuster season begins to heat up. In sports, we have highlights from the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NBA Playoffs and Major League Baseball. In other news, the Senate is schedule to vote Wednesday to protect abortion rights after the leak of a draft decision revealed that Roe vs. Wade was expected to be overturned in the coming months. Three deaths at a Sandals resort in Bahamas are under investigation and another woman has been hospitalized. Foul play is not suspected. Less immigrant labor in the U.S. is contributing to price hikes across the board, forcing farmers to replace crops with those that could be picked by machine and increase pay for workers. New York is recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic in an unexpected way: rats in the city have reached population levels not seen in a decade. Fred Savage, an executive producer and director on the reboot of The Wonder Years, has been dropped from the series following allegations of inappropriate conduct. Savage, 45, was a child star on the original series. In world news, Afghanistans Taliban government has ordered women to cover their faces in public. And in Hong Kong, Beijing loyalist John Lee has been elected to lead the region starting July 1. Finally, is it time to rethink your lawn? Some people are mowing less, leaving the weeds and making other changes that are more friendly to the environment. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A new guide published by Lions Clubs in Ireland is designed to assist community groups and voluntary organisations to access grants and other funding for local environmental projects. The Environmental Project Support Guide will be used extensively by almost 100 Lions Clubs in Ireland and is also available to other groups through a download from the Lions Clubs Ireland website. (www.lionsclubs.ie) The guide was launched at Kilkenny Castle by the Minister of State for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcolm Noonan. We are living through a time of unprecedented change and a time of great opportunity to shape that change rather than watch it happen, he said. The publication of the Lions Club guide is both timely and vital as communities across Ireland respond to the great environmental challenges of our time by being the change they want to see. Importantly too Lions Clubs International once again has its finger on the pulse by wanting to help lead on the bigger picture and enabling change to happen. I welcome Lions commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and their desire to work towards a more just and safer planet for all living things. Effectiveness In producing the guide, the Lions District 133 Environmental Team considered ways to best support Lions to engage in environment rojects. Lions serve their communities on a voluntary basis but the appropriate use of available funding serves to increase the effectiveness of environment projects and enhances the benefits to communities. The guide summarises key elements of local authority and other environmental, climate change and biodiversity community grants. It details funding streams that are available for carrying out various types of community activities and projects in local communities. The guide will provide invaluable assistance, to Lions Clubs and community groups, with their environment projects, and I am very proud of the achievements of the new Environment Team in such a short space of time, said Lions Clubs District Governor Ann Ellis of Carrick-on-Suir Lions Club. Environment Team Chair, Dan McInerney of Carlow Lions Club said: The guide is an evolving guidance document and it will be updated regularly. I acknowledge the great work of Philip ONeill of Kilkenny Lions Club who led the production of the guide, together with all the Environment Team members. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Mostly sunny. Becoming windy this afternoon. High 96F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Thunderstorms and gusty winds this evening will give way to steady rain overnight. A few storms may be severe. Low 64F. SW winds at 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Russia held its annual Victory Day military parade at Moscow's Red Square on Monday to mark the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany in the Great Patriotic War. This year's parade was closely watched worldwide as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues. Russia launched what it describes as a "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24. Delivering a speech during the parade, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the operation was necessary and "timely," and had been provoked by the West. He said NATO and Ukraine were creating threats "unacceptable to us" on Russia's borders. Russia "urged Europe to find a fair compromise, but they didn't want to hear us," Putin said, calling the operation a "right decision" of an independent, strong and sovereign country. He told Russian military forces that they are fighting for the security of Russia. "You are fighting for your motherland, its future," he said. "The death of every soldier and officer is painful for us," he said. "The state will do everything to take care of these families." Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with veterans before a military parade at the Red Square in Moscow, Russia, March 9, 2022. /CFP Up to 11,000 troops and more than 130 armored vehicles marched on the Red Square. The T-90M Proryv (Breakthrough) main battle tanks, S-400 air-defense missile systems and Yars thermonuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles were among weapons showcased during the parade. In total, military parades were held in 28 Russian cities this year, involving almost 65,000 people, about 2,400 types of weapons and military equipment as well as more than 460 aircraft, according to the Russian Defense Ministry. In December last year, Russia sent draft agreements to NATO and the United States on security guarantees in Europe for the Western countries to consider. Moscow asked Washington to prevent further eastward expansion of NATO and deny former Soviet republics accession to the alliance. Russia also demanded that the U.S. and NATO do not deploy offensive weapons in its neighboring countries. But Russia and the West failed to agree on the matter despite a flurry of diplomatic efforts. The U.S. and its NATO allies have condemned Russia's military action in Ukraine and imposed sweeping sanctions on Russian organizations and individuals. Moscow has hit back with a series of retaliation measures. In the latest move to increase pressure on Moscow, nations of the Group of Seven (G7) committed on Sunday to ban or phase out imports of Russian oil and the U.S. unveiled sanctions against executives of Russia's Gazprombank and other businesses. Meanwhile, Western countries have been providing a large amount of military assistance to Ukraine. Russian forces have threatened to target those weapons. U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, pictured here, on August 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. says that supporters of abortion rights are in "the biggest fight of a generation" after the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade. Two boys aged 7 and 9 went missing while attempting to cross the Rio Grande near the Del Rio International Bridge last week, officials said. Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at an annual military parade in Red Square, Moscow, as the country celebrated its Victory Day, commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945. As the search continues for a missing former Alabama corrections officer and an inmate charged with murder, authorities remain in the dark on where the pair may have gone after the SUV they used after leaving the jail turned up little new information in the case. A rare case of monkeypox has been diagnosed in a patient in England, the UK Health Security Agency said in a statement, and pictured, ambulances at St Thomas' Hospital on January 7, in London, England. The US announced a slate of new sanctions against Russia, reportedly cutting off Kremlin-controlled media outlets from American advertisers and prohibiting the country from using US-provided management and accounting consulting services. St. Louis family of 4 killed in crash wants justice, says police need to be held accountable By Daniel R. DePetris Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991, every U.S. president has entered office seeking to improve Washington's relationship with Russia and every single one of them has left that office years later having failed to accomplish the objective. Bill Clinton was once chummy with Boris Yeltsin until NATO expansion, U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and the wars in Bosnia and Kosovo grated on their personal chemistry. George W. Bush was doe-eyed when he looked at Vladimir Putin, only to learn after Russia's invasion of Georgia that the ex-KGB agent wasn't the genuine, democratic reformer he first thought. Barack Obama was set to turn the page with Dmitry Medvedev and even managed to sign a new arms control agreement with the Russian president. The bilateral relationship, however, soured over a litany of disputes, from Syria and Ukraine to Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Pending a miracle, President Joe Biden is bound to follow the same path as his predecessors. In April 2021, Biden spoke of his desire to establish "a stable, predictable relationship" with Russia. The word "stable" was instructive, exhibiting a dose of realpolitik. While Washington and Moscow were never going to see eye to eye on every issue, they could at least try to limit their disagreements and respect one another's core interests. Biden's June 2021 summit with Putin, where the two leaders promised to work on strategic stability, was a tangible sign that the world's biggest nuclear weapons powers were interested in moving forward. The war in Ukraine has totally upended whatever hope the U.S. and Russia had toward a normal relationship. By virtue of Russia's despicable conduct over the last nine weeks, relations between Washington and Moscow are now at their lowest point since the early 1980s, when Ronald Reagan blasted the Soviet Union as an "evil empire." The very notion of U.S. and Russian officials speaking to one another directly is now anathema, with the politics in both capitals calling for a more confrontational approach. The Kremlin views the U.S. as the brains and muscle behind an anti-Russia coalition that seeks to use Ukraine to create a quagmire for Russian forces. The U.S. and its allies, meanwhile, consider Russia under Putin to be a highly destructive, revisionist power living in a dystopian fantasy. The last several weeks have done nothing to lower the temperature. Despite highly publicized defeats in the field, casualties in the thousands and the prospect of the worst economic recession in Russia in more than a quarter century, Putin is as committed to grinding down the Ukrainian military today as he was when the war started over two months ago. The Russian army's indiscriminate use of artillery, airstrikes and other heavy weaponry inside and outside of the Donbas are illustrative of Putin's urgency after repeated slip-ups. The U.S. and its NATO allies have shown just as much commitment to supporting the Ukrainians as the Russians have to defeating them. If Putin believed attacking Ukraine would turn NATO into a squabbling, dysfunctional family, he severely miscalculated. Washington and Europe at large are gambling that a combination of military assistance to Kyiv and ever-stronger sanctions against the Russian economy will compel Putin to either give up on his venture or sue for a settlement. Biden's $33 billion funding request on behalf of Ukraine (including $20 billion earmarked for security assistance), Poland's delivery of Soviet-era tanks to buttress Ukrainian ground forces and Germany's evolution away from Russian energy will further increase the cost to Moscow, economically and militarily. The "stable, predictable relationship" envisioned by Biden a year ago is simply off the table as long as the war in Ukraine continues. Even when the war does eventually end, U.S.-Russia relations could remain in a period of intense antagonism. Given the total disregard with which Moscow has prosecuted the war, it's hard to imagine Biden sitting down with Putin ever again. The problem, however, is that Russia is here to stay regardless. It can't be wished away or ignored any more than it can be transformed into a liberal democratic utopia. Even if Putin were to somehow wake up and decide to transfer his authority to a successor, Russia is likely to remain a formidable enough power with its own distinct set of national interests, geopolitical ambitions and sense of self much of which conflicts with the U.S. position. The U.S. can vehemently disagree with Russian foreign policy and organize effective pushback when necessary. What Washington can't do is be naive and think it can pressure Russia into behaving the way the U.S. wants it to behave. During a conversation with NPR, former NATO Deputy Secretary-General Rose Gottemoeller offered an astute observation: "I do think, at some point, we are going to have to reopen some discussions with Russia, at least about constraining and controlling nuclear weapons," adding that it's not in America's interest "to have a great big pariah state with nuclear weapons." Successfully balancing the desire to assist Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression while maintaining open lines of communication with the Kremlin will go a long way in determining whether the U.S. can still practice good statecraft. Daniel R. DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a foreign affairs columnist who has also written for Newsweek and the Spectator. This article was produced for the Chicago Tribune and distributed by Tribune Content Agency. People are pointing out the similarities between LE SSERAFIM member Kim Garam and Bang Si Hyuk's ideal type and celebrity crush. Keep on reading for all the details. LE SSERAFIM Kim Garam Debuts Despite Scandals On May 2, HYBE Labels and Source Music officially debuted LE SERAFIM. Although the girl group has just debuted, the girl group has already received attention due to their all-visual lineup. However, one member, Kim Garam, is controversial because she was accused of school violence before the group even debuted. Due to Kim Garam's school violence scandal, LE SSERAFIM's debut journey has been less than smooth, as the public has boycotted the group's debut if Kim Garam remained in the lineup. Despite the public's objections, HYBE still debuted LE SSERAFIM with its original six-member line-up, including Kim Garam. People pointed out that the company is "pampering" Kim Garam, often putting her in the center for group photos and dressing her in flashier outfits. While many cannot deny her stunning visuals, many people cannot overlook her school violence scandal. The fact that HYBE Labels ignored the controversy and continued to push Kim Garam as the center has left people confused. LE SSERAFIM Kim Garam is Similar to Bang Si Hyuk's Celebrity Crush? A topic currently going viral in South Korea talks about how Kim Garam was still able to debut despite the controversy because the idol has a similar appearance to Arisa Mizuki. Arisa Mizuki is a famous Japanese celebrity from the 90s who is said to be the ideal type and celebrity crush of HYBE Labels' founder, Bang Si Hyuk. It is undeniable that Arisa Mizuki and Kim Garam have a lot of similar features. Both have attractive features, with soft lines. In addition, people pointed out that the face shape of the two female celebrities is identical. Other similarities include their eye shape and plump lips. Some even stated that they look like twins! Comments concerning the similarities read: "Wow, they're identical." "They really look alike." "Now I understand why they kept Kim Garam." "Even the face shape is similar." "This is why Kim Garam debuted peacefully." What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below! For more K-Pop news, follow and subscribe to KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this. Written by Alexa Lewis The Badger High School FFA Greenhouse will be opening to the public on Friday, May 6, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Customers are encouraged to shop early. The following day, Saturday, May 7, the hours will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those hours will remain the same for Saturday, May 14 and Saturday, May 21. Beginning on Monday, May 9 through Tuesday, May 24, the greenhouse will be open Monday through Friday from 3:15 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Sales can only be made in-person. During the opening weekend beginning on May 6, Advant Cycle Cafe of Lake Geneva will be on site selling their famous coffee, nitro-coffee, hot chocolate, and sweets. Those purchasing $75 or more will receive a hot chocolate or treat courtesy of Advant. Badger High School students in their greenhouse management classes have been growing plants throughout the semester in the Badger Greenhouses. Larry Plapp, an agriculture instructor at Badger High School, estimates that over 35,000 plants have been planted for the annual event. Plapp has had his classes conduct a spring plant sale for 30 years. Over 300 hanging baskets of a different flower varieties are available to purchase for $20 per basket. There will be 15 varieties of tomatoes and seven kinds of peppers along with many standard vegetables. Fruit trees including apples, pears, peaches, and cherries can also be found at the sale with so much more. A full list of the plants available at the greenhouse can be found on the Lake Geneva Schools website when searching for the 2022 FFA Plant sale. The proceeds from the sales at the greenhouse will benefit the members of the Badger FFA Chapter through scholarships to college FFA events and leadership conferences. Agriculture students and FFA members will be available to assist in plant selections and carry items to cars if needed. 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. Jacob Blake has dropped his federal civil rights lawsuit against the Wisconsin police officer who shot him during a domestic disturbance and left him paralyzed from the waist down. Neither attorneys for Blake, whose August 2020 shooting sparked the protests in which Kyle Rittenhouse fatally shot two men and wounded a third, nor Kenosha Officer Rusten Sheskey indicated in their court filings why the lawsuit was being dropped, including whether a settlement had been reached. A man who answered the phone at the office of Blake's attorney, Patrick Salvi II, hung up when asked about the decision to drop the lawsuit, and Sheskey's attorney, Kenneth Battle, didn't immediately respond to a voicemail or email. Sheskey, who is white, shot Blake, who is Black, after Blake resisted arrest during the disturbance and appeared to turn toward Sheskey with a knife. Blake was wanted on a felony sexual assault warrant at the time. Prosecutors cleared Sheskey of any criminal wrongdoing and later dropped the sexual assault charges against Blake as part of a plea deal. Blake filed the civil rights lawsuit in March 2021 alleging that Sheskey had used excessive force on him. Court records indicate that attorneys for the two men filed notice on Friday that they had agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice, which means Blake can't refile it. U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller ordered the case dismissed Monday. Rittenhouse, who was 17 and living in nearby Antioch, Illinois, when he shot the three protesters, was acquitted on all charges in November. Motorists traveling on Elkhorn Road from the Lake Como area toward Lake Geneva may soon have to slow down before they reach the citys limits. City officials are considering reducing the speed limit on Elkhorn Road, from County Highway H to Cemetery Road north of Lake Genevas city limits, from 35 mph to 25 mph. Members of the city councils public works committee unanimously approved the proposed speed limit change, April 25. The full city council still has to approve the speed limit change before it goes into effect. Public Works Director Tom Earle said representatives from the Lake Geneva Police Department and Town of Geneva Police Department have requested the speed limit change because of traffic concerns in that area. Its a very dangerous intersection, Earle said. They are having issues with speeding and near misses, and theyve had some citizen complaints. So they, along with the township, would like to reduce the speed limit coming from the Town of Geneva. Earle said the speed limit on Elkhorn Road is 25 mph once motorists arrive at Cemetery Road, but the police departments would like the 25-mile-hour speed limit to go into effect before Cemetery Road. The speed limit does not come down to 25 mph until you get to Cemetery Road, Earle said. They want to lower it down to a quarter of a mile before that 25 mile-per-hour speed limit. Alderwoman Mary Jo Fesenmaier said if the speed limit change is approved, it would go into effect once motorists see the 25 mile-per-hour speed limit signs. When you reach a speed limit sign, you need to be doing that speed limit, Fesenmaier said. The speed limits have to match on either side of the road. You dont get to pass the 25 mile-per-hour speed limit sign and hope youre doing 25 mph by Grant Street if its 25 mph at Cemetery Road. Earle said part of the reason for reducing the speed limit in that area is to encourage people to drive 25 mph before they reach Cemetery Road. Usually, people dont slow down when they see that first sign, Earle said. It takes a sign or two, so theyre hoping people slow down prior. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. New cabins, also known as youth lodging units, have been approved for Covenant Harbor Bible Camp and Retreat Center, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. Members of the Lake Geneva City Council unanimously approved a precise implementation plan, April 25, to allow two new lodging cabins to be constructed at the Covenant Harbor Bible Camp, 1724 W. Main St. The Lake Geneva Plan Commission unanimously recommended the proposal, April 18. Representatives from the Bible camp plan to demolish three existing cabins and construct two new cabins in their place. Eric Anderson, executive director for Covenant Harbor Bible Camp, said during the plan commission meeting that the current cabins are about 70 years old and need to be replaced with more updated cabins. They were some or our earliest cabins built back in 1952, and we want to demolish those mostly for safety reasons and replace them with, instead of three buildings, two buildings, Anderson said. Its designed to have better child protection and supervision and to give us better shower and toilet and sink stations. Anderson said, after being reviewed by engineers, camp officials have determined that it would be more cost effective to construct new cabins instead of refurbishing the current structures. We had several engineers who took a look at our three buildings, and the consensus was that its just not viable for us to refurbish these buildings, Anderson said. They were built basically on deck posts, pier post construction on a hill, and their time has come to an end. The new cabins will be two stories, whereas the current cabins are one story, and will include a lower-story walkout area and an elevated deck. The project also is set to include concrete paths near the cabins, a patio area in between the two structures and a parking space. Anderson said the two cabins will be built where the current cabins are located and will have a similar design as the other buildings in the camp. The topography is screaming for us to have a walk out lower level and a walk out upper level, like we have in so many of our other buildings onsite, Anderson said. Its simply a better use for us to go up and down rather than out. We care deeply about maintaining the wooded nature of our property, and this better allows us to do that. Representatives from Covenant Harbor plan to have the current cabins demolished by this summer and have the new cabins constructed next year. Were looking for something thats going to look classy, look timeless with earth tones, Anderson said. When we build, we are going for quality. Were going to choose to go with some more expensive materials, because we want this to look right for a long time. Covenant Harbor, which has operated in Lake Geneva for 75 years, offers winter and summer youth camps, outdoor education programs and retreat camps. During that time, Covenant Harbor has been a year-round, non-for-profit, church-owned camp and conference center that exists to serve families, youth, schools and other non-for-profit organizations, Anderson said. While we have some people who come for the day, almost all of our people who come to the camp are staying over night. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. New Delhi [India], May 9 (ANI/PNN): Battalions of the Assam Rifles are well-known for their valour and self-sacrifice, but the story of an operation undertaken by 7 Assam Rifles is the most inspiring of them all. Operation Dudhi undertaken during its tenure in Jammu and Kashmir from 1989 to 1990 remains the most successful counterinsurgency operation conducted by any security force till date! The Battalion eliminated an astounding 72 militants and apprehended 13 in this operation. While this monumental feat is a familiar tale within the Assam Rifles now, 30 years later, the accomplishment of its brave soilders is once again being shared with the masses. During a recent trip to Nepal, Lt Gen PC Nair, AVSM, YSM, DG Assam Rifles, met with some of the surviving members of the hallowed 7th Battalion. It was an emotional moment as some of these icons reflected on their time as stalwarts of the Assam Rifles as also of Operation Dudhi. The legends of operation Dudhi and their veer naris were felicitated on the 31st anniversary of Operation Dudhi, held in Shillong on May 9, 2022, surrounded by their beaming peers and long-standing admirers. Also Read | Theatrical Releases of the Week: Ranveer Singh's Jayeshbhai Jordaar, Mahesh Babu's Sarkaru Vaari Paata, Sivakarthikeyan's Don and More. Resembling a tale of mythic proportions, Operation Dudhi will forever remain etched in the annals of Assam Rifles' history. Conducted on May 3, 1991, Operation Dudhi was undertaken by a column comprising of a Junior Commissioned Officer and 14 other ranks under the command of Nb/Sub Padam Bahadur Chhetri. The column moved from Battalion Headquarter, Chowkibal, for a routine patrol to check the winter vacated post of Dudhi, with the staging camp established at Bari Baihk. Located about 13 kilometres away from Battalion Headquarter, the camp was covered in five to six feet of snow. Also Read | BSEB Bihar Board Inter Special Exam 2022 Answer Key Released; Heres How to Download. The staging camp was established on May 4, 1991, and the track towards Dudhi was cleared the same day. The next day, a column of one Junior Commissioned Officer and 14 other ranks began moving towards Dudhi Post. When they were, just one kilometre from the Post, things took a deadly turn. Militants had infiltrated into Indian Territory after crossing the 14,000-foot-high Eagle Pass. They fired at the column, which then conducted a recce and discovered more than 100 militants camping in the area west of the track leading to Dudhi Post. Despite being greatly outnumbered, troops of the 7th Battalion were unfazed. On the contrary it only firmed their resolve to eliminate the militants. Equipped with only 7.62 mm self-loading Rifles and a Light Machine Gun, the brave soldiers used tact to surround the enemy who were armed with sophisticated weapons. They then brought down heavy fire on the militants. The battle lasted for more than six exhausting hours until reinforcements arrived in the form of three columns consisting of one Junior Commissioned Officer and 25 other ranks under Maj A Nigam; one Junior Commissioned Officer and 35 other ranks led by Maj BS Kular; and Maj B Bhattacharjee (RMO) with a medical team. Maj A Nigam's column was fired upon near Bari Baihk, but undeterred, it fought through and reached the site of the first encounter. In the fierce fire fight that continued till late at night on May 5/6, two brave hearts Rfn/GD Kameshwer Prasad and Rfn/GD Ram Kumar Arya laid down their lives. One other rank, No. G/75266 Rfn/GD RK Yadav,sustained injuries. The next 96 hours were used to carry out search operations and sanitization of the general area. A huge cache of an assortment of weapons and ammunition were recovered. The subsequent 96 hrs were utilised for carrying out Search Operation and sanitization of the Area. Summary of the operation is as under:- (a) ANEs Killed - 72 (b) Apprehended - 13 (c) Rif AK -47 - 78 Nos (d) UMG - 07 Nos (e) RL - 04 Nos (f) Revolver/Pistol - 13 Nos (g) Mag AK - 47 - 114 Nos (h) Pistol - 05 Nos (j) Mag Pistol - 11 Nos (k) Gren Stick - 04 Nos (l) Booster RL - 11 Nos (m) Drum Mag - 10 Nos (n) Amn AK - 47 - 8100 Rds (o) Amn Pistol - 112 Rds (p) Belted Amn - 1090 Rds (q) Sight Unit RL - 02 Nos The 7th Battalion was conferred numerous honours and awards during Operation Rakshak in Jammu and Kashmir. These included two Kirti Chakras, one Shaurya Chakra, one Vishisht Seva Medal, 10 Sena Medals, one President Police Medal for Distinguished Service, three Governor's Gold Medal, 12 Governor's Silver Medal, four COAS Commendation Cards, 41 DGAR Commendation Cards, 23 GOC-in-C Northern Comd Commendation Cards, Chief of Army Staff Unit Citation, and Silver Salver from the Governor J and K. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 9 (ANI/NewsVoir): Even Healthcare, a health-tech company and healthcare provider, welcomed the Italian delegation, led by Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs to its office in Bengaluru on Day 2 of his trip to India. During their visit, they discussed Even's ambitions to make preventive healthcare accessible in the country and the company's growth plans. The prestigious moment was marked by Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vincenzo De Luca - Ambassador of Italy to India, where they engaged in a discussion with Co-founders of Even, Matilde Giglio and Alessandro Davide Ialongo. Also Read | BSEB Bihar Board Inter Special Exam 2022 Answer Key Released; Heres How to Download. Even is a health-tech company that aims to make hospital care more accessible by partnering with top hospitals to provide completely cashless, paperless and quality healthcare to its members. Available at a nominal fee starting at Rs 525/month, members can get unlimited doctor consultations and diagnostics, and upgrade to unlimited OPD plus a yearly hospitalization cover of Rs. 50 lakh. In July 2021, Even raised US USD 5 million in seed round led by Khosla Ventures, with participation from Founders Fund (led by Peter Thiel), Lachy Groom and other investors and operators, including Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora, Cred CEO Kunal Shah, Zerodha Founder Nithin Kamath and DST Global Partners Tom Safford. Also Read | Surbhi Chandna in Her Pretty Pink Lehenga Choli is Making us Say Kisiki Nazar Na Lage. Headquartered in Bengaluru, Even is a health-tech company and healthcare provider that partners directly with the top hospitals in the country and offers unlimited diagnostics, consultations and INR 50 lakh worth of hospitalisation, all via one monthly subscription cost. The company was founded in January 2020 by Mayank Banerjee, Matilde Giglio and Alessandro Davide Ialongo. Even believes every Indian should have access to 360-degree high-quality healthcare that is affordable and easy to access. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) (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 9 (ANI/SRV): Madhya Pradesh: The sheer urge to do something new, something that not only quenches their entrepreneurial thirst but also makes a difference in the society led the two women, Nirupama Singh Sharma and Anjana Bhamra, to sow the seed that has now taken the shape of The Saffron Saga. The sheer urge to do something new, something that not only quenches their entrepreneurial thirst but also makes a difference in the society led the two women, Nirupama Singh Sharma and Anjana Bhamra, to sow the seed that has now taken the shape of The Saffron Saga. Also Read | IPL 2022: Moeen Ali Reveals His Bowling Transformation in IPL Is an Offshoot of Ankle Injury. Six years back, when these two women in their mid-forties were enjoying their evening coffee, a friend asked for their help, and they successfully extended it with their knowledge and passion for fashion and fabric. It was then the idea germinated in their minds of having their own fashion label. And thus born The Saffron Saga - an apparel brand that celebrates Indian artisanship, women empowerment, slow fashion, environment-friendly designs and a lot more. Nirupama and Anjana both decided to make it a bootstrapped start-up, and they are succeeding in the process. Their designs are so enriched with the art and culture of India, that you can also find western wear like dresses in Indian Print; it is the best of both worlds, a perfect fusion. Also Read | Bundesliga 2021-22: Stuttgart Clinch Draw Against Bayern Munich To Spoil Title Ceremony. Nirupama Singh Sharma, the co-founder of The Saffron Saga, says, "We take great pride in sharing that through this initiative, we are building a better society by respecting women by giving them quality comfort wears of authentic Indian art and culture and at the same time hiring more women and providing job opportunities making them independent, strong, and confident." The Saffron Saga is a collection of prints, patterns, and dyes. Ajrakh, angarakha and even tie & dye. When it comes to the styles, they have Kaftan, Loungewear, Nighties, Sarees, and so much more. Their belief system that, "Every Body is beautiful" respects and celebrates womanhood. They are size-inclusive, so you can get any size you are comfortable in with the customized option available. They also have stitched and unstitched suits, blouses, customized blouses and what not? The Saffron Saga is all about comfort with style proposition along with their since approach towards sustainability and circular fashion. When it comes to the styles, they have redefined Comfort wear taking it several notches above by giving styles and silhouettes that seamlessly cross them over as luxury loungewear or day wear as well. Along with Sarees, Suits and Dresses, the label has some quirky collections like Anadi, Rang Raas, etc on one hand inspired by reality and day to day life while on the other by Indian Mythology. Their belief system that, "Every Body is beautiful" respects and celebrates womanhood. They are size-inclusive, so you can get any size you are comfortable in. They have gone a step ahead by providing customisation options to their customers which makes them a preferred label when it comes to shopping online at ease with the comfort of not having to worry about the fit and style. Their ready to wear blouses range from truly wearable art to quirky and fashionable ones! Anjana Bhamra, the co-founder of The Saffron Saga, says, "The concept behind The Saffron Saga is also about giving back to the society. To keep up with the latest fashion trends, we have added a new age feel and modern aesthetics to this ancient craft and tend to experiment a lot with prints and colours and add beautiful designs which are modern and also stay true to the traditional essence of the process intact." To beat the heat of the summers, they have some playful prints with some light colour fabric in breathable materials such as Sitara, Linen, Batik, Bagh Bahar, Indradhanush, and so much more. They have enough options to confuse you and make you go, "let me buy everything from them." Loungewear by The Saffron Saga is not any outfit; it screams comfort with very eye-catching prints all over it. They are in the talks in Telly town artist, and some influencer showed their love for the brand. Their Loungewear is their best seller for a reason. The brand also is a star in Good Deed for the world. While working with Indian cultural art and prints, the employment of those rural artists and recognition of their work is commendable. They are also employing so many weavers, especially women, to help a good cause. Along with that, The Saffron Saga is based on slow fashion, which means the product quality is good enough to last longer and won't be harming the environment, and animals and is good for the supply chain as well. All the products are available online and soon they are also planning to move from a women-centric apparel brand to a shopping destination for the entire family. As they also have clothes for kids, they plan to add men's wear to the collection. Handled by two middle-aged women, the brand replicates the responsibility and authenticity. The two superwomen aim this brand to bring to the world and let everyone taste the beauty of Indian traditional and cultural outfits. For more details, visit https://thesaffronsaga.in/ This story is provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 9 (ANI/NewsVoir): Alternative Investments Wealthtech Platform 'BHIVE.fund' has raised strategic investments from Gruhas Proptech, Blume Ventures, and other marquee investors. Gruhas was Co-founded by Nikhil Kamath of Zerodha and Abhijeet Pai of Puzzolana and is India's largest proptech-focussed entity. Blume Ventures, a leading VC firm in the country today, counts multiple unicorns in its portfolio. Also Read | Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev. "Nikhil and Abhijeet are big believers that huge disruptions are possible in the commercial real estate space using technology. While not all investors may understand this space well, Abhijeet comes with a wealth of experience and expertise in the commercial real estate sector, having been involved in many large deals. Nikhil, as we all know, is one of the biggest names in the wealth tech space. We are super excited to have them on board as strategic investors as we are looking to make this into something much much bigger," says Shesh Rao Paplikar, Co-founder & CEO, BHIVE.fund. 'BHIVE.fund' was set up in 2021 by Shesh Paplikar, Sandeep Gupta CFA and Monnappa Bayavanda. The platform has already achieved product-market fit and has reached a sales run rate of a million dollars per month. Through the tech-driven platform, they enable individual investors to invest in business opportunities, domestic commercial real estate and international real estate. Also Read | Robert Lewandowski Transfer News Update: Barcelona Receive Huge Boost In Bayern Munich Stars Pursuit. "We invested in 'BHIVE Workspace' through Blume Fund II in 2015. We have been closely working with Shesh and team, and have been witness to the grit and resilience the team has shown through the pandemic. We are excited about 'BHIVE Workspace's' new venture - 'BHIVE.fund'. We continue to believe in the capability of this team to build a robust biz. They have evolved to be solving the current real estate problem and are building a scalable business in an ever-growing commercial real estate market in India," says Sarita Raichura, Vice-President, Blume Ventures. "Blume Ventures has always been a very big supporter of us. They were the key investors of our previous startup which is into coworking. By making independent investment into our fintech entity 'BHIVE.fund' they have shown great faith in the founders and the vision we have for the platform," says Shesh. "This investment represents a significant milestone towards closing USD 1 million of Pre-Series A. We have term sheets and commitments to the ongoing Pre-Series A round which will be closing soon," said Shesh Paplikar, Co-founder & CEO of 'BHIVE.fund'. The round also saw participation from prominent angel investors including Sreeram Reddy Vanga of Kofluence, Leadsquared Founders Nilesh Patel and Prashant Singh, Kazi Arif Zaman, CFA, Partner at GestAlt Network and former MD of Everstone Capital, Partner of a prominent California VC firm, and NRIs from the US. "I have always been a big believer in Commercial Real Estate as an investment class. Technology is disrupting this segment and will bring in more investors through a fractional real estate mechanism. A similar model adopted by 'BHIVE Workspace' to the broader alternative asset class is set to grow big. I am very happy to come in as an investor and join Shesh & team on their journey," expresses Sreeram Reddy Vanga, Investing - Founder, Kofluence. BHIVE.fund had, in 2021, raised a seed round from the likes of Madhusudan, Co-founder & CEO of KreditBee, Durgesh Kaushik, Snapchat India and South Asia Head, Alok Bajpai, CFO, Adani Connex, who has also been a constant mentor and support, and others who confirmed their belief in BHIVE's vision. This US-headquartered company had also seen investment participation from over ten NRI investors in this round. The company intends to utilize these funds for growth. Key usage will be towards building comprehensive technology to scale operations, building a strong investment team, educating customers on alternative asset space, etc. 'BHIVE.fund' offers individual investors an opportunity to invest in a safe high-return asset class earlier not available to them like Commercial Real Estate, Business Investments and International Real Estate. These Asset classes offer very good risk adjusted returns and also provide monthly income. The monthly income thus generated allows financial freedom and security to Individual Investors. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lucknow, May 9 (PTI) As many as 1,500 projects worth more than Rs 70,000 crore are likely to be launched at an event in Lucknow on June 3, an official spokesman said on Monday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the ground-breaking ceremony. Also Read | Cyclone Asani: Flight Operations Hit at Visakhapatnam Airport Due to Cyclonic Storm in Bay of Bengal. Many corporate honchos, including those of Adani Group, Microsoft India, Reliance Industries, Hiranandani Group, Birla Group and ITC, are also likely to attend the event, the spokesman said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a meeting with top officials on Monday to take stock of the preparations for the event. Also Read | Mumbai: Fire Breaks Out at Jivesh Building in Bandra Bandstand, No Casualties Reported. The chief minister said Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the best destination for industrial investment in the country in the last five years under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi. "Uttar Pradesh, which was ranked 14th till 2017 in the national ranking of 'Ease of Doing Business', is at the second position today. Now 'Team UP' is working assiduously to achieve the top ranking," Adityanath said. In the last UP Investor Summit, the state had received investment proposals worth more than Rs 4.68 lakh crore. Two such ground-breaking ceremonies had taken place in the first stint of Adityanath as chief minister, the spokesman said. "Now this third ground-breaking ceremony will give flight to the aspirations of 'New India's New Uttar Pradesh'," the spokesperson said. Major projects that will be launched in the third ground-breaking ceremony include Adani Group's projects worth Rs 4,900 crore and Hiranandani Group's two data centres in Noida with an investment of Rs 9,100 crore, Microsoft's Rs 2,100-crore software development centre, and Dalmia Group's Rs 600-crore cement manufacturing plant in Mirzapur, Hamirpur, the spokesperson said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The Crime Branch of Kerala Police on Monday sent a fresh notice to Malayalam actress Kavya Madhavan in the 2017 actress assault case asking her to appear before it for interrogation. Kavya Madhavan is a witness in the case and she is the wife of the eighth accused actor Dileep in the case. Congress Working Committee To Meet To Finalise Agenda for Udaipur Chintan Shivir. Police asked her to appear today at 11 am. The case pertains that an actress, who worked in Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films, was allegedly abducted and molested inside her car by a group of men who had forced their way into the vehicle on the night of February 17, 2017. India Reports 3,207 COVID-19 Cases, 29 Deaths in Past 24 Hours. (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 9 (ANI): Bihar DGP SK Singhal said on Sunday that the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) will probe the question paper leak case of the 67th Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination of Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). Earlier on Sunday, BPSC announced the cancellation of the examination. Also Read | Chhattisgarh: Sarangarh Royal Family Says Its 'State Flag' Atop Palace Stolen And Replaced With Saffron One. "Bihar Public Service Commission's (BPSC) 67th Combined (Prelims) Competitive Exam has been cancelled. BPSC inquiry committee found that set C of the exam was leaked. Case handed over to the Economic Offences Unit for a thorough investigation," Singhal told ANI. A team of cyber cells operating under ADG, Economic Offence Unit, has been formed. The team has started the investigation, he added. Also Read | Jet Airways Gets Security Clearance from Union Home Ministry, Plans to Re-Launch Commercial Flight Operations. "The government has taken the matter seriously and action will be taken against the culprits," he further said. "Exam to be cancelled after a 3-member committee submitted a report in connection with 67th Combined Competition Exam. Bihar DGP has been requested to get the 'question paper leak' matter probed by Cyber Cell", Bihar Public Service Commission had said. An investigation has been ordered by the Bihar Public Service Commission after reports that question papers were being sent via messaging services WhatsApp and Telegram and later came out on social media platforms. According to the commission, questions were leaked from an examination centre just before the exam was scheduled to start at 12 noon. A ruckus broke out at Arrah's Kunwar Singh College with students alleging the use of phones by a section of students during the Bihar Public Service Commission. "They (college officials) told us that our exam will be delayed but made some students give exams in two separate rooms with doors shut," a protesting student had said. "There was some issue in the exam for Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC). Candidates having an issue can file a written complaint, we will compile it and send it to BPSC. The final decision will be taken accordingly, but no exact info on the issue", Bhojpur DM Roshan Kushwaha had said. Over six lakh candidates were to sit for the Bihar Public Service Commission on Sunday. (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, May 9 (PTI) The Border Security Force (BSF) has shot down a drone coming from Pakistan, which was carrying heroin, in Punjab's Amritsar, said the force on Monday. The BSF said it recovered nine packets of heroin from the drone, thwarting a smuggling bid from across the border. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: 173 More Civilians Evacuated From Mariupol Steel Plant. Frontier #BSF troops foiled another smuggling attempt through Pak drone. Vigilant BSF troops fired at the drone coming from Pak & brought it down. Drone carrying 9 packets suspected to be #Heroin (10.670Kgs) in a bag were also recovered, said the BSF (Punjab Frontier) in a tweet. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh [India], May 9 (ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) shot down a drone coming from the Pakistan side, which was carrying heroin in Punjab's Amritsar, the paramilitary force said on Monday. The BSF said that it recovered nine packets of heroin from the Pakistani drone weighing 10.67 kilograms, foiling the smuggling bid from across the border. Also Read | Congress Working Committee To Meet To Finalise Agenda for Udaipur Chintan Shivir. "BSF Punjab Frontier troops foiled another smuggling attempt through Pak drone. Vigilant BSF troops fired at the drone coming from Pak and brought it down. Drone carrying 9 packets suspected to be Heroin (10.670Kgs) in a bag were also recovered," BSF Punjab Frontier said in a tweet. Earlier on Saturday, Border Security Force (BSF) troops fired at a drone coming from Pakistan in the Arnia area of RS Pura sub-division of Jammu region and it returned back immediately. Also Read | India Reports 3,207 COVID-19 Cases, 29 Deaths in Past 24 Hours. Last month, the BSF had shot down a drone coming from Pakistan in Punjab's Amritsar sector. (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 9 (PTI) A Delhi court on Monday acquitted five alleged members of terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), including one Pak national being linked to the terror outfit, in a case of allegedly committing terror act during Delhi Assembly elections, saying there was no incriminating piece of evidence against them and prosecution has failed to prove its case. Also Read | Andhra Pradesh Shocker: Hours Before Her Marriage, Bride Shot Dead by Jilted Lover in Nellore. Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana granted relief to the accused person -- Mohd. Shahid, Mohd. Rashid, Ashabuddin, Abdul Subhan, and Pakistani national Arshad Khan -- in the case lodged under stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code. In the case at hand, the prosecution has miserably failed to prove its case and accused persons deserve to be acquitted, the judge said. Also Read | Navneet Rana Calls Sanjay Raut Popat, Claims Shiv Sena MP Threatened to Bury Her 20 Feet Deep. The judge said the prosecution failed to prove that the accused were members of a terrorist organisation. I am convinced that prosecution has miserably failed to prove on record that accused persons were a member of banned terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba and they accordingly deserve to be acquitted for the charge of an offence punishable under section 20 of UAPA, the judge said. The court further said there was no incriminating piece of evidence against the accused persons and that they recruited others for the terror activities. Thus in the absence of any evidence against the accused persons to the effect that they recruited or caused to be recruited any person for the purpose of committing any terrorist act, accused persons cannot be presumed to be guilty of commission of the offence u/s 18B of UAPA, the court said. According to the prosecution, the accused persons planned to kidnap a rich person for ransom to raise money for jihad and to finance the terrorist activities, and recruited others for the purpose. The prosecution alleged that the ransom money had to be received in Dubai through hawala channels. PTI UK (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, May 9 (PTI) Hanuman Chalisa, Suprabhata, Omkara and devotional songs were played at temples in different parts of Karnataka on Monday morning as part of a campaign by Hindu groups including Sri Rama Sene, alleging failure on part of the state government to take action against loudspeakers installed at mosques. Also Read | Congress Working Committee To Meet To Finalise Agenda for Udaipur Chintan Shivir. Recorded versions or bhajans being recited by those present at the temples were played out at around 5 AM to counter the morning Azaan being recited on loudspeakers at mosques. Also Read | India Reports 3,207 COVID-19 Cases, 29 Deaths in Past 24 Hours. There were reports of such incidents at temples in various places including Bengaluru, Hubballi, Belagavi, Mysuru, Chikkamagaluru, Yadgir, Mandya and Kolar among other places. At places including in Bengaluru, some Hindu activists were detained by the police. Sri Rama Sene chief Pramod Muthalik, who participated in early morning prayers at Anjaneya temple in Mysuru, said their campaign is against the government and the adamant Muslim community. "For the last one year we have continuously been warning about the issues caused by the loudspeakers, disturbance to society, students and patients. We had also told Muslims, but nothing changed, no action was taken other than issuing notices. It was a drama. Even today mosques have not stopped playing loudspeakers at 5 AM," he said. The sound of Azaan during the other four times of the day is not being reduced in accordance to permissible limits, he said, "our fight has only begun today. If still no action is taken we will file a contempt petition in the High Court as it violates Supreme Court orders...This is not Taliban rule, Pakistan or Afghanistan. This is India, there is a constitution and rule of law here." Sri Rama Sene had earlier warned that it will counter morning Azaan with Hanuman Chalisa or Suprabhat or Omkara and devotional songs from 5 AM on May 9, if the government does not take action against loudspeakers installed at mosques. Meanwhile, Home Minister Araga Jnanendra said strict action will be taken in accordance with the court orders to control any activities that cause noise pollution. "Everyone should abide by the court orders," he said in a statement adding that the government will not hesitate to take strict action against those taking law into their hands. (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 9 (ANI): Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Monday said that he himself will investigate the alleged incident of IndiGo airlines, which barred an adolescent child with special needs from boarding a plane along with his parents at the Ranchi airport on Saturday. The Union Minister said that there is zero-tolerance for such behaviour and appropriate action will be taken after the investigation. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: 173 More Civilians Evacuated From Mariupol Steel Plant. "There is zero tolerance towards such behaviour. No human being should have to go through this! Investigating the matter by myself, post which appropriate action will be taken," he said in a tweet. A social media post on Sunday alleged the staff of IndiGo airlines barred an adolescent with special needs from boarding a plane along with his parents at the Ranchi airport on Saturday. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: 16-Year-Old Girl, Boyfriend Consume Poison After Gang-Rape in Bijnor; 2 Held. "The Indigo staff announced that the child would not be allowed to take the flight. That he was a risk to other passengers. That he would have to become 'normal' before he could be travel-worthy,' read the post. "And the staff then went on to state something on the lines of 'behaviours such as this, and that of drunk passengers unfit to travel," added the post. Meanwhile, issuing a clarification over the incident the airline issued a statement saying, "In view of the safety of passengers, a specially-abled child could not board the flight with his family on May 07 as he was in a state of panic. The ground staff waited for him to calm down till the last minute but to no avail." "The airline made the family comfortable by providing them with a hotel stay, the family flew this morning to their destination. IndiGo prides itself on being an inclusive organisation, be it for employees or customers; and over 75k specially-abled passengers fly with IndiGo every month," added the statement. (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 [India], May 9 (ANI): Lieutenant general Amardeep Singh Aujla, an officer with vast counter-terrorism operations on Monday, took over as the new commander of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps which looks after operations in the entire Kashmir valley. Commissioned into the Rajputana Rifles regiment, Aujla joined the forces in December 1987. Also Read | BSEB Bihar Board Inter Special Exam 2022 Answer Key Released; Heres How to Download. Aujla has done three tenures operational tenures in the Kashmir valley including the ones as Company Commander in Kashmir, prestigious 268 Infantry Brigade and 28 Infantry Division along the Line of Control in North Kashmir. He has done staff tenures in the Chinar Corps and also served as the Major General looking after counter-terrorist operations in the Udhampur-based Northern Command headquarters. Also Read | Mahatma Gandhi's Personal Belongings To Bring Nearly Rs 5 Crore in UK Auction. Aujla has also been an instructor in Commando Wing, Infantry School Belgaum where he was responsible for the conduct of commando training, arguably the toughest military course in the force. He served in Perspective Planning and Infantry Directorate at Army Headquarters and commanded the prestigious 15 Rajputana Rifles battalion in 2005 and is the second Chinar Corps Commander from the unit in the last three years. Lt Gen KJS Dhillon (Retd) also was from the same unit and was Corps commander during the most difficult phase of the time when article 370 was revoke revoked by the Centre. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chhatarpur, May 9 (PTI) Police have nabbed a 34-year-old man, nine months after he faked his death to evade arrest after allegedly stealing Rs 6.65 lakh cash of a trader in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district, an official said on Monday. Also Read | Congress Working Committee To Meet To Finalise Agenda for Udaipur Chintan Shivir. The accused's family had also performed the last rites of an unidentified body, claiming to be him, but the DNA of the deceased did not match with the man's family members, which revealed the truth, the official said. Also Read | India Reports 3,207 COVID-19 Cases, 29 Deaths in Past 24 Hours. On July 16 last year, trader Sudhir Agrawal had complained at Bamitha police station that a pick-up vehicle's driver, Sunil Namdeo, delivered some iron rods sent by him at a place in Rajnagar town, collected Rs 6.65 lakh cash from there and then went missing, sub-divisional officer of police, Manmohan Singh Baghel said. The vehicle was later found abandoned near a warehouse, he said. On July 24, 2021, an unidentified body was found in Kodahar area under Bamitha police station limits. Namdeo's family members then identified the body as his and even performed the last rites and other post-death rituals, the official said. But, later the DNA test report said the deceased's sample did not match with Namdeo's family members, he said. While a probe into the case was on, trader Agrawal, while on way to Bageshwar Dham temple, spotted Namdeo on May 3 this year near Gadha Tigadda area near here. When Agrawal asked for his money, Namdeo allegedly threatened the businessman with dire consequences and told the latter that he was already dead in police records, the official said. Agrawal subsequently approached the police and lodged a complaint, based on which the police formed a team and arrested Namdeo from Gadha Tigadda area last week, the official said. The police also seized Rs five lakh from Namdeo's possession, he said. A case has been registered against him under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, he added. (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 9: Sanskrit universities will move towards becoming large multidisciplinary institutions of higher learning, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Monday. "As envisaged in the new National Education Policy (NEP), the government has given importance to all Indian languages, including Sanskrit. It has a great contribution in unifying various Indian languages and Sanskrit universities will move towards becoming large multidisciplinary institutions of higher learning," Pradhan said. The minister made the remarks in his address on the final day of the three-day Utkarsh Mahotsav, organised by Central Sanskrit University. "Sanskrit is not just a language, it is an emotion. Our knowledge and wisdom are our wealth. The onus is on all of us to take our civilisation forward for centuries... Sanskrit education will create more employment opportunities for students, he said. Chintan Shivir Shouldn't Be Ritual, It Should Herald Restructured Organisation to Meet Ideological, Electoral Challenges, Says Sonia Gandhi. "From the time of Hiuen Tsang to today's Raisina Dialogues, the spontaneity, modernity and scientificity of Sanskrit need no proof. I hope that the deliberations held during the 'Utkarsh Mahotsav' will show the roadmap for the education system of 21st century to make India self-reliant and pave the way for global welfare," he added. The objective behind the Utkarsh Mahotsav was to promote Sanskrit language across the country and beyond. Its focus was "New Educational Era Moving towards a Global Orientation of Sanskrit Studies". (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 9 (PTI) The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Monday welcomed the dismissal of the bail applications of the associates of Ashish Mishra, the prime accused in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, by the Allahabad High Court, an official statement said. Ashish Mishra is the son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni and hails from Lakhimpur in Uttar Pradesh. Also Read | Patiala Clash: Court Sends Main Accused Barjinder Singh Parwana to 14-Day Judicial Custody. The umbrella body of the 40 farm unions said Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh, in the Lucknow division bench of the Allahabad High Court, on Monday rejected the bail applications of Ankit Das, Shishupal, Sumit Jaiswal and Lavkush. The statement said that in its order, the High Court, while rejecting all the arguments made by these accused, has underlined the "political clout of the accused and said that in such a situation, there is a possibility of destruction of evidence and impact on the witnesses if they get bail". Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Bride Marries Sister's Groom After Mix-Up Due to Power Cut in Ujjain. The farmers' body said that after these remarks of the court, Teni has "no excuse left for him" to continue as the minister. "This order gives hope that the wheel of justice has started turning in the right direction after the Supreme Court cancelled the bail of Ashish Mishra," the SKM statement said. (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 9 (ANI): Terming the BPSC paper leak as an "unfortunate" incident former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Modi on Monday assured of strict action against those who are responsible. The remarks came after the 67th Combined (Preliminary) Competitive Examination of Bihar Public Service Commission was called off on Sunday due to a paper leak. The probe has thereafter been transferred to the Economic Offences Unit (EOU). Also Read | Adani Airport Holdings Ltd Raises $250 Million for Airports Development. Speaking to ANI, Modi said, "What happened is unfortunate because lakhs of students appeared in this exam and they will have to appear again. The government has ordered an inquiry as to how the exam question paper was leaked and definitely, strict action will be taken against the guilty." Reacting sharply to Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav's attack on the NDA government of renaming BPSC to "Bihar Lok Paper Leak Ayog", the BJP MP said that the credibility of BPSC "has been maintained" since the formation of Nitish-Kumar led government in the state. Also Read | Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev. "No one has ever levelled any kind of allegations since we came to power in the state. The results of BPSC started coming on time but it is also true that during the rule of Lalu Yadav, three BPSC Chairmen had to go to jail. Despite that Tejashwi Yadav is making allegations against us," Modi said. Modi further said that the BPSC will have to be alert in the future to avert the repetition of such incidents again. (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 9 (PTI) With the Centre deciding to "re-examine and re-consider" the sedition law, the Congress on Monday said the Modi government is trying to "course correct" as it seems to have realised that its "misuse" of the legislation is about to be quashed by the Supreme Court. The Centre has told the Supreme Court not to invest time in examining the validity of the law as it has decided to go for re-consideration of the provisions by a "competent forum". Also Read | Andhra Pradesh Shocker: Hours Before Her Marriage, Bride Shot Dead by Jilted Lover in Nellore. Responding to a query on the Centre's move during a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government's understanding of the sedition law has always been "warped". "The Modi government has over the last eight years used the sedition law only to suppress fundamental rights of expression, of opinion, curbing dissent against the BJP, suppressing voices against the RSS, subjugating opinion against the Modi government -- be it of activists, political opponents, journalists, student leaders, NGOs, or anyone asking questions of those sitting in the citadels of power," he alleged. Also Read | Navneet Rana Calls Sanjay Raut Popat, Claims Shiv Sena MP Threatened to Bury Her 20 Feet Deep. "Finally after the rebuke from the Supreme Court, the Modi government seems to have belatedly realised that its misuse of the sedition law is about to be quashed," Surjewala said. Faced with that clear cut observation of the Supreme Court, in hindsight, the Centre is trying to "course correct", he said. "I am happy that even at this belated stage if they change their autocratic, dictatorial mindset of suppressing, subjugating and trampling upon every voice of dissent and disagreement, it would bode well for democracy," Surjewala added. He also accused the government of using the sedition law as a "personal propaganda machine" and filing "thousands, if not lakhs, of false cases" to put many people behind bars. A bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli on May 5 had said that it would hear arguments on May 10 on the legal question of whether the pleas challenging the colonial-era penal law on sedition be referred to a larger bench for reconsidering the 1962 verdict of a five-judge constitution bench in the Kedar Nath Singh case. The affidavit, filed by an official of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said that the government has decided to "re-examine and re-consider the provisions of Section 124A of the IPC which can only be done before the competent forum". "In view of the..., it is respectfully submitted that this Hon'ble court may not invest time in examining the validity of section 124A of the IPC once again and be pleased to await the exercise of reconsideration to be undertaken by the Government of India before an appropriate forum where such reconsideration is constitutionally permitted," the affidavit said. The top court has been hearing a clutch of pleas challenging the validity of the law on sedition. (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 9 (PTI) The University Grants Commission (UGC) sought a report from the Sharda University on Monday about an "objectionable" question asked by it in an exam on similarities between Hindutva and fascism. The higher education regulator has asked the Greater Noida-based private university to explain in the detailed action-taken report the steps taken by it to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. Also Read | BSEB Bihar Board Inter Special Exam 2022 Answer Key Released; Heres How to Download. "It has been noticed that the students objected to the question and filed a complaint with the university. Needless to say that asking students such a question is against the spirit and ethos of our country, which is known for inclusivity and homogeneity and such questions have not been asked," the UGC said in a communication to the Sharda University. The Political Science (Honours) question in the BA first-year paper asked the students about "Hindutva-Fascism". The question carrying seven marks read, "Do you find any similarities between Fascism/Nazism and Hindu right-wing (Hindutva)? Elaborate with arguments." Also Read | Mahatma Gandhi's Personal Belongings To Bring Nearly Rs 5 Crore in UK Auction. After the question paper went viral on social media platforms, the university formed a three-member committee to "look into the possibility of bias in the questions". In a statement issued on Saturday, it said the committee has found the question objectionable and for the purpose of evaluation, it may be ignored by the evaluators. The university has also issued a show-cause notice to the faculty member who had set the question paper. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jaipur, May 9: Reacting over allegations of rape on his son, Rajasthan Minister Mahesh Joshi on Monday advocated for a strict probe into the matter and said that he will always stand with the truth and justice. "The media has informed us that a report has been registered. Police must probe strictly and in-depth. I will always stand with truth and justice in this matter or any other matter. Without any media trial, let the police do their work," Rajasthan Minister told media persons. Rajasthan Minister Mahesh Joshis Son Rohit Accused of Raping Woman From Jaipur; Delhi Police Files Zero FIR. Earlier on Sunday, a zero FIR has been lodged with the Delhi Police against the son of a Rajasthan Minister for allegedly raping a 24-year-old woman. The FIR was lodged at Sadar Bazaar Police station against the son of a Rajasthan Minister. The woman has alleged that a man raped her on the pretext of marriage. An FIR has been transferred to Rajasthan for investigation. "On the basis of a complaint of rape by a woman, zero FIR has been registered at Sadar Bazaar Police station. The woman has alleged that a man raped her on the pretext of marriage. FIR to be transferred to Rajasthan for investigation," said Delhi Police. The girl alleged that she has also been assaulted. She was in touch with the accused for a long time. The victim has alleged that the accused has her obscene photos and videos which he recorded while she was in an unconscious state. "On 3 and 4 September 2021, I came to Delhi for an interview. The accused had already reached Delhi. He booked a room for me in a hotel and showed us as husband-wife. He promised me that he would marry me. After this, he raped me on many occasions and filmed it. He had threatened me with dire consequences if I dared to spill the beans. He told me that he is getting a divorce from his wife and that he would marry me. On many occasions, he thrashed me badly and forced me to dance. It was a huge trauma," the victim has stated in the FIR. Meanwhile, the police also came to know that the accused had made an affidavit in which the victim has stated that both are major and have made physical relations of their own will. (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 9 (PTI) Top health ministry officials suggested to a parliamentary panel examining the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill that the proposed legislation may help check infant mortality rate (IMR) and mother's mortality rate (MMR), sources said on Monday. Several NGOs and think-tanks on Monday deposed before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, headed by BJP MP Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, which is examining this bill. Also Read | Patiala Clash: Court Sends Main Accused Barjinder Singh Parwana to 14-Day Judicial Custody. Briefing the panel on the bill, top health ministry officials, including Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, clearly said that early marriage and early pregnancy adversely impact both health of mother and child, sources in the panel said. The ministry officials were overall in favour of the bill, and also suggested that the bill may help check both IMR and MMR. This legislation can also help check the cases of child stunting and child wasting, the sources said. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: Bride Marries Sister's Groom After Mix-Up Due to Power Cut in Ujjain. Several NGOs such as Lado Panchayat and Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation also spoke in favour of the bill before the parliamentary committee. Similarly, Women Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry also supported the bill. The bill was introduced by Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani amid protests by the opposition parties on December 21 last year. She had sought that the bill be referred to a parliamentary standing committee for further scrutiny and said that the government was open to further discussion on it. The committee examining the bill was given three-month extension in March this year. The proposed law will apply to all communities in the country and, once enacted, will supersede existing marriage and personal laws. Accordingly, the government will bring amendments to seven personal laws -- the Indian Christian Marriage Act; the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act; the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act; the Special Marriage Act; the Hindu Marriage Act; and the Foreign Marriage Act. (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 9 (PTI) The government has called a meeting of cab aggregators like Ola and Uber on Tuesday to discuss their policies related to fare calculation, surge pricing, ride cancellations and measures taken by them for data protection of customers, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said on Monday. The meeting has been called amid rise in consumer complaints of alleged unfair trade practices by these platforms, including ride cancellation policy as drivers force customers to cancel trips after accepting bookings, which results in customers paying cancellation penalties. Also Read | NEET UG 2022 Registration Date Extended Till May 15; Here Are Few Rank Booster Tips for NEET UG 2022 Exams. "We have sought information from cab aggregators how they handle cancellation charges and surge pricing and how they calculate fare," Singh said while speaking on the sidelines of an event organised by the ministry. He further said,"We have asked why the charges to go from point A to point B are different for two different people." Also Read | Cyclone Asani Update: Severe Cyclonic Storm Asani To Recurve Away From Coast Tomorrow, Says IMD. The ministry would also like to know whether these ride hailing apps have taken adequate measures to safeguard consumer data on their platforms. "We have asked for information. We will discuss with them and based on the outcome we will take further action," the secretary said. Last week, Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare said, "We have received several complaints from consumers regarding the cancellation and pricing policy of cab aggregators. The number of complaints is very high and therefore we have called the cab aggregators for explanation of their policies." Citing a few examples, Khare said the regulator has received many complaints of alleged unfair trade practices, including cab drivers forcing consumers to cancel a trip and bear a penalty as the drivers do not want to accept the ride for whatever reason. Khare further said existing consumers are being charged high rates for a ride, while new users are lured with lower charges for the same distance. "It appears that cab aggregators are using algorithms to lure new customers, putting old customers at disadvantage. This is an unfair practice," she added. Against this backdrop, Khare said the regulator would like to understand their algorithms and other policies adopted for operating as cab aggregators in the country. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kyiv [Ukraine], May 9 (ANI): Amid the Russian offensive, Canada on Sunday lifted all duties on imports from Ukraine for one year. The economic relief was announced by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on May 8. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: US Announces New Sanctions, G7 to Phase Out Russian Oil Imports. "Canada lifts all duties on imports from Ukraine for one year. The economic relief was announced by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a meeting with President Zelenskyy in Kyiv on May 8," tweeted The Kyiv Independent. Trudeau also announced an additional USD 50 million in military assistance for Ukraine and imposed additional sanctions on Russian individuals and entities for providing indirect or direct support to Russia's military. Also Read | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Makes Surprise Trip to Ukraine to Offer Support. He said, "Today, I'm announcing more military assistance, drone cameras, satellite imagery, small arms, ammunition and other support, including funding for demining operations." "And we're bringing forward new sanctions on 40 Russian individuals and five entities, oligarchs, and close associates of the regime in the defense sector, all of them complicit in Putin's war," in a reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trudeau visited the town of Irpin outside Kyiv, the focal point of fierce battles between Ukrainian and Russian troops before the Russians withdrew late in March. Trudeau also said that Canada will reopen its embassy and provide USD 25 million to the UN's World Food Program. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jerusalem, May 9 (AP) Israeli police arrested on Monday a 65-year-old woman suspected of sending death threats with bullets to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's family last month. A statement from the police only identified the woman as a resident of southern Israel; police said further details of the case remained under a court-issued gag order. Also Read | Singapore to Ban 'The Kashmir Files, Says Its Beyond Countrys Film Classification Guidelines. Bennett's family received two death threats in the mail, along with the bullets. In response, security around the premier and his family was tightened and police and the Shin Bet internal security agency opened an investigation. Bennett, who leads a small nationalist party, has come under intense criticism from Israeli hard-liners who accuse him of abandoning his ideology. Also Read | Sri Lanka Imposes Nationwide Curfew, Deploys Army in Colombo After Pro-Government Groups Attack Protesters. In 1995, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish ultranationalist opposed to his peacemaking attempts with the Palestinians. Bennett leads a narrow coalition of eight parties ranging from a small Islamist party to Jewish ultra-nationalists that have little in common beyond their opposition to former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bennett's government was formed after four inconclusive parliamentary elections that highlighted deep divisions in Israeli society over relations with the Palestinians, religion and state, and Netanyahu's fitness to rule while on trial for corruption. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu [Nepal], May 9 (ANI): Nepal government has decided to seal the border entry points with India and China for 72 hours prior to the local level elections scheduled for May 13, local media reported. The decision comes following a recommendation by the Election Commission urging the government to close the border points from May 10 midnight to May 13 midnight, The Kathmandu Post reported. Also Read | Russian President Vladimir Putin To Mark Victory Day As Russia Presses Ukraine Assault. Nepal's Home Ministry spokesperson Phanindra Mani Pokharel informed that a directive has been issued to the respective district administration offices of the districts bordering India and China to implement the commission's recommendations. "Districts sharing borders with neighbouring countries have been directed to seal the border points and halt all movements, except for emergency services, for 72 hours ahead of the May 13 local elections," The Kathmandu Post quoted Pokharel as saying. Also Read | Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari To Visit US This Month. Pokharel said the ministry has also directed local administrations and security agencies to strictly implement the silent hour as per the commission's election code of conduct. According to Pokharel, Nepal Police and Armed Police Force have also been directed to implement the Standard for Vehicular Movement Management-2022. As per the standard, vehicles should acquire a pass issued by the commission or the district administration office to operate during the election day, The Kathmandu Post reported. Meanwhile, all domestic flight services, except rescue and relief flights and flights taking off under government directives, will be halted during the election day. Nepal shares close to 1,880 kilometres of border with India and around 1,414 kilometres with China. All the border points will be sealed from Tuesday midnight to Friday, allowing only emergency services and vehicles with government permission to operate, The Kathmandu Post reported. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Port-Au-Prince, May 9 (AP) Eight Turkish citizens have been kidnapped in Haiti's capital, an official told The Associated Press on Monday, apparently the latest in a string of high-profile kidnappings by powerful gangs. Hugues Josue, Turkey's honorary consul in Haiti, said the group had boarded a bus in the neighbouring Dominican Republic and were kidnapped late Sunday afternoon in the Croix-des-Bouquets neighbourhood of Port-au-Prince. Also Read | Sri Lanka Crisis: Ruling Party MP, Personal Security Officer Killed in Violence. Josue said he did not have any details on a potential ransom request, and no additional information was immediately available. Croix-des-Bouquets is controlled by the 400 Mawozo gang, which kidnapped 17 members of a U.S.-based missionary group in the same area last October. Also Read | China Bans Minors From Live Streaming on Social Media To Protect Their Physical, Mental Health. The gang demanded $1 million in ransom and held most of them until December. A diplomat from the Dominican Republic was kidnapped in the same neighbourhood earlier this month and later freed. Last week, Haiti's National Police announced that one of the top leaders of the 400 Mawozo gang, Germine Joly, was extradited to the U.S. He faces charges involving kidnapping, smuggling and import of weapons of war. The violence and insecurity has prompted Haitians to organise protests in recent weeks to demand safer neighbourhoods. (AP) (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 9 (ANI): Pakistan reported 64 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the country's ministry of health said on Monday, pushing the overall tally of infections to 1,528,800. This comes amid World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that suggest that the actual number of COVID-19 deaths in Pakistan was eight times the figure reported by the government. Also Read | Russian President Vladimir Putin To Mark Victory Day As Russia Presses Ukraine Assault. A total of 30,375 people died from COVID-19 in Pakistan, with no more deaths recorded on Sunday, according to the ministry's statistics. On Sunday, 13,190 tests for COVID-19 were conducted in Pakistan while the positivity rate stood at 0.49 per cent. Also Read | Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari To Visit US This Month. Currently, there are 92 active cases that are in critical condition in the South Asian country. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], May 9 (ANI): Group of Seven (G7) on Sunday condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's war against Ukraine which is placing global food security under severe strain. They urged Russia to end its blockade and all other activities that further impede Ukrainian food production and exports in line with its international commitments. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: US Announces New Sanctions, G7 to Phase Out Russian Oil Imports. The strong statement came after a virtual meeting of the G7 leaders, who were joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "President Putin's war against Ukraine is placing global food security under severe strain. Together with the United Nations, we call on Russia to end its blockade and all other activities that further impede Ukrainian food production and exports, in line with its international commitments," read the G7 joint statement. Also Read | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Makes Surprise Trip to Ukraine to Offer Support. They said that the failure to do so will be seen as an attack on feeding the world. "We will step up efforts to help Ukraine to keep producing in view of the next harvest season and exporting, including by alternative routes," added the statement. President Putin's invasion of Ukraine is causing global economic disruptions, impacting the security of global energy supply, fertiliser and food provision, and the functioning of global supply chains in general. The most vulnerable countries are affected most severely. "Together with partners globally, we are stepping up our efforts to counter these adverse and harmful impacts of this war," said the statement. G7 said that in support of the United Nations Global Crises Response Group, they will address the causes and consequences of the global food crisis through a Global Alliance for Food Security, as their joint initiative to ensure momentum and coordination, and other efforts. "We will closely cooperate with international partners and organisations beyond the G7, and, with the aim of transforming political commitments into concrete actions as planned by various international initiatives such as the Food and Agriculture Resilience Mission (FARM) and key regional outreach initiatives, including towards African and Mediterranean countries," added the statement. Earlier, they pledged to continue imposing severe and immediate economic costs on President Putin's regime for the "unjustifiable war". "We reiterate that our sanctions packages are carefully targeted so as not to impede the delivery of humanitarian assistance or the trade of agricultural products and reaffirm our commitment to avoid food export restrictions which impact the most vulnerable," said the statement. They said that G7 and Ukraine stand united in this difficult time and in their quest to ensure Ukraine's democratic, prosperous future. "We remain united in our resolve that President Putin must not win his war against Ukraine. We owe it to the memory of all those who fought for freedom in the Second World War, to continue fighting for it today, for the people of Ukraine, Europe and the global community," added the statement. The leaders commemorated the end of World War 2 in Europe, which happened on this day in 1945, following the surrender of the German forces to the allied powers. "Seventy-seven years later, President Putin and his regime now chose to invade Ukraine in an unprovoked war of aggression against a sovereign country. His actions bring shame on Russia and the historic sacrifices of its people," the statement read. On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine, three days after recognising the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as "independent republics". The Russian Ministry of Defense maintains that the operation is targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure only. In response, Western nations imposed comprehensive sanctions against Russia. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo [Sri Lanka], May 9 (ANI): As cash-strapped Sri Lanka struggles to emerge out of a deepening economic crisis, Bangladesh has extended the term of the USD 200 million loan to the island nation under a currency swap deal by one more year. The decision was taken by the Bangladesh Bank directors in a meeting on Sunday. The spokesman of the central bank, Serajul Islam, said that the extension was granted by keeping the conditions for the loan unchanged, reported Daily Mirror. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: 173 More Civilians Evacuated From Mariupol Steel Plant. In its first loan to another country, Bangladesh agreed to the deal with Sri Lanka in May 2021. According to the deal, the island nation was supposed to repay the loan within three months, however, as the country is facing a severe economic crisis the loan term has been extended. Bangladesh last Thursday sent emergency medical supplies to Sri Lanka as the island nation faces one of the worst economic crises since gaining independence. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: US Announces New Sanctions, G7 to Phase Out Russian Oil Imports. At a token handover ceremony held at the State Guest House Padma, Bangladeshi Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Health Minister Zahid Maleque handed over a few boxes of medicines to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sudharshan D.S. Seneviratne. Momen described the supply of medicine as an expression of solidarity and friendship between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, at a time when the two countries are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations. Meanwhile, Seneviratne said Sri Lanka values the friendly relationship with Bangladesh and is committed to further strengthening it. Essential Drugs Company Limited, a state-owned Pharmaceuticals Company in Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceuticals Industries, have each contributed medicines worth 100 million takas as gifts to Sri Lanka. The crisis-hit Sri Lanka on Friday declared a state of emergency after the crippling strike and protest over the external debt for the second time in five weeks. Meanwhile, 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. The economic situation has led to huge protests with demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo [Sri Lanka], May 9 (ANI): After a few hours of the imposition of curfew in Sri Lanka, the same will be finally lifted on Tuesday at 7 am, said the Sri Lankan police on Monday. The curfew was imposed after the clashes broke out in the Galle Face area on Monday within the Western Province of Colombo with immediate effect, Daily Mirror reported. Also Read | Sri Lanka Crisis: Ancestral Home of Rajapaksas in Hambantota Set on Fire by Anti-Government Protestors (Watch Video). Earlier in the day, dozens of protesters who were forcibly trying to enter Temple Trees have been tear-gassed by the police. Despite the tear gas, the protestors are attempting to forcibly enter the premises. While some protesters were forcibly trying to enter Temple Trees in Colombo, there were some other protesters who set fire to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's residence in the city of Kurunegala in the north-western province, hours after the leader tendered his resignation to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, as the country goes through an intensified civil strife amid a crippling economic crisis, reported Daily Mirror. Also Read | Sri Lanka Crisis: Ruling Party MP, Personal Security Officer Killed in Violence. The anti-government protesters also set on fire the official residences of Sri Lanka's Moratuwa Mayor Saman Lal Fernando and the MPs Sanath Nishantha, Ramesh Pathirana, Mahipala Herath, Thissa Kuttiarachchi and Nimal Lanza. A large number of protesters including the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) were out on the streets and attacked the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna MPs. Even some Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) offices were set ablaze, Daily Mirror reported. Moreover, two people were shot dead and five others were left injured at the residence of the Chairman of the Weeraketiya Pradeshiya Sabha, local police informed. The developments came even after the Prime Minister tendered his resignation and has called for the formation of an all-party interim government to handle the ongoing economic crisis in the country. The nationwide protests against the government have intensified over the past few days resulting in an increase in incidents of clashes with the security forces deployed at protest sites.More than a hundred protestors were injured on Monday at the Galle Face protest site during violent clashes resulting in a nationwide curfew in the country. "While emotions are running high in #lka, I urge our general public to exercise restraint and remember that violence only begets violence. The economic crisis we're in needs an economic solution which this administration is committed to resolving," Mahinda Rajapaksa said in a tweet shortly before resigning earlier today. Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since independence with food and fuel shortages, soaring prices and power cuts affecting a large number of the citizens, resulting in massive protests over the government's handling of the situation. The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a fall in tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as reckless economic policies, like the government's move last year to ban chemical fertilizers in a bid to make Sri Lanka's agriculture "100 per cent organic".Due to an acute shortage of foreign exchange, Sri Lanka recently defaulted on the entirety of its foreign debt amounting to about USD 51 billion. The economic situation has led to huge protests with demands for the resignation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) 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 Texas [US], May 9 (ANI): In a funny and unusual event of theft last week in Texas, a man stole a lawnmower but not before he used the gadget to mow the owners' front and back yards before fleeing, according to police. The man, identified as one Marcus Hubbard, was caught in the act on security video according to the Texas police department, which put out on its Facebook page seeking information from the public on the man. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: US Announces New Sanctions, G7 to Phase Out Russian Oil Imports. "On 4/1/2022 Marcus Hubbard was seen on security video burglarizing a residential building, he removed property from within the building without owners' consent. He then is seen on security video mowing the homeowner's front and back yard," Port Arthur Police wrote. He later left the lawnmower in an alley and evaded arrest, authorities said. Also Read | Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Makes Surprise Trip to Ukraine to Offer Support. The incident has created a buzz on social media. A Twitter user named Jim Newton said: "If anyone knows this guy, please tell him I will leave my lawnmower and a full container of gas in my unlocked shed tonight. If he has a few extra minutes I will also leave the trimmer." Another wrote: "You got about a week to replace it before the grass grows back" Twitter user Ryan Wilson said: "Hey I mean give the guy credit for being kind enough to cut the dudes grass beforehand" The Port Arthur Police Department has asked the public to report any information on the incident. Those who call the department's tip line will be able to do so confidentially and could be eligible for a cash reward. "If you know this suspect's whereabouts or have any other information on this or any other crime, call Port Arthur Police at 409-983-8600 or Crime Stoppers of SETX at 409-833-TIPS (8477). You won't be asked your name and you may be eligible for a CASH reward. You can also make an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smartphone," it wrote further. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Manila [Phillipines], May 9 (ANI): Three persons were killed and one was injured in a strafing incident near a polling center in Maguindanao province on the election day in the Philippines on Monday. According to the military, the attackers on board two vans opened fire at the peacekeepers assisting the voting process in Buluan town around 7:25 am local time (2325 GMT), Xinhua News Agency reported. Also Read | Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari To Visit US This Month. The victims were reportedly supporters of a local politician running for the post of mayor in the town. The election body also reported another strafing incident today morning in Sumisip town in Basilan province in the country. However, there were no casualties in the attack. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: 173 More Civilians Evacuated From Mariupol Steel Plant. Earlier in the day, it is reported that at least eight persons were injured in grenade explosions in Maguindanao province on Sunday night, on the eve of the voting. Police said the explosions hit Datu Unsay town, and another one hit nearby Shariff Aguak town. So far no group has claimed responsibility for the explosions. Police are looking into the attacks in the areas tagged as "hot spots," Xinhua reported. Al Jazeera reported that 10 candidates are vying to succeed current President Rodrigo Duterte in the elections. Over 65.7 million Filipinos will vote on Monday to elect a new president, a new vice president, 12 senators, more than 300 members of the House of Representatives, and over 17,000 local officials, as per the news agency. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tokyo [Japan], May 9 (ANI): Two Chinese vessels have entered Japan's territorial waters near the disputed Senkaku Islands, a media report said on Monday. The Chinese ships entered the waters of Minami Kojima island at about 7 a.m. (local time) [22:00 GMT Sunday], navigating some 13 miles southeast from the island, reported NHK broadcaster citing Japan Coast Guard officials, according to Sputnik. Also Read | Canadian PM Justin Trudeau Meets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev. The Japanese authorities sent patrol ships to the site to ensure the security of a Japanese fishing vessel that was approached by the Chinese ships, the Russian News Agency reported. This is the seventh time when China has infringed on Japan's territorial waters since the beginning of the year. The previous case was reported on April 12, Sputnik reported. Also Read | Russian President Vladimir Putin To Mark Victory Day As Russia Presses Ukraine Assault. Both Asian economic powerhouses have extended territorial claims over the Senkaku Islands. Japan insists on its sovereignty over the islands. It insists on its sovereignty over the islands, effective since 1895, while China points to the 1783 and 1785 Japanese maps designating the islands as Chinese territory. This dispute escalated in 2012 when the Japanese government purchased three of the five islands from the private owner. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) United Nations, May 10 (AP) The United States called an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Wednesday following North Korea's latest test of a ballistic missile that was likely fired from a submarine. The test was the latest sign of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un carrying out a recent vow to speed up development of nuclear weapons. Also Read | Sri Lanka Crisis: Ancestral Home of Rajapaksas in Hambantota Set on Fire by Anti-Government Protestors (Watch Video). The United States holds the rotating presidency of the council this month and called the meeting to discuss the North's latest launches, a spokesperson for the US Mission to the UN said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement. The meeting is expected to take place Wednesday afternoon and would be open. Also Read | Sri Lanka Crisis: Ruling Party MP, Personal Security Officer Killed in Violence. So far this year, North Korea has fired missiles 15 times. They include the country's first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017 in March that demonstrated a potential range to reach the entirety of the US mainland. The launch on Saturday was apparently North Korea's first demonstration of a submarine-launched ballistic missile system since October 2021, when it fired a new short-range missile. The latest launch came just ahead of the inauguration on Tuesday of South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol, who has vowed to take a tougher approach over the North's nuclear ambitions. UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Monday that the United Nations has expressed concern at all missile tests and we want to call, once again for a return to dialogue among all the parties on the Korean Peninsula so that we can proceed with the peaceful denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. The United States has circulated a draft resolution to the Security Council seeking additional sanctions on North Korea for its spate of tests this year. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters last Tuesday that it is our plan to move forward with that resolution during this month while the US holds the council presidency. But diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions have been private, said the resolution faces an uphill struggle because Russia and China, which have veto power in the council, want to see sanctions on North Korea eased -- not increased. The council originally imposed sanctions after the North's first nuclear test explosion in 2006 and tightened them over the years. But last fall China and Russia called for lifting various sanctions on their neighbour, and in January they blocked the Security Council from imposing sanctions on five North Korean officials. Observers say North Korea's unusually fast pace in weapons development this year is aimed at advancing its dual goals of modernizing its missile programmes and applying pressure on the United States over a deepening freeze in nuclear negotiations. They say Kim eventually aims to use his expanded arsenal to win an international recognition of North Korea as a nuclear state that he believes would help force the United States to relax international economic sanctions on his country. There are signs that North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test at its remote northeastern testing facility. If a test is conducted it would be the seventh explosion of a nuclear weapon by North Korea and the first since 2017. Kim warned again in late April that he will continue to develop North Korea's nuclear-armed military so it could preemptively and thoroughly contain and frustrate all dangerous attempts and threatening moves, including ever-escalating nuclear threats from hostile forces, if necessary, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency. (AP) (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 9 (ANI): Europe should 'grasp its security in its own hands', said Chinese President Xi Jinping during a virtual meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday as the Chinese leader tried to split the transatlantic ties amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The two leaders had an in-depth and candid exchange of views on the situation in Ukraine, the Xinhua news agency reported. Also Read | Sri Lanka Crisis: Ancestral Home of Rajapaksas in Hambantota Set on Fire by Anti-Government Protestors (Watch Video). Showing a sense of worry about Europe's closer ties with the US amid the Russia-Ukraine war, Xi said the European side needs to bear in mind the long-term stability of Europe, and promote a solution in a responsible manner. "The security of Europe should be kept in the hands of Europeans themselves." "Under the current circumstances, it is particularly important for the two countries to maintain sound and steady growth of bilateral ties and better harness the stabilizing, constructive and steering role of this relationship. This not only serves the interests of the Chinese and German peoples but will also contribute significantly to world peace and tranquility," said Xi. Also Read | Sri Lanka Crisis: Ruling Party MP, Personal Security Officer Killed in Violence. He said there is no change in China's commitment to developing ties with Germany. The two sides should tap the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation, and actively explore cooperation in new technologies including environmental protection, trade in services, artificial intelligence and digitalization, he said. Xi expressed his hope for Germany's active support for and participation in the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, with a view to building a community with a shared future for mankind. The Chinese President also underscored that China and the EU are comprehensive strategic partners and each other's opportunities and that the two sides have far more common interests than differences. "China supports the strategic autonomy of the EU," he said. Calling for greater cooperation between the two countries, Xi expressed his hope for Germany to play a positive role in the steady and sound development of China-EU relations. According to Xinhua, Scholz noted the very good development of Germany-China relations in recent years and called on the two sides to carry forward the good tradition and keep up the sound momentum of bilateral relations. (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 9: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the three Jan Suraksha schemes -- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and Atal Pension Yojana -- have brought insurance and pension within the reach of the common man. The number of people who have enrolled and benefitted from the above schemes over the last seven years is a testimony to their success, she said on the occasion of 7th anniversary of the launch of the three social security schemes. These schemes were launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 9, 2015. Under PMJJBY, a cumulative number of 12.76 crore persons have enrolled since inception for life cover and families of 5,76,121 persons have received claims for Rs 11,522 crore under the scheme. The scheme has proved extremely useful for low-income households during pandemic as in FY21, almost 50 per cent claims paid out were due to COVID-19 deaths," she said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Says RBI Rate Hike a Surprise As It Came Between 2 Review Meetings. Major changes were brought in the claim settlement process for quick and easy settlement of claims during the pandemic and these changes brought in for easy settlement of claims are still continuing. Since the beginning of the pandemic i.e., April 1, 2020 till February 23, 2022, total 2.10 lakh claims amounting to Rs 4,194.28 crore were paid with a settlement rate of 99.72 per cent, she said. The Finance Minister said that in a similar spirit, 28.37 crore individuals have enrolled for accident cover since the launch of Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) and an amount of Rs 1,930 crore has been paid towards 97,227 claims. While Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) offers life insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh, PMSBY offers accidental death or total permanent disability cover of Rs 2 lakh and permanent partial disability cover of Rs 1 lakh. "Today, even the poorest of the poor can have a life insurance cover for Rs 2 lakh at less than 1 rupee a day under PMJJBY and an accident insurance of Rs 2 lakh at less than 1 rupee a month under PMSBY. All the citizens of the country in the age group 18 to 40 can subscribe for receiving pension after the age of 60 years by paying a minimum amount of Rs 42 per month," she said. With regard to Atal Pension Yojana (APY), she said, more than 4 crore people have already subscribed to the pension scheme. On the occasion, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat K Karad urged banks and insurance companies to continue working with same zeal and dedication till the last person is covered. Going ahead, as announced by the PM in this regard on his last Independence Day address, it will be our endeavour to ensure that every eligible person in the country is covered under these social security schemes for insurance and pension," he said. Chandigarh, May 9: Fulfilling AAP's promise, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday directed the state Finance department to release a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to the family of deceased PRTC driver Manjit Singh, a frontline corona warrior. The previous Congress government had given Rs 10 lakh to the family of Manjit Singh, who died of a heart attack on April 26, 2020, while on a special duty to carry stranded Sikh pilgrims to Punjab from Sri Hazur Sahib in Nanded amid national lockdown during Covid-19 pandemic. This led to statewide protests by the Punjab wing of Aam Aadami Party (AAP), seeking Rs 50 lakh as compensation for the family of driver Manjit Singh. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann To Launch Anti-Corruption WhatsAPP Helpline on Shaheed Diwas 2022. Notably, the AAP under the leadership of Bhagwant Mann at that time had strongly protested against the Congress government's apathy and demanded Rs 50 lakh for the family of a 38-year old driver who hailed from the Badbar village of Barnala district. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2022 01:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). "If KVIC starts connecting people with its self-employment activities, this will surely eradicate the problem of unemployment in Bodoland and also reconnect the Bodo youths, who had given up arms, with the development of the nation," he added. Crime Branch of Kerala Police had sent a notice to Malayalam actress Kavya Madhavan in the 2017 actress assault case, asking her to appear for interrogation at 11 am today. She is a witness in the case and the wife of the eighth accused in the case, actor Dileep. ANI (@ANI) May 9, 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.) Kiev, May 9: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev, announcing more military aid to the war-torn nation and more sanctions against Russia. According to an official statement, Trudeau said that Canada would be providing Ukraine with an additional military aid worth of C$50 million ($40 million), including drone cameras, high-resolution satellite imagery, small arms as well as ammunition, reports Xinhua news agency. The Prime Minister also said Canada will impose new sanctions on 40 Russian individuals and five entities in connection with the Kremlin and Russia's defence sector. Trudeau announced the reopening of the Canadian embassy in Kiev, which was closed on February 12. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Makes Surprise Trip to Ukraine to Offer Support. According to the Ukrainian presidential press service, Zelensky said "Canada's defence support for Ukraine was discussed in detail". Zelensky said negotiations are underway with the Canadian side to lift trade restrictions for Ukrainian exporters and abolish the visa regime for Ukrainian citizens. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 09, 2022 01:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Singapore, May 9: The Kashmir Files', a Bollywood movie on the exodus of Hindus from the Muslim-majority Kashmir Valley, will be banned in multi-racial Singapore as the film has been assessed to be beyond the city-state's film classification guidelines, a media report said on Monday. The authorities have assessed the Hindi-language film to be beyond Singapore's film classification guidelines, said the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) in a joint statement with the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The film will be refused classification for its provocative and one-sided portrayal of Muslims and the depictions of Hindus being persecuted in the on-going conflict in Kashmir, the authorities told Channel News Asia. These representations have the potential to cause enmity between different communities, and disrupt social cohesion and religious harmony in our multiracial and multi-religious society, they said. The Kashmir Files: Director Vivek Agnihotri Claims Akshay Kumar Only Praised His Movie Because He Was Under 'Pressure'! (Watch Video). Under the film classification guidelines, any material that is denigrating to racial or religious communities in Singapore will be refused classification, they added. The Vivek Agnihotri-directed movie, being screened in India since March to mixed reviews, is based on the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley the 1990s due to terrorism. The film, written and directed by Agnihotri, stars Anupam Kher, Mithun Chakraborty and Pallavi Joshi in lead roles. Greater Manchester police ran a mock anti-terrorist operation a year ago featuring a bomber shouting in Arabic, Allahu akbar, or God is great. Eight hundred volunteers took part in the overnight drill at a huge shopping center on the outskirts of the city to make it as realistic as possible and prepare the citys emergency services for an attack. But the day after the practice drill, authorities apologized to the citys Muslim community and admitted they had been guilty of stereotyping. After Monday nights suicide bombing, many Manchester residents praised police, fire and ambulance workers for their rapid response. The 22-year-old suspect in the suicide bombing, for which the Islamic State extremist group claimed responsibility, was described as an English-born son of Libyan immigrants. Muslim leaders were among those who were quick to condemn the attack, which killed 22 people and wounded dozens, and declare that the city would not be divided. Mohammed Shafiq, the chief executive of Ramadhan Foundation in Manchester, said in a statement that the deadly explosion after an Ariana Grande concert was the darkest day in the citys history. Advertisement Shafiq said the people of Manchester would not be divided and would instead mourn, remember the victims and get on with our lives. I love Manchester and its people we are a resolute people and will not be divided by these barbaric animals or cowered by their violence, he said. Mohammed Saeed Saeiti, the imam at a mosque attended by the suspected suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, considered him dangerous, the Telegraph reported. Salman showed me the face of hate after my speech on ISIS, the imam, using an acronym for Islamic State, told The Telegraph. He used to show me the face of hate and I could tell this person does not like me. Its not a surprise to me. About 15% of Greater Manchesters 2.5 million population is Muslim, largely as a result of an influx of workers mainly from Asia from the 1960s onward. Many were drawn to the cotton industry upon which grew the wealth of cities like Manchester and Salford, and the surrounding towns such as Oldham, Bury and Wigan, as well as those farther north in the neighboring county of Lancashire. But cotton even then was a dying industry in Britain with new factories opening up and providing cheaper goods in Asia. With few jobs left in the cotton industry, immigrants had to find jobs elsewhere, causing occasional tensions with the local population. But the north of England is regarded as a welcoming place and to a large extent assimilation for many people has not been a problem. There have been exceptions. In 2001 the Oldham race riots six miles from Manchester city center caused a massive upheaval between poor, white, working class families and their Muslim counterparts. But religious leaders of all faiths along with local politicians have worked in the intervening years to heal the wounds of the disparate communities of Manchester and its surrounding environs. Many Muslims were among the mix of people at the forefront of Monday nights emergency operations, from doctors to taxi drivers. One Twitter user wrote: A Muslim driver took me home last night gave me water and charged my phone. Absolutely stars in my eyes. Kelly is a special correspondent. JERUSALEM The crowd that gathered at the recent grand opening of Cinema City hadnt come for the movies. They were there in droves to protest a government regulation that keeps the 19-screen cineplex closed each week from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Jerusalem, wake up! the protesters chanted as security guards blocked them from entering the lobby. Nonreligious people are equal too! The demonstration was the latest skirmish in Jerusalems long-running Sabbath wars, which for decades have pitted the citys secular Jewish population against its ultra-Orthodox community over whether shops, theaters and other public spaces can remain open on the Jewish day of rest. I dont tell people when to go to the synagogue, and they shouldnt tell me when to go to the cinema, said Laura Wharton, a city councilwoman whose left-leaning Meretz party led the protest outside the cineplex, which was built on city land and is barred from opening on the Sabbath by a provision written by an ultra-Orthodox city lawmaker. You have a small, vocal minority telling the rest of the city what they should do. Tired of having to drive an hour to Tel Aviv to dance at a nightclub on a Friday night or sit at a cafe on a Saturday morning, secular activists are fighting for more nonreligious Sabbath activities in Jerusalem. They have rallied behind the opening of a small but growing number of cafes and bars and have held booming block parties in the streets, at times provoking counter-protests. Advertisement Mostly Jewish West Jerusalem essentially shuts down every Friday afternoon, in keeping with Orthodox strictures that prohibit observant Jews from working on the Sabbath. Stores are closed, bus service is suspended and cars are banned from the streets in and around many neighborhoods. Some ultra-Orthodox, who tend to vote as a bloc in city elections and are heavily represented on the city council, have thrown stones at drivers who challenge the status quo. When I see a Jewish person in a car on the Sabbath, it hurts me, said Daniel Katzenstein, an ultra-Orthodox father of nine who moved to Jerusalem from Brooklyn. Any threat to my lifestyle I am going to protest. In recent years, crowds of ultra-Orthodox men have burned down bus shelters featuring images of scantily clad women, and have sought to stop construction of a mixed-gender swimming pool. When the owners of Cafe Bezalel, famous for its mimosas, decided to open for Saturday brunch this year, diners were confronted by ultra-Orthodox protesters chanting, Shabbat Sabbath. Theres a lack of tolerance here, the feeling like youre not welcome, said Elisheva Mazya, who runs a nonprofit called New Spirit that works to keep young people living in Jerusalem by helping them find jobs and obtain mortgages. Her group has tried to block ultra-Orthodox families from moving to certain neighborhoods so the streets there can remain open on the Sabbath. A few years ago, the organization started hosting parties on Saturdays to compete with cities like Tel Aviv, whose beaches and night life have made it a magnet for young people and where the percentage of ultra-Orthodox residents is much smaller. Its an opportunity to find other normal people here, Mazya said, looking around at a crowd of about 100 at a folk concert at a popular hostel. The battle in Jerusalem reflects a conflict brewing throughout Israel, where resentment of the ultra-Orthodox community has grown among secular and moderately religious Jews. More than 60% of ultra-Orthodox men study at religious schools and do not work, and few serve in the army. Families receive government subsidies calculated on the number of children in a household. With the community growing at a much faster rate than the rest of the Jewish population, some officials have warned that the current arrangement is unsustainable. After Finance Minister Yair Lapid pushed a law through the Knesset, or parliament, last month that would end military service exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox, hundreds of thousands of men in the groups traditional black suits and hats demonstrated in the streets. The tension is amplified in Jerusalem, where the percentage of ultra-Orthodox is more than three times higher than in the rest of Israel and where diverse groups live in close quarters. From Mamilla Mall, an upscale shopping complex where secular teenagers can buy the latest in skin-tight fashion, its just a few blocks to the insular ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim, where narrow passageways evoke an age-old Eastern European shtetl and signs ask visitors not to pass by in immodest clothes. For Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who is secular, running the city has been a balancing act. He has tried to stay out of the fray on issues such as whether Cinema City should be allowed to open during the Sabbath while putting a priority on attracting secular young people, whom he calls the engine for growth. Since taking office six years ago, Barkat, a wealthy tech entrepreneur, has pushed internship programs to keep graduates of Jerusalems many universities from moving elsewhere. He increased funding for cultural events, such as a recent Monday night block party that featured dancers writhing in storefronts on busy Hillel Street, not far from an ultra-Orthodox quarter, and also helped open a trendy restaurant and shopping complex in the citys Ottoman-era train station that operates on the Sabbath. Theres a momentum forming, said Barkat, who cites statistics showing a small decrease in the number of secular young people leaving the city each year and a 5% increase in the number of secular children enrolled in public schools. At the same time, he is careful to say that the trend does not have to threaten religious communities. Theres room for everyone in Jerusalem, he said. Rivka Yeruslavsky, who runs a training college for ultra-Orthodox students, said conflicts between the groups are based on fear. We feel everyones against us, she said, adding that collaboration is possible. Recently, her school teamed with a secular college in Jerusalem on a government-sponsored initiative to introduce ultra-Orthodox students to academic concepts they may not have learned in their religious upbringing. I hope that we can be together not just in the workplace but everywhere, she said. But its a process. kate.linthicum@latimes.com Festivals are one of the main attractions of any country, and Belize is among Latin American countries that offer the best festivities. Although festivals across Latin American regions may look alike, each country, like Belize, has its unique way of celebrating or hosting gatherings, making it a new experience for every foreigner. Entire Belize turns out to celebrate Carnival every February, but this Central American nation is also home to other gatherings and festivities throughout the year. READ NEXT: Cinco De Mayo: 5 Best Places to Visit in the U.S. to Celebrate the Mexican Holiday Belize Festivals You Should Never Miss Festivals in Belize have their respective dates and schedule, which may influence your plan of traveling into the country. To help you decide what events and gatherings you should attend in Belize, here are the top festivals in the country. Benque Viejo del Carmen If you wish to travel to Belize in July, then you should never miss attending the Benque Viejo del Carmen festival. According to Trip Savvy, this festival is held in the town of Benque Viejo del Carmen, a border town between Belize and Guatemala. It usually begins in July with a series of religious celebrations called Las Aboradas and will be followed by 15 days of carnival rides, beauty pageants, live music, and parades. A firework display wraps up this festival on July 16. Cacao Fest If you think chocolate is only special for your loved one, think again because the main ingredient of the sweet has a festival in Belize, and is celebrated for one weekend annually, according to Larubeya. The Cacao Fest is held in the town of Punta Gorda in the Toledo District, the heart of cacao-growing in Belize. The town celebrates cacao by making all things inspired by it, including chocolate beer and chocolate soap. The Cacao Fest is usually celebrated every third week of May. September Celebrations September is a big deal in Belize because the country celebrates a couple of holidays during this month. Belize begins its festivities on September 10 to celebrate the national holiday of St. George's Caye Day, when people commemorate the historic triumph of British Settlers over the Spanish Armada, which led to Belize becoming the only English-speaking country in Central America. On September 21, the country celebrates its Independence Day with colorful parades showcasing the country's colors - red, white, and blue. Deer Dance Festival If you want a festival that celebrates and commemorates a deeper aspect of the Belizean culture, then the Deer Dance Festival is for you. The Deer Dance Festival is held in the Mayan village of San Antonio in the Toledo District every August. The event features a ritualized dance emulating the hunting of a deer. Placencia Lobsterfest If you love lobsters, then the Placencia Lobsterfest is celebrated every June through a three-day party. During this festival in the Placencia Peninsula of Belize, local chefs compete to curate the most savory dish out of the seafood. Games are also available during the event, with live music and a beach party that lasts until dawn. READ MORE: Best Guatemala Festivals That Every Traveler Should Never Miss This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Things To Do in Belize - From UNILAD Adventure The death toll of a massive explosion at a luxury hotel in Havana, Cuba climbed to 30 on Sunday as rescuers continued searching for possible survivors following the tragedy. Cuban officials confirmed the latest number, according to Associated Press. Cuba's Health Ministry noted that the fatalities included four minors, a pregnant woman, and a Spanish tourist, Al Jazeera reported. On the other hand, at least 84 people were injured in the Havana hotel explosion, including the partner of the Spanish tourist. At least 24 people remained hospitalized, and some were in critical condition. A representative of Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA, the owner of the Hotel Saratoga in Havana, said at least 13 of their crews were missing. The said five-star hotel, which exploded on Friday, was built at the end of the 19th century and became the most important hotel in Havana in the 1930s. The Hotel Saratoga has 96 rooms since its reopening in 2005. Governor Reinaldo Garcia Zapata on Saturday evening said at least 19 families reported that their loved ones were missing and that rescue efforts would continue. The Hotel Saratoga had been closed for business due to renovation work in recent days. Reports claimed that many of the explosion's victims were construction workers or hotel employees preparing for its reopening, which should have been next week. Several nearby structures were also affected by the Havana hotel explosion. Reports claimed that Marti Theater and the Calvary Baptist Church were damaged. The church said on its Facebook page that its building suffered "significant structural damage," citing several collapsed or cracked walls and columns. The church also claimed that the ceiling of their building also collapsed. But the church added that no church workers had been hurt. READ NEXT: Colombia's Notorious Drug Trafficker, Otoniel, Accused of Shipping 'Outrageous' Amounts of Cocaine Into the U.S. - Prosecutor Cuba's President Miguel Diaz-Canel Expressed Gratitude to 'Hero' Rescuers Rescue crews continued to clean up the streets around the hotel by late Saturday. The move prompted the pedestrian traffic around the explosion site to resume. On Sunday, rescue crews also continued to search for victims or survivors that may have been buried underneath the piles of shattered concrete. On Saturday, Diaz-Canel took to Twitter to pay tribute to the rescue workers doing the search and rescue operations following the Cuba Havana hotel explosion last week. "The greatest recognition for the rescue and rescue forces that have not rested in the search for survivors and the essential rubble of #HotelSaratoga and its surroundings," Diaz-Canel noted, adding that the rescuers are the "heroes of these terrible hours." The president paired his tribute to the rescuers with their photo working on the site. El mayor reconocimiento para las fuerzas de rescate y salvamento que no han descansado en la busqueda de sobrevivientes y en el imprescindible escombreo del #HotelSaratoga y sus alrededores. Son nuestros heroes de estas horas terribles. #FuerzaCuba pic.twitter.com/lJbw5LhRka Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez (@DiazCanelB) May 7, 2022 On Sunday, the president also thanked the people from various parts of the world for sending their condolences and support after the explosion. Nuestro mas profundo agradecimiento a todas las personas que desde muchas partes del mundo nos han enviado sus condolencias, apoyo y acompanamiento en estos momentos tan duros para #Cuba. En medio del dolor, la solidaridad alivia. #FuerzaCuba pic.twitter.com/lG5mO08GtT Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez (@DiazCanelB) May 7, 2022 Cuba Havana Hotel Explosion: Cause of Tragedy Under Investigation Authorities said the cause of the explosion in Hotel Saratoga in Havana, Cuba was still under investigation, but it is believed to have been caused by a gas leak. A large crane hoisted a charred gas tanker out of the rubble on Saturday. The Grupo de Turismo Gaviota SA claimed that their company is also investigating the cause of the explosion. READ MORE: Gabby Petito's Mom, Nichole Schmidt, Files New Lawsuit Against Brian Laundrie's Estate in Florida This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Death Toll Rises in Havana, Cuba Hotel Explosion - From 10 Tampa Bay President Joe Biden and his administration will hit Russia's companies with a new sanctions aimed to punish Moscow for its war with Ukraine. According to The Hill, the White House announced on Sunday that the new sanctions to be issued by the Biden administration will prevent Russian companies and citizens from utilizing U.S. accounting, marketing, and consulting services. The new package of sanctions from the Biden administration will also include new visa restrictions on 2,600 Russian and Belarusian officials. Russian bank executives, including 27 Gazprombank executives, will also be impacted by the new package. "Today's actions are a continuation of the systematic and methodical removal of Russia from the global financial and economic system," a senior Biden administration official said on Sunday. The said official added that the message of the new packages implies that "there will be no safe haven for the Russian economy if Vladimir Putin's invasion continues." Some of the television networks in Russia will also be affected by the new package of sanctions imposed by the Biden administration. Reports claimed that three major Russian-state-controlled TV stations, including Channel One Russia and NTV Broadcasting Company, will also be sanctioned by the U.S. The White House claimed that the television companies are among the biggest recipients of foreign money. "No U.S. company can be in the business of funding or supporting the disinformation machine that makes the truth of Putin's barbaric invasion behind lies and deceit," the senior administration official said. It was unclear when the Biden administration will impose the new package of sanctions. READ NEXT: Joe Biden Latest Gaffes: President Says 'Accommodate' Corrupt Russian Oligarchs in Ukraine Support Speech First Lady Jill Biden Visits Ukraine's First Lady The new package of sanctions against Russia came the same day First Lady Jill Biden made an unannounced visit to Uzhhorod, a small city located in the far southwestern corner of Ukraine. According to CNN, the U.S. first lady met with Ukraine's first lady, Olena Zelenska, at a converted school that now serves as temporary housing for displaced citizens. The two women reportedly sat at a small table in a classroom of the former school. "I wanted to come on Mother's Day... We thought it was important to show the Ukrainian people this war has to stop. And this war has been brutal," First Lady Jill Biden said, noting that the people of the United States stand with the people of Ukraine. Zelenska then expressed her gratitude for Biden's visit through an interpreter. "We understand what it takes for the U.S. first lady to come here during a war when the military actions are taking place every day, where the air sirens are happening every day, even today. We all feel your support and we all feel the leadership of the U.S. President," Zelenska noted. Zelenska noted that Biden visiting their country during Mother's Day is very symbolic for them because they felt their love and support during the important day. First Lady Jill Biden is the latest high-profile American to visit Ukraine in recent weeks. Her visit comes the first time a first lady of the United States has visited a war zone since Laura Bush made a secret visit to Afghanistan in 2008. Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy Says 'Evil Has Returned' During World War II Speech President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday claimed that evil has returned to Europe, during his speech commemorating the second World War, NDTV reported, citing AFP. "Evil has returned, in a different uniform, under different slogans, but for the same purpose," Zelenskyy underscored. The president of Ukraine also noted that darkness has returned to their country, adding that Moscow's army was replicating the Nazi atrocities and giving justification that aims to give the evil a sacred purpose. It can be recalled that both Ukraine and Russia have likened the actions of the other side's army to those of Nazi Germany, which was defeated by the Soviet Union in 1945. Ukraine invaded Russia in late February, and Moscow has painted its move to "de-Nazify" the country. RAD NEXT: Cuba Havana Hotel Explosion: Death Toll Rises to 30 as Search Continues Following Tragedy This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: US First Lady Jill Biden makes surprise visit to Ukraine - From Sky News ULAN BATOR, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The southern Mongolian province of Umnugovi aims to plant at least 70 million trees by 2030 to combat desertification. "Our province is planning to plant at least 70 million trees by 2030 within the framework of the 'Billion Trees' national tree-planting campaign initiated by Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh," said Nasanbuyan Enkhbat, deputy governor of the province, on Monday. The provincial governor's office is urging every household to plant at least nine trees and every organization at least 90. Last year, Mongolia launched a nationwide tree-planting campaign as President Khurelsukh told the United Nations General Assembly that the campaign could combat climate change and desertification. Almost 77 percent of Mongolian territory has been struck by desertification, according to the country's Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Umnugovi, located in the Gobi Desert region of southern Mongolia, is one of the provinces most affected by desertification. Laois householders are being urged to use the new Conservation Calculator created by Irish Water. It comes as research commissioned by Irish Water shows that over half of Irish households (53%) admit to wasting water, even though some eight in ten (78%) know it is important to take steps to conserve it. On average, people in Ireland use 133 litres of water a day. The new Conservation Calculator is designed to assist households to assess their water usage and discover how much water they are saving on a daily basis. It also offers useful and practical tips on how to reduce water usage and track their progress. The free tool was developed in response to research which shows consumers want additional tools to assist them conserve water and is available at www.water.ie/calculator By answering just a few short questions about water usage habits, households can calculate how much water they are saving, and what they could do to save even more. The average water use of one person is 133 litres per day, and results from the calculator are based on the water use of typical households of similar sizes. Irish Waters Regional Operations Manager said it is particularly important for people to consider water conservation over the summer months. Our new calculator is designed for everyone to use and school going children will, we think, particularly like examining their water usage at home. It offers practical advice on conserving water, to ensure we have a sustainable water supply for everyone in years to come. We are encouraging everyone to play their part with us and think water conservation. We understand that historic network leakage continues to be a challenge and we are working hard with all relevant stakeholders and are on track to achieve a national leakage rate below 20% in Laois and 25% nationally by 2030 thats down from 46% leakage in 2018. Over 2,000 leaks are fixed every month by our team and local authority partners, and 166 million litres of water was saved daily during 2021 alone. Working together, we can all take steps to ensure our water is safeguarded for future generations, he said. The Conservation Calculator provides helpful advice for those wanting to ensure they use water responsibly to improve their score rating. Simple water saving tips include: Keep a jug of water in the fridge rather than letting the tap run cold and save six litres a day. Making sure the tap is off while brushing teeth can save 84 litres of water a week. Reducing shower time by 60 seconds can save up to 120 litres of water a week. In addition, Irish Water is also continuing its First Fix Free programme which helps households that may be using higher level of water than average, which could signal a potential leakage problem. Together with the homeowner the Irish Water team will investigate the cause of the leak and fix the issue to curtail any further potential leaks. Each day in Ireland, 1.7 billion litres of water travels through a network that includes 63,000km of pipes to supply treated drinking water to homes, businesses, hospitals, schools and farms nationwide. The treatment process is a lengthy and complex one with up to seven stages that can take up to three days to make raw water suitable to drink. The Conservation Calculator is available at www.water.ie/calculator Ray Goggins is calling on people across Co. Kildare to be brave this year, in aid of sick children. The former Special Forces Operator and now Chief Instructor on RTEs Special Forces: Ultimate Hell Week said that by taking part in Childrens Health Foundations new Dare to be Brave adventure series, people can help raise vital funds to support sick children and their families in Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly. Ray has teamed up with Childrens Health Foundation to launch this exciting new series of adrenaline-inducing events, which includes a 13,000ft skydive, abseil from Croke Parks iconic Hogan Stand, an assault course challenge and a 24-hour wilderness survival challenge. Speaking at a Dare to be Brave photoshoot recently, Ray Goggins said "I am delighted to team up with Childrens Health Foundation to help spread the word about the exciting new series of Dare to be Brave adventure challenges. "This series will raise money that will help so many sick children and families from right across Ireland. "As a proud Ambassador for the series, I would like to call on everyone to be brave this summer, get out of your comfort zones, and take on one or more of the challenges." Denise Fitzgerald, Chief Executive at Childrens Health Foundation, added: "Taking part in our Dare to be Brave adventure series is a fantastic way to raise funds for sick children, whilst enjoying unique, once-in-a-lifetime experiences. "We see brave children every day receive treatment in CHI hospitals and urgent care centres. She continued: "By daring to be brave and taking part in this campaign, you will be supporting sick children, and I have no doubt your bravery will help save lives. "We want to say a massive thank you to our wonderful ambassador Ray for getting involved with this campaign." LIFE-SAVING WORK Funds raised by the Dare to be Brave adventure series will go to support the vital, life-saving work that happens in CHI hospitals and urgent care centres every day. Each year, hundreds of thousands of sick children cross the doors of CHI hospitals and urgent care centres at Crumlin, Temple Street, Tallaght and Connolly. For these children, the hospital can be a scary place, especially when they are unwell. Every day, the children in CHI hospitals and urgent care centres summon an incredible amount of bravery and Childrens Health Foundation is committed to supporting the hospitals and urgent care centres to continue their vital and life-saving work. THE CHALLENGES The events will take place between May and August 2022, and will provide participants with exciting, once-in-a-lifetime experiences: - May 26th 27th Air, Land & Water Assault Course Challenge Blessington, Co. Wicklow - June 20th 23rd Croke Park Abseil Challenge Croke Park, Dublin 1 - July 21st 23rd 24 Hour Wilderness Survival Challenge Glendalough, Co. Wicklow - August 24th 27th Skydive Challenge Edenderry, Co. Offaly Participants can sign-up to take part in all challenges, or they can choose which of the challenges they want to take on throughout the summer. Additionally, people can take on the challenges by themselves, or they can take part as a member of a team. For more information, visit www.childrenshealth.ie/daretobebrave or email daretobebrave@childrenshealth.ie. A Kildare native is taking on the challenge of a lifetime by climbing Croagh Patrick in a wheelchair to raise funds for both the National Rehabilitation Hospital for Adults and Children (NRH) and Spinal Injuries Ireland (SII). 43-year-old Lester Cassidy will take on the mammoth task with a little help from his family and friends on June 25. In July 1998, Lester was tragically left paralysed from a workplace accident at only 19 years of age: the Kilcock local was working as an apprentice carpenter on the roof of a house in Leixlip at the time. He explained: "The scaffolding gave way under my feet and I fell about 24ft. I'll never forget the sound of my back breaking... I knew I was in serious trouble." The next day, surrounded by his devastated family and his then girlfriend Rachel, now his wife, a doctor said he had suffered irreparable damage to his spinal cord. Kilcock local Lester Cassidy After a few weeks in hospital, Lester was transferred to the NRH in Dun Laoghaire: "The staff do the most amazing job to get the patient back to being as independent and healthy as possible. They are inspirational. "SII also made a massive impact on my life as I was able to learn how to drive under their driving programme. "Shortly after my release, Rachel (Lester's partner) and I went travelling the world. Then we settled down, built a house, and got married." In 2008, the Cassidys welcomed twins Samuel and Anna Rose (13), and then, seven years ago, Isabelle came along. He added: Im a stay-at-home dad, and I love it. It's the most rewarding job in the world. My kids are everything to me" Last year, the Cassidys were met with more bad news when a tumour was discovered on Lesters brain. Thankfully, Lesters subsequent brain surgery was a success and he has since become even more emboldened to complete his Croagh Patrick challenge. 'I WON'T BE DEFEATED' Lesters message is simple; life is precious, and even an immeasurable tragedy can be overcome: "I had originally planned to do this challenge in 2020 but between COVID and my tumour surgery recovery Ive had to postpone it until now. "I wont be defeated and I will complete this challenge." To scale Croagh Patrick, a special buggy has been designed that will be pushed by teams of supporters working in shifts. Those who wish to donate to Lesters appeal can do at idonate.ie/LesterCassidy. Leitrim organisations are being encouraged to sign up to a new voluntary Safeguarding Charter launched by Safeguarding Ireland. The Charter provides agencies, charities, care providers and businesses with an opportunity to reflect on and strengthen their approach to adult safeguarding and to demonstrate this by signing up. The Charter can be viewed and signed up to at www.safeguardingIreland.org/charter. Safeguarding Ireland Chairperson Patricia Rickard-Clarke said that the initiative is about respect for the Human Rights of all citizens and an opportunity for better safeguarding. This voluntary Charter sets out how all relevant organisations particularly those in health, justice, social care and finance can promote a culture and practices that uphold rights and freedoms regardless of age, race and ethnicity, religion or none, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic group, disability, or status of residency. Signatory organisations can display the Charter at their premises or on their website, as a visible statement of the organisations intent to promote and achieve adult safeguarding. Signatories give their commitment to: Promote peoples rights and freedoms Treat people with dignity and respect Make services as accessible as possible Ensure equality and inclusion Train volunteers to meet safeguarding commitments Report safeguarding concerns appropriately Assign a safeguarding champion Back up commitments with policies and procedures. As it is a voluntary Charter, Safeguarding Ireland will not be inspecting organisations but will follow up should any concerns be raised about a signatory. Adult Safeguarding is the promotion and protection of the right to live in safety. It is about people and organisations working together to prevent and stop both the risks and experiences of abuse, neglect and exploitation. More information at www.safeguardingireland.org The DUP and British Government must accept and respect the democratic result of the Northern Ireland Assembly elections, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle ONeill has said. Ms ONeill said there could be no delay to the restoration of the Stormont powersharing Executive and her nomination as first minister, following her partys election victory. But DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has stated that he will not re-enter the Executive without decisive action from the UK Government on the Northern Ireland Protocol. This means that prospects of any quick return of the devolved powersharing Executive at Stormont are diminishing. MLAs returned to Parliament Buildings on Monday and party leaders were also holding separate meetings with Secretary of State Brandon Lewis. It came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he does not plan to be personally involved in the Northern Ireland talks and Downing Street played down reports of a Cabinet rift over the protocol. Thursdays historic election saw Sinn Fein become Stormonts largest party. Speaking to the media on Monday, Ms ONeill said: The people have spoken and they have spoken very clearly. The message is one of hope, it is also one of optimism for the future, for the political leaders to work together and to make politics work. That is my commitment as a political leader and as an incoming first minister. The electorate also demands that the parties get back down to business, to elect a speaker, to sit in the Assembly, to have it function, to appoint a first minister and a deputy first minister, to form a new Executive. She added: Today we have met with the British Secretary of State, have spoken with the Taoiseach and will be engaging with other party leaders and my message is clear. As democrats, the DUP, but also the British Government, must accept and respect the democratic outcome of this election. Brinkmanship will not be tolerated where the north of Ireland becomes collateral damage in a game of chicken with the European Commission. Responsibility for finding solutions to the protocol lie with Boris Johnson and the EU. But make no mistake, we and our business community here will not be held to ransom. Speaking following his meeting with Mr Lewis in Belfast, Sir Jeffrey said: We have had a meeting this morning with the Secretary of State and we have made our position clear to him. It is the position we have held before the election, throughout the election campaign and will continue to hold, and that is until we get decisive action taken by the UK Government on the protocol we will not be nominating ministers to the Executive. We want to see stable political institutions, we want to be part of the Executive, we want to play our part and fulfil the mandate we were given by the people of Northern Ireland. We are also clear given the damage and harmful impact the protocol continues to have on Northern Ireland, driving up the cost of living, harming our economy, impeding the ability of businesses to trade with our biggest market and fundamentally undermining political stability, undermining the principle of consensus politics. The DUP leader added: We need this to be resolved. When we re-entered the Executive back at the beginning of 2020 we did so on the basis of a clear commitment by the UK Government under the New Decade, New Approach agreement to address and protect our ability to trade with the rest of the United Kingdom. The centre-ground Alliance Party made significant gains in the election, increasing its seat count by nine to 17, becoming the third largest party at Stormont behind Sinn Fein and the DUP. Leading her enlarged team into Stormont on Monday morning, Ms Long told the media they were turning up for work as they had promised voters during their election campaign. I want us to sit down, get the negotiations under way on the programme for government and the budget, and I want to see us getting government up and running as quickly as possible, she said. Were going to see a functioning Assembly hopefully pretty soon, that will be the easier part of all of this, but to get a functioning Executive we need the DUP to step up to the plate. With power comes responsibility, and people now need to take the responsibility seriously. I think the DUP need to reflect on their mishandling of Brexit, on the fact they had huge influence at Westminster and overplayed their hand. It would be foolhardy for them to overplay their hand with devolution because that is a gamble that Northern Ireland cant afford to take. Ms Long was also critical of statements by government ministers that the Northern Ireland Protocol is threatening the Good Friday Agreement and preventing formation of government at Stormont. What is threatening the Good Friday Agreement is the British Government not playing an open hand with the people of Northern Ireland, using and abusing the protocol as an issue to try to garner support for their own cause, she said. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood urged the DUP to nominate ministers for a new executive. He said: We know who got the mandates, we will support them when we have to, we will also hold them to account, but they should get on with it today and form a government. The Stormont Executive has been unable to fully function since February when First Minister Paul Givan resigned as part of the DUPs efforts to force action against the Northern Ireland Protocol. Sinn Feins election victory means that their Stormont leader, Ms ONeill, should be in line to become the first nationalist or republican First Minister. However the DUP, as the second largest party, must nominate a deputy first minister to serve alongside her in the joint office. The Northern Ireland party leaders are due to meet at Parliament Buildings later in the afternoon. Meanwhile, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said that people in Northern Ireland deserve a stable and accountable devolved government. On whether there is any plan for the Prime Minister to get personally involved in the talks or involved in the talks with the EU, he said: No plans for that. This has been led by Brandon Lewis. When asked about the Governments position on the protocol and whether there are divisions within Cabinet over proposals to unilaterally scrap it, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: I wouldnt say that at all. I think our preference has always been for a negotiated solution to fix the protocol and we have been clear that we will take further steps if solutions cant be found. No decisions have yet been taken on the way forward. The Deputy Prime Minister made clear the situation, its very serious. It may have appeared impressive but no goal was achieved. The EU-27 did not manage to agree on a sixth package of sanctions against Russia before Monday, May 9, which marks the 72nd Europe Day. Lengthy negotiations have taken place over the last few days after the Commission proposed on May 4 to ban Russian crude oil imports within six months, and refined products by the end of the year. Provisions had been made to offer one-year exemptions to Hungary and Slovakia, which are landlocked and largely dependent on supplies from Russia. These were then extended to the Czech Republic and pushed back to the end of 2024. But these exemptions didn't go far enough, and as the discussions progressed, other member countries (Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, Malta) pointed out their own difficulties. As feared by the French presidency of the Union, the project threatened to unravel. On Sunday, a new round of negotiations between diplomats in Brussels was interrupted, much to the displeasure of those hoping to dispel the image of a political, rather than a technical stalemate. More on this topic More EU sanctions on Russia could be the only way to alter the course of war in Ukraine Problem of security of supply The language used in this umpteenth discussion tells us that the European Council remains united on the principle of further sanctions, that solidarity remains key and that they are nearing a conclusion. Security of supply for all, including those who are landlocked and dependent on a Russian pipeline, is the only concern. Will drafting a new document help overcome the reluctance of Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister? On May 6, he said that the Commission's proposal "undermined the unity of the EU" and that it crossed a "red line" comparing it to "an atomic bomb". Diplomats in Brussels attributed such inflammatory words to the Budapest leader's usual bluster and were counting on a more accommodating attitude from his representatives in Brussels. This hope was dashed on Sunday when the Hungarian government confirmed its veto and demanded a complete exemption having initially called for a five-year exemption and Bulgaria, in turn, demanded its own exemption. More on this topic Subscribers only War in Ukraine: EU struggles to establish Russian oil embargo As feared, division within the EU bloc once united against Moscow seems to be taking hold, and discussions are set to become even more fraught when they tackle the issue of gas imports. "I think it's still possible for us to reach a successful conclusion by Monday or Tuesday," said one diplomatic source on Sunday evening. "As for the future, we'll see." "It's essential that we show the public that we are taking action, since February 24 [date of the invasion of Ukraine] we have handed over 50 billion euros to Putin through the import of fossil fuels," ranted another diplomat. You have 41.65% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East A ceremony to commemorate the victory of May 8, 1945, in Riga's military cemetery, May 8, 2022. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR "LE MONDE" Enveloped in a curtain of green spring trees under a fresh blue sky, the Latvian Brothers Cemetery evokes a quiet and welcoming forest clearing. But its imposing views and sharp-faced statues, erected in 1936 at the time of the country's first independence, make the group of political and military leaders who came to pay their respects on this Sunday, May 8, seem tiny. Like every year since it regained sovereignty in 1991, Riga is celebrating the Latvians who died in the wars of the 20th century. Those who lie here fought for independence until 1920, but also for the Russian czar or in the Bolsheviks' ranks; they bore arms under the red flag or as reservists of the Third Reich. Latvian army soldiers play music to commemorate the victory of May 8, 1945, at the military cemetery in Riga, May 8, 2022. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH POUR LE MONDE A controversial monument in memory of the Red Army soldiers of the Great Patriotic War, in Riga, May 6, 2022. RAFAEL YAGHOBZADEH FOR "LE MONDE" Crossed by a historical battle line always ready to resurface, Latvia claims to honor on May 8 all of its people who have fallen to keep the small republic alive or who have been dragged into wars imposed by distant capitals. Yet, this year, Russian aggression against Ukraine has given the living a new opportunity to pit the dead against each other and past wars an occasion to burst into the present. Sunday's discreet celebrations took place on the eve of the date when the country's conflicting memories collide. While official historiography and majority opinion identify May 9, 1945, as the beginning of Latvia's "occupation" by the USSR, a significant part of the Russian-speaking population, which makes up a quarter of the population, celebrates the victory of the Red Army over Nazi Germany on this day. Since the beginning of Vladimir Putin's reign, the Kremlin has constantly revived this memory to maintain a link between Moscow and the Russian communities of the former Soviet republics. It is also at the heart of the nationalist and expansionist historical narrative that justifies the ongoing war against Ukraine. The Latvian Parliament, which considers this to be a manipulation of the memory of 1945 for hostile propaganda purposes, voted in April for a law prohibiting the holding of gatherings celebrating the Soviet victory on May 9 and transforming this date into a day of tribute to the victims of the Ukrainian war, even if it means alienating part of the population. 'Our identity is under attack' "May 9 is our dignity, it is our history, it is the memory of our parents and grandparents. Attacking this symbol means directly attacking our identity," said Regina Locmele, 55, MP of the left-wing Harmony Party, whose voters are mostly Russian-speaking. Sitting on a worm-eaten bench in the central alley of the now deserted cemetery where she came with her party's delegation to lay a wreath of flowers, she showed images of past celebrations on her phone. Before the pandemic, May 9 celebrations gathered up to 200,000 people around the Monument to the Liberators of Soviet Latvia, erected in 1985 in the heart of Riga, in a nationalist street party-like atmosphere in which the memory of the lost empire and its omnipotence survived for a day. You have 57.95% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. To not miss anything about African news, sign up for the newsletter of the "Monde Afrique" from this link. Every Saturday at 6 o'clock, find a week's worth of news and debates treated by the editorial staff of "Monde Afrique". British home secretary, Priti Patel and Rwandan foreign minister, Vincent Biruta, in Kigali, on April 14, 2022. SIMON WOHLFAHRT / AFP "We do not trade in human beings. It is not possible and it would be contrary to our values," said Paul Kagame at the annual diplomatic corps dinner held in late April in Kigali. The Rwandan president was responding to the many criticisms raised by the April 14 signing of a memorandum of understanding stating the deportation to Rwanda of asylum seekers arriving illegally on UK territory. London hopes that the deal will discourage migrants from crossing the Channel, and in return, promises to support the Rwandan economy, notably through an initial funding of 120 million pounds sterling (140 million euros). Very little is known about the details of this "partnership," from the criteria to be used by British authorities for deciding who will be sent to Kigali, to the number of asylum seekers who could be forced to go there. Also unclear is the motivation itself that prompted Rwanda, a country the size of Maryland, ranking among the most densely populated in Africa, to engage in such a scheme. While some NGOs in the United Kingdom have already announced that they will challenge the terms of the agreement in court, Kigali stands by its decision. In an op-ed published on April 18 in The Times, British Home Secretary Priti Patel and Rwandan Foreign Minister Vincent Biruta framed the project as "an innovative solution" aimed at combating networks that smuggle and traffick migrants. Rwanda "already provides refuge for almost 130,000 refugees from multiple countries. In 2019 at the request of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), Rwanda offered sanctuary to endangered migrants evacuated from Libya. This record proves the its commitment to protecting vulnerable people around the world," the article states. 'More illegal migration' Over the past three years, the country has received more than 900 African asylum seekers evacuated from Libya by the UN agency. Under this mechanism, called the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM), the UN exfiltrates migrants from Libyan detention centers where they experience mistreatment and accomodate them in a center located in southern Rwanda, while their asylum applications are being reviewed by Western countries. This is just one example of Mr. Kagame's policy of "African solutions to African problems." "But the ETM has nothing to do with the partnership signed between Rwanda and the United Kingdom," said Larry Bottinick, UNHCR's representative in London. "It is only a temporary solution and its primary purpose isn't to keep the refugees in Rwanda." More than half of those who arrived in the country under the aegis of the ETM have left for Europe or Canada, where they have been accepted with refugee status. So far, none of them has taken the necessary steps to settle in the "land of a thousand hills," an option extended to them under the ETM. The memorandum of understanding signed between the United Kingdom and Rwanda provides for a one-way ticket to Kigali, without any possibility of applying for asylum in London. And it would mainly affect non-Africans. "Will an Iranian or an Iraqi with cousins in Europe seriously consider a future in Kigali?" asked Mr. Bottinick. "Israel has already tried sending refugees to Rwanda. It actually created more illegal migration, as many refugees then decided to head back to the Mediterranean via South Sudan, Sudan and then Libya, which is a much more dangerous journey than simply crossing the English Channel." 'Voluntary departures' In 2014, an opaque agreement with Tel Aviv had already sparked controversy. While its exact terms still remain confidential, it is understood that Israel offered African asylum seekers a choice between detention and a paid trip to one of two countries presented as safe, Uganda and Rwanda. According to UNHCR, nearly 4,000 Eritreans and Sudanese are believed to have returned to Africa between December 2013 and June 2017, in what were described as "voluntary departures." At the time, the International Refugee Rights Initiative strongly criticized the process. "These asylum seekers are sent to Uganda and Rwanda with a promise from the Israeli authorities that they will be provided with the necessary papers to enable them to stay legally in the receiving country. However, our findings show that, in reality, they do not receive any legal status," the NGO explained in a 2015 report. Today, Kigali offers three options to migrants rejected by the UK: return to their country of origin, departure to a third country or regularization and settlement in Rwanda. For those who wish to stay, the government promises decent housing, access to social assistance and the country's almost universal health insurance, and the right to work. All this, essentially financed by the United Kingdom. "Kigali has to be aware that few refugees who come to Rwanda will, in fact, stay. But the country must have seen a financial opportunity in this agreement, and furthermore, one that is in the form of budgetary assistance. There is a lot of communication and a certain amount of cynicism on both sides in this matter," said a source who closely follows Rwandan politics. 'Significant political leverage' The agreement also allows Rwanda regularly criticized for its repression of the opposition and of freedom of expression to consolidate its image as a stable republic, and to position itself as a credible partner on international issues. The country is currently discussing a similar partnership with Denmark. "This type of agreement is a significant political leverage for Paul Kagame in his future relationship with the United Kingdom and perhaps, now, with Denmark. He will be able to use it to bolster his country in various international forums," said Benjamin Auge, researcher at the French Institute of International Relations. Kigali's image is also getting a makeover through the process. At the signing of the agreement, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described Rwanda as "one of the safest countries in the world, internationally recognized for its reception and integration of migrants." A radically different discourse from that of the UK back in January 2021, when the UN reviewed the human rights achievements of its member countries. The British representative to the UN had expressed concerns about the freedom of press in Rwanda, and had urged the authorities to investigate allegations of extrajudicial killings, deaths in custody, enforced disappearances and alleged cases of torture. In spite of the criticism, Rwanda seeks to present itself as a welcoming country. In recent months, it has additionally received a handful of Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban regime, including teachers who were brought to Kigali at the request of the U.S. Academy of Sciences, and the entire student body and staff of a girls' boarding school. It remains to be seen when the first planes of rejected asylum seekers from the UK will land in Kigali. On Tuesday, May 3, Mr. Johnson's spokesperson announced that the program might not start for several more months, citing likely legal challenges. Laure Broulard(Kigali (Rwanda) correspondent) Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version. On Monday, Vladimir Putin attended, surrounded by Russia's military top brass, the May 9 parade marking the anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War in 1945. No foreign head of state was at his side, a decision the Kremlin justified by saying these celebrations have a more ordinary character than those that marked the 75th anniversary of the Second World War, in 2020. The Kremlin added: "This is our celebration." These terms are indicative of the reading of the Second World War that has taken hold in Moscow, which now reflects a specifically Russian memory and no longer one that is shared with all the former Soviet republics. However, during the Soviet period, the memory of the Great Patriotic War had led to a real collective identity. The victims in each Soviet republic were counted in hundreds of thousands, or even millions for Belarus, where it is estimated a quarter of the population perished between 1941 and 1945. This collective identity was made of sacrifice, shared cultural references, and popular pacifism illustrated by the mantra "as long as there is no war," repeated endlessly to cope with the difficulties of everyday life. The profound transformations brought about by the war the mixing of populations, the relocation of the main industries, but also of universities and cultural output contributed to a form of homogenization of the Soviet spaces. The commemoration of Victory Day on May 9 still brings together several generations in most of the former Soviet republics to pay tribute to the veterans. More on this topic Subscribers only The Russian myth of the Great Patriotic War and its manipulations It is precisely this consensual character of the victory commemoration, in the absence of a consensus on the war itself, that has led Russian authorities, especially since Vladimir Putin came to power, to found a national narrative transcending the ethnic, religious, political, or social differences of the new Russian Federation. Instead of building itself as a nation-state, as other post-Soviet republics have done, Russia has built itself as the heir to the victorious Soviet Union of 1945. This narrative has evolved over time and has been accompanied by new traditions. For instance, the ribbon o fSaint George inherited from Tsarist Russia has been used again since 2005 as a patriotic symbol. Another example is the "Immortal Regiment" march, a commemoration of family remembrance first organized by Russian civil society before being taken over by the state. Anti-Russian, therefore fascist After 2014 with the Maidan revolution in Ukraine, this national narrative took an external dimension and was reformulated through a game of simplifying equivalences. if contemporary Russia is to be the heir of the USSR of 1945, then to oppose it is to support fascism. The new Ukrainian government was described as 'Banderist', after the Ukrainian nationalist leader Stepan Bandera, who collaborated with the Nazi occupiers during World War II. The symbolism of the Great Patriotic War acquired a new ideological expression, that of support for pro-Russian movements in eastern Ukraine. You have 55.15% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. **READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED** TWO LIMERICK men have been sentenced to 11 years' imprisonment for what a judge described as the cynical and calculated rape of a 14-year-old girl. The men, aged 27 and 26, both deny raping the teenager when she was comatose with alcohol on the night of April 22, 2017. The men, who cannot be named in order to protect the statutory anonymity of the complainant, were convicted following trial at the Central Criminal Court last November. Passing sentence this Monday, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon said the men had taken the girl to an isolated area, given her more alcohol and raped her in succession, robbing her of her innocence in extremely degrading and humiliating circumstances. She said it was a cynical, calculated and egregious crime and that the men had taken advantage of a young and vulnerable child when she was comatose with alcohol. At an earlier hearing, the complainant told the court that the rape had changed her from a carefree, bubbly child to a frightened, guilt-ridden victim. She said she still feels shame and anxiety as a result of the events that night. Justice Creedon said there was very little by way of mitigation for the two accused given that they completely denied and continued to deny the offences. The judge said this left the complainant without any acknowledgement of the hurt and harm caused to her. Probation reports said the men had no victim empathy and were at moderate risk of both sexual and non-sexual violent reoffending. The court heard that both men considered themselves to be victims in the case and had told gardai that they believed the girl was aged 16 at the time. The 27-year-old defendant, who was 22 at the time, was convicted on the single count of rape. His 26-year-old co-accused, who was 21 at the time, was convicted of rape and an additional charge of sexual assault. He was sentenced to eight years in prison for the sexual assault charge, to run concurrently. The court heard that on the night in question, the girl was drinking alcohol with her group of friends and that the two defendants joined them. At some point the victim's friends dispersed and she was left alone with the two men, who took her to an isolated area and gave her more alcohol to drink. She told gardai later that she was very drunk and had limited memory of where she was. She said she was in a mess. She said she was passed out and woke up to find the 21-year-old taking down her leggings and with his mouth on her genital area. The complainant said she was falling in and out of consciousness and came to again a little later to find the 21-year-old raping her. She said when he finished, he said to the other man, It's your turn. She said this man began raping her while the first man masturbated. She said that after both men had ejaculated, they walked back with her across the fields to a nearby residential area where they were met by her mother who was out searching for her. Alice Fawsitt SC, prosecuting, told the court previously that the complainant knew she was in trouble then, she was in a mess, she was extremely drunk. She said her mother was extremely cross and the complainant said nothing about the sexual activity. A week later the teenager feared she was pregnant and bought a test. This came back negative but her mother found the packaging and confronted the girl who told her she had been raped. In her victim impact statement, the girl said that rumours spread in the locality and she became marked as the girl who was raped and that some people said vulgar things about her. She said she and her family decided to leave the area to get away from this. She said she had left her home on the night of the rapes a bubbly, fun-loving, outgoing kid and came home a frightened, confused, guilt-ridden victim. She said her family had to uproot their lives. Lawyers for both men told the court that their clients did not accept the jury verdicts and continue to protest their innocence. Counsel for the younger defendant said his client felt hard done by and wronged by the conviction. He said his client was a young man who has started a family since these events and has held down a job. Counsel for the now 27-year-old asked the court to consider that he was still a relatively a young man and had no other relevant criminal convictions. Ms Justice Creedon suspended the final year of the 12-year sentence and ordered both accused to abide by the supervision of the probation services and to attend offence-focused work and additional support services as directed. MUNGRET Community College is hosting an exciting festival next week to show off the talent of their students. The Festival of Creativity is running from May 11 to May 13 and will include concerts, stalls, live stage performances and lots of workshops for students. The festival is a culmination of two years of hard work by a group of students who will be sharing their new skills and knowledge with their peers. Pupils are holding two concerts in the church of Old Mungret College as part of the festival. Both shows will take place at 7pm on Wednesday, May 11 and Thursday, May 12. Teacher Sinead Fraser said the students have been working hard on the festival and have been leading the way. As part of the preparations for the event, students have been taking part in workshops to hone their skills that they will now share with their classmates and families. Sinead and Professor Eoin Devereux from UL have been working together to deliver writing workshops to the students. John Hogan from Limerick Youth Theatre has been delivering a drama module to TY students and Ana Colomer has been working with the pupils as their Creative Associate through the Creative Schools programme. THREE LIMERICK students will show off their creativity and style when they represent Ireland at the first ever Junk Kouture World Final in Abu Dhabi. Last week, sixty haute-couture designs made from 100% recycled materials created and modelled by talented post-primary students took to the stage for the Dublin City Final at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre. Nine creations by young designers aged 13 to 18 years from across the country were chosen to go to the World Final by judges Louis Walsh, Roz Purcell, Soule and Stephen McLaughlin. Maha Shahzadi (model), Jadine Keane-Fitzpatrick and Somaia Anwari of Colaiste Nano Nagleon Sexton Street in Limerick city will take their creation Ode to Joy to Abu Dhabi. Their outfit was inspired by the European Green Deal and made from tinfoil, bedsheets and old rope. CEO of Junk Kouture Troy Armour said: "Its amazing to be back at a live event kicking off Junk Koutures Global Tour here in Dublin City. As always the standard of designs was absolutely incredible. "Well done to our winners! We are so excited for our first World Final in Abu Dhabi, bringing Junk Kouture to more young people around the globe, enriching and empowering their lives through creativity and sustainability and introducing the world to the circular engineers of the future." The Irish designs will be up against 50 other creations from around the world, 10 from each of Junk Koutures other city finals in their five new territories: London, Paris, Milan, New York and Abu Dhabi. THE MAYOR of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Daniel Butler has offered his condolences to the family of former Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council Paddy Hourigan who passed away over the weekend. Mayor Daniel Butler said: "On behalf of myself and the people of Limerick, I wish to extend my sympathies to Paddys wife Anne, daughters Monica and Kathleen and sons James and Patrick and his wider family." The mayor said Mr Hourigan was "one of lifes true gentlemen and devoted his life to his family and his community". "He served the people of the Castleconnell Electoral Area of Limerick County Council as a councillor for 32 years. "His political nous was second to none and he had a great understanding of what made politics tick. He remained hugely active in community life after his political career ended and understood the important of active and inclusive communities working together," said Mayor Butler. Mr Hourigan was co-opted onto Limerick County Council in 1972 in place of John D ODwyer who had resigned his seat. He subsequently held his seat in the Castleconnell Electoral Area in the 1974, 1979, 1985, 1991 and 1999 local elections. He was elected Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council in 1993-1994. Mr Hourigan retired from being a councillor in 2004. "He will be sadly missed. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis," said Mayor Butler. A special meeting of Limerick City and County Council will take place on Tuesday at 9.30am online to mark the passing of the former cathaoirleach. The Irish flag will be flown at half-mast at council buildings until after Mr Hourigan's funeral Mass on Tuesday. Reposing in Meehans Funeral Home, Newport, this Monday from 6pm until 8pm. Funeral Mass takes place in Holy Rosary Church, Murroe, on Tuesday at 11.30am, with burial afterwards in Annagh Cemetery. A SYSTEM which detects the potential of forest fires has won the top prize at a two-day hackathon held in Limerick. A hackathon is an event, usually hosted by a tech company or organisation, where computer programmers get together for a short period of time to collaborate on a project. In this case, it was Analog Devices organising it, at its new Catalyst premises in Raheen. There, 70 of the companys top minds gathered to collaborate, research and design innovative solutions to mitigate the climate crisis and address real world challenges that would benefit future generations. It was a team involving Limerick staff members Adam Fahy, Sinead ODowd, Enda Kilgarrif, Brian McCarthy and Emma ODonovan which impressed the judges the most. They presented a technology and sustainable business solution which could have far reaching benefits to tackling forest fires worldwide. Mr Fahy explained: Year on year the wildfires in California are becoming more deadly and destructive. In 2018 alone, over 1.9 million acres were destroyed, 68 million tonnes of carbon dioxide was released thats twice Germanys annual emissions, and over 100 people were killed. With current detection measures, which include satellites and watch towers, it can take up to two to four hours for fire fighters to reach a scene. By this time, a fire has significantly increased in size and takes weeks to get under control. Outlining their idea, he said: We designed a mesh network of nodes that could be distributed across a forest to detect the potential for and presence of fire. Using a fusion of sensors to measure temperature, humidity and carbon monoxide, the nodes would communicate with each other and back to a station using LoRa transmitters. An online dashboard would allow park rangers or forest owners to detect areas at risk or points of origin in real-time allowing firefighters to be dispatched to the right location at a faster pace. The winning teams proposal went beyond the technology solution also setting out a sustainable business model through annual subscriptions. According to one of the judges, Santiago Iriarte, an Analog Devices Fellow based in Spain: This product brings a technological solution to a very real unpredictable problem that we live with each summer. With weather patterns getting more extreme, a product like this could position Analog Devices as a world leader in climate action. The team will now examine the feasibility of developing the winning concept into a solution for deployment. Micheal Martin has said the Government will be pressing ahead with the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to the St Vincents site, despite concerns raised in recent weeks. Speaking on RTEs Morning Ireland, the Taoiseach said concerns from campaigners had been comprehensively addressed. Weve published seven documents now, which was substantive, and which really do address the issues that were raised earlier about control. The new hospital will be more secular in governance than the existing hospital has been in its history. He said the HSE operating licence and clauses five and nine of the hospitals constitution outline how the directors of the hospital are obliged to carry out all legal services permissible within the state at the new site. Controversy has continued over the ownership structure proposed for the new hospital building, which is to be co-located with St Vincents Hospital on its Elm Park site. Last week, Cabinet stalled the proposal until next week to allow for documents about ownership and governance arrangements to be published, and to allow Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly to appear before the Oireachtas Health Committee this week to address lingering concerns. The Taoiseach and Health Minister have argued that a 299-year lease at 10 a year effectively amounts to public ownership of the land, and midwives and pregnant women cannot wait any longer for new facilities. The current NMH building at Holles Street in Dublin city centre is 130 years old, and its facilities have been described as cramped and not fit for purpose. Opposition TDs and campaigners have raised concerns about the complex ownership structure of the new hospital site, and questioned why the land cannot be gifted, bought, or made a compulsory purchase by the state. Taoiiseach Micheal Martin said he is unaware of a planned visit by US President Joe Biden in October, which was reported over the weekend. "I have no evidence of that," he said. "That's a matter for the President. He is always welcome in Ireland and I have said that to him," the Taoiseach told RTE's Morning Ireland radio show on Monday. "He is looking forward to coming to Ireland at some stage, but there are not dates or anything like that," he added. However, there has been a general discussion about a visit at some stage. "There's an open invitation to President Biden but we have had no confirmation, no evidence, no indication of a visit from President Biden," Mr Martin said. He added that the US President is very consumed with the war on Ukraine. "And that's the big issue at the moment," the Taoiseach said. An Army veteran has told an inquest that a soldier at the scene when a teenager was shot dead in west Belfast spoke of wanting to waste somebody shortly beforehand. Leo Norney, 17, was killed in disputed circumstances in the Turf Lodge area in September 1975. Soldiers from the Black Watch regiment said he was a gunman who had opened fire on them. But people in the area said he was an innocent victim of an unprovoked attack. The original inquest in 1976 returned an open verdict. On Monday an Army veteran, referred to as M2, told an inquest in Banbridge that he had falsified his previous statements and that his patrol had not been fired on the day Leo was killed. The witness said he wanted Leos family to know the truth about what happened more than 40 years ago. The bulk of his evidence centred around the actions of Corporal John Ross MacKay, who died in 2015. M2 said that after an attack on the soldiers base in which no one was injured, he returned to his room. Two other soldiers, referred to as M1 and M3, were there with Cpl MacKay. In a statement to the inquest, read out by counsel for the coroner Ian Skelt, M2 said: I recall him telling me that we were going to waste somebody tonight. I cant recall his precise language, but it was words to that effect. I recall he used the word waste. I immediately responded by saying I would not be involved in what he was suggesting and that he must be mad. In the statement, M2 said he did not recall Cpl MacKay saying who the target would be or where or how it would happen. He said M1 and M3 were in earshot of the exchange. Asked by Mr Skelt to explain what he understood Cpl MacKay to mean, M2 said: I took it he was going to harm somebody, maybe kill them. He was also asked if he took the comments seriously or just saw it as bragging, and said: I dont know really, I didnt think anyone would do that. He said Cpl MacKay was in a foul mood. I took it that he meant that, but afterwards I thought he was maybe sounding off. I didnt think anyone would be capable of doing that. M2s statement described the events of the patrol before the incident in which Leo was killed. The witness described his position at a security fence in west Belfast. He described glancing over to Cpl MacKay and seeing him fire his rifle towards an area known as Shepherds Path. M2 said Cpl MacKay fired two quick shots, followed by several further shots. He said he did not recall hearing or seeing any other gunshots before Cpl MacKay fired his rounds. He also said he saw M1 fire a single round of his rifle at a Mini car parked close by, but added he could not recall where the car was struck. I believe the shot fired by M1 occurred very soon after the shots fired by Cpl MacKay, M2 told the inquest in his statement. He recalled being ordered to take cover at waste ground and hearing a person groaning from the direction of Shepherds Path. I looked towards the area the noise came from and saw a soldier who I recall being Cpl MacKay standing beside or on Shepherds Path. He said he saw a soldier, who he believed was Cpl MacKay, point his rifle towards the ground and fire one round. He told the hearing he did not see a body from his position, but believed the bullet struck the concrete path. He also recalled hearing Cpl MacKay kicking an unseen object on the ground. I recall hearing the thud of something being kicked, he said. Later, he described the arrival of other soldiers at the scene and accidentally discharging his rifle. Asked by Mr Skelt why he gave a false narrative of events, he said he was scared of Cpl MacKay. I had just seen what I had seen and I wasnt going to put myself in a position of going out on patrol with someone who had did that. If he had done that to somebody that he didnt know, what was the next thing? He had a lot of influence. I wasnt prepared to put myself in harms way. I just went along with what he told me to do. He described MacKay in his statement as a violent and unpredictable person. M2 told the inquest that before now, he had been scared to tell the truth, but added: Leo Norneys family deserve to know the truth about how he died. He was questioned later by Mark Mulholland, counsel for M1, about his lack of recall of previous statements he had given over the years about the incident, as well as his history of mental health problems, and said his most recent statement was true. Questioned by Fiona Doherty, counsel for Leos family, he said: If I could turn the clock back, it would not have happened. I am deeply sorry Leo Norney died and his family had to suffer. While using Google Earth, a former resident of this Wellington, Florida, home discovered what appeared to be a submerged car in a pond behind the house. Google Earth recently provided a gruesome conclusion to the mystery of a man who disappeared 22 years ago. His skeletal remains were found inside a car that spent the past two decades underwater, in a pond behind a home in Wellington, Florida. A former resident of the suburban neighborhood was using Google Earth to scan the area where he used to live, when he spotted what appeared to be a submerged vehicle, representatives with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said in a statement posted to Facebook on Sept. 12. The Google Earth user then contacted the current owner of the home, who flew a camera-toting drone over the pond to take a closer look at the sunken object. He confirmed that there was indeed a car in his pond, and he reached out to the local sheriff's office; when the police removed the car from the water and opened it up, "skeletal remains were found inside," according to the statement. Related: 15 Secretive Places You Can Now See on Google Earth (And 3 You Can't) The car, still visible on Google Maps , was found in a retention pond, an artificial body of water built to store runoff from heavy rains. Thick calcium deposits coated the exterior of the car a white 1994 Saturn SL hinting that it had spent a long time in the water, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported . Experts with the Medical Examiner's Office examined the bones, and on Sept. 10 they identified the remains as William Moldt. Moldt was 40 years old when he was declared missing on Nov. 8, 1997; he had phoned his girlfriend at around 9:30 p.m. that night and was last seen leaving a local bar at 11 p.m., WPTV reported . A missing-persons website described Moldt as having brown eyes, standing 6 feet (2 meters) tall and weighing 225 lbs. (102 kilograms), according to the Sun-Sentinel. At the time of Moldt's disappearance, the development was still under construction, but the circumstances that led to the man and his car ending up in the pond remain unknown, said WPTV. Click here to read the full article. Donald Trump helped make Rep. Madison Cawthorn a star of the MAGA movement, but now the lawmaker risks falling out of The Donalds good graces. Just a month after he invited Cawthorn to speak at a North Carolina rally, Trump has grown increasingly annoyed and disappointed with his MAGA apprentice. The twice-impeached former president has described some of what hes heard about Cawthorns latest woes and the online sexual imagery associated with it as gross, according to two sources whove heard Trump speak about the matter in the past couple weeks. Over the past three weeks, someone (or some group) has shared personal videos of Cawthorn engaged goofing in sexually suggestive antics with the apparent aim of raising questions about his sexuality to North Carolina voters. Cawthorn has pushed back by dismissing the videos as years-old attempts at humor, saying their release is part of a plot from the left. Trump, for one, is not impressed. Trump is not at the point of pulling his endorsement, but the [former] president says he wants to sit back and see what happens, one of the sources recalls. But hes been disappointed with Madison, and thinks he has problems handling his [public relations], specifically with the video and photos that have surfaced. The other source said that lately Trump had voiced bewilderment and disgusted confusion about what hed been told of the flood of leaks and footage, asking at one point in recent days if one of the allegations was that Cawthorn was fucking his cousin? (That is not one of the allegations. Instead, Cawthorns cousin, who is also on his staff, appears in some of the videos where sex is discussed.) Former President Trump is completely weirded out by the allegations, a third source, a Trump ally, bluntly relayed to Rolling Stone. President Trump is my friend and the leader of our party. I dont trust anonymous sources and nameless accusations, Cawthorn tells Rolling Stone in a statement. The fake news attacks MAGA warriors every single day. Their lies wont distract me from fighting for an America First agenda in Congress. A Trump spokesperson did not provide comment on this story. Cawthorn has courted controversy on a number of occasions before the recent leaks. He spoke at the Stop the Steal rally in Washington on the day of the insurrection and urged voters to lightly threaten representatives who refused to help overthrow the election during an appearance at a Turning Points USA conference. He has also called besieged Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky a thug, threatened bloodshed over future elections, and posed for some unnervingly enthusiastic selfies at Adolph Hitlers former mountain retreat. But his gaffes never hindered his rise as a star within the MAGA world until the attacks on him took aim at his sexuality. The source who heard Trumps lewd question about Cawthorns cousin noted that the ex-president made a point of saying that though Cawthorn needs to get his act together, as the source paraphrased, he did have the good opinions and did say what Trump wanted about the 2020 presidential election, for instance. (Trump has demanded that his allies propagandize his anti-democratic lies about that election being stolen, and has largely made it a litmus test for who in his party he endorses and who he tries to destroy politically.) While Cawthorns endorsement is safe for the moment, his political fate now lies in hands that have been notoriously fickle throughout Republican primaries and the buildup to the 2022 midterm elections. (Throughout the primaries so far, Trumps decision-making has repeatedly been guided by whether or not he thinks a conservative is, for instance, fucking disgusting, fucking gross, or fucking weird.) The recent lack of outward, vocal support from Trump has left Cawthorn facing a seemingly unending series of scandals including, insider trading allegations, multiple firearms violations, and leaks of sexually charged videos vulnerable to attacks from his many mainstream Republican enemies. And hes facing defections even from among the MAGA faithful. What I find interesting is that no ones really coming out and defending him on a national level. The Marjorie Taylor Greenes, the Matt Gaetzes, the Lauren Boeberts those people arent coming out to defend him, George Erwin, a former district director for Cawthorn who regrets his support for the U.S. congressman, told Rolling Stone on Friday. Cawthorns extremely online friends in Congress House Republicans such as the aforementioned Greene, Gaetz, and Boebert have not stepped up to defend him since the videos and photos began to leak in late April. A review of congressional tweets by Rolling Stone shows that so far only Rep. Paul Gosar has offered praise for the embattled North Carolina Republican, while the House and Senate GOP have remained silent. In recent years, Cawthorn had also made his share of petty enemies among his fellow MAGA politicians and candidates in the Tar Heel State, privately pitching himself to his Trumpist compatriots as the states true gatekeeper to the 45th president, two people with knowledge of the situation said. He thinks hes such a big shot, one of the people said. Erwin a one-time sheriff in Henderson County, N.C. says hes seen a similar pattern play out locally. I know a lot of people that gave substantial amounts of money to him, worked hard for him, supported him and, buddy, theyre just pulling back or saying no way. Were not going there, he added. Over the past few months, Cawthorn has hemorrhaged scandals. Experts have questioned whether his ownership and endorsement of a Lets Go Brandon cryptocurrency violated insider trading rules. And in late April he was stopped for the second time at a North Carolina airport and issued a citation for carrying a loaded handgun while attempting to pass through security. Cawthorn critics have also repeatedly distributed photos and videos each allegedly sourced to someone formerly close to Cawthorn or his campaign showing him in embarrassing situations. The leaked content appears aimed, at least partly, at baiting conservative voters into questioning Cawthorns sexuality. That guy is a hot mess, said Darrell Scott, an Ohio pastor and MAGAland stalwart who occasionally advises Trump on 2022 candidates. I think he needs to pursue another line of work in the private sector. Theres too much drama swirling around him that he has to explain. He constantly dismisses sketchy behavior by saying it was a long time ago; but hes only 26 years old, so it wasnt THAT long agoI have nothing personal against him; I just dont think he needs to be a new face of the party with all of the photos and videos coming out. Its hard for established politicians to stand next to him. In April, Politico obtained photos of Cawthorn on a cruise dressed in lingerie and posing with two women. A week later the Daily Mail published a video of Cawthorne saying he would like to see a naked body beneath my hands while a staffers hand lies near his groin. The video came from an ethics complaint against Cawthorn filed by American Muckrakers PAC, a political action committee run by Democrats opposed to his reelection, which asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate whether any House Rules or statutes were violated by the relationship between Rep. Cawthorn and the staffer depicted in the Daily Mail video. This week, the PAC released yet another video showing a nude Cawthorn dry humping someones head allegedly shared by a former Cawthorn supporter and big donor who asked to remain anonymous. Since the video of what appeared to be juvenile antics by Cawthorn, critics have skewered the leak as an irresponsible attempt to stoke and legitimize homophobia in the quest to unseat the North Carolina Republican. In an interview on Thursday, Morris Davis, a former Air Force colonel who ran against Cawthorn as a Democrat in 2020, defended the PACs decision to release the video and its alleged relevance to the campaign. The reason we put it out is just the blatant hypocrisy of Cawthorn. His bread and butter is the Christian Right. Hes trying to, according to him, stop the liberal, anti-family, anti-Americanthat whole narrative that hes adopted when he does stuff like this, Davis told Rolling Stone. I dont lose any sleep worrying about Madison Cawthorn. I think people have the right to know what a hypocrite he is. By Friday, however, the PAC had quietly removed the video from its website. Cawthorn also ran afoul of much of MAGAworld when he endorsed Josh Mandel in Ohios Republican Senate primary. That put Cawthorn on the wrong side of the former presidents feud with the more mainstream conservative Club for Growth and its president, David McIntosh, who served as one of Mandels main backers. Trump stayed out of officially endorsing in the primary fight until the final weeks of the race, when lurid rumors about McIntoshs personal habits spread by Fox News host Tucker Carlson helped nudge Trump into further spurning the Club, and ultimately endorsing Vance. But before Trump weighed in, Cawthorns closest allies in the MAGA caucus had already signaled they were steering clear of Mandel.Greene endorsed Vance in January, describing him as a conservative warrior that the entire America First movement needs fighting for us. Gaetz hailed Vance as having put on a clinic in the Ohio senate debates in early April and echoed Trumps endorsement of the Ivy League financier days later. Click here to read the full article. Freddie Highmore and Maisie Williams will star in an adaptation of a bizarre true story about an American ex-beauty queen who was accused of kidnapping and raping a Mormon missionary in England. Entitled Sinner V. Saints, the movie is directed by Tim Kirkby (Fleabag, Veep) and will be sold by WestEnd Films, which is shopping the project to buyers in Cannes next week. The film will begin shooting in the first quarter of 2023 in the U.S. and U.K. Set in 1970s Los Angeles and London, Sinner V. Saints is based on the true story of Joyce McKinney, who went to extreme lengths to stop the Mormon church from taking away her sexual obsession: a nebbish Mormon missionary named Kirk Anderson. The sordid relationship which was the focus of the 2010 Errol Morris documentary Tabloid went awry and eventually resulted in accusations of kidnapping and rape against McKinney. Mark Williams and Andriana Williams are producing. Its rare to find an over-the-top true story with compelling characters and zany twists and turns like this, said Andriana Williams. The all-consuming passion, absurd lawbreaking, and outrageous antics made news around the world then and can be sure to entertain today. Kirkby added: Ive never read a more no-holds-barred fever dream of a script that whisks the reader on a journey of sex, obsession, and rock n religion like Sinner V. Saints. Obsessive, first love is a magnificent premise, and sprinkle on top a killer true story involving abduction, quirky supporting characters and the era of free love, and you have a cocktail of something very potent. It is a pleasure to roll around in the world of our anti-heroine Joyce McKinney. The script is written by Jill Hoppe and based on the book Joyce McKinney and the Case of the Manacled Mormon by Anthony Delano. Maya Amsellem, managing director of WestEnd Films, said: Sinner V. Saints takes us on a riotous journey, and we were immediately captivated by Jills witty script which brings this incredible true story to life. Combining this with Tims exciting directorial vision, we are sure this crazy, colorful film will surprise and delight audiences worldwide. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Kendrick Lamar shared a new single and music video for The Heart Part 5 ahead of the release of his upcoming album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, scheduled for release on May 13th. The track rides a flip of Marvin Gayes 1976 single I Want You, and finds Lamar picking up where he left off on 2017s The Heart Part 4. The newest single is the fifth installment of Kendricks series, all of which have preceded the release of a new album. The tracks video was directed by Lamar and his frequent collaborator Dave Free, who is also Lamars partner at his new PgLang agency. The video features Kendrick morphing into various digitally produced celebrity deep fakes, From Kanye West to Will Smith, to the late Nipsey Hussle. According to the videos credits, Deep Voodoo are behind the music videos movie magic. The video also includes a special thanks to South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Deadline reported in January that Lamar was working on a live-action production with the duo. Its just one of the many projects Kendrick has had a hand in over the five years since the release of his previous album DAMN. Earlier this year, Lamar performed at the Super Bowl alongside Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg. Lamars rollout so far has been rather tech-savvy. Last month, he announced the new release via his new Oklama website. Lamar used the same website last August to share a note in which he announced that Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers would be his last release on TDE. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my lifes calling, he wrote. Theres beauty in completion. And always faith in the unknown. This past week, Laredo's leaders discussed the recent March and April water line breaks that interrupted numerous days of school for local children. In some cases, the breaks involved contractors without permits which led to council discussing higher penalties. According to Laredo Utilities Director Arturo Garcia, there were three recent line breaks, with the first one on March 19 at Los Pinos and Loma Vista. On that day, the Fiber Light subcontractors were working with cables and their equipment broke through the 8-inch line. The subcontractors worked for AT&T, but while the company as a contractor did have their permit, the subcontractor was an out-of-town firm was not registered. Through the proper order of events, the subcontractor would have had to have registered and finish paperwork prior to beginning their work. Due to the break they caused, Garcia said that the subcontractor would have to pay for all the expenses, $5,849.86, of the repair work done by the city. On April 19, a Kansas City Southern contractor hit and broke a 12-inch line using an excavator that similarly saw city repair crews fixing the line. However, this break resulted in expenses reaching $17,000.76. The break was at Aguila Azteca and Loop 20. "This one Im still discussing with KCS, because theyre saying they were outside the easement, said Garcia of an easement -- a right to cross or use of anothers land for specified purposes. "I am still having to do some field work to verify if this line is in the easement or not." Further breaks were reported on past April 20 at 408 Plymouth, 114 Century Dr., Baltimore and San Francisco. At Plymouth, an M-1 Networks Contractor broke an 8-inch line with a horizontal drilling machine that resulted in a $3,077 repair expense. At Century, Azar Construction hit a 12-inch line that was repaired without the city crew. At Baltimore and San Francisco, contractors ALC hit a 2-inch water main that resulted in a repair expense of $715.88. According to Garcia, much of the work done by contractors is done on weekends, to which city employees do not work, which is when the department will depend on the public to report activity on the right-of-way as well as the sanitary sewer lines. Councilmember Vanessa Perez corroborated this, adding that members in her district reached out to her with concerns of demolition. To this respect, Rodriguez suggested hiring an employee or two to monitor activity on the weekend. Youre disrupting thousands of peoples and their homes and children, he said. If we keep on catching them, guess what, with the fines themselves, its going to pay the (full-time employee), he said. Addressing the aging lines that have resulted in weeks long interruption to water services, councilmember Vidal Rodriguez said the issues may be exacerbated with the risk of further issues erupting from permitless contractors breaking water lines. It also doesnt help that public trust in the utilities has suffered after years of water interruptions as a result of the aging infrastructure. "We have to find something to address this that in the end, residents dont have to be disturbed or they do the proper way where we dont have these types of incidents reoccurring," Rodriguez said. "As councilmember Perez said, three in one week and they affected my area twice, its above and beyond." With those expenses in mind, Rodriguez questioned what penalties are being assessed and set in place for contractors working without permits. Garcia responded that penalties are currently being discussed with the citys legal team but are generally small, with first time penalties being a paltry $500. I need to be able to have contractors or people doing this construction to be afraid to touch our lines. There needs to be hefty finds and punishments. When I issue a stop order, that gets their attention, Garcia said. The penalty sum was met with surprise by the councilmembers as repair costs are well above the fines set amount, while they also kept in mind the overall cost of the ongoing repair estimates to address the overall water infrastructure. Garcia indicated that the cost per following infractions increase to $1,000 and $2,000 for the second and third time, respectively. Plans to bring forth a heavier punishment for working without a permit were said to be brought forth to council, but councilmember Ruben Gutierrez lambasted the decisions by the contractors whose work impacts the city water lines and who work without permits. "I think they should be fined twice -- one for busting our line, second for doing it without a permit," he said. "This is our city, not theirs, to come in here and busting our lines up. We have issues with our infrastructure as far as getting water to our people and these people are making it even worse for us now." What is more important than family? Knowing how important families are to many in Laredo, an event occurred at the Joe A. Guerra Laredo Public Library last week and was in conjunction with the co-sponsorship of the Villa San Agustin de Laredo Genealogy Society. It featured various presenters and exhibitors who discussed genealogical research, family histories and also other interesting displays focused on the research and roots of the area. "The Villa San Agustin de Laredo Genealogy Society and the public library every year come March or April," said Renee LaPerriere, the City of Laredo's Librarian II in charge of the Luciano Guajardo Historical Collection. "We do a joint presentation as the society meets more or less monthly, but we like to have one major group effort a year. It is an exhibit of members, activities, research, maybe their families, and sometimes it is more historical." During the event, there were multiple tables and booths where presenters had different documents and presentations about the roots of the people in the city. During this years event, they had 18 exhibits this year and one main presenter. One of the presenters at this years event was John R. Campbell, who for more than 30 years has worked in genealogical research focused on the area of North Mexico, which includes the states of Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Coahuila and Chihuahua, as well as southwest Texas. According to the researcher, all of the people who are originals from the area descend from a couple that whose offspring came to the area from Nuevo Leon, who he dubs Adam and Eve for the region. Anybody with deep roots in this region descends from Diego and Beatriz, and the founder of Monterrey, Campbell said. Tomas Sanchez arrived here in 1755 with 11 families, they were all cousins. Campbell states that sometimes finding research might get hard, as some documents might have been burned, misplaced or oftentimes eliminated. He does state that sometimes organizations say that documents are missing because they might have important information about land grants and other issues that their descendants can sometimes claim. For his research, Campbell mainly works with marriage licenses, but since they start in Laredo only until 1790, he sometimes has to go back and trace other documents that can supplement what he does. In the absence of a marriage certificate, we have wills and testaments and sales, Campbell said. LaPerriere states that she hopes that during the event people get enticed -- especially the younger crowd -- with the issue of genealogy, as she believes it is not just something for old people. Instead, all benefit from knowing the roots and history of the area and learning about how many people locally are all related and are families. The fact that most of the genealogy research is already on computers is a reason why she states more people should get involved and do their own research. Overall, she believes that the turnout was great for being the first time since the pandemic that it was hosted. Turnout was actually very good, LaPerriere said. We probably had 60 people here and more, as there was a lot of people coming in and saying hi. One of those who attended and spent time discussing several issues including his family history was Ernesto W. Flores, who is a retired transportation worker. He states he finds the world of genealogy fascinating. I have been trying to do this for 10 years, and I have just been able to do very little in terms of pages by going back to my grandfather to 1888, Flores said. I have even uncovered a sibling that I didn't know about and found their tomb in the cemetery. LaPerriere states that Flores is constantly in the library doing research concerning his heritage and that he has grown to learn more about how to conduct research better by knowing how to use software that help get what he wants. He was one of my success stories, LaPerriere said. When he first came, he just wanted to do copies of everything and copies of the Censuses, and then he was willing to do microfilm. Then I remembered about one of the names he was asking about, and I sat down and went to Ancestry and found it and flagged him down, and next time I saw him I said, 'This is the name you are looking for, right?' The librarian states that it is people like Flores that begin one day just searching around who get sucked into the genealogical research rabbit hole. Both LaPerriere and Campbell state that the study of genealogy is not just for fun and research but also something that can help families unite together and help people find inheritances or money their long ancestors had. LaPerriere said she has even helped people find relatives that they knew did not exist or led people to uncover secrets in their family. The study of genealogy is one that can help grow and extend families. Elizabeth the Second, the Queen of the United Kingdom, shes the richest woman in the world. She sits on the thrown based simply on her genealogy, Campbell said. She inherited the throne of England. She didnt work for it, she didnt have to go to school for it, she didnt have to fight anybody for it -- she was the first daughter of a king and he died in 1952, so it is all hers. Genealogy matters. LaPerriere said that the library even has genealogy databases that it pays for, such as Ancestry, and people can use them for free. All public libraries that are Laredo branch libraries have access to Ancestry, so you dont have to pay for it, LaPerriere said. The downside is that you do have to come to the library, as you cannot use it offline or log in or anything. LaPerriere states that the library also has Heritage Quest, FamilySearch.org and other platforms like it, and more resources can be used for individual research. The librarian states that she can help anybody who attends the library and needs help using such services or any other resources. For additional information on the work of the VSALGS and what they do, contact Sylvia Reash at 956-763-1810 or LaPerriere at 956-218-2115. Campbell can also be contacted for genealogical work at 956-267-0687 or via email at jrc.78040@yahoo.com. A couple has been arrested after police and medical staff discovered multiple injuries on their baby boys body, according to Laredo police. Carlos Alejandro Tello, 39, and Justina Eliza Martinez, 36, were served with arrest warrants on April 29 charging each with three counts of injury to a child. On April 18, police responded to an injured child case at Laredo Medical Center. Tello stated that he and his wife, Martinez, had taken their child to the doctor in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico because the boy was constipated and had a very bloated stomach, states the affidavit. Tello mentioned that medical staff in Nuevo Laredo prescribed suppositories for the boy to help with the constipation. Tello further stated that medical staff in Nuevo Laredo told him the child only had cramps, states the affidavit. Tello stated he did not know what could be wrong with the child. When they got home from Nuevo Laredo, Tello stated that the child became unresponsive and would have trouble breathing. Tello and Martinez went to the fire station on Cielito Lindo Boulevard, where an ambulance transported the child to LMC. Police then spoke to Martinez. She stated they took their child to the doctor in Nuevo Laredo at about 1 p.m. because the child had been very bloated, according to court documents. She also stated that the child did not want to eat anything and that she tried feeding him Gerber but the child rejected it. Mrs. Martinez also advised that she tried giving the child rice water, states the affidavit. Investigators documented the injuries as medical staff examined the child. The child had a distended stomach, bruising on the right side of his torso toward his back, bruising on the right side of his forehead, an abrasion underneath his chin and trauma to his anus, according to court documents. Medical staff could not determine what caused the injuries. CT scans of the childs body showed non-displaced posterior 10th and 11th rib fractures and a large volume of fluid in the childs abdomen that was causing the abdominal swelling. Asked if the child could have gotten hurt any other way, Tello stated that there might be injuries because the child had fallen from the crib three or four door days prior. Tello added that they did not seek medical attention for the fall because the child was fine, states the affidavit. Tello pointed out that the child did not cry and did not seem injured. Asked about the crib, Tello stated the crib was no longer at the residence. He claimed they threw it away because it was broken, states the affidavit. Martinez corroborated Tellos statements. Martinez added she was in a coma and suffered from COVID-19 last year around the same time of her boys birth. She further stated that she suffers from weakness and shortness of breath due to COVID-19. Asked about the childs two markings on his left thigh, Martinez stated the child fell about four or five months ago in her living room. She stated she had her son in her arms when she fell. She explained that she put an armband on the childs thigh to compress the swelling. Martinez claimed the child was fine and that the swelling subsided after two days. Regarding the fall from the crib, Martinez stated she and Tello woke up in the middle of the night because they heard the child crying. Tello ran over and discovered that the child had fallen. Martinez stated they checked on the child and saw that he was fine. Tello and Martinez did not take the child to seek medical attention. Meanwhile, the child was being prepared to be flown out to Methodist Children's Hospital in San Antonio. CNN, May 4, 2022 TORONTO (CTV Network) Millions of Afghans are now experiencing intense food shortages following the Talibans takeover in August. As Muslims around the world celebrated Eid, experts say that for most Afghans, it was simply another day of struggle to put food on the table. According to the United Nations, 97 per cent of Afghans are experiencing food shortages. Following the Talibans takeover in August, most Western aid was stopped. Hospitals and schools are unable to pay their employees, and many people are unable to purchase food, exacerbating an already dire crisis. In a phone interview from her home in Afghanistan, a woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told CTVNews.ca that she and her children struggled during Ramadan after months of limited access to food, which meant they had little to eat to break their fast in the evenings. She says that without an adult male family member, their main source of income has been cut off, and the meal they received from a local charity on Eid for iftar was their first complete meal in months. When it comes to food shortages, it is so much worse than we can see, said Noorain Noorani, the executive director of The Zahra Foundation, a registered charity with offices in Canada and the U.K. working to provide food and safe drinking water to impacted communities in Afghanistan. Political instability has continued to lead to displacement, loss of income, and access to education, and is contributing to the ongoing cycle of chronic poverty, she said. Over the past few months, the country has suffered a deadly series of bombings, including at mosques in Kabul, Kunduz and Mazar-e Sharif an increased level of violence that Noorani says is compounding the food crisis. The Zahra Foundation is one of the many organizations on the ground in Afghanistan that offered meal packages on Eid as Muslims broke their fasts with iftar. On Eid, we offered meals to anyone who needed them, and not just the civilians whove registered with us. But in the past few months, there are now more people on the waitlist than ever before, said Noorani. According to the United Nations World Food Program, more than 22 million people, or more than half of the countrys population, are suffering from acute hunger, with the majority unable to predict when their next meal would arrive. This is a significant rise from September 2020, when over 14 million people were on the verge of becoming hungry. According to the group, 97 per cent of the population had insufficient food consumption in December, and they were adopting ways to cope with their circumstances, such as skipping a meal. The situation has gotten worse since a drought hit Afghanistan in October 2020. The UN says more than 40 per cent of all crops have been lost, and livestock has been devastated due to the severe weather. The United Nations World Food Programme in Afghanistan reached 376,139 people in Kabul in March 2022 for financial and food assistance, with the latest numbers for those supported in Eid still being tallied. The Taliban-controlled government has been cut off from the international economy since the fall of Kabul in August and the departure of U.S. soldiers, resulting in a currency crisis, widespread poverty, and the collapse of critical public services including health care. Our team has been over there (in Afghanistan) for over 10 years, and weve been part of the evolving political climate. But weve never seen before how quickly everything deteriorated, said Noorani. Non-profit organizations and charities from Canada, such as Penny Appeal Canada and Islamic Relief Canada, have set up food drives along with specific Ramadan initiatives for relief in Afghanistan. Our partners in Afghanistan definitely saw an increased supply shortage this Ramadan, so we tried to increase the number of food packages we offered to locals, said Reyhana Patel, head of communications at Islamic Relief Canada.But there is so much more we wish we could do. The UN and its partners sought more than US$5 billion for the year in mid-January, more than the agency has ever requested for a single country. The majority of the aid, US$4.4 billion, would go to Afghans within the nation. The remainder would be used to help the millions of Afghan refugees living in neighbouring countries such as Iran and Pakistan. There will be no future, for the people of Afghanistan without the funds, according to UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. However, the organization has previously been unable to achieve its fundraising requirements. In December 2021, Canada announced that it will provide $56 million in urgent humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan. But there are concerns that Afghanistan still isnt receiving enough international support.With everything thats happening in Ukraine, lot of focus has been on that conflict. And a lot of attention has been given to that and rightly so. But the situation in Afghanistan is also getting worse and worse, said Patel. With (97 per cent), thats almost the entire population struggling with food consumption and what we dont want to see is funds being diverted from countries like Afghanistan to Ukraine. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HONG KONG (AP) There was little doubt about John Lee's election as Hong Kong's next leader. The city's former security chief received more than 99% of the vote from a committee stacked with mostly pro-Beijing members. He was the sole candidate in Sunday's vote. On July 1, the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's 1997 handover from Britain to China, Lee will take over as chief executive of the semi-autonomous territory from Carrie Lam. She leaves after five tumultuous years that spanned pro-democracy protests in 2019, a subsequent crackdown that snuffed out virtually all dissent, and Hong Kong's worst coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 9,000 people this year. WHO IS JOHN LEE? Lee, 64, spent more than three decades in the police force before he was appointed undersecretary of Hong Kongs security bureau in 2012. He was promoted to security minister in 2017 in Lams government. He was a key figure in pushing for a proposed extradition bill in 2019 that would've sent Hong Kong suspects to mainland China, where courts operate under the ruling Communist Party. But the bill sparked massive anti-government protests over fears that Beijing was encroaching on Hong Kong's autonomy, and soon morphed into calls for wider democratic rights, including universal suffrage. The government backtracked on the bill, but under Lee, police unleashed a heavy response that included the use of tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters as well as mass arrests. The following year, in 2020, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong, with Lee as its main supporter and enforcer. The law, which outlaws secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces in the citys affairs, was used to clear streets of protesters, silence government opponents and crack down on freewheeling media. The same year, Lee and other Chinese as well as Hong Kong officials including Lam were sanctioned by the U.S. for being involved in coercing, arresting, detaining, or imprisoning individuals under the authority of the National Security Law, as well as being involved in its development, adoption, or implementation. In June 2021, Lee was promoted to chief secretary for administration, effectively becoming the No. 2 official in Hong Kong. He resigned from his post in April to stand for the leadership polls. During his election campaign, YouTube terminated Lee's channel in compliance with U.S. sanctions a move that Lee described as bullying and unreasonable. WHAT DOES HIS ELECTION MEAN FOR HONG KONG? Experts have said that Beijings endorsement of Lee signals the central government is looking for someone reliable to ensure that its authority in Hong Kong is never questioned again. The city was promised freedoms not found in mainland China when the British handed it over in 1997. But such Western-style liberties, including the freedom of press and assembly, have been seriously eroded with the implementation of the national security law. Over 150 people, most of them pro-democracy supporters, have been arrested and many others fled abroad or keep quiet. Lee has also pledged to enact a local legislation to protect against security threats, known as Article 23 of Hong Kongs mini-constitution, the Basic Law. Previous attempts to pass the bill have failed because of strong local opposition. Article 23 stipulates that the city shall enact its own laws to prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Central Peoples Government, as well as theft of state secrets. HOW DID THE ELECTION PROCESS CHANGE? This years vote for Hong Kong's chief executive is the first since the electoral system was changed last year to ensure that only patriots are allowed to run for office. The crackdown on dissent, coupled with the electoral reform, all but eliminate pro-democracy candidates for the legislature or the top post. Under the new system, candidates must be vetted by a committee that determines if they are suitable or patriotic enough. Under the new electoral rules, Lee was the only candidate who received backing by Beijing. Several people, including a movie producer, had expressed interest in running but did not submit their names during the nomination process. Twelve local educators were named recipients of the 2022 School Bell Award as they were honored last week by Laredo Chamber of Commerce and Chamber Education Committee members at an awards ceremony. The ceremony was held on Wednesday May 4 at 6 p.m. at Laredo College. The teachers representative of all educational levels (K-to university) were the winners of the 2022 School Bell Award Competition, which is now celebrating its 30th anniversary. Thanks to a new partnership affirmed Monday, May 9, 2022, students at Texas A&M International University may find that a future classroom comes with waves, an assortment of sea life and an abundance of fresh sea air. Thats because TAMIU has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with The Texas A&M University branch campus, Texas A&M University at Galveston, and the Texas A&M University Maritime Academy. The agreement makes it possible for TAMIU students to join in high-impact student experiences, including internship, learning and research opportunities at sea. Joining TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz at the partnership announcement were Rep. Henry Cuellar, A&M System Chancellor John Sharp and Texas A&M University at Galveston chief operating officer and Texas A&M Maritime Academy superintendent, Col. Michael E. Fossum. Sharp was effusive in his comments about the new partnership. This partnership not only provides fantastic opportunities for students in Laredo, but the research they do with Texas A&M Galveston will benefit us all, Sharp confirmed. Cuellar, who helped champion critical support from the U.S. Department of Transportation for TAMMA and its training ship, echoed Sharp. The TAMIU partnership with TAMU-Galveston affords Laredo area students with the opportunity to access maritime internships, research opportunities, and additional educational experiences at the Texas A&M Maritime Academy. As the only marine academy on the Gulf of Mexico, this program is a unique opportunity for students to learn skills for protecting our economic and security interests at sea that is why I secured $390 million in federal funding for the third and fourth ships that will be used in this educational partnership, Cuellar said. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, and an advocate of education, I will continue to prioritize the funding of projects and ventures that benefit students with cutting edge technology and resources in South Texas. Fossum said the opportunity to partner with TAMIU is a distinct advantage for TAMU-Galveston. We are eager to partner with TAMIU and its students and help them to realize unparalleled internship, learning and research experiences onsite and onboard. Expanding opportunities for all students is mission critical for us, Fossum explained. Arenaz said that as a scientist himself, he cant underscore the rich opportunity this represents for TAMIU students. As a biologist, I know the importance of being able to conduct field research. You cant get a better field than the vastness of the oceans and the ability to learn and research in a vessel dedicated to this. Its terrific to be able to extend this opportunity to our students and to enable our science offerings to grow in such a rich and relevant way. Im deeply appreciative to Chancellor Sharp, Congressman Cuellar and Colonel Fossum for their partnership and support of this bold, new initiative for TAMIU and TAMU-Galveston, Arenaz observed. TAMMA is one of only six state maritime academies in the United States designated by the United States Maritime Administration and is administered by TAMU-Galveston. Additional opportunities the partnership makes possible include coordination of academic programs or support, field trips and the mobilization of campus resources to enrich and promote student success and learning. Texas A&M University at Galveston is an ocean-oriented branch campus of Texas A&M University which educates nearly 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students in a unique blend of marine and maritime programs, including majors in science, business, engineering, liberal arts, and transportation. It is driving the development of the blue economy in the Gulf Coast Region and is a critical contributor to Texas A&Ms sea-grant portion of Texas A&Ms rare land-, sea-, space-grant mission with nearly $10 million in research expenditures. It is also home to TAMMA, the only academy integrated into a Tier 1 academic institution, which trains over 400 cadets annually for maritime service and employment around the world. Texas A&M-Galveston is ideally located in Galveston, Texas on the Gulf Coast where is it surrounded by the industry, environment and programs essential to fulfilling its special-purpose mission. Aggies are known for their deep commitment to the success of each other and their strong desire to serve. For more, visit https://www.tamug.edu . A Member of The Texas A&M University System, Texas A&M International University is a primarily Hispanic-serving, State-assisted university founded in 1970. Its 300-acre campus is located in northeast Laredo on former ranchland. The campus is home to a diverse enrollment of over 8,400 students from 31 countries and 28 US states. TAMIU offers transformative undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees in the arts and sciences, business, education and nursing. As its name affirms, the University maintains a special focus on developing an international academic agenda for the State of Texas. The Universitys 31,000+ graduates lead lives of change and impact around the world. For more, visit https://www.tamiu.edu . Additional University information is available on its social channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Shoppers at a new H-E-B in New Braunfels will have access to a two-story True Texas BBQ restaurant, a home department highlighting all things Texas and more. The new grocery store replaces the former New Braunfels location on Walnut Ave., according to an H-E-B press release, noting that the expansion is approximately 40,000 square feet larger with a multilevel, two-story design. Highlighting the company's BBQ restaurant, the release states that the True Texas BBQ restaurant was named the best barbecue chain in Texas by Texas Monthly and the top barbecue chain in the nation by Thrillist, and said the New Braunfels location will feature indoor seating on both the first and second floors of the restaurant. We are thrilled to bring a new H-E-B store to New Braunfels, which introduces our customers to some exciting features and departments that are firsts for our company, said Julie Bedingfield, H-E-B Public Affairs Manager in the press release. The new store also features the first H-E-B home department offering two new collections, the press release stated, noting that the Texas Proud brand will "celebrate Texas style and feature many similar items" produced by Lone Star State-based artisans and businesses. The new collections from Haven + Key and Texas Proud will offer home textiles, home decor, and furniture and accent pieces, per H-E-B. The Texas Proud brand will feature similar items made by Texas-based artisans and businesses, such as wood and antler art from Broken Antler in Converse, leather goods from Lucio Tailoring Co. in San Antonio, cowhide benches from Texas Bench Worx in Luling and hand-poured candles from Rustic Swank in New Braunfels, according to the press release. Other on-site offerings include handmade sushi, an in-store tortilleria, a large craft beer and wine section, a full-service pharmacy, a floral department, a healthy living section and fruits and vegetables from Texas farmers, the release said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LAS VEGAS, N.M. (AP) Firefighters in northern New Mexico worked Monday in rugged terrain ahead of a massive wildfire, feverishly trying to position crews to clear brush and stop the monster blaze from burning more homes in the Rocky Mountain foothills. The wildfire has charred 308 square miles (798 square kilometers) of tinder-dry ponderosa forests, making it the largest blaze burning in the U.S. during what has been an early start to the fire season. Thousands of people have been evacuated. Much of the Southwest has been in the grips of drought for decades and warmer temperatures have combined with spring winds to make for dangerous fire conditions. Crews in Arizona were dealing with strong winds Monday as they battled a fire near the U.S.-Mexico border that forced several dozen people from their homes. And another wildfire in northern New Mexico near the federal government's key facilities for nuclear research prompted Los Alamos National Laboratory and others in the area to begin preparing for evacuations, though officials stressed there was no immediate threat to the lab. The fire has burned nearly 64 square miles (165 square kilometers). Officials said some medically fragile residents and large animals already have been moved out of the area to lessen the traffic congestion should evacuations be ordered. They anticipated residents would have at least a day or two notice before being required to leave. If the fire gets its fifth gear, it will be here sooner than we want it to be, said incident commander Rich Harvey. We're doing everything we can to check it. Strong, gusty winds continued to blow across the region after fanning the fires for weeks and often grounding essential aircraft used to drop water or fire retardant ahead of the flames, complicating efforts to contain them. Wind will continue to be a factor this week, along with low humidity, but to varying degrees depending on the day. Fire officials predicted part of the main New Mexico fire would push north into rugged terrain that is difficult for firefighters to access. This isn't a surprise to us. All the models showed this probably was going to happen, said fire operations section chief Todd Abel, adding that crews have spent days working to protect ranch homes scattered thorough the area. Nearly 1,700 firefighters were battling the blaze burning northeast of Santa Fe that was almost 50% contained. It has destroyed nearly 300 structures, including homes, commercial buildings and barns. The region's largest population center Las Vegas, New Mexico, home to 13,000 people remained largely safe from the flames after some area residents were allowed to return over the weekend. Schools were expected to return to in-person classes on Tuesday. ___ Montoya Bryan reported from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Associated Press writer Felicia Fonseca in Flagstaff, Arizona, contributed to this report. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. A south Longford GAA club has been hit by a number of unsavoury incidents over the past number of weeks, culminating in windows being smashed, damage to a new ball stop net and equipment being broken. Cashel GAA has taken to Facebook to express their dismay over the incidents. "There is no doubt that the people involved haven't come far and it is a shame that these things are happening in our village. "While it can only be a small number of people that are involved, these incidents are spoiling the fantastic facilities that we have at our disposal for everyone." Longford man smashed windows of house with iron bar with five children inside, court hears Judge Bernadette Owens has accepted jurisdiction in the case of a man charged with criminal damage to the windows of a Longford home. Gardai have been alerted over the vandalism at Pairc Naomh Chiarain in Newtowncashel and the club say they 'are providing assistance'. Incidents like this are a serious blow to hardworking voluntary committees, and Cashel GAA are imploring with people in the area to be vigilant. "We ask all that are interested in keeping our village and the facilities within it, in the fantastic condition that they are in, to remain vigilant of any unusual activity around both the Hill and the pitch / clubhouse." The organisers of Legan Nifty 50's are delighted to announce, that following an absence of two years owing to Covid-19, their 10th annual Motorbike Run, in aid of the Irish Cancer Society, is taking place on Sunday, May 22. All motorbikes are welcome to participate and registration on the day is at Mitchell's Bar, Legan from 10am until 12.15pm, with the run getting underway at 12.30pm sharp. Upon returning to Legan, there will be a BBQ at Mitchells with DJ Andrew playing until 8pm. There will also be a raffle on the day. One of the Legan Nifty 50 Motorbike Run organisers, Emma Mannion, explained, We are currently looking for sponsorship and spot prizes / vouchers. We would like to thank all shops around Longford, Mullingar and surrounding areas for their donations and sponsorship over The last ten years and to all the bikers for coming. We are looking forward to seeing you all again this year for the laughs and craic, and it is all for a very worthy cause, Irish Cancer Society. For more information contact Emma Mannion on 086 3244914 or email at emmamannion15@gmail.com The five Fine Gael MEPs welcomed a group of 28 students and their teachers from across Ireland, including Diarmuid O'Donnell, a student at St Mels College, Co Longford to the European Parliament, Brussels recently. MEPs Sean Kelly, Frances Fitzgerald, Deirdre Clune, Maria Walsh and Colm Markey also introduced the students to the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. The Fine Gael MEPs arranged for the group to meet European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Slovakian MEP Vladimir Bilcik and the European Youth Coordinator, Biliana Sirakova. Their discussions mainly focused on the war in Ukraine, youth policy, and the daily work of the Parliament. Speaking after the visit, Midlands-North-West MEP Maria Walsh said the students expressed a strong interest in a variety of topics including education, youth employment and mental health. It is incredibly important that young Irish people are afforded opportunities to better understand the work of the EU. Being able to sit at a table and have a conversation with EU decision-makers can really change how our young people view European politics. Visits like this are a fantastic way for people to better understand the European Parliament. It is extremely important for me to hear directly from constituents and hosting conversations like this is incredibly timely as we celebrate our EU Year of Youth. It ensures that our work here in the Parliament is connected to our young people at home, added MEP Walsh. The student and teacher visitor group represented various secondary schools across counties Louth, Leitrim, Westmeath, Mayo, Meath, Longford, Roscommon, Dublin, Laois, Offaly, Tipperary and Cork. The second-level students won the special visit to the Parliament in Brussels via a Graduate.ie citizenship and democracy programme. Local News, Community, Charity & Cause By Chris Boyle Published: May 09 2022 Asking Residents to Participate in Two Moments of Silence this Memorial Day. Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman joined Veterans, Members of the Womens Auxiliary, Active Duty Military, representatives of Scouts BSA and Girl Scouts and announced a major Memorial Day initiative. County Executive Blakeman today announced two County-wide 50-second moments of silence on Memorial Day, May 30th, to honor the fallen. The first moment of silence will be at 12 Noon, followed by the second moment of silence at 6:00 PM. Fire Departments, Police Cars, and Volunteer Ambulance Corps. will sound their sirens and horns exactly at 12 pm and 6 pm to remind residents to pause, and remember our nations fallen heroes. "It would be a tremendous tribute to all those that gave their lives for America on Memorial Day," said Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. "It is not just a weekend of fun but also a weekend of remembrance. A weekend when we can thank those who gave their lives and the families that lost their loved ones because that's something that we should never take for granted. I encourage everyone to stop and remember our nations fallen heroes when they hear the sirens sound this Memorial Day." This year, as we do every year, the elected officials who are standing here today will participate in ceremonies and parades; standing proudly with our veterans in commemoration of those we lost. Said Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello Some of our communities are there at these ceremonies but the vast majority of our residents are not there, so the County Executives idea and proposal will give all of our residents an opportunity to reflect- at noon and 6PM - about those we lost, our fallen heroes, its a wonderful way for all of us to remember. District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said, Every year on Memorial Day we mark the unofficial beginning of summer, but in truth, its a solemn holiday, especially for the families and friends of fallen soldiers. On Monday, May 30th, we will honor the brave men and women in uniform who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our county. We owe them our respect and gratitude, and County Executive Blakemans initiative will deliver a fitting tribute to those who have so courageously fought for the country we love. Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said, Let us remember that freedom is not free, it was won on the battle field by men and women from our Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice. On Memorial Day, let us remember the fallen, their individual sacrifices and the pains they and their families endured so that we can enjoy the life and opportunities we have today. Town of North Hempstead Supervisor Jen DeSena said I am so proud that the Town of North Hempstead will be supporting County Executive Blakemans Memorial Day remembrance initiative. Memorial Day honors the members of our Armed Forces who have made who made the ultimate sacrifice and I believe these countywide moments of silence will be a great gesture of appreciation for the brave men and women sacrificing everything in service to this country protecting our freedoms. We owe a great debt of gratitude to our veterans for all the sacrifices theyve made in service to our country, and their families who are still feeling the pain of their loss. Thank you also to our Fire Departments, the Nassau County Police, and the Volunteer Ambulance Corps for making these countywide tributes possible. American Legion Champlin Eric Spinner said. I stand today as one of many veterans and Nassau County probably has the highest percentage of any county in the country, Levittown was the home to all of our returning vets, yes, the county came through for them, we had housing for them, we had open spaces- well the spaces are gone now, but the space in our hearts remains, we remember and as veterans especially and those who have lost a brother, sister, father or mother to a war, we remember and for us, every day is Memorial Day. However, what we are going to do on Memorial Day is going to be an amazing tribute to those who have gone before. Let us remember. Valley Stream Mayor Ed Fare said. We have to make sure now that this is done for generations, not just this year, forever, in Nassau County- what County Executive Blakeman started today. And I can say with pride that the 40,000 residents of Valley Stream, and I know my other mayors here as well, their villages are going to proudly participate and celebrate our veterans, and most importantly remember those who never came back. Arts & Culture By Ls Cohen Published: May 09 2022 Fact: During Prohibition, Freeport Point Shipyard built patrol boats for the Coast Guard side-by-side with vessels for the rum runners they were chasing down. For 13 years from 1920 until 1933 America was bone-dry, meaning that after the 18th Amendment was passed not a drop of liquor, beer, or wine was to be found in this country, creating a utopian society where men, women, and children were healthier, crime-free, and all became devoutly religious. Yeah, not really. The era was marked by debauchery, regular folks enriching themselves by smuggling illicit contraband, a rise in organized crime, and bartenders having to create innovative ways to mask the horrid flavor of homebrewed spirits with juices and other ingredients ushering in the modern age of cocktail-making (so actually something good came out of all this!) Long Island was a hotbed of the rum running, speakeasies, and violent crime that followed in the wake of the experiment with enforced temperance in the United States. Below we have put together some crazy and historical facts about Long Island during Prohibition. The 18th Amendment and Rising Crime On January 16, 1919, states ratified the 18th Amendment ushering in the Prohibition Era Congress passed the National Prohibition Act AKA the Volstead Act in 1919 The law went into effect in January 1920 As a result speakeasies popped up everywhere and Long Island was no exception Criminal activity and organized crime around bootlegging increased on Long Island during prohibition In the day, malt shops actually legally sold the ingredients to make alcohol at home although the brewing of beer and distilling liquor was still illegal According to reports, Harold Schackman opened a malt shop in Patchogue in 1927 that was so successful he opened a second location in Riverhead on Peconic Avenue the next year Federal agents raided his shop in 1933 Suffolk County District Attorney Alexander Blue is quoted as saying in the 1920s: It is a recognized fact that the landing of liquor on the shore of Suffolk County has added materially in keeping New York City wet. Trucks that shipped illegal liquor to New York City were often disguised as newspaper trucks or bakery delivery trucks Long Island farmers and fishermen were enlisted to help transport booze often making up to $150 for storing liquor in a barn Nearly one third of all liquor that found its way into Manhattan came from Long Island The Klu Klux Klan on Long Island joined with law enforcement to help enforce prohibition - often acting without official police authority Claudios on the day of Prohibition repeal in 1933. Photo: Claudio's Website. Speakeasies Famous performer Texas Guinan ran a speakeasy called Texas Guinans Show Palace (later known as La Casa Guinan) on Merrick Road in Valley Stream In 1923, Port Washingtons Cove Inn, was raided by police who arrested the owner and bartender, seizing 38 barrels of ale, 142 cartons of beer, and liquor Claudios restaurant in Greenport kept its bar stocked with smuggled liquor during Prohibition During Prohibition, Claudios became a fine dining restaurant on the ground floors with a lively upstairs bar for imbibing illegal spirits, according to its website Booze was brought in by bootleggers by boat through hidden trap doors behind the bar, one of which still exists to this day There was a speakeasy inside Riverheads J.J. Sullivan Hotel A trap door that is still in the building today was used to pass liquor to a bakery next door Members of Tammany Hall often drank at the hotel J.J. Sullivan Hotel is now called Tweeds, named after William Marcy Tweed AKA "Boss" Tweed Canoe Place Inn in Hampton Bays, Savages Hotel in Zachs Bay and Wantaughs Sea Breeze Inn were also popular speakeasies In Port Jefferson, Barkers Hotel, the Evergreen, the American House and Bennetts Restaurant all served liquor According to an article by Port Jefferson village historian Ken Brady, William Thompson, who ran the Ardencraig Bowling Alleys and Billiard Parlor, was twice convicted and fined for selling whiskey to shell-shocked veterans from the Vocational Training Institute at the Plant Hotel, now the site of Port Jefferson High School. According to the Freeport Library , in 1929 a reporter for The Brooklyn Daily Eagle by the name of Wilbur E. Rogers listed 15 speakeasies in Freeport and their locations: Buffalo Avenue (run by Lulu Agard). Raided in July 1929 Casino Pool (run by Dominick Ferrara). Raided October 1920; April 30, 1921; and August 1921 Gordon Marine Club (run by John Jacobson) Raided July 1929 Newton Boulevard (run by Nicholas La Scala). Raided February 1925 154 South Main Street (run by James Tiernan). Raided in 1932 Ray Street (run by Algot Luthander). Raided March 1929 South Columbus Avenue (run by Salvador Fiscella). Raided in July 1922 South Grove Street (now Guy Lombardo Avenue) (Run by Joseph Troutman). Raided March 1929 280 Arthur Street (run by Elmer Bechtold). Raided in 1932 300 Club located at 300 West Merrick Road. (run by Nellie Watson, and Henry Kothe). Scene of a double homicide in 1926 360 Atlantic Avenue (run by Jacob Ulrich). Raided March 1929 An article in the Suffolk County News from 1930 reported on coordinated raids at speakeasies on Long Island. A group of 40 Federal agents, led by William C. Nolan, Deputy Prohibition Administrator for Brooklyn, swept down on Long Island during the weekend, raiding 13 places in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, arresting 25 men and confiscating several truckloads of beer, whiskey, gin and win. Rum Runners Local News, Health & Wellness By Long Island Published: May 09 2022 As Supreme Court Ruling on Abortion Looms, Legislation Introduced by State Senator Cleare and Assemblymember Gonzalez-Rojas Will Provide Abortion Access for Low-Income New Yorkers New York Attorney General Letitia James, State Senator Cordell Cleare , and Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas today announced new legislation to establish a state program that would provide financial resources to abortion providers in New York. The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program would provide funding for abortion providers and non-profit organizations to help increase access to care, funding for uncompensated and uninsured abortion care, and providing resources to support the needs of individuals accessing abortion care. If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade in the coming weeks, the fundamental federal right to abortion will be eliminated, curtailing the ability of people across the United States to access safe and legal abortions. The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program would support access to abortion for low-income New Yorkers and would also provide financial support for the influx of people coming to New York from other states that ban abortion. As states have passed laws restricting access to abortion, the number of people traveling to New York for care has already grown. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2019, nine percent or 7,000 of the abortion procedures performed in New York were for people from out of state. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, that number is likely to increase to more than 32,000 procedures a year from individuals traveling from only Ohio and Pennsylvania to New York, according to the Guttmacher Institute. There are currently 22 states that have laws or constitutional amendments that already exist that would allow them to ban abortion if Roe is overturned or weakened. There are an additional four states that are likely to ban abortion in the absence of federal protections. These 26 states are home to more than 40 million women of reproductive age. We know what happens when women are unable to control their own bodies and make their own choices and we will not go back to those dark times, said Attorney General James. New York must lead the fight to keep abortion safe and accessible for all who seek it and this legislation spearheaded by State Senator Cleare and Assemblymember Gonzalez-Rojas will ensure that low-income New Yorkers and people from states that ban abortion have access to the care they need and deserve. No matter what happens in the weeks to come, New York will always fight to protect our right to make decisions about our own bodies and expand access to this critical and lifesaving care. The legislation announced today, and originally called for by Attorney General James last year, seeks a dedicated Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program within the New York State Department of Health (DOH) that would provide funding to abortion providers and non-profit organizations to grow the capacity of providers and meet present and future care needs. The program would provide funding for uncompensated abortion care regardless of a patients ability to pay for care or their insurance status. Finally, the program seeks to address the abortion care needs of individuals from outside of New York by awarding grant funds to non-profit organizations that provide support to individuals that travel to New York. To protect the privacy of the individuals seeking care, the legislation prohibits the state from tracking the personal information of patients through the providers that receive funds from the program. Health care is a fundamental human right and abortion is an essential aspect of womens health care, said State Senator Cordell Cleare. I am proud to sponsor new legislation The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program that will ensure that in New York we proactively protect, support, and fund all aspects of womens health care including comprehensive abortion services. We will not be subject to the arbitrary whims of a politicized Supreme Court nor can we fund health care services via private fundraising our women deserve better, and justice and equity demand it! One of our greatest fears in generations is coming true: The Supreme Court will overrule Roe v. Wade, said Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas. Millions who live in states hostile to abortion access will look to other states for that care. New York must be a leader at this moment and prepare for the impending need. That is why Im proud to have introduced legislation to create the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Fund, which will help address this need by providing funding to providers and addressing the practical needs of patients. I am honored to stand with our Attorney General Letitia James in calling on all of my elected colleagues to support it, for it to pass, and be signed into law. Most importantly, Im asking that we invest the necessary resources to support our sisters and siblings across this nation. Our communities need real action by our state and this fund will ensure that New York is a safe access state when the Supreme Court has failed us. I want to thank Attorney General James, Senator Cleare, and Assembly Member Gonzalez-Rojas okay good for continuing New York state's role as a as a leader in ensuring access to abortion and reproductive health care, said State Senator Liz Krueger. At this critical moment New York must ensure access both to New Yorkers and refugees from other states who are being denied their basic rights. When it comes to reproductive rights, the Supreme Court has indicated that it's going to fail American women, said Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn. But, where the Supreme Court fails, New York will not. This legislation will say we respect you, no matter who you are, no matter what your skin color, or what faith you do or do not subscribe to. This legislation will say, We believe you have inalienable rights, rights that cannot be superseded by your government. Bodily autonomy is a right for all Americans. The reasons for her decision are ultimately hers alone. To deny this choice is to deny one's freedom and equality. Access to quality health care is a basic human right, said Assemblymember Stefani L. Zinerman. The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program is a step toward establishing a system that not only supports a womans right to choose, but also recognizes that universal health care is fundamental to the success of our democracy. Currently, there is a challenge to our countrys constitution as the highest court in the land considers ignoring the voices, blood, sweat, and tears of millions of Americans who have fought for equity in health care since the last century. There is no time like the present to charge forward with legislation that protects the rights of women and respects the needs of our humanity. Equal access to quality reproductive health care must be our highest priority. Abortion is health care, and as a maternal health nurse, Ive seen the injustice that results when people dont have access to reproductive health care, said Assemblymember Phara Souffrant Forrest. At this moment, we must take action to support those who are most at risk because of the Supreme Courts pending decision on Roe v. Wade. Im proud to do sponsor the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program so that New York state can be a beacon of reproductive justice. As people across the country face unprecedented attempts to restrict their access to critical abortion services, New York must guarantee that we not only strengthen abortion protections for our own residents, but also expand our capacity to deal with the major influx of out-of-state patients expected if Roe v. Wade is overturned, said Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou. New York is and must remain a safe haven for abortion rights in America, and I applaud Attorney General James for taking bold action to reaffirm that truth. As we continue to fight for equal rights for all, Assembly bill A10148 will be sure to provide reproductive freedom and equity ensuring access to abortion care, said Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia. As a proud co-sponsor of this bill, I will stand with my colleagues in government and all agencies in this fight, that is going on around the country. I thank Attorney General James for bringing this fight to the forefront, and look forward in fighting for womens rights and their right to choose. With Roe v. Wade under attack and facing potential reversal by the Supreme Court, we must continue to take action that ensures access to safe abortion and supports organizations that help serve peoples reproductive health care needs, said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. Establishing this new fund will support individuals increased access to abortion care in key circumstances where insurance coverage cannot be used by a provider or there is an inability for the patient to pay. I strongly support the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program, and thank Attorney General Letitia James, Senator Cordell Cleare, and Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas for their leadership. Health care is a human right and reproductive freedom is the cornerstone of women's health care, said New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman. With the real prospect of Roe v. Wade being reversed by the Supreme Court, the proposed legislation to create the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program is essential for women in New York to remain in charge of our bodies. Generations of women have fought for the right to have autonomy over their bodies and health care decisions, including the right to contraception and abortion. I commend Attorney General James, State Senator Cleare, and Assemblymember Gonzalez-Rojas for introducing legislation to protect safe abortion access for low-income New Yorkers and individuals in states with restrictive abortion laws, said New York City Council Member Gale Brewer. Having fought my entire life for womens rights, I am enraged at the prospect that millions of women will suffer, and that many will die as the result of Justice Alitos opinion. We are proud of New York state for codifying Roe into law but now we call on Congress to do the same. Before Roe v. Wade, New York City was a safe haven for all who sought abortion care, and we must honor and uphold that legacy, said New York City Council Member Carlina Rivera. Equitable access to abortion care is vital to social and economic equality, and for the right to determine our own lives and futures. The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program will help make New York a safe place for all to have access to abortion care services and tear down the barriers to reproductive freedom in this country. The unprecedented reports are devastating that the Supreme Court of the United States of America could vote to overturn Roe v. Wade, said New York City Council Member Julie Menin. Womens reproductive rights are health care rights, and today more than ever they are being torn from us. The New York state legislature must stand with Attorney General James, State Senator Cleare, and Assemblymember Gonzalez-Rojas by passing into law and establishing the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program. For most of us, we have never had the luxury of relying on the false hope that a legal system predicated on racism and misogyny will help us, said New York City Council Member Crystal Hudson. As women elected by the people Black, Latinx, Asian, women of color, disabled women, and queer women we alone cannot save us. But we can surely fight like hell to protect our sisters, trans and gender, non-conforming and non-binary siblings, to safeguard and expand access to critical abortion care for all. By establishing a consistent stream of funding for reproductive health and abortion care providers in New York through the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Fund, were making access to safe, trusted abortion care the norm, not the exception. It is imperative that we pass this legislation, and show that New York is truly a beacon of hope not just for the millions of people across this state, but also for those across the country. Today, I am proud to stand with my colleagues across the city and state to demand we prioritize abortion access as part of the health, safety, and wellbeing of millions of people every day. As we brace for the Supreme Court to unravel the right to abortion for millions, we must act, said Georgana Hanson, interim president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Empire State Acts. New York has a proud legacy of protecting and expanding access to abortion. In this perilous moment in the fight for reproductive freedom we must be bold and unwavering in our commitment to the right of every individual to control their own bodies, lives, and futures. For that right to be a reality, we must invest in access. The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program is a critical step towards improving provider capacity to meet the need for care present in our communities today, and the need that will grow when millions are stripped of their right to abortion care. It will support patients navigating financial and logistical barriers to care, because your ability to access abortion should not be determined by who you are, where you live, or how much money you make. We are thrilled to see this legislation introduced and urge its passage, because investing in the providers and organizations that day in and day out make the right to abortion care a reality for all who need it has never been more critical. The Supreme Courts willingness to overturn Roe v. Wade is a call to action and New York must answer that call, said Andrea Miller, president, National Institute for Reproductive Health (NIRH). The Reproductive Freedom and Equity Fund would be a critically needed, proactive step to create real access to abortion care, at a time when we need it the most. With half the states in the country poised to ban abortion, New York providers will face tremendous obstacles in providing the care that people need both New Yorkers and all those who will travel to our state for care. With this fund, New York will ensure that medical and other costs are not a barrier to accessing care and that our providers have the capacity, resources, and infrastructure to treat everyone in need of care. I urge New York legislators to pass this bill immediately, and I hope other states across the nation take notice and follow suit. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) District II is proud to stand with our elected officials to uplift proactive policies to ensure abortion access in the future, said Dr. Jessica Atrio, legislative chair, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District II. Abortion is essential health care that improves the lives, health, and well-being of the patients we serve. We strongly support the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program legislation which anticipates the many challenges that those seeking abortion services will face and will help providers continue to meet their needs and deliver patient-centered care here in New York. We commend New York Attorney General Letitia James, Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, and Senator Cordell Cleares leadership to stand united with young people, immigrants, people with disabilities, people of color, and people living below the poverty line who are disproportionately affected by the looming misogynistic and devastating Supreme Court decision to decimate abortion rights by overturning Roe v. Wade, said Joanne N. Smith, founder and president, Girls for Gender Equity. Not only does the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program Act help to remove barriers to abortion access and reproductive care, it reinforces the urgency to invest in and protect birthing peoples rights to bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom. We demand that New York state increase access to care today. The potential rollback of Roe v Wade is truly devastating and holds dire consequences for the future of our bodily autonomy in this country, especially low-income persons, communities of color, indigenous communities, and immigrant communities, said Nimmi Penmatsa, member, National Asian Pacific American Womens Forum New York City. The legislation set forth by State Senator Cleare and Assemblymember Gonzalez-Rojas to establish a Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program is vital in taking a step towards reducing barriers of access for persons in these communities who face a huge information divide when it comes to accessing services like abortion care. They are often faced with language barriers, cultural stigmas, and low rates of insurance coverage. As a South Asian woman, I can tell you from personal experience how much young adults in my community struggle to get the proper information and access they need because of the cultural stigma around abortions. We have no one to turn to when faced with needing abortion care because we risk being ostracized by the community. Organizations that work to provide information, education, resources, and abortion care, particularly in-language, are so important so that the most vulnerable people in our community have somewhere to go that is safe. Ultimately, health care and more importantly reproductive health care is a right; and a right is only a right if every citizen is able to access it. We must fight to ensure that we expand access to abortion without any legal, financial, or language barriers. In this moment, New York must fund abortion care without apology and without exception. Half the states lie in wait to ban abortion entirely if the Supreme Court eviscerates Roe, and access to care in many parts of the country is already a fiction, said Katharine Bodde, assistant policy director, New York Civil Liberties Union. Four decades ago, and three years before the Court decided Roe, New York first opened its doors to people from across the U.S. who needed abortion care. To truly lead the way today, there is even more New York must do. Albany lawmakers must break down financial barriers to care by passing the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Act, critical legislation that would help abortion providers to increase access to care, fund uncompensated care, and ensure money is not an obstacle for individuals seeking abortion care. There has never been a more important moment for New York to be a leader in strengthening access to abortion, said New York Abortion Access Fund Board of Directors. For over twenty years, the New York Abortion Access Fund has supported anyone living in or traveling to New York who needs an abortion and can't afford it. As abortion funders, we know that the people most impacted by cruel decisions like the Supreme Courts draft ruling are people already facing barriers to abortion access. We believe no one should be denied access to an abortion because of where they live or how much money they make and strongly support the establishment of the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program. Todays action is just the latest in a long list of measures Attorney General James has taken to protect patients reproductive freedom since taking office. In November 2021, Attorney General James, as part of a coalition of attorneys general, filed an amicus brief in the case Whole Womans Health Alliance v. Rokita in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, supporting a constitutional challenge to several Indiana laws that impose burdensome restrictions on abortion providers that are not imposed on other health care providers. In October 2021, Attorney General James, as part of a coalition of attorneys general, filed multiple amicus briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the high court to stop Texas unconstitutional six-week abortion ban Senate Bill 8 (SB 8). First, in mid-October, Attorney General James and the coalition filed an amicus brief seeking to vacate an order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit that let the abortion ban continue to take effect after a lower court initially blocked the law. This brief followed an earlier amicus brief Attorney General James and the coalition filed, in September 2021, in support of the U.S. Department of Justices initial challenge to Texas unconstitutional ban on abortions. Additionally, in late October 2021, Attorney General James and the coalition filed two more amicus briefs to the Supreme Court in United States of America v. State of Texas et al. and Whole Womans Health v. Jackson, calling on the court to refuse to allow Texas to evade judicial review of its blatantly unconstitutional ban by allowing challenges brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and Texas abortion providers to go forward. In September 2021, Attorney General James helped score a victory when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a preliminary injunction in the case Memphis Center for Reproductive Health v. Slatery, enjoining a Tennessee law that, among other things, banned abortions after as early as six weeks. In December 2020, Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs challenge to that law. Also, in September 2021, Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the case Planned Parenthood South Atlantic v. Wilson, where they urged the court to uphold a lower courts ruling blocking South Carolinas fetal heartbeat law that bans abortions once fetal cardiac activity is detected and jeopardizes access to health care as a whole. In June 2021, Attorney General James led a coalition of attorneys general in submitting testimony to the congressional record supporting passage of the Womens Health Protection Act. The act would protect a womans constitutional right to access an abortion by prohibiting unnecessary restrictions passed at the state level that undermine the availability and safety of health care services. In April 2021, Attorney General James secured an agreement that ended the harassing and obstructive behavior of two anti-choice protesters at a Planned Parenthood location in New York City. On numerous occasions, the two defendants threatened patients, escorts, and health center staff entering the facility. The agreement came as a result of a February 2021 lawsuit Attorney General James filed against the two anti-choice protestors for repeated violations of federal, state, and local clinic access laws. Also, in April 2021, Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general filed an amicus brief supporting a group of Tennessee abortion providers in Bristol Regional Womens Center v. Slatery, where the providers were challenging a Tennessee law requiring women seeking abortions to attend two in-person appointments with physicians no fewer than 48 hours apart before undergoing the procedure. In February 2021, Attorney General James led a coalition of attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists et al. v. FDA et al., where she encouraged an appeals court to uphold a lower courts preliminary injunction that provided patients with safe access to medication abortions via telehealth and to extend that injunction to cover miscarriage treatment, all in an effort to minimize the risk of exposure to COVID-19. The preliminary injunction, previously issued, partly paused a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirement that forces women to appear in person in a clinical setting to receive a drug known as mifepristone for an early abortion and miscarriage treatment, making the drug readily accessible via telehealth and mail delivery for abortion patients, so as to not potentially expose those patients to COVID-19 by requiring unnecessary travel. The amicus brief followed up on three previous amicus briefs filed in this case by a coalition of states led by Attorney General James in the U.S. District Court for the District for Maryland in June 2020, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in August 2020, and in the U.S. Supreme Court in September 2020 asking those courts to issue or leave in effect the preliminary injunction suspending the FDAs in-person requirements for mifepristone. The four amicus briefs also followed up on a letter Attorney General James sent, in March 2020, to both the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the FDA, requesting that the Trump Administration waive or utilize its discretion not to enforce a specific designation that dictated and subsequently impeded patients access to reproductive care, including medication abortions. Attorney General James called on the Trump Administration to ensure that patients across the country could more easily access this critical health care service while the pandemic left many unable to seek in-person care. In January 2021, Attorney General James led a multistate amicus brief for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, sitting en banc in the case Whole Womans Health v. Paxton. The brief supports a lawsuit challenging a Texas law that would ban physicians from providing second-trimester abortion services, using the most common and safest procedure available for women after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Also, in January 2021, Attorney General James helped secure a victory in Little Rock Family Planning Services v. Rutledge from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, after the court upheld a preliminary injunction blocking burdensome restrictions on abortions put in place by the passage of Arkansas laws. In January 2020, Attorney General James filed a multistate amicus brief in support of the last surgical abortion clinic in Arkansas as it sought to overturn the onerous restrictions on reproductive care. In July 2020, Attorney General James scored a major nationwide win for reproductive freedom after a federal court threw out a Trump Administration rule that would have made it more difficult for patients in New York and across the nation to access abortion services under the Affordable Care Act. In January 2020, Attorney General James co-led a coalition of attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administrations HHS for putting forward the rule, arguing that it jeopardized the health coverage of all consumers confused by its billing practice. Attorney General James followed up on the lawsuit by filing a motion for summary judgment, in March 2020, that led to this win. In addition to litigating this matter, Attorney General James also opposed this rule by sending a letter to HHS, in April 2020, asking that the rule be withdrawn or significantly delayed, as the nation dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, and by sending another letter to HHS, in July 2020, after an interim rule did not delay the rule long enough. Following its district court loss, the Trump Administration appealed the decision. In July 2021, Attorney General James sent a letter to the Biden-Harris Administrations HHS, voicing her support for a new, proposed rule that would protect abortion coverage for women nationwide and cancel out the 2019 Trump era rule. In June 2020, Attorney General James helped score another major victory at the U.S. Supreme Court in the case June Medical Services v. Gee by helping to overturn a Louisiana law that would have required abortion providers to maintain admitting privileges at a local hospital. In December 2019, Attorney General James led a multistate amicus brief in support of a challenge by the petitioners in the case, in an effort to protect the ability of patients across the nation to maintain access to safe, legal abortions, as is their constitutional right. In April 2020, Attorney General James led a coalition of attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit supporting the plaintiffs in Adams & Boyle, P.C., v. Slatery as they fought to ensure patients across the state of Tennessee could continue to access an abortion after executive orders in the state banned procedural abortions, using COVID-19 as an excuse. Also, in April 2020, Attorney General James led a coalition of attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit supporting the plaintiffs in Robinson v. Marshall as they fought to preserve access to reproductive health care after an executive order in Alabama banned nearly all abortions in the state, using the coronavirus as an excuse for the ban. Earlier, in April 2020, Attorney General James led a coalition of attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit supporting the plaintiffs in Little Rock Family Planning Services v. Rutledge as they fought to protect access to procedural abortions in the state of Arkansas, after the state Department of Health used an emergency health order to ban all procedural abortions in Arkansas, using COVID-19 as the reasoning for the ban. Additionally, in April 2020, Attorney General James demanded that three health insurance companies Aetna, MetroPlus Health, and Oscar Health immediately provide coverage for 12-month supplies of contraceptives after the Office of the Attorney General found that these companies were refusing to comply with a New York state law requiring all health insurance companies to provide this 12-month supply especially troublesome in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, as many New Yorkers lost their jobs and health insurance coverage, and tried to limit unnecessary trips to pharmacies. Attorney General James also sent letters to other insurers in New York, reminding them about their obligation to provide 12 months of contraceptive coverage to women under New Yorks Comprehensive Contraception Coverage Act. Even earlier, in April 2020, Attorney General James led a multistate coalition in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, supporting the plaintiffs in Southwind Womens Center LLC v. Stitt as they fought to preserve access to reproductive health care for patients across the state of Oklahoma and worked to stop the state from banning almost all abortions in Oklahoma when it used the COVID-19 public health crisis as an excuse. Prior to that, in April 2020, Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania supporting a lawsuit defending the contraceptive coverage and counseling requirement previously mandated by rules under the Affordable Care Act that were limited by broad religious and conscience exemptions created by the Trump Administration. The old contraceptive rules benefited more than 62 million women across the country. At the beginning of April 2020, Attorney General James led a multistate coalition of attorneys general from around the nation in filing an amicus brief supporting the plaintiffs in Planned Parenthood v. Abbott, after the state of Texas issued a directive banning nearly all abortion services in the state, using COVID-19 as an excuse. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020, Attorney General James called on the federal government and states across the country to ensure that access to safe, legal abortions would not be jeopardized or curtailed as a result of the spread of COVID-19. In January 2020, Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general filed an amicus brief in the case Reproductive Health Services v. Parson, challenging the constitutionality of a recently-enacted abortion ban and other bans in the state of Missouri that, among other things, banned abortions after as early as eight weeks into pregnancy. Earlier, in January 2020, Attorney General James successfully argued that patients in Rochester seeking to have an abortion should be able to do so without being harassed, threatened, or blocked before entering a clinic when a district court judge dismissed a lawsuit by anti-abortion activists seeking to bypass a 15-foot buffer zone outside a local Planned Parenthood facility. In June 2020, Attorney General James submitted a brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit defending that victory. In December 2019, Attorney General James filed an amicus brief defending the right to maintain full and equal access to birth control guaranteed under the Affordable Care Act for tens of thousands of patients nationwide, in the case Richard W. DeOtte et al. v Alex M. Azar in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. In November 2019, Attorney General James secured another major victory for reproductive freedom after a federal court invalidated a Trump Administration rule that would have allowed businesses and individuals to refuse to provide necessary health care on the basis of businesses' or employees religious beliefs or moral convictions. The victory came after, in May 2019, Attorney General James led a coalition of 23 states, cities, and municipalities in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administrations HHS for putting forward the rule, arguing that it undermined the delivery of health care by giving health care institutions and individuals including employers the right to refuse care based on the providers own personal views and not the choices of a patient. In October 2019, Attorney General James filed a multistate amicus brief in support of a lawsuit filed by the Jackson Womens Health Organization against the state of Mississippi, challenging a law that would prohibit abortions after as early as six weeks of pregnancy. In September 2019, Attorney General James led a multistate amicus brief in support of a lawsuit filed by Kentucky clinics and physicians, challenging a Kentucky law that would ban physicians from providing second-trimester abortion services, using the most common and safest procedure available for women after 15 weeks of pregnancy. In June 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed the district court's permanent injunction against the law. In August 2019, Attorney General James filed a multistate amicus brief in support of a lawsuit filed by the Whole Womans Health Alliance against the state of Indiana after the state denied the clinics application for a license to open an abortion clinic that would provide medication abortions in South Bend. Finally, in March 2019, Attorney General James co-led a coalition of 21 attorneys general in challenging the Trump Administrations Title X family planning rule, which restricts health care providers that receive certain federal funds from counseling or making referrals for abortion. After the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the rule, Attorney General James co-led the coalition, in October 2020, in filing a petition that asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case. Separately, in May 2020, Attorney General James and another coalition of attorneys general filed an amicus brief in a different lawsuit brought by the city of Baltimore against the Trump Administrations Title X rule. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit struck down the rule enjoining it in Maryland while it remained in place across the rest of the nation after which the Trump Administration filed its own petition asking the Supreme Court to hear the case. In March 2021, the coalitions in both cases joined with the Biden-Harris Administration to ask the Supreme Court to dismiss both cases, while the Biden-Harris Administration acted to rescind and replace the rule. In May 2021, the Supreme Court entered the order to dismiss both cases, and denied efforts by additional parties to step in and defend the gag rule. At the same time, Attorney General James co-led a coalition of 23 attorneys general in sending a comment letter to HHS, applauding the agencys proposed rule to undo the harmful, Trump era Title X gag rule. Then, just yesterday, Attorney General James co-led a multistate coalition of 24 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in the case of Ohio v. Becerra, opposing the plaintiffs' efforts to halt implementation of the new Biden-Harris Administrations Title X rule promulgated in 2021. 9th May 2022 Runtime 13:12 CentralNic (AIM:CNIC) supplies the tools for businesses to get online including domain names, hosting, websites, email, website security, brand protection and domain monetisation services. The real star of our business, says Chief Executive Ben Crawford is our online marketing business. This is tools for companies that already have a website that are trying to win customers over the internet. That star helped drive the $156m of revenue and $18m EBITDA made in Q1 alone which is an increase of 85% and 80% respectively on last year with organic revenue growth at 51%. The numbers are big as is the size of the market the company is engaged with. Crawford says last year the market was $450 billion growing at more than 20%. We can keep growing at 50% a year all the way up to 2030 and still not have 1% market share in the market. CentralNic has been listed on AIM for nine years and Crawford doesn't like to disappoint, and in the most recent investor update management were confident enough to materially upgrading market estimates for the rest of the year. We keep upgrading forecasts as business is going very well. We believe in the robustness of our business model and through acquiring more and more businesses we make it more robust." Crawford describes recent acquisition VGL as a "wonderful addition to our company" with "fantastic capabilities" and is a "great next step." Its Germanys leading comparison website company and fits with CentralNics growth strategy. Crawford summarises that strategy. Our business model is if you buy a company in the same business as the companies you already own but with different suppliers and different customers you can merge them into a marketplace and create a network effect where all the new customers can buy from all the old suppliers and all the new suppliers can sell to the old customers. Thats a simple definition as is the clear message Crawford has for investors. The opportunity that were facing is enormous. Just gigantic compared to the scale of the company today and everything internally is pointing to continued success. Were here for the long-term. (Alliance News) - Foresight Group Holdings Ltd said on Monday it has been appointed by Irish financial services provider AIB Group PLC to manage a new small and medium-sized enterprise equity fund. The infrastructure and private equity investment manager will manage the AIB Foresight Impact Fund. The fund aims to "support Irish businesses to contribute to a more sustainable future" with equity investments of between EUR2 million and EUR5 million. AIB will be a cornerstone investor in the fund, having signed an initial commitment of EUR30 million. The fund will target a total raise of EUR75 million over time. Foresight will open its first office in Dublin shortly, it said. "The AIB Foresight Impact Fund represents an exciting new partnership and geographic expansion for the group and is further evidence of the tangible progress we are making towards delivering our strategic growth plans," said Executive Chair Bernard Fairman. Foresight shares closed 4.5% higher at 397.00 pence each in London on Monday. By Sophie Rose; sophierose@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - The G7 club of wealthy nations committed Sunday to phasing out its dependency on Russian oil and issued a scathing statement accusing President Vladimir Putin of bringing "shame" on Russia with his invasion of Ukraine. The statement from the Group of Seven France, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the US did not specify exactly what commitments each country will make to move away from Russian energy. But it was an important development in the ongoing campaign to pressure Putin by crippling Russia's economy, and underscores the unity of the international community against Moscow's actions. "We commit to phase out our dependency on Russian energy, including by phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil. We will ensure that we do so in a timely and orderly fashion, and in ways that provide time for the world to secure alternative supplies," the joint statement said. "This will hit hard at the main artery of Putin's economy and deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war," the White House said. The announcement came as the G7 held its third meeting of the year on Sunday via video conference, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participating. The West has so far displayed close coordination in its announcements of sanctions against Russia, but has not moved at the same pace when it comes to Russian oil and gas. The US, which was not a major consumer of Russian hydrocarbons, has already banned their import. But Europe is far more reliant on Russian oil. The EU has already said it is aiming to cut its reliance on Russian gas by two-thirds this year, though Germany has opposed calls for a full boycott, with member states continuing intense negotiations Sunday. The G7 also slammed Putin personally for his actions in Ukraine. The Russian president's "unprovoked war of aggression" against its Eastern European neighbor has brought "shame on Russia and the historic sacrifices of its people," the group said in its statement. "Russia has violated the international rules-based order, particularly the UN Charter, conceived after the Second World War to spare successive generations from the scourge of war," the statement continued. The date of Sunday's G7 meeting is highly symbolic: Europeans commemorate the end of World War II in Europe on May 8. Sunday's meeting also comes on the eve of the May 9 military parade in Russia, which marks the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany. Washington also announced a new round of sanctions against Russia in a White House statement on Sunday, focusing on two major areas: the media, and access by Russian companies and wealthy individuals to world-leading US accounting and consulting services. The US will sanction Joint Stock Company Channel One Russia, Television Station Russia-1, and Joint Stock Company NTV Broadcasting Company. Any US company will be prohibited from financing them through advertising or selling them equipment. "US companies should not be in the business of funding Russian propaganda," said a senior White House official who requested anonymity, stressing that these media were directly or indirectly controlled by the Kremlin. Another line of attack by Washington: banning the provision of "accounting, trust and corporate formation, and management consulting services to any person in the Russian Federation," according to the White House. Those services are used to run multinational companies, but also potentially to circumvent sanctions or hide ill-gotten wealth, the White House official said. The official stressed that while the Europeans had the closest industrial links with Russia, the US and the UK dominated the world of accounting and consulting, notably through the "Big Four" the four global audit and consulting giants Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC. Washington has also announced new bans on the export of American products to Russia, covering a range of capital goods from bulldozers to ventilation systems and boilers. The US announced on Sunday that it would impose visa restrictions on 2,600 Russian and Belarusian officials, as well as sanctions against officials of Sberbank and Gazprombank. source: AFP Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Georgia Capital PLC on Monday said its net asset value dropped in the first quarter of 2022 on market movements and the war in Ukraine. Further, the Tbilisi, Georgia-based investor warned that the long-term consequences of the war still remain difficult to predict. The investor in businesses in Georgia said its net asset value per share stood at GEL52.62, or GBP14.16, as at March 22, down 17% versus GEL63.03 as at December 31. The company's NAV fell by 18% quarter-on-quarter to GEL2.37 billion from GEL2.88 billion. Georgia Capital explained that this reflected a hit to portfolio asset valuations from market movements in discount rates, as well as the negative impact of the war in Ukraine. "The Russia-Ukraine war has resulted in extraordinary global economic disruption, as unprecedented sanctions were imposed upon the Russian economy; energy prices have surged, and global spillover risks have been substantially increased," the company explained. Revenue of the investor's total portfolio grew 15% to GEL435.0 million from GEL378.3 million, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation fell 0.7% to GEL53.8 million from GEL54.2 million in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the final one last year. Georgia Capital credited this to the robust operating performance of its portfolio companies. Looking ahead, the company said it is well-positioned to withstand potential pressures and deliver consistent NAV per share growth over the medium term. However, Georgia Capital warned that the long-term consequences of the war still remain unpredictable and very difficult to assess. "I have always highlighted that we must be constantly mindful of emerging risks, whilst continuing to tap attractive investment opportunities. We will be increasing our focus on balancing the varying risks and opportunities in an ever-changing, very volatile environment, where it is extremely difficult to predict the short and long-term impacts of the recent geopolitical tensions on our people, our businesses, and our country," Chair & Chief Executive Irakli Gilauri said. Separately, the company announced that Chair & CEO Gilauri has proposed to separate the roles of chair and CEO. The proposal was accepted and Gilauri will step down as CEO and continue as chair. Meanwhile, deputy chief executive officer Nikoloz Gamkrelidze will take on the role of CEO Shares were down 3.0% at 578.00 pence each on Monday morning in London. By Abby Amoakuh; abbyamoakuh@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Rotala PLC - bus operations at Heathrow airport and in West Midlands and North West - UK Court of Appeal grants leave to appeal in ongoing bus franchise matter in Manchester. Matter concerns the judicial review of how a consultation in bus franchising in Manchester was carried out in 2021. In March, Justice Julian Knowles ruled against Rotala, who claimed the process was "unlawful". Knowles had refused to give Rotala leave to appeal at that time. The company since sought permission at the Court of Appeal, and has now been granted leave to appeal "certain aspects of the case". The appeal case is expected to take place before August of this year, the company says. Current stock price: 35.40 pence 12-month change: up 8.9% By Elizabeth Winter; elizabethwinter@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Tower Resources PLC - Africa-focused oil and gas company - Says Cameroon government agrees to further extension of exploration to May 2023. However, Tower Resources is redrawing its funding plans for drilling the NJOM-3 well at the Thali project, offshore Cameroon. Tower Resources says it has yet to receive approval from the government of Cameroon regarding its farm-out to Beluga Energy of a 49% non-operating working interest in its Thali production sharing contract. The farm-out to Beluga Energy Ltd covers USD15 million towards the expected USD16.8 million cost of the NJOM-3 well that Tower is planning to drill. Company has now informed Cameroon's minister of mines, industry & technological development it will no longer be seeking approval of the farmout in its current form. Company explains: "There are a number of reasons for this, but the most important is that during the last six months while the Government of Cameroon was conducting due diligence on the proposed transaction, the market environment has changed considerably. In particular, the company has been in discussion with local banks in Cameroon (including the bank with which it previously discussed this transaction in 2019) and the company now believes that debt financing may be available to cover a significant portion of the well cost. This should allow a restructured transaction which would require less of the equity in the project to be given up in return for the well funding, to the advantage of all parties. "It should also be noted that a restructured transaction (as contemplated in the original farmout documents) does not require government approval. Company intends to work with the banks with whom it presently has discussions, and with Beluga and other interested parties, to restructure the well financing over the next few months, with the objective of concluding a revised transaction in the third quarter of 2022, that is less dilutive to Tower shareholders than the present farmout structure." Current stock price: 0.24 pence, down 28% on Monday 12-month change: down 34% By Arvind Bhunjun; arvindbhunjun@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - The Irish premier has said that the Democratic Unionist Party is wrong to place conditions on the return to power-sharing in Northern Ireland. The unionist party, led by Jeffrey Donaldson, has insisted that it will not form an executive until issues with the Northern Ireland Protocol are resolved. Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that the Northern Ireland Protocol, a post-Brexit arrangement to avoid checks on the island of Ireland, was not the dominant issue in the assembly election. The election was won by Sinn Fein in a historic victory, with the party overtaking the DUP to become the first nationalist or republican party to emerge on top at Stormont. This means the Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle O'Neill is in line to become the first nationalist or republican first minister. Martin on Monday urged the DUP to form a power-sharing executive alongside the other parties in Northern Ireland. "I think everyone should reflect on the results. It is a significant result," Martin said on Monday. "All the parties, bar the Traditional Unionist Voice, focused on the bread-and-butter issues," he said. "My sense is that the mandate they got was to take their assembly seats. "This was an election fought on current topical issues and, therefore, I think parties could lose out if they do not respond to what people said to them on the doorsteps," Martin told RTE radio. Martin rejected any suggestion of EU inflexibility on the Northern Ireland Protocol, which created new checks on trade moving from Great Britain. Instead, he said that there is a "landing zone" for a compromise between the two sides. He said that the Republic of Ireland was doing all it could to help facilitate those discussions. "I don't think the assessment that is coming from the British government is a fair assessment of the EU's position. I think the EU has been flexible, has demonstrated flexibility, but every time up to now that the EU has demonstrated flexibility, it hasn't been reciprocated. "And that has made the EU more cautious in terms of the discussions with the UK government." The Irish premier said he believes that, following the assembly elections, agreement can be reached between the UK and the EU on the protocol. "I think the moment is now for both the EU and the UK," he said. "The British government wants to bring this to a conclusion. "Any further sort of negative developments on this front will prove that Brexit isn't being done. "I think all of us now have to have due regard to stability within the North, to the full workings of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement." The Sinn Fein victory has fuelled further speculation about the future constitutional position of Northern Ireland and whether a referendum on Irish unity could take place in the coming years. But Martin dismissed such speculation, saying he was "amused" by it due to the lack of discussion of Irish unity during the election campaign. While stressing his own support for Irish unity, he said: "That was not the mandate sought by Sinn Fein in the last three weeks. "The whole campaign was on cost of living, on health and on housing. "The border poll was nearly buried from its documentation and its manifesto and, (as) soon as the votes are counted, it is brought back into centre stage." He said that he did not agree with calls for a citizens' assembly on Irish unity. "I don't favour that approach because I think the way you build bridges between North and South is by first of all the political parties and members of parties, members of society more generally, engaging more and more," he said. Martin has launched a shared island initiative to develop cross-border links and he lauded his own commitment to the growth of dialogue on the island, while also hitting out at Sinn Fein's own preparation for any mooted border poll. "What work have they done themselves in relation to that? Where is Sinn Fein's work on this? It's fairly scant now in terms of substance." source: PA Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Kosmos Energy Ltd on Monday said it had a "strong" first quarter, with a sharp jump in revenue coming from increased oil prices. For three months ended March 31, revenue surged to USD659.1 million, up sharply from USD176.6 million a year earlier. The oil company, focused on Ghana, Guinea and the US Gulf of Mexico, swung to a net income of USD1.4 million, from a USD90.8 million loss a year prior. Oil & gas production expenses rose to USD124.7 million from USD45.8 million. Kosmos saw total net production in the first quarter hit 72,600 barrels of oil equivalent per day, at the top end of guidance. Chair and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Inglis said: "Kosmos had a strong first quarter operationally and financially, with production at the top end of guidance and free cash flow of around USD220 million. We are continuing to invest in our differentiated portfolio which has the potential to grow production around 50% between 2022 and 2024 while increasing the gas weighting of our portfolio. "This production growth combined with a reduction in capital spending as these projects come online should allow Kosmos to generate material, sustainable cash flow for its shareholders." Kosmos shares were up 3.0% on Monday morning at 599.70 pence each in London. By Xindi Wei; xindiwei@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved (Alliance News) - The following stocks are the leading risers and fallers among London Main Market small-caps on Monday. ---------- SMALL-CAP - WINNERS ---------- Wildcat Petroleum PLC, up 8.1% at 1.95 pence, 12-month range 0.60p-4.00p. Lands the right to reconnaissance work at over 20 offshore petroleum blocks in Sierra Leone. The assets span 24,000 square kilometres, the company said. Wildcat targets investment opportunities in businesses and assets within the upstream sector of the petroleum industry, including the use of blockchain. The recce permit followed a "process of engagement with the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone", Wildcat says. "This permit grants Wildcat a non-exclusive right to conduct reconnaissance operations within the relevant blocks for the period of six months from the start of the agreement," the company says. ---------- Kosmos Energy Ltd, up 2.9% at 599.65 pence, 12-month range 136.00p-622.50p. Has "strong" first quarter, with a sharp jump in revenue coming from increased oil prices. For three months ended March 31, revenue surged to USD659.1 million, up sharply from USD176.6 million a year earlier. The oil company, focused on Ghana, Guinea and the US Gulf of Mexico, swung to a net income of USD1.4 million, from a USD90.8 million loss a year prior. Oil & gas production expenses rose to USD124.7 million from USD45.8 million. Kosmos saw total net production in the first quarter hit 72,600 barrels of oil equivalent per day, at the top end of guidance. ---------- NextEnergy Solar Fund Ltd, up 2.4% at 110.55 pence, 12-month range 0.97p-110.80p. Nears 12-month high as it agrees a second co-investment with NextPower III ESG for EUR22.5 million, for a 13% stake in a solar project being constructed in Santarem, Portugal. Energisation of the 210 megawatt project is scheduled to take place in the second quarter of 2023, following which the project is on-track to benefit from a long-term power purchase agreement for the sale of electricity. NextEnergy will fund the co-investment from its revolving credit facilities. ---------- SMALL-CAP - LOSERS ---------- Georgia Capital PLC, down 3.0% at 578.00 pence, 12-month range 460.00p-725.00p. Says net asset value dropped in the first quarter of 2022 on market movements and the war in Ukraine. Further, the Tbilisi, Georgia-based investor warned that the long-term consequences of the war still remain difficult to predict. The investor in businesses in Georgia said its net asset value per share stood at GEL52.62, or GBP14.16, as at March 22, down 17% versus GEL63.03 as at December 31. The company's NAV fell by 18% quarter-on-quarter to GEL2.37 billion from GEL2.88 billion. ---------- By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Monday and not separately reported by Alliance News: ---------- Longboat Energy PLC - exploration and production company focused on the North Sea - Farms into gas weighted exploration prospects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf which have combined gross unrisked mean resources of 223 million barrels of oil equivalent. Longboat strikes deal with OMV (Norge) AS. Company adds 45 million boe will be net to Longboat. Longboat acquires a 20% stake in assets named Oswig and Velocette. "Oswig and Velocette are material, gas prospects close to infrastructure in Norway anticipated to drill in summer 2022 and Q2 2023 respectively," Longboat adds. Acquisition comprises of NOK109 million, about USD12.4 million, pretax carry, NOK30.7 million on post-tax basis. Longboat adds: "The associated expenditure is anticipated to be met by a combination of Longboat's existing cash resources and drawings on its NOK600 million exploration finance facility. The company is fully funded for its current committed expenditure." ---------- Midwich Group PLC - audio visual technology distributor - Says 2021 results displayed "strength of our business". Revenue and adjusted pretax profit in 2021 was company record, despite audio-visual market remaining "below pre-pandemic levels". Chair Andrew Herbert says: "We remain committed to our established strategy of delivering strong organic growth, supplemented by targeted acquisitions, as well as building on our expertise across a broader range of markets and products." Says trading in first four months of new year has been in line with board expectations. ---------- Falanx Group Ltd - Reading, England-based cyber security - Working with Bratislava, Slovak Republic-headquartered ESET spol sro and Cape Town, South Africa-based Grove Group to develop managed-endpoint detection and response solutions. MEDR refers to the idenification of cyber threats and subsequent response to them. Falanx says: "The ESET EDR capability is a leader in its field providing customers with protection from advanced persistent threats. The cloud-based version is now available enabling customers in the hybrid network environment to have full protection and control." ---------- FireAngel Safety Technology Group PLC - Coventry, England-based home safety products maker - Delivers first development milestone in agreement with Techem Energy Services GmbH. Agreement is for development of "new generation smoke alarm" for German market. Company says: "The first contractual NGSA development milestone, which was delivered on time and within budget, is a plug-compatible board for sensor control." Says development phase of deal with Techem 18% complete on a planned man-days basis. ---------- Kavango Resources PLC - mining company focused in Botswana - Says Great Red Spot asset can play host to iron oxide copper-gold mineralisation. IOCG "systems can host highly valuable copper, gold and uranium ores", Kavango says. Company adds: "The large size and relatively simple metallurgy can produce extremely profitable mines." In addition, company plans placing of to raise GBP750,000, at 3 pence each. Says 25.0 million shares placed. Funds to go towards expanding exploration programme. ---------- Yellow Cake PLC - Jersey-based investor in uranium - Under buyback programme, repurchases 566,833 shares for USD3 million in total, a weighted average price per share of 415.4 pence. ---------- i3 Energy PLC - oil and gas producer in the UK and Canada - First quarter average output doubles year-on-year to 18,095 barrels of oil equivalent per day from 9,035. Increases Canadian capital budget by "up to USD50 million" above previously earmarked USD47 million for 2022. Says monthly dividend payments totalling GBP1.2 million kicked off in March, with year-to-date distributions totalling GBP3.6 million. i3 says "dividend increase is expected to be announced in due course". ---------- Lexington Gold Ltd - Bermuda-based explorer with projects in the US - Receives remaining assay results from Loflin asset in US. Results show "significant shallow level intersections" including from areas outside of north-eastern boundary of main Loflin resource. Lexington adds: "Assay results returned silver values of up to 6.9 grammes per tonne, associated with gold mineralisation and zones of high sulphide alteration." ---------- Cora Gold Ltd - gold company focused on West Africa - Says drill programme of 11 aircore shallow holes completed at Sanankoro gold project in Mali. Notes two new discoveries, Fode 1 and Target 6, which are both in "close proximity to existing mineral resources". ---------- By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Wildcat Petroleum PLC on Monday said it has landed the right to reconnaissance work at over 20 offshore petroleum blocks in Sierra Leone. The assets span 24,000 square kilometres, the company said. Wildcat targets investment opportunities in businesses and assets within the upstream sector of the petroleum industry, including the use of blockchain. Shares in the company were 8.3% higher at 1.95 pence each in London on Monday morning. The recce permit followed a "process of engagement with the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone", Wildcat said. "This permit grants Wildcat a non-exclusive right to conduct reconnaissance operations within the relevant blocks for the period of six months from the start of the agreement," the company said. Wildcat will carry out a desktop study, using existing geophysical and geological data, with the aim of identifying blocks which have the potential "to yield commercially viable oil finds". The company added: "The permit is non-exclusive and gives Wildcat no pre-emptive rights over any of the acreage covered by the permit. If blocks with the potential of containing commercially viable oil discoveries are identified, then Wildcat intends to enter negotiations with the PDSL for a petroleum exploration and production licences." By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. 06 May 2022 Caerus Mineral Resources PLC ('Caerus' or the 'Company') Directorate Change Caerus Mineral Resources (LON: CMRS), the Cyprus-based exploration and resource development company focused on developing copper-gold mineral resources to support the global "Clean Energy" initiative, advises of changes to the Board of Directors and updates shareholders on the Company's business plan. Changes to Board and Management Martyn Churchouse is stepping down from the role of Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and will be succeeded by Charles Long, a mining specialist with stockbroking, management and business development experience in the extractive industries and financial services sectors. Mr Churchouse will manage an orderly transition and will remain in a Senior Consulting Role to the Caerus Board so as to ensure continuity and advancement of the Joint Venture between Bezant Resources plc ("Bezant") and Caerus in respect of the Troulli Project in Cyprus which is rapidly reaching the development phase. Mr Long will commence his role as CEO on 16 May 2022. Professor Michael Johnson is retiring from the role of non-Executive Chairman of Caerus, with Brian Rowbotham to assume the role on 16 May 2022. Mr Rowbotham has extensive Board level experience in several areas of the financial services sector including investment banking, stockbroking, fund management and private equity. Furthermore, Richard Hawken joins the Caerus Board in the role of non-Executive Director joining Andrew Daniels whose position and in-country role in Cyprus remain unchanged. Richard has a long and successful career in mining and exploration in southern Africa and will be jointly responsible for managing new business acquisitions focused on the country 'arc' of Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. The terms and conditions associated with the Bezant Joint Venture remain in force without any changes being applied as does the contribution of Jubilee Metals Group. Business plan update The appointment of Mr Long is to accommodate and promote the next phase of growth in the company's business plan and oversee and advance expansion plans into Africa. Multiple southern African states harbour Tier 1 copper mines and there are many opportunities for ambitious new entrants such as Caerus to gain a foothold and grow in this region. Copper is a strategic metal in the Clean Energy Transition and remains a core focus for Caerus. The Company recognises significant opportunities to develop responsible, sustainable sources of copper to meet growing demand. Caerus is presently in an advanced stage of due diligence on opportunities in the copper sector and shareholders can expect further announcements in this regard in the near future. Martyn Churchouse, CEO of Caerus Mineral Resources said: "Caerus has, over a period of 12 months, made a number of valuable acquisitions in Cyprus alongside concluding strategic agreements with Bezant Resources as a joint venture partner and Jubilee Metals Group as a potential future JV partner. The development of our maiden resource is the culmination of the exploration team's hard work that has only just begun to scratch the surface of the potential in Cyprus, where I fully expect further significant discoveries to be made. This is an important period for the Company and I look forward to working with Charlie and the rest of the board in my role as we progress the projects further. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Mike Johnson for all his hard work, insight and good company as both a founder of Caerus and in his role as Chairman. Caerus was fortunate to have Mike at its helm and I wish him the very best in the future". Charlie Long commented; "It is an extremely exciting time to be joining Caerus as the work in Cyprus continues to highlight the strong potential for further discoveries, underpinned by the maiden resource base. Additionally, Caerus is expanding its focus and has begun targeting copper opportunities in the exciting southern Africa region. I would like to thank Martyn and Michael for their work at Caerus, without whom we would not be in the strong position we are in today, and I look forward to updating our shareholders on progress both in Cyprus and beyond." About Caerus Mineral Resources Caerus Mineral Resources is a European focused copper-gold resource development and exploration company with a portfolio of mineral exploration licences located in Cyprus. The Country has a well-developed infrastructure and history of mineral exploration and production, which has been dormant over the last 50 years and provides significant undiscovered value. With investors recognising copper as one of the cornerstone metals for the Clean Energy Transition centred upon the Electric Vehicle and Stationary Energy sectors, Caerus is working to rapidly expand its copper exploration and production objectives. The Caerus licence portfolio includes 18 former mines which operated with an average head grade of approximately 2% copper. Caerus' licence portfolio comprises brownfield sites, where historic mining has taken place, and greenfield licences, where there has been no systematic exploration. The Brownfield sites and the former high-grade copper-gold mines they host are evidence of rock types and structures conducive to Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide ("VMS") mineralisation. As VMS deposits characteristically occur in camps or clusters, it is the company's view that its licences are prospective for both extensions to existing or mined-out orebodies together with new discoveries. The combination of brown and greenfield exploration provides optionality and the opportunity for the company to quickly build a resource portfolio that can be developed commercially. Certain information contained in this announcement would have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement. END THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY PETRO MATAD LIMITED TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE UK VERSION OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014 AS IT FORMS PART OF UNITED KINGDOM DOMESTIC LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 ("UK MAR"). ON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ("RIS"), THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. 05 May 2022 Petro Matad Limited ('Petro Matad' or the 'Company') Operational Update LONDON, 05 May 2022: Petro Matad Limited ("Petro Matad" or "the Company"), the AIM quoted Mongolian oil company, provides the following operational update. Covid-19 The recent increase in Covid-19 related lockdowns and travel restrictions in China continue to impact Mongolia at a time when it was hoped there would have been significant relaxation. China is maintaining tight control on movement across its borders and there are currently no signs that these controls will be relaxed in the short term. This is impacting all businesses in Mongolia that rely on cross-border trade including the oil field service providers. PetroChina's export of Mongolian oil production across the border into China is also suspended because of the Covid-19 controls and there are no Chinese oil rigs operating in Mongolia at the moment. Block XX Exploitation Area Petro Matad has continued to engage with local and central Government to secure all necessary permits. Local officials remain reticent to discuss applications due to lobbying on social media by a vocal minority protesting against industrial activity. This included at a recent local meeting when allegations were made about the Company's Environmental Impact Assessment despite the fact it was prepared as per the regulations and has been approved by the Ministry of Environment. For issues that cannot be resolved locally, Petro Matad has sought input from central government and this strategy has resulted in progress on the long-running land issue. In late April, the Cabinet of the Mongolian Government issued a resolution directing the certification of exploration and exploitation licences by the central Land Agency such that local approvals on land use are not required. We are advised by industry regulator, the Mineral Resources and Petroleum Authority of Mongolia (MRPAM), that this will allow work on all Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) areas to progress without land access delays whilst the planned amendments to the land law that will remove the current legal ambiguities pass through parliament. We are pushing to secure the land certificates on Block XX and V as a matter of urgency. We will follow a similar strategy with the central Government if required to ensure there is no impact on our already completed environmental permitting. With the Covid-19 situation in China causing operational delays in Mongolia, the Company continues to prioritise its efforts to get Heron 1 on stream. The contract with the chosen well completions contractor is in final form. We are seeking confirmation that equipment and crews for the completion and readying for production of Heron 1 are available as soon as we are ready to mobilise. It is our operational preference that as soon as the well is stimulated and completed it should immediately be put on production. The current suspension of all oil production and export from PetroChina's Blocks XIX and XXI and with all on site storage full means that we need oil export to restart in order to optimise the start-up sequencing on Heron 1. In anticipation of the situation improving, Petro Matad has placed orders for surface production equipment for the Heron 1 well and discussions with PetroChina, on the use of its production facilities are progressing well. We are also in discussion to buy or rent equipment from PetroChina Mongolia to avoid the need for, and current uncertainty of, importation. Discussions with MRPAM on oil processing, transport and sales options were concluded with their full support and we are now in discussion with PetroChina's Mongolian affiliate on the commercial details of sharing infrastructure and logistics. Technical and operational cooperation, Block XX In parallel with operational preparations for the 2022 programme, Petro Matad continues to work with DQE Drilling (DQE) on its proposal to enter into a cooperation agreement that could accelerate Heron Field development activities. Petro Matad has supplied a multi-year target work programme and this is under review in DQE's headquarters. Block V Exploration PSC The Cabinet resolution on land access will assist in securing the necessary permits to allow the Company to work on the Raptor Trend. Having identified an in-country drilling contractor with equipment and experience in drilling to the target depth required on the Velociraptor prospect, we are now in discussion on potential rig availability and well cost. Mike Buck, CEO of Petro Matad, said: "China's zero Covid-19 policy is having major impacts not only within China but also on Mongolia. Our preparations to operate are progressing well but, with uncertainty on when drilling operations in country will recommence, we are focusing as a priority on Heron 1 completion and production. We are very pleased with the outcome of the Cabinet meeting held last week. The restoration of land use rights under the PSC is an important and necessary step, and we will continue to work with the local, district and provincial authorities to underline our intention to be a partner whose activities can continue to bring benefits to the communities in which we operate. I would also like to personally thank our shareholders for their continued patience and support while we work to get Heron 1 on stream and implement our broader 2022 work programme." - Ends - Further information please contact: Petro Matad Limited Mike Buck, CEO +976 7014 1099 / +976 7575 1099 Shore Capital (Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker) Toby Gibbs John More +44 (0) 20 7408 4090 Arden Partners (Joint Broker) Paul Shackleton +44 (0) 20 7614 5900 FTI Consulting (Communications Advisory Firm) Ben Brewerton Christopher Laing +44 (0) 20 3727 1000 About Petro Matad Petro Matad is the parent company of a group focussed on oil exploration, as well as future development and production in Mongolia. At the current time, Petro Matad holds 100% working interest and the operatorship of two Production Sharing Contracts with the Government of Mongolia. Block XX has an area of 218 square kilometres in the far eastern part of the country and Block V has an area of 7,937 square kilometres in the central western part of the country. Petro Matad Limited is incorporated in the Isle of Man under company number 1483V. Its registered office is at Victory House, Prospect Hill, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 1EQ. For decades, a cash-filled envelope - or sobre - was how hundreds of thousands of Spaniards working without legal contracts in tourism, agriculture or construction collected their salaries. COVID-19, however, may finally be putting paid to the sobre, economic data and workers experiences suggest - accelerating a six-year-long crackdown in Spain on the shadow economy and providing a welcome boost to the countrys public finances. The Spanish economy was the hardest hit in the euro area by the pandemic, shrinking 11% in 2020 amid tough lockdowns. Two years later, it has still not returned to its pre-virus level. But something unexpected has also happened: overall tax receipts and the number of people in official employment are now actually higher than at the point COVID-19 struck. The reason, according to labour experts, trade unionists, employers and workers interviewed by Reuters, is that one unforeseen side effect of the pandemic has been to flush many Spaniards out of the shadow economy and into regular employment. Chief causes have been the declining use of cash as a result of pandemic-era hygiene measures, together with increased demand for contracts by workers who saw that going under the radar also meant missing out on furlough payments during lockdowns. While some of those factors apply to other countries, the makeup of Spains economy and other local factors mean the impact has been particularly tangible there. In the catering sector, there is a Before and After the pandemic, said Gonzalo Fuentes, catering sector representative at CCOO, Spains largest trade union of a sector which in 2019 accounted for 12.4% of Spains official economy. Workers realised being underground doesnt pay off, even though by paying no taxes or social charges they were earning more. While measuring shadow economies is due to their very nature difficult, estimates showed that even before the pandemic Spains drive to curb hidden activity had seen it pull away from euro zone peers Italy, Greece and Cyprus where shadow economic activity remains significant. Spanish authorities pre-pandemic ramped up labour inspections in tourism and agriculture, even using algorithms to detect tax fraud. Employers have changed. Everyone now gives you a contract, said one 55-year-old who would only be identified as A.R. because he has worked undeclared for 30 years as a waiter to supplement his main income in the public sector. I remember being at a wedding just before the pandemic and before the service started, the inspectors arrived and started to identify all the waiters. A group of them ran off through the olive groves, he told Reuters. At the same time as labour practices were changing, COVID-19 highlighted the lack of protection for informal workers and brought about a shift in consumer behaviour as hygiene protocols encouraged a switch from cash to credit card payments, a key factor in reducing tax fraud. This is very important for tax control because they are traceable transactions, the director of Spains Tax Agency, Jesus Gascon, told lawmakers on a parliamentary committee. Moreover that shift was coupled with a ban in July 2021 on paying more than 1,000 euros ($1,054.00) in cash as part of government measures to crack down on the shadow economy. Paying by bank transfer has totally changed the entire mindset in the agriculture sector, said Vicente Jimenez, responsible for the agriculture branch at the CCOO union. This is a journey of no return. A journey into the 21st century. Combined, these two trends have had sizeable impacts. The number of workers making social security contributions exceeded 20 million for the first time ever in April 2022, compared to slightly below 19 million before the pandemic. Taxation receipts hit in gross terms 275 billion euros in 2021, compared to 248 billion in the previous year and 266 billion for 2019 before the virus struck. That extra boost for state coffers has been one factor allowing Spain to cut its budget deficit in 2021 to 6.9% of GDP, from 11% the previous year, above the governments own expectations. The underground economy, which was one of the weaknesses of the Spanish tax system, is finally being brought out into the open, Economy Minister Nadia Calvino told an April 29 news conference presenting Spains economic outlook. Data gathered by University of Linz economist Friedrich Schneider, an expert on shadow economies whose work in the area has been published by the International Monetary Fund, suggest Spain is moving away from its main Mediterranean peer, Italy. According to his calculations seen exclusively by Reuters, Spains shadow economy briefly grew in 2020 to 17.39% of total economic activity before seeing a sharp fall in 2021 that will see it hit 15.8% of activity this year. That is well below Italy, Greece or Cyprus where hidden activity accounts for at least 20% of overall economic activity, according to Friedrich, and lower than Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. The Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard trial has taken a week off in the midst of Amber Heard's testimony, during this week she described what it was like being with Johnny Depp during the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean 5. She claims Depp used a bottle on her The story Heard tells in the court is that she and Depp had just been married and they took a trip to Australia where the movie was being filmed, she mentions that Depp was high and drunk and apparently she hit her and sexually assaulted her for days. She told the jurors that Depp ripped her night clothing and dragged her through the floor where there was broken glass and also punched her. Bottle in question Trial Evidence "At some point, he's on top of me," Amber comments. "I'm looking in his eyes, and I don't see him anymore ... It was black. I've never been so scared in my life." She has a vague recollection of what was going on She said that before she knows it, she is at the bar with her chest up and there was something inside of her. "I thought he was punching me. I felt this pressure. I felt this pressure on my pubic bone," she said. "Johnny had the bottle inside of me and was shoving it inside of me over and over again, I thought it was his fist that was punching me" she told the jury. When she looked around there was glass debris everywhere Because the trial is underway there cannot be any statements outside of the courtroom, however, it is likely that this issue will be addressed in the future, because of the sensitive matter and the subject she is claiming. Almost a month before the start of the trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, the judicial and media process does not cease to amaze with the cross statements and accusations that are emerging. Being the first major trial to be fully televised, no one misses a detail of what happened in court these days. We have heard numerous scatological accusations in this trial. The first was Johnny Depp the fact that he accused his ex-wife of defecating in his bed, which Amber Heard herself admitted, according to the version of a witness. On the other hand, Heard had accused Depp of urinating on the landing of a house they had together in Australia. But the next scatological episode took place in court. Witness spoke out about Heard's makeup A witness who came to clarify the operation of Arnica cream, to which Amber Heard had referred explains how she hid the marks of the alleged attacks of Johnny Depp, whom she again accused this week of physical violence and abuse. The issue of the makeup Heard claimed to use to cover the bruises while they healed and the makeup brand clarified that the palette Amber showed in the trial only came on the market years later, so she claimed, therefore, her version. Heard allegedly concealed injuries Now that the part of the trial exposed by Amber Heard's defense has arrived, the object of the alleged attacks hidden by the actress is resurfacing. However, the most commented on the networks lately has not been the veracity of this information, but the incident of a witness called to the stand to talk about Amber's bulge-enhancing cream. But his statements were not the most heard at the beginning of his intervention, but a loud fart was heard from his seat, right at the end of the lawyer's question. "Sorry, it was me," the witness then apologized with great spontaneity. The Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has ordered a probe in a boarding row at the Ranchi Airport wherein the IndiGo Airlines debarred a child with special needs and his family citing inconvenience to the other passengers on Saturday. Taking a serious view on the incident, the Minister assured a probe into the matter. Stating that 'there is zero tolerance towards such behaviour', Scindia said in a Twitter message on Monday, "No human being should have to go through this! Investigating the matter by myself, post which appropriate action will be taken." The incident happened at the Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport and a video clip of the showdown went viral. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) chief has sought a report from IndiGo on the matter. "The DGCA is probing this incident and it will take appropriate action," the officials aware of this development said. Explaining the situation, the IndiGo airlines said that the child was in a 'state of panic' and they could not fly him and his parents until he calmed down. Reports also suggest that IndiGo's ground staff implied that the child with special needs was 'unfit to fly' and made inappropriate comparisons to the child as similar to the drunk passengers unfit to travel. "The airline made the family comfortable by providing them with a hotel stay, the family flew on Sunday morning to their destination. IndiGo prides itself on being an inclusive organisation, be it for employees or customers; and over 75K specially-abled passengers fly with IndiGo every month," IndiGo said in a statement. The incident took place on May 7 and this came into light after a video clip of the arguments between the family and airline staff went viral and later it came to the notice of the Civil Aviation Ministry. Were kicking off a new week with a deliciously spicy premium bourbon from Americas whiskey heartland. Its the Wiseman from Kentucky Owl! Bourbon is a funny old thing. All that rich history of distilling dating back to Americas foundation as a country, and the arrival of Scots and Irish settlers. And yet most American whiskey brands are comparatively recent because of that little 20th-century interlude called Prohibition. Its a bit boring, however, for new brands just to say, were making great whiskey because we have a passion for good spirits, so theres often a colourful 19th-century story to even the most recent of brands. So it is with Kentucky Owl whiskey. The Kentucky Owl story The original brand was founded in 1874 by C.M. Dedman in Bardstown. It continued distilling, according to the website, until Prohibition became law in 1916. At this point, the government seized some 250,00 gallons of Kentucky Owl, taking it away for safekeeping. Though according to other sources, Prohibition didnt come into effect in Kentucky until November 1919 so not sure why the government would be seizing whiskey three years early. Anyway, then there was a fire and all the stock burned. Or did it? There were rumours that the stock was actually pinched by bootleggers. But frankly who really cares as it has very little to do with the current brand. Its like one of those tedious origin stories you get in British gin about someone finding his great-great grandfathers long-lost recipe in the loft and recreating it with the help of a large contract distiller near London. The brands revival In the case of Kentucky Owl, the real story starts in 2014 when the brand was revived by Dixon Dedman, a descendant of the founder. He quickly built up the reputation of Kentucky Owl by sourcing and bottling high-quality whiskeys, both bourbon, and rye, from other distilleries. Such was the aura around the brand that bottles were changing hands on the secondary market for significantly more than RRP. Not bad for a young company with no distillery. In 2017, Kentucky Owl was purchased by the Stoli group, which is based in Luxembourg and makes its vodka in Latvia, not Russia. Though there is still a vodka brand called Stolichnaya in Russia but it has nothing to do with Stoli the company. Big plans Confused? Well, it gets more confusing when you go back to Kentucky Owl. The Stoli Group has big plans for Kentucky Owl which include building a huge pyramid-shaped distillery and brand home in Bardstown. The whole thing looks like something from the cover of a 60s sci-fi novel. But despite having a breaking ground ceremony back in 2018, it doesnt appear that anything is operational and theres much speculation about whether the distillery will ever open. Then in 2021, the company announced that Dixon Dedman was moving on and John Rhea formerly of Four Roses had been signed as master blender. It seems he knows what hes doing as one thing is clear from sampling the latest release called the Wiseman, Kentucky Owls stellar reputation is entirely deserved. According to the press release, its a blend of Kentucky Owl 4-year-old wheat and high-rye bourbons blended with 5 -year and 8 -year-old Kentucky-sourced bourbons. Love those half years. Seeing as the distillery isnt yet operational, those wheat and high-rye bourbons were distilled for Kentucky Owl by Bardstown Bourbon Co. The source of the older whiskeys is top secret. How does it taste though? Anyway, its a very classy drop for those who love a big spicy bourbon. In fact, if I tried it blind, Id probably guess it was a rye whisky. The nose explodes with ginger, cardamom, and Szechuan pepper, with lovely mature tobacco-esque aromatics. On the palate, its very dry and crackles with aromatic intensity, and its perfectly balanced at 45.4% ABV. But dont take my word for it. This is what John Rhea says: Kentucky Owl the Wiseman is an artful balance of soft wheat and spicy high-rye that provides a smooth but complex bourbon designed to drink neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. It leads with a beautiful caramel flavour and aroma followed by notes of allspice, citrus fruit, and a nudge of oak. Its one Id probably drink neat but if I had a whole bottle rather than a tiny sample Id be very curious to try it in a Manhattan and a Boulevardier, especially as its a lot more affordable than other Kentucky Owl releases. Theres a full tasting note below. So Kentucky Owl Wiseman, it has a confusing and not altogether convincing story, but frankly with bourbon this good, who cares? Kentucky Owl Wiseman is available from Master of Malt. Click here to buy. Tasting note for Kentucky Owl the Wiseman Nose: Ginger, cinnamon and cardamom with coffee and woody tobacco notes. Palate: Massively aromatic with Szechuan pepper, chillies, black pepper and cardamom. The sweetness is really dialled down with subtle toffee notes. Finish: Long and fragrant with a menthol note coming through. The Uttar Pradesh government has seized properties worth Rs 67 crore belonging to slain gangster Vikas Dubey and his relatives. Attachment orders for these properties have been issued by the court of the district magistrate. The 13 immovable and 10 movable properties that have been attached are in the names of Vikas Dubey's wife Richa Dubey, his mother Sarla Dubey and two sons Akash and Shanu. The properties are located in the Bikru village, Chaubeypur, Kanpur Dehat and Lucknow. Vikas Dubey was the main accused in the July 3, 2020 ambush in which eight police personnel were massacred when they reportedly went to arrest him in a case. Vikas Dubey was arrested from Madhya Pradesh and later killed in an encounter and his five aides also met a similar fate. The district administration had bulldozed Dubey's house in the Bikru village where the incident took place. According to the police, a senior level official had started the evaluation and marking of all the movable and immovable assets of all the accused in the Bikru case, including gangster Vikas Dubey, from the public works department (PWD) recently. In this episode, movable and immovable properties worth Rs 2.97 crore of his cashier Jaikant Bajpai had already been attached. Similarly, movable and immovable properties worth about Rs 40 lakhs, including a truck, a flour mill, a house in the Shivli area of Kanpur Dehat, a two-wheeler, a major portion of the ancestral house located at Sujja Nevada belonging to Dubey's aide Vishnupal Singh, had been attached about a week ago. After this, the police zeroed in on Dubey's two vehicles, two tractor-trolleys, ancestral house located in the Bikru village, 12 'bighas' of land in the village, 13 'bighas' of land of Sakarwan and houses and shops in Shivli. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that the upcoming Census would be e-Census with 100 per cent accuracy, and it would be completed by 2024. Inaugurating the new office building of the Directorate of Census Operations in Assam at Amingaon in Kamrup district, the Home Minister said that with the electronic process and enumeration of people, the Census would be updated automatically after every birth and death in the country. The digital Census would shape the 'policies of the country for the next 25 years', he added. Stating that the 2021 Census was delayed due to the Covid pandemic, Shah pointed out that without a perfect Census, planning for any development work or project is not possible. "I know that the use of latest techniques to make the Census process more scientific is a gigantic task, but the officials and the enumerators would make the most important task successful, result-oriented and purposeful," he said. Shah also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been saying that when India would celebrate 100 years of Independence, all sectors of the country must be at their highest and desired levels. "Census in India is important due to various reasons, and for a state like Assam, which is population-sensitive, it is even more crucial," Shah said. He added that after every birth, the details would be registered in the Census records and after the person turns 18, the record would be enlisted in the electoral rolls, and after death, the name would be removed while change of address and other basic information would be smoother and easier. Highlighting Vallabhbhai Patel's initiative to launch a Census in India, Shah said that India's first Home Minister had launched the most significant initiative in 1951. "To make the Census more result-oriented and accurate, the role of the Central and state governments and many other stakeholders is very important. By check and counter check, undesirable matters could be eliminated," Shah said. "As soon as the Covid situation comes under complete control, the process of digital Census would start across the country. It will be completed before 2024," he said. Hong Kong: CE poll lawfully conducted Chief Executive-elect John Lee today said the 2022 Chief Executive Election was held according to the law under the improved electoral system. Mr Lee was responding to a statement issued by the European Union concerning the election that was held yesterday. I disagree (with them) and I think they were wrong because the election was conducted according to the (Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Ordinance 2021) in Hong Kong. The (Improving Electoral System (Consolidated Amendments) Ordinance 2021) was enacted because of what happened in the years of chaos and also attempts to sabotage Hong Kongs governance with a high degree of foreign intervention. Mr Lee emphasised that the improved electoral system serves the overall interests of Hong Kong. It has already created positive results, as you can see, in the Legislative Council (where) a lot of debates are very practical and a lot of the discussions are very rational and of high quality. This story has been published on: 2022-05-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Customs officers inspect herbs from Vietnam carried by the train in Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 8, 2022. (Photo by Tang Renling/Xinhua) NANNING, May 9 (Xinhua) -- A train loaded with herbs from Dong Dang in northern Vietnam arrived in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Sunday, marking further cooperation in the Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) industry between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The train carried more than 95 tonnes of Jixueteng, or Caulis Spatholobi, worth nearly 480,000 yuan (about 71,400 U.S. dollars), according to the Pingxiang port authority in Guangxi. The ASEAN is a significant import and export market of TCM products. Cardamom and senna leaves from Indonesia, Caulis Spatholobi from Vietnam, and Scaphium scaphigerum from Thailand are well-received herbs among Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises. China exports TCM products such as extracts, healthcare foods, and herbal medicines to ASEAN countries. Guangxi, as a vital gateway for the exchange and cooperation of traditional medicines between China and the ASEAN and a major channel for TCM herb imports, has seen a rapid increase of TCM herbs imported from ASEAN countries in recent years. Customs data showed that the region imported over 6,809 tonnes of TCM herbs from ASEAN countries in 2021, an increase of 329 percent from a year ago. Customs officers inspect a train loaded with herbs from Vietnam in Pingxiang, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, May 8, 2022. (Photo by Tang Renling/Xinhua) The Delhi Police are all set to assist the civic bodies in the phase-wise demolition drive which is to start from Wednesday. IANS is in possession of a letter issued by South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which indicates a major drive against encroachment in the national capital. According to the information, in the first phase encroachment will be removed from Okhla. Delhi Police have been duly informed in this respect. "The next phase of the demolition drive against encroachment will take place on May 9. It will be done in South Delhi's most sensitive zone, Shaheen Bagh. Encroachment on roads and illegal constructions will be demolished. Letters have been written to the south and south east DCPs," said an official. On May 4, the demolition drive will take place in and around Mehrauli Badarpur Road and Karni Singh Shooting Range. On May 5, the bulldozer will remove encroachment in Kalindi Kunj main road, Kalindi Kunj Park to Jamia Nagar Police Station. On May 6, the drive will be done in Srinivaspuri Private Colony to Okhla Railway Station Gandhi Camp. After May 6 a gap of two days will be given and demolition will then start on May 9. "May 9 will be a challenge as demolition and encroachment removal drives will take place at Shaheen Bagh G Block to Jasola and Jasola Nale to Kalindi Kunj Park. Extra force might be developed to prevent any untoward incident," the official said. The Delhi Police might take the help of paramilitary companies in the Shaheen Bagh area. Earlier too the authorities had to face obstacles to carry out the drive in the area. "On May 10, New Friends Colony to Buddh Dharm Mandir in and around Gurudwara Road. On May 11, Lodhi Colony, Meherchand Market in and around Sai Mandir, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, May 12, Dhinsen Marg, ISKCON Temple Marg in and around the area. On May 13 it will happen at Khadda colony. We are all set to assist the civic bodies," the official said. A farmed white-tailed deer in Mecosta County was diagnosed with a fatal syndrome similar to mad cow disease not new to Michigan. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development confirmed the chronic wasting disease in the infected three-year-old deer from a farmed cervid facility in Mecosta County on Monday. The infected deer was discovered through routine testing as part of the states chronic wasting disease surveillance program for farmed deer, state officials said. No free-ranging white-tailed deer have tested positive for the disease in Mecosta County. As part of MDARDs disease response, investigations are ongoing to rule out any possible exposure to other farmed cervids. "CWD surveillance testing plays an integral part in accomplishing this goal because it helps us to detect and respond to the disease promptly," State Veterinarian Nora Wineland said in a press release. "In addition, our continued partnership with farmed cervid owners, hunters, and other state and federal partners is also essential to ensure the health of Michigans farmed deer population." Chronic wasting disease is a fatal disease of the brain and central nervous system similar to mad cow disease. It occurs in cervids such as mule deer, white-tailed deer and elk, according to MDARD. The disease can be transmitted through blood, saliva, urine and feces. And symptoms include listlessness, lack of coordination, significant weight loss, unusual behavior, paralysis and increased thirst and urination. While an infected animal may appear healthy for months or years, it will eventually display abnormal behavior, progressive weight loss and physical debilitation in the later stages of the disease, according to The Associated Press' FAQs About Chronic Wasting Disease. The presence of chronic wasting disease in farmed cervid facilities and free-ranging deer is not new to Michigan, state officials said. Since 2008, including the new case, the disease has been detected at 10 Michigan cervid farms in the following counties: Kent (2), Mecosta (4), Montcalm (3), and Newaygo. With free-ranging deer, chronic wasting disease was first discovered in May 2015; and cases have been found across nine counties in Michigans Upper and Lower Peninsulas. There have been no reported cases of chronic wasting disease infection in humans. But, as a precaution, the United States Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization recommend that infected animals should not be consumed as food by either humans or domestic animals. The disease was first recognized in 1967 in captive mule deer in Colorado. Chronic wasting disease has since been documented in captive and free-range deer in 24 states and two Canadian provinces, according to reporting by the AP. There is no known treatment. More information is available at Michigan.gov/CWD. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MECOSTA COUNTY Two local nonprofit organizations in Mecosta County, Angels of Action and Mid-Michigan Honor Flights, Inc., have been awarded $1,000 grants from the Great Lakes Energy People Fund, according to a recent news release from the organization. Angels of Action plans to use its grant to fund summer family engagement, nutrition and literacy programs, the news release said. Angels of Action is thrilled to be the recipient of a generous grant from the Great Lakes Energy People Fund, said Joni Thompson, CEO and founder of Angels of Action. Angels of Action is a nonprofit organization that serves children and families in both Mecosta and Osceola counties. It is home to nine programs that work to assist our community in several ways, addressing physical, emotional and educational needs. In addition to these programs, they offer a variety of opportunities like Summer M.O.V.E, which stands for stands for Mecosta-Osceola Vegetables & Fruit Ed-Venture, and the upcoming First Time Home Buyers Seminar on May 17, she said. This year, thanks to parent feedback in 2021, this program will include more opportunities to MOVE with area gyms, through video sharing, community outdoor opportunities, and step-by-step instructions on creating yummy and nutritional snacks and meals, Thompson said. Angels of Action is grateful for the generous collaboration of the Great Lakes Energy People Fund, Mecosta County Community Foundation, Manna Food Pantry, and many more community partners. The $1,000 grant from the Great Lakes Energy People Fund will help support these ongoing programs, she said. Mid-Michigan Honor Flight, Inc., in Mecosta will use its $1,000 grant to help fund honor flights Nos. 13 and 14, which will take place this year. All of our grants will go into our flight fund to support our upcoming flights, president and hub director Bob Green said. We are a nonprofit, and all of our funding goes toward Veterans. Every penny helps. On the upcoming flights, for which the grant funds will be used, 80 local Veterans have signed up: 14 World War II Veterans, 36 Korean War Veterans and 30 Vietnam War Veterans, he said. We are completely funded by donors and organizations like Great Lakes Energy that are willing to step up and help us honor our Veterans, Green said. We receive grants and donations, and we have fundraisers throughout the year. Every penny we get goes toward the Veterans. The money stays right here in Michigan to take care of Michigan Veterans. Mid-Michigan Honor Flights, Inc. sponsors two flights each year to take Veterans to Washington D.C. free of charge. The cost per flight is around $150,000. Also receiving awards were the Reed City Area District Library, the Lincoln Township Fire Department, the Lake County Habitat for Humanity and the Bread of Life Food Pantry in Baldwin. The Great Lakes Energy People Fund has awarded more than $144,000 to nonprofit organizations across the cooperatives 26-county service area for 2022, according to the news release. Funding for the Great Lakes Energy People Fund program comes from members of the electric cooperative who agree to have their monthly bills rounded up to the next whole dollar. Members are encouraged to enroll in the People Fund online at gtlakes.com or by contacting Great Lakes Energys office. Cooperative members also can increase their contributions to the People Fund through People Fund PLUS, which allows members to choose an amount, in addition to the monthly bill round-up, to contribute to the program. Grants are awarded twice each year by three independent regional boards representing the cooperatives north, central, and south regions. The program is accepting applications from local nonprofit organizations for the final 2022 grant cycle. The deadline for letters of intent is Oct. 1, with grant applications due by Oct. 15. For more information, or to apply, visit gtlakescom/people-fund. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MECOSTA The Mecosta Conservation District will have a new addition to their Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program with the hiring of technician Cristen Cornell. Originally a farm bill specialist with the Mecosta Conservation District, Cornell will be transitioning over to a technician position with the environmental assurance program division. Cornell said her experience extends through work with several counties. As the farm bill specialist, I assisted producers and landowners in applying for Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Farm Bill programs in Mecosta, Newaygo, Muskegon and Oceana counties, Cornell said. I worked with the district conservationists and other NRCS staff to provide technical assistance to producers and landowners on their operations and properties. "I performed a lot of behind-the-scenes work, such as conservation planning support and administrative duties for all NRCS programs. I also helped at district events like tree sales, native plant sales, and household hazardous waste collection. Before working for the Conservation District, Cornell spent just shy of 10 years working in the dairy industry. For the majority of that time, she was a dairy herd improvement specialist and had the opportunity to service more than 100 different dairy farms throughout Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. Cornell also has over 15 years of personal and professional equine management experience. I spent many hours in a variety of different style milk parlors collecting milk samples and milk weights for each cow, Cornell said. In addition to collecting milk samples, I assisted dairy producers with data analysis and decision-making to benefit the future of their operations. I have managed equestrian boarding & training facilities, been a riding instructor, and managed horses on my property, she added. I currently have two horses, own and operate a part-time equine therapy business and compete in local events. MAEAP is a voluntary and non-regulatory program that recognizes producers and landowners who are top stewards of their land. It helps them adopt cost-effective practices that reduce erosion and runoff into ponds, streams, and rivers. This, in turn, helps them comply with state and federal laws. The program looks at and assesses the farmstead, livestock, cropping or forest, wetland, and habitat systems. The goal is to help landowners evaluate their entire property and make sustainable management decisions that are also economical. Cornell said she is looking forward to working with residents. I hope to carry forward my experience to advocate MAEAP in Mecosta and Montcalm counties, Cornell said. There are many upcoming district events that I will be at to answer questions and inquiries. I will be offering free water testing at some of the events this summer. To become MAEAP verified, owners must complete the following comprehensive phases: educational seminars; an on-farm risk assessment; development and implementation of an action plan addressing potential environmental risks; and finally, an inspection. When the operation has addressed any environmental concerns, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) conducts an on-farm inspection to verify program requirements are met. Once verified, a sign is provided to publicize the operation is following the best agricultural stewardship practices. Cornell said making a difference is her biggest goal. I look forward to assisting producers and landowners interested in MAEAP and conservation, Cornell said. For more information on Cornell and her work, contact her at 231-408-3582, Cristen.Cornell@macd.org. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Vladimir Putin had no victories in Ukraine to proclaim on Victory Day. Nor did his speech at the Red Square military parade offer any clear pictures of when a victory may come or how it would be achieved. Instead, the Russian presidents address Monday seemed to suggest that the war that many expected would be brief and decisive could be a long and brutal grind. Victory Day commemorates another campaign of grisly determination: the Red Armys offensive against Nazi forces that eventually brought the Soviet troops to Berlin, ending the European theater of World War II. The suffering was immense on the battlefield and among civilians; the Soviet Union lost 27 million people in the war. The pain of all the deaths combines with the defeat of odious opponents to give Victory Day a deep emotional resonance in Russia. Putin on Monday tried to portray the war in Ukraine as having the same high moral purpose as the fight against Adolf Hitlers forces. He repeated his frequent contention that Ukraine is in thrall to Nazism and that this war, too, is necessary to repel a malign aggressor even though Ukraine had made no incursions into Russia and is led by a president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is Jewish and lost relatives in the Holocaust. The strategy appears aimed in part at diverting attention from Russias failure to overcome the smaller Ukrainian military. The regime has no more screws to turn. The brakes have clearly failed, and only one pedal is left: conflating what Russia is doing in Ukraine with the 1945 victory over Nazi Germany. This explains why the Kremlin continues to insist that in Ukraine it is fighting neo-Nazis cultivated by the West, Andrei Kolesnikov, a fellow at the Carnegie Moscow Center, wrote shortly before Victory Day. Every word is a lie, of course," he added, but the regime has no other justification for what is happening in Ukraine. So the discourse has been reduced to agitprop and shouting, Ahead of the holiday, expectations were wide that Putin would push for at least one unequivocal military success that he could flaunt in his speech. That might have been the city of Mariupol, but despite Russian forces laying waste to the city, a determined Ukrainian contingent still puts up resistance while holed up in a steel mill. Some speculated that recent explosions in Moldova's separatist region of Transnistria, where Russia has about 1,500 troops based, could be provocations to justify Russia trying to take control of that area by Victory Day. But Russia has only bombed a railway bridge in Ukraine that is the main transport link to Transnistria. The most intense speculation was that Putin would use Victory Day to declare the fight in Ukraine was a full-fledged war, rather than a special military operation as the Kremlin insists it be called, and that this would prompt a general mobilization to bring in vast numbers of new soldiers. But he did not do that either. There seems an awareness of the political risks at home of national mobilization. So there is a real sense in which the Kremlin is faced with growing difficulties and dilemmas in this war that it has chosen to unleash, Nigel Gould-Davies, a fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told The Associated Press. In any case, announcing a national mobilization would not foretell a swift end to the war. Mobilization isnt like a button you press and then suddenly Russia has more access to military power than before. It takes time to mobilize and not just to call up, but to conscript the population essentially, but also to supply them as well. And so it wouldnt make any immediate difference, Gould-Davies said. An indelible image for Victory Day is the dramatic photo of a soldier raising the Soviet hammer-and-sickle flag atop the Reichstag in 1945, ruined buildings stretching to the horizon. Putins speech gave no hint of whether he envisions a similar scene of occupation as the final goal of the Ukraine war, or whether Russia would settle for partitioning off of the eastern republics that it has declared are sovereign states. And Putin has never explained what his call for denazification of Ukraine entails. The speech was full of emotion and self-justification, yet empty of information. Its the dog that didnt bark, Gould-Davies said. There was no new announcement, but no clear way out of the problems that they have created for themselves. -= Danica Kirka is a London-based writer covering international affairs who has reported from Russia and Ukraine. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin marked his countrys biggest patriotic holiday Monday without a major new battlefield success in Ukraine to boast of, as the war ground on through its 11th week with the Kremlin's forces making little or no progress in their offensive. The Russian leader oversaw a Victory Day parade on Moscow's Red Square, watching as troops marched in formation and military hardware rolled past in a celebration of the Soviet Union's role in the 1945 defeat of Nazi Germany. While Western analysts in recent weeks had widely expected Putin to use the holiday to trumpet some kind of victory in Ukraine or announce an escalation, he did neither. Instead, he sought to justify the war again as a necessary response to what he portrayed as a hostile Ukraine. The danger was rising by the day, Putin said. Russia has given a preemptive response to aggression. It was forced, timely and the only correct decision. He steered clear of battlefield specifics, failing to mention the potentially pivotal battle for the vital southern port of Mariupol and not even uttering the word Ukraine. On the ground, meanwhile, intense fighting raged in Ukraine's east, the vital Black Sea port of Odesa in the south came under repeated missile attack, and Russian forces sought to finish off the Ukrainian defenders making their last stand at a steel plant in Mariupol. Putin has long bristled at NATOs creep eastward into former Soviet republics. Ukraine and its Western allies have denied the country posed any threat. As he has done all along, Putin falsely portrayed the fighting as a battle against Nazism, thereby linking the war to what many Russians consider their finest hour: the triumph over Hitler. The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in what Russia refers to as the Great Patriotic War. After unexpectedly fierce resistance forced the Kremlin to abandon its effort to storm Kyiv over a month ago, Moscow's forces have concentrated on capturing the Donbas, Ukraine's eastern industrial region. But the fighting there has been a back-and-forth, village-by-village slog, and many analysts had suggested Putin might use his holiday speech to present the Russian people with a victory amid discontent over the country's heavy casualties and the punishing effects of Western sanctions. Others suggested he might declare the fighting a war, not just a special military operation, and order a nationwide mobilization, with a call-up of reserves, to replenish the depleted ranks for an extended conflict. In the end, he gave no signal as to where the war is headed or how he might intend to salvage it. Specifically, he left unanswered the question of whether or how Russia will marshal more forces for a continuing war. Without concrete steps to build a new force, Russia cant fight a long war, and the clock starts ticking on the failure of their army in Ukraine, tweeted Phillips P. OBrien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Nigel Gould Davies, former British ambassador to Belarus, said: Russia has not won this war. Its starting to lose it. He said that unless Russia has a major breakthrough, the balance of advantages will shift steadily in favor of Ukraine, especially as Ukraine gets access to growing volumes of increasingly sophisticated Western military equipment. Despite Russias crackdown on dissent, antiwar sentiment has seeped through. Dozens of protesters were detained around the country on Victory Day, and editors at a pro-Kremlin media outlet revolted by briefly publishing a few dozen stories criticizing Putin and the invasion. In Warsaw, antiwar protesters splattered Russias ambassador to Poland with what appeared to be red paint as he arrived at a cemetery to pay respects to Red Army soldiers who died during World War II. As Putin laid a wreath in Moscow, air raid sirens echoed again in the Ukrainian capital. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared in his own Victory Day address that his country would eventually defeat the Russians. Very soon there will be two Victory Days in Ukraine, he said in a video. He added: "We are fighting for freedom, for our children, and therefore we will win. A Zelenskyy adviser interpreted Putins speech as indicating that Russia has no interest in escalating the war through the use of nuclear weapons or direct engagement with NATO. Speaking late Monday in an online interview, Oleksiy Arestovych pointed to Putins statement that Russia would honor the memory of those who fought in World War II by doing everything so that the horror of a global war does not happen again. Instead, he predicted Russia would make a sluggish attempt to take control of the Donbas, including Mariupol, and a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014. Arestovych said Russia would drag out the war while bleeding the Ukrainian economy with the aim of getting Ukraine to agree to give up that territory. Russia has about 97 battalion tactical groups in Ukraine, largely in the east and the south, a slight increase over last week, according to a senior U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the Pentagon's assessment. Each unit has roughly 1,000 troops, according to the Pentagon. The official said that overall, the Russian effort in the Donbas hasnt achieved any significant progress in recent days and continues to face stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces. The Ukrainian military warned of a high probability of missile strikes around the holiday, and some cities imposed curfews or warned people not to gather in public places. More than 60 people were feared dead over the weekend after Russian bombardment flattened a Ukrainian school being used as a shelter in the eastern village of Bilohorivka, Ukrainian officials said. Russia is perhaps closest to a victory in Mariupol. The U.S. official said roughly 2,000 Russian forces were around Mariupol, and the city was being pounded by airstrikes. As many as 2,000 Ukrainian defenders were believed to be holding out at the steel plant, the city's last stronghold of resistance. The fall of Mariupol would also deprive Ukraine of a vital port, free up troops to fight elsewhere in the Donbas and give the Kremlin a badly needed success. Odesa, too, has increasingly been bombarded in recent days. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces fired seven missiles from the air at Odesa on Monday night, hitting a shopping center and a warehouse. One person was killed and five were wounded, the military said. The war in the country long known as the breadbasket of Europe has disrupted global food supplies. I saw silos full of grain, wheat and corn ready for export, Charles Michel, president of the European Council, lamented in a tweet after a visit to Odesa. This badly needed food is stranded because of the Russian war and blockade of Black sea ports. Causing dramatic consequences for vulnerable countries." ___ Gambrell reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Bakhmut, David Keyton in Kyiv, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv, Lolita C. Baldor in Washington, and AP staff around the world contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Delhi police on Monday detained several people, including political party workers, for staging a 'dharna' and blocking the bulldozers in the Shaheen Bagh area, where the Municipal Corporation has launched an anti-encroachment drive. The people, along with Congress party workers, protested against the demolition drive. The personnel forcefully removed the agitators which sat in front of the JCB bulldozer. The agitators also included women which were removed by the women security personnel. As the protesting people stood atop the JCB bulldozer, the driver raised it above the ground, to prevent them from climbing. Police and para military force in heavy numbers could be seen guarding the area. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIJING (AP) Chinas export growth tumbled in April as global demand weakened, adding to pressure on the worlds second-largest economy after Shanghai and other industrial cities were shut down to fight virus outbreaks. Exports rose 3.7% over a year earlier to $273.6 billion, down sharply from Marchs 15.7% growth, customs data showed Monday. Reflecting weak Chinese demand, imports crept up 0.7% to $222.5 billion, in line with the previous months growth below 1%. Demand for Chinese exports is under pressure from high inflation and interest rate hikes in the United States and other major markets and consumer uncertainty about the economic outlook and job prospects. Companies and investors worry the ruling Communist Partys zero-COVID strategy that temporarily closed most businesses in Shanghai and other industrial centers will disrupt global trade and activity in autos, electronics and other industries. Virus disruptions continued to take a toll but the main headwind to exports is weakening foreign demand, said Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics in a report. We expect export volumes to fall further over the coming quarters. Forecasters expect Chinese industrial activity to improve this month as infections ease, but President Xi Jinping last week affirmed Beijings commitment to zero-COVID, prompting expectations it will weigh on manufacturing, retailing and trade. Exports to the United States rose 9.5% to $46 billion despite lingering tariff hikes in a fight over Beijings technology ambitions. Imports of American goods advanced 0.9% to $13.8 billion. Chinas global trade surplus widened by 19.4% to $51.1 billion while the politically volatile surplus with the United States contracted by 65% to $9.8 billion. Chinas case numbers in its latest outbreaks are relatively low, but Beijings insistence on isolating every infected person kept most of Shanghais 25 million people confined to their homes. Access to Guangzhou, a manufacturing and trading center in the south, and industrial center Changchun in the northeast were suspended. Authorities have eased controls on Shanghai and allowed millions of people out of their homes, but restrictions have tightened in Beijing and some other cities. Managers of the Port of Shanghai, the worlds busiest, say it is functioning normally, but figures they cite for daily cargo volume it handles are down 30% from normal. Shippers say they are avoiding the port out of concern there arent enough truck drivers available to carry their goods. Auto factories and other manufacturers that tried to keep operating by having staff live at their facilities were forced to reduce or stop production because supplies of components were disrupted. Chinas economy grew by a weak 4.8% over a year earlier in the quarter ending in March, up from 4% from the final three months of 2021. Economists warned, however, there would be more downward pressure on activity in the April-June quarter due to anti-virus controls. Consumer demand for imports has been depressed by an official campaign to cut debt in China's vast real estate industry, which supports millions of jobs. That triggered an economic slowdown in the second half of 2021. Weak Chinese demand can have global repercussions, depressing imports of oil, iron ore, industrial components and consumer goods. Exports to the 27-nation European Union rose 8% to $43.1 billion while imports of European goods gained 12.5% to $23.4 billion. Chinas trade surplus with Europe widened by 49.6% to $19.6 billion. Imports from Russia, a major gas supplier, jumped 56.6% over a year earlier to $8.9 billion, possibly reflecting the surge in global energy prices due to jitters over supply disruptions caused by Moscows war on Ukraine. Beijing has criticized trade and financial sanctions imposed on Moscow by the United States, Europe and Japan. But Chinese companies appear to be abiding by them while trying to guard against possible losses in dealings with Russia. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MIDDLETOWN Middletown residents may see some changes which will affect both their polling location and ballots when they hit the polls this November. Following redistricting at the state level after the 2020 U.S. census, the citys district lines shifted, moving some residents to different Congressional, Senate, and legislative districts. They will be voting for different candidates come fall. At the local level, the city council is poised to vote on a new district map on Tuesday night, reducing the number of precincts in the city from 14 to 12 to reflect these state-level adjustments and shifting some of the citys polling locations. But Mayor Ben Florsheim said the change should hopefully be minimal for local voters, the majority of whom will still go to their same polling location, even if the candidates on their ballot are different. What that means practically speaking for a voter is that its possible that your state Senator, your state representative, and your member of Congress, might be different this time to vote, he said. You might be in a different district because those lines have changed a little bit. The plan would eliminate voting districts 13 and 14, but maintain nine polling locations, since Middletown uses some, such as Moody Elementary School, for two stations. Documents show most of the districts are in the same locations as before, with the exception being districts 5 through 8, which will shift locations, per the proposal. However, Florsheim says the majority of voters will be casting ballots in the same spot as the last election, even if their district lines have changed. (The registrars) tried to keep the impact on voters as minimal as possible, he said. Our job is to make sure they are convenient, accessible, and usable for residents who have to go and vote The much bigger impact will be who those representatives are in those seats. Those will change again for somebody if their district line changed. The most significant change in Middletown, Florsheim added, was to the citys Congressional district lines. While once Middletown was predominantly part of the 3rd District, represented by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Connecticut, the city is now more evenly split between the 3rd and the 1st Congressional District, which is represented by U.S. Rep. John Larson, D-Connecticut. Florsheim said the northern and west sides of the city will now be part of the 1st District. Republican Registrar of Voters David Bauer, said every active voter in the city will get a postcard informing them of their polling location and district number in case the information changed. Personnel will also be updating electronic voter database so residents can look up their information. The biggest effect is, we went from having not even 10 percent of Middletown being in the 1st Congressional district to something akin to 45 percent in the first Congressional District, he said. Middletown was a DeLauro place. Now its half a Larson place. [Voters are] going to see different names for incumbents on their ballot. Bauer said he suggested the council consider going down to seven polling locations since Middletown saw an increase in people who voted via absentee ballot vs. going to the polls. But Florsheim said that the city wanted to keep things simple for voters, though officials may revisit the idea of cutting locations should the trend of voting absentee continue. We dont want to be reducing options or causing confusion for voters now, especially since some of these locations are relatively new, the mayor said. Florsheim said theres minimal cost with these changes, and some of it is reimbursed by the Secretary of States office, because the redistricting is a federal requirement. But other expenditures, such as keeping polls open, paying poll workers and taking out a public notice, will be borne by the municipality. Florsheim estimated the costs associated with this are under $10,000. For information, visit the registrars office at middletownct.gov or call 860-638-4950. Editors note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the author of the article, who is Erin Kayata. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PHOENIX (AP) The planned execution of an Arizona man remained on track Monday after two last-minute court efforts ended without decisions that would sidetrack the state from putting 66-year-old Clarence Dixon to death. Early in the day, the state Supreme Court declined to overturn a lower court ruling that found Dixon is competent to be put to death. And late in the day, Dixon's lawyers dropped a challenge in federal court to the drug the state planned to use after agreeing that a new batch mixed by a pharmacist negated their argument that the drugs had expired. Dixon is set to be executed at the state prison in Florence on Wednesday morning, a move that will end decades of waiting for the family of the 21-year-old Arizona State University student he killed in 1978. Leslie James, the older sister of the victim, Deana Bowdoin, was in federal court Monday morning as the proceedings unfolded and plans to be at the prison on Wednesday. Because of the ongoing legal wrangling over the case, she declined comment through her attorney. In the state Supreme Court action, the high court without comment declined to review last week's decision from a judge in Pinal County that rejected arguments that mental illness made Dixon unable to understand why he was being put to death. While the judge found Dixon does suffer from schizophrenia, he said Dixon is rational and understands the proceedings in his case well enough to show he is competent. Dixon's lawyers are now expected to ask a federal judge in Phoenix to consider whether his mental illness means it would be unconstitutional to execute him. That had not yet been filed Monday evening. Dixon's attorneys had challenged the state's planned use of a batch of the sedative sodium pentobarbital that was mixed in February. They contended it had expired and that using it would violate Arizona's execution rules. Attorneys for Arizona denied that the drug had expired, but offered instead to mix up the new batch and have it tested for potency. Because it will be used within three days, there is no concern it will be out of date. Whether the expired drug challenge claim would have been successful was in doubt. At a Monday morning hearing to consider that claim, U.S. District Court Judge Diane Humetewa said she struggled to see how the argument raised a valid constitutional issue in light of U.S. Supreme Court rulings that said courts should not meddle in the details of state lethal injection decisions. The question that I struggle with is: Does that rise to a constitutional right? she asked Dixon attorney Jennifer Moreno. Moreno told the judge that a 2017 settlement agreement required Arizona to use non-expired drugs, and that helps build their claim that using expired pentobarbital would equate to cruel and unusual punishment. Without a proper test, those drugs should have been disposed of and we shouldnt even be talking about this, Moreno said. But she acknowledged that if the state is able to mix the new batch and get it tested before the scheduled 10 a.m. Wednesday execution that resolves the outstanding issues in this case. That happened Monday evening, when Humetewa called court back into session and Moreno and Assistant Arizona Attorney General Jeff Sparks told her they had agreed that using a new batch would end the litigation. Arizona and many other states have struggled to get execution drugs in recent years after drug-makers refused to sell their products for that use. Arizona obtained the pentobarbital it plans to use from an unidentified compounding pharmacy. Dixon, who is blind and in declining health, is set to be the first person put to death in Arizona in nearly eight years, mainly because of problems with the previous execution. The state had to give Joseph Wood 15 doses of a two-drug combination over two hours before he died in July 2014 in an execution that his lawyers said was botched. The state now is using just one drug. Dixon was serving life sentences for a 1985 attack on a 21-year-old Northern Arizona University student when DNA testing linked him to Bowdoin's unsolved rape and murder. Dixon had was found not guilty by reason of insanity in a 1977 assault case in which the verdict was delivered by then-Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sandra Day OConnor, nearly four years before her appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. Bowdoin was killed on Jan. 7, 1978, two days after that verdict, according to court records. Bowdoin was found dead in her apartment, and had been raped, stabbed and strangled. Dixon had been charged with raping Bowdoin, but the charge was later dropped on statute-of-limitation grounds. He was convicted, though, in her death. Defense lawyers said Dixon has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia on multiple occasions, has regularly experienced hallucinations over the past 30 years and should not be executed. Last Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court issued a warrant for a second execution. Frank Atwood is set to die June 8 for killing an 8-year-old girl in 1984. Authorities say Atwood kidnapped the girl, whose body was found in the desert northwest of Tucson. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Dixon's execution is set for 10 a.m., not 11 a.m., on Wednesday. ___ Associated Press writer Jacques Billeaud contributed to this report. Six airmen had 14,000 rounds of stolen ammunition, mostly from Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington, according to federal court documents filed May 3. The ammunition was discovered after at least one of the airmen allegedly made online threats advocating for the violent overthrow of the federal government. The FBI's Seattle Division opened the investigation into the airmen last August after Staff Sgt. John I. Sanger began discussing acts of violence and advocating for the seizure of the U.S. Capitol. Sanger and the five other airmen have been charged with conspiracy to steal government property, possession of stolen ammunition, and possession of an unregistered firearm. Read Next: What the Military Records of the Oath Keepers' Leader Actually Say About His Service "They defrauded our election system and are still getting away with it," Sanger wrote in December 2020 under the social media moniker "problematicpatriot," according to the FBI's affidavit. "That means this system has run it's [sic] course. People have to die." Sanger has pleaded not guilty. In March 2022, Sanger -- along with Staff Sgt. Eric Eagleton, another airman accused in the indictment -- met with an undercover Office of Special Investigations agent who was wearing a wire. According to the affidavit, Eagleton told the agent that he and other members of Fairchild's 92nd Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance center regularly stole ammunition from the armory, adding that he stole up to 3,000 rounds of ammunition per day. "Teaching these f---ing retards how to handle weapons is pointless," Eagleton allegedly told the special agent. "They literally can't remember how to clear it out, what's the point anyways, send them downrange anyways and let me steal all this ammo." Nathaniel Richards, another airman accused in the plot, later told the agent that members of the group falsified weapons' qualifications to show that the ammunition was used in training when it was actually stolen for "personal use," according to court documents. Some 5.56mm ammunition recovered by the Air Force OSI agent during the sting was noted as "expended" a year prior by Fairchild personnel, with some rounds discovered in Richards' residence in Nevada after he transferred to Creech Air Force Base, prosecutors allege. "We are aware of the arrest of the Airmen stationed here at Fairchild Air Force Base," 1st Lt. Michelle H. Chang, a spokesperson for the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, told Military.com in an email. "We have been and continue to work closely with federal law enforcement authorities to provide all relevant information to assist in this ongoing investigation." Ammunition, "consistent with the stolen ammunition," according to court records, was also discovered in the residences of Sanger, Eagleton, Shawn Robson, Austin Limacher and Jonah Pierce -- the other airmen charged in the indictment. Ranks for the four other airmen were not included in court documents. Last month, U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref lauded the joint FBI-OSI investigation, saying "when individuals put their own interests ahead of others and abuse the public trust, those individuals dishonor the countless public servants who dedicate their lives to government and military service." Military.com attempted to reach the defendants' legal teams for comment, but none replied by publication. Richards did not have an attorney assigned to him, it appeared, according to court records. The indictment also stated that some members of the group possessed other stolen military equipment, such as red dot optics and PEQ-15 target illuminators. It is unclear, based on court records, what the group intended to use the ammunition for, though the FBI's affidavit noted several of the indictees did expend some of the ammo through target practice in rural Washington. -- Drew F. Lawrence can be reached at drew.lawrence@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @df_lawrence. Related: Fort Lee Drill Sergeant Fired After Arrest in Underage Prostitution Sting Operation ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine Russian forces pushed forward Monday in their assault on Ukraine, seeking to capture the crucial southern port city of Mariupol as Moscow celebrated its Victory Day holiday. Determined to show success in a war now in its 11th week, Russian troops pummeled a seaside steel mill where an estimated 2,000 Ukrainian fighters are making their last stand in the port city of Mariupol. The mill is the only part of the city not overtaken by the invaders. Its defeat would deprive Ukraine of a vital port and allow Russia to establish a land corridor to the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized from Ukraine in 2014. The Ukrainian military's General Staff warned of a high probability of missile strikes and said that Russian troops were seizing personal documents from the local population without good reason" in Russian-controlled areas of Zaporizhzhia the city where many fleeing Mariupol have gathered. The military alleged Russian troops were seizing documents to force residents to join in Victory Day commemorations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the anniversary, which marks the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany in 1945, could bring a renewed onslaught. They have nothing to celebrate, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said of the Russians, speaking on CNN. They have not succeeded in defeating the Ukrainians. They have not succeeded in dividing the world or dividing NATO. And they have only succeeded in isolating themselves internationally and becoming a pariah state around the globe. Speaking Monday at a military parade marking the holiday, Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to justify his invasion, by claiming that it was necessary to ward off what he described an absolutely unacceptable threat just next to our borders. He has repeatedly alleged that Ukraine was planning to attack Russia which Kyiv has flatly denied. The danger was rising by day, he claimed, adding that Russia has preemptively repulsed an aggression. Putin again scolded the West for failing to heed the Russian demands for security guarantees and a rollback to NATOs expansion, arguing that it also left Moscow no other choice but to invade. But he did not at least so far give any signal as to the next phase of the conflict nor did he claim the complete capture of Mariupol, which his forces have bombarded and besieged for weeks. Ukrainian fighters in the steel mill in the port city have rejected Russian-set deadlines for laying down their arms, even as attacks continued by warplanes, artillery and tanks. We are under constant shelling, said Capt. Sviatoslav Palamar, deputy commander of the Ukrainian Azov Regiment, a unit holding the steel mill. Lt. Illya Samoilenko, another Azov Regiment member, said a couple hundred wounded soldiers were in the plant. He declined to say how many able-bodied fighters remained. Fighters lack lifesaving equipment and are having to dig by hand to free people from bunkers that collapsed under shelling. Surrender for us is unacceptable because we cannot grant such a gift to the enemy, Samoilenko said. The last of the civilians who had taken shelter with fighters at the plant were evacuated Saturday. They arrived Sunday night in Zaporizhzhia, the first major Ukrainian city beyond the frontlines, and spoke of constant shelling, dwindling food, ubiquitous mold and using hand sanitizer for cooking fuel. Britain's Defense Ministry warned in a daily intelligence report on Twitter that Russia was running short of precision-guided munitions and increasingly is using inaccurate rockets and bombs, subjecting Ukrainian towns and cities to intense and indiscriminate bombardments with little or no regard for civilian casualties. More than 60 people were feared dead after a Russian bomb flattened a Ukrainian school being used as a shelter in Bilohorivka, an eastern village, Ukrainian officials said. About 90 people were sheltering in the schools basement when it was attacked Saturday. Emergency crews found two bodies and rescued 30 people, but most likely all 60 people who remain under the rubble are now dead, Serhiy Haidai, governor of Luhansk province, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Russian shelling killed two boys, ages 11 and 14, in the nearby town of Pryvillia, Haidai said. Luhansk is part of the Donbas, the industrial heartland in the east that Russias forces are working to capture. Explosions echoed across the major Black Sea port of Odesa. Keeping up their dogged resistance, Ukraines military struck Russian positions on a Black Sea island that was captured in the wars first days. A satellite image by Planet Labs showed smoke rising from two sites on the island. But Moscows forces showed no sign of backing down in the south. Satellite photos show Russia has put armored vehicles and missile systems at a small base in the Crimean Peninsula. Ukraines military also warned some 19 Russian battalion tactical groups were stationed just across the border in Russias Belgorod region. Those groups likely consist of some 15,200 troops with tanks, missile batteries and other weaponry. The most intense combat in recent days has taken place in eastern Ukraine. A Ukrainian counteroffensive in the northeast near Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city, was making significant progress, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington think tank. However, the Ukrainian army withdrew from the embattled eastern city of Popasna after two months of fierce fighting. Rodion Miroshnik, a representative of the pro-Kremlin, separatist Luhansk Peoples Republic, said its forces and Russian troops had captured most of the city. The Kharkiv regional administration said three people were killed in shelling of the town of Bogodukhiv, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Kharkiv. South of Kharkiv, in Dnipropetrovsk province, the governor said a 12-year-old boy was killed by a cluster munition that he found after a Russian attack. An international treaty bans the use of such explosives, but neither Russia nor Ukraine has signed the agreement. This war is treacherous, Gov. Valentyn Reznichenko wrote on social media. It is near, even when it is invisible. As Victory Day turned attention toward Putin, Western leaders showed new signs of support for Ukraine. The Group of Seven industrial democracies pledged to ban or phase out imports of Russian oil. The G-7 consists of the U.S., Canada, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Japan. The United States announced other new sanctions, cutting off Western advertising from Russias three biggest TV stations, banning U.S. accounting and consulting firms from providing services, and cutting off Russias industrial sector from wood products, industrial engines, boilers and bulldozers. U.S. first lady Jill Biden met with her Ukrainian counterpart. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau raised his countrys flag at its embassy in Kyiv. And U2s Bono, alongside bandmate The Edge, performed in a Kyiv subway station that had been used as a bomb shelter, singing the 1960s song Stand by Me. The acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Kristina Kvien, posted a picture of herself at the American Embassy, and described plans for the eventual U.S. return to the Ukrainian capital after Moscows forces abandoned their effort to storm Kyiv weeks ago. Zelenskyy released a video address marking the day of the Allied victory in Europe 77 years ago. The black-and-white footage showed him in front of a ruined apartment block in Borodyanka, a Kyiv suburb. Drawing parallels between Russias invasion of Ukraine and the evils of Nazism, Zelenskyy said generations of Ukrainians understand the significance of the words Never again, a vow not to allow a repeat of the horrors of the Holocaust. ___ Gambrell reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Yesica Fisch in Bakhmut, David Keyton in Kyiv, Yuras Karmanau in Lviv, Mstyslav Chernov in Kharkiv and AP staff around the world contributed to this report. SEOUL, South Korea North Korea flight-tested a ballistic missile that was likely fired from a submarine on Saturday, South Koreas military said, continuing a provocative streak in weapons demonstrations that may culminate with a nuclear test in the coming weeks or months. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launch occurred from waters near the eastern port city of Sinpo, where North Korea has a major shipyard building submarines. It said the short-range missile flew 600 kilometers (372 miles) at a maximum altitude of 60 kilometers (37 miles) but it didnt immediately provide details about the submarine that would have been involved in the launch. The U.S. military's Indo-Pacific Command said it a statement that while the launch did not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to its allies, it highlights the destabilizing impact of the DPRKs illicit weapons program. The U.S. commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and Japan remains ironclad. Japanese Defense Minister Nobu Kishi told reporters that the missile fell outside of Japans exclusive economic zone and that no damage to aircraft or vessels was reported. South Koreas national security director Suh Hoon and other senior officials during an emergency meeting denounced the launch and urged North Korea to return to long-stalled talks aimed at defusing the nuclear standoff, Seouls presidential office said. It was apparently North Koreas first demonstration of a submarine-launched ballistic missile system since October last year, when it fired a new short-range missile from the 8.24 Yongung its only known submarine capable of launching a missile. The October underwater launch was the Norths first in two years. On Wednesday, the South Korean and Japanese militaries detected a suspected ballistic missile fired from near the capital, Pyongyang. Both exercises come ahead of the inauguration on Tuesday of South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol, who has vowed to take a tougher approach over the Norths nuclear ambitions. Yoons office said in a statement that his government will pursue actual deterrence ability against the Norths nuclear and missile threat, but didnt specify how. Yoon has vowed to strengthen South Koreas defense in conjunction with its alliance with the United States, which he said would include enhancing missile striking capabilities. So far this year, North Korea has fired missiles 15 times. They include the country's first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017 in March that demonstrated a potential range to reach the entirety of the U.S. mainland. North Korea has been clearly exploiting a favorable environment to push forward its weapons program with the U.N. Security Council divided and effectively paralyzed over Russias war on Ukraine. The unusually fast pace in testing activity underscores a brinkmanship aimed at forcing the United States to accept the idea of the North as a nuclear power and remove crippling sanctions, experts say. There are also signs that North Korea is restoring tunnels at a nuclear testing ground, where it had conducted its sixth and last nuclear test in September 2017, in possible preparations for another explosive test. Analysts say the North could use another nuclear test to claim it can now build small nuclear warheads for its expanding range of shorter-range weapons threatening South Korea and Japan, or put a cluster of bombs on a multi-warhead ICBM. Jalina Porter, the U.S. State Department's deputy spokesperson, said during a briefing Friday that the United States assesses that North Korea could be ready to conduct a nuclear test at its Punggye-ri test site as early as this month. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has punctuated his recent missile tests with statements warning that the North could proactively use its nuclear weapons if threatened or provoked. Experts say such rhetoric possibly portends an escalatory nuclear doctrine that would create greater concerns for South Korea and Japan. Kim made one of those statements during an April 25 parade in Pyongyang, where he showcased the most notable weapons in his military nuclear program, including ICBMs and what appeared to be a new type of missile designed to be fired from submarines that could be larger than previous models. (North Koreas) submarine technology probably remains short of being able to stay at sea for extended periods while avoiding detection. But the ability to launch ballistic missiles from a submarine would further complicate missions to neutralize and defend against North Koreas nuclear forces, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Seouls Ewha Womans University. He said the Kim regime appears to be preparing to test a miniaturized nuclear device that it can use to arm its submarine-launched or tactical missiles, and multiple warheads on its ICBMs. North Korea has been pushing hard to acquire an ability to fire nuclear-armed missiles from submarines, which in theory would bolster its deterrent by ensuring retaliation after absorbing a nuclear attack on land. Ballistic missile submarines would also add a new maritime threat to the Norths growing collection of solid-fuel weapons fired from land vehicles, which are being developed with an apparent aim to overwhelm missile defense systems in South Korea and Japan. The North in recent years has been developing and testing a family of missiles named Pukguksong, which are designed to be fired from submarines or land vehicles. Still experts say the heavily sanctioned nation would need considerably more time, resources and major technological improvements to build at least several submarines that could travel quietly in seas and reliably execute strikes. The South Korean and Japanese militaries said the North Korean missile fired on Wednesday traveled about 500 kilometers (310 miles) at a maximum altitude of 800 kilometers (500 miles). North Korean state media have yet to comment on that test. Associated Press writer Yuri Kageyama in Tokyo contributed to the report. Despite difficult choices, the Marine Corps is forging ahead with plans to alter how the force looks and fights, even as a chorus of critics bemoans the new strategy that heralds major changes for a branch steeped in tradition. The service unveiled its annual force plan update Monday; it pushes continued shedding of some of the Corps' size and bulk, aiming to better prepare Marines for amphibious landings on islands as a counter to the growing naval and military might of China. Speaking to reporters May 5, Gen. David Berger, commandant of the Marine Corps, did not back away from the idea that Marine "infantry is going to continue to locate close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver -- that's not going to change." Instead, what is changing is "the range of options for how they do that." Read Next: 6 Airmen Caught with Thousands of Rounds of Stolen Ammo, Federal Indictment Alleges To fund this evolution, which Berger noted is being done internally "with no extra money," the Corps has decided to ditch all its tanks, as well as sizable portions of its aircraft, artillery and other heavy assets. But that plan has encountered no shortage of critics who have been lining up in recent months to label Berger's plan a mistake. Some, like former commandant Gen. Charles Krulak, called the plan "well-intended, but wrong." Others, like former Secretary of the Navy Jim Webb, have described the plan as "radical." It's worth noting that Webb, as a young Marine officer, also wrote an article in 1979 entitled "Women Can't Fight." Others have suggested the changes will make Marines vulnerable in urban environments, but Berger believes "the nation needs us to be amphibious, needs us to be expeditionary, needs us to be naval." Berger insisted that he's unfazed by the articles, especially those from former Marines. "I take the person and the emotion out of it completely," he said. Instead, the commandant says that he is willing to hear out anyone who says "we have evidence that shows otherwise." "I was brought up in critical thinking," he added. "Having a couple of battalions of tanks is not the thing that helps the nation going forward." Amidst the criticism, Berger, as well as many of his top leaders, have gone out of their way to note that the fundamental culture of the Marine Corps will remain unchanged, even while what makes up the average Marine continues to change dramatically. And while the internal back-and-forth carries on, the branch's top leaders say that the conflict in Ukraine is offering foreshadowing of the successes the Marine Corps could enjoy if it carries through on its transformation plan. Though Berger is quick to point out that it's still early to make definitive conclusions about the conflict, he says the successes he's seeing in Europe seem to mirror many of the choices being made in the halls of Quantico and Washington, D.C. Berger noted that he's seen "smaller, more distributed units ... overmatch the large bulky formations that have huge logistical requirements to sustain them." When considering the Ukrainian strike on and eventual sinking of the Russian cruiser "Moskva," Berger was even more direct. "This is the direction the Marine Corps is going as a part of what the nation needs us to do in sea control and sea denial," he said. "It does serve as an example of the vulnerability of ships, writ large, to missiles." The Ukrainians have claimed that they struck the ship with two Neptune missiles and caused "serious damage." Russian state media said that the ship later sank while under tow in a storm. "We're generally on the right path if we can field mobile expeditionary anti-ship missiles in a way that causes an adversary to adjust how they're operating," Berger said. One key aspect is a plan to shape the Corps into an older, more talent-driven force and get away from the old idea of the fresh-out-of-high-school recruit. That plan, first announced last November, emphasized a move away from an "industrial age approach to personnel." Berger explained that the move is driven by a recognition that today's recruits can handle "a multitude of tasks and skill sets" compared to their brethren 50 years ago. As part of that conversation, the Corps is rethinking how often Marines move from station to station -- a concept known as homesteading. This is another departure from the more traditional military model of new orders every three years. Berger explained that this effort is about "trying to find a greater balance on how do you maintain a team together long enough to master their skills and what appropriate time do you begin to rebuild that organization." Perhaps the most notable, and risible, idea that emerged out of these changes is bringing Marines in laterally -- not at a low enlisted or officer rank but something matching a person's education and experience -- without going through boot camp first. Berger, lightheartedly, explained that the rumor came out of a hypothetical question he posed to a forum. "That got translated into 'Oh my God, we're gonna have a fat, 38-year-old ... long hair and ring in the nose," he said. "That was never part of the equation." -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Sikhs Sue Marine Corps for Right to Wear Turban, Beards at All Times UNITED NATIONS The United States called an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday following North Koreas latest test of a ballistic missile that was likely fired from a submarine. The test was the latest sign of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un carrying out a recent vow to speed up development of nuclear weapons. The United States holds the rotating presidency of the council this month and called the meeting to discuss the Norths latest launches, a spokesperson for the U.S. Mission to the U.N. said, speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of an official announcement. The meeting is expected to take place Wednesday afternoon and would be open. So far this year, North Korea has fired missiles 15 times. They include the countrys first test of an intercontinental ballistic missile since 2017 in March that demonstrated a potential range to reach the entirety of the U.S. mainland. The launch on Saturday was apparently North Koreas first demonstration of a submarine-launched ballistic missile system since October 2021, when it fired a new short-range missile. The latest launch came just ahead of the inauguration on Tuesday of South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol, who has vowed to take a tougher approach over the Norths nuclear ambitions. U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said Monday that the United Nations has expressed concern at all missile tests and we want to call, once again for a return to dialogue among all the parties on the Korean Peninsula so that we can proceed with the peaceful denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The United States has circulated a draft resolution to the Security Council seeking additional sanctions on North Korea for its spate of tests this year. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters last Tuesday that it is our plan to move forward with that resolution during this month while the U.S. holds the council presidency. But diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because discussions have been private, said the resolution faces an uphill struggle because Russia and China, which have veto power in the council, want to see sanctions on North Korea eased -- not increased. The council originally imposed sanctions after the Norths first nuclear test explosion in 2006 and tightened them over the years. But last fall China and Russia called for lifting various sanctions on their neighbor, and in January they blocked the Security Council from imposing sanctions on five North Korean officials. Observers say North Koreas unusually fast pace in weapons development this year is aimed at advancing its dual goals of modernizing its missile programs and applying pressure on the United States over a deepening freeze in nuclear negotiations. They say Kim eventually aims to use his expanded arsenal to win an international recognition of North Korea as a nuclear state that he believes would help force the United States to relax international economic sanctions on his country. There are signs that North Korea is preparing for a nuclear test at its remote northeastern testing facility. If a test is conducted it would be the seventh explosion of a nuclear weapon by North Korea and the first since 2017. Kim warned again in late April that he will continue to develop North Korea's nuclear-armed military so it could preemptively and thoroughly contain and frustrate all dangerous attempts and threatening moves, including ever-escalating nuclear threats from hostile forces, if necessary, according to the Norths official Korean Central News Agency. WASHINGTON An electronic health record system being piloted at Spokane's VA hospital and other sites in the Inland Northwest has been partly or completely unusable at least 50 times since its launch in 2020, the Department of Veterans Affairs confirmed. The computer system, which health care workers rely on to track patient information and coordinate care, saw a total of 42 "unplanned degradations" and eight "unplanned outages" between its launch in 2020 and April 20, 2022, VA spokesman Randal Noller said in an emailed response to questions from The Spokesman-Review. Two more outages occurred April 25 and 26, VA officials told a congressional panel at the time, for a total of 52 incidents. The system, which launched at Spokane's Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in October 2020, is being developed under a $10 billion contract awarded to Cerner Corporation in 2018, without the competitive bidding process that applies to most federal contracts of that size. The VA Office of Inspector General has estimated the planned 10-year effort, which is behind schedule, will cost as much as $21 billion and another $2 billion for each additional year it takes to finish. In the email, Noller emphasized that most of the incidents were not "large-scale outages," such as one in early April that affected VA as well as the Department of Defense and the Coast Guard, which also use the Cerner system. Many of the "degradations of service," he said, affected only some of the users at Mann-Grandstaff and its affiliated clinics in Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, Sandpoint, Wenatchee and Libby, Montana. After multiple delays prompted by problems in the Inland Northwest that threatened patient safety and left health care workers exhausted and demoralized, VA launched the Cerner system at facilities in Walla Walla on March 26 and in Columbus, Ohio, on April 30. The rest of the nation's more than 1,200 VA facilities continue to use an older system, known as VistA, which remains popular among health care providers. "No matter the type or size of incident, VA and Cerner employ an extensive incident management protocol to ensure users can continue to provide quick, safe and effective care," Noller said in the email. When the system goes down, the affected VA employees are forced to use "downtime procedures," which involve recording all information with pen and paper and entering it into the system once it is restored. The department had acknowledged several outages in recent months after they were reported by The Spokesman-Review and other news outlets, but had not previously revealed the total number of times the system has gone down. VA did not answer a question about the total amount of downtime that has occurred and did not immediately respond to follow-up questions. In an exchange with Sen. Patty Murray, D- Wash., in a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing Wednesday, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said he was frustrated by the six outages that had occurred since March 3. But when Murray asked the VA chief to commit that the system would not be brought to any other sites in Washington until the problems are fixed, he committed only to "make every decision based on the experience of the learning to date." In a House VA Committee hearing April 28, McDonough told Rep. Matt Rosendale, R- Mont., he would not allow VA to continue rolling out the Cerner system "if I ever have any reason to think that this is creating risk for our patients." In the same exchange with Rosendale, McDonough said he had closely read an April 24 Spokesman-Review story about a veteran who was hospitalized with heart failure for five days in March after the Cerner system played a role in a vital medication being mistakenly stopped. A Spokesman-Review investigation in December found Mann-Grandstaff employees fear the system represents a danger to veterans. In an April 26 hearing, Rep. Frank Mrvan of Indiana, the Democratic chair of the House subcommittee charged with oversight of the Cerner rollout, said the system should not be deployed at larger, more complex facilities like the VA medical centers in Seattle or Portland until problems are resolved. In the same hearing, Don Pirraglia who until recently served as the top Veterans Health Administration official working on the Cerner rollout said he had made that same recommendation, but McDonough has not announced any change to the deployment schedule. The Cerner system is next set to launch in Roseburg and White City, Oregon, on June 11; Boise on June 25; Anchorage, Alaska, on July 16; Seattle and other Puget Sound facilities on Aug. 27; three sites in Michigan on Oct. 8; and Portland on Nov. 5. Orion Donovan-Smith's 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 newspaper's managing editor. ___ (c)2022 The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.) Visit The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.) at www.spokesman.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. We read of celebration of Mothers Day as a pagan festivity since ancient times to sing the glory of Rhea the mother of Gods in ancient Greece. by Pradip Kumar Dutta Mother's Day is a comparatively new celebration in our Indian subcontinent. Well,I am 70 years of age now and in our childhood we never knew about the existence of such a day, leave alone celebrating it. The Day has been designated to honour Mothers and show love and respect to them for the unique bondage between her and her children and the selfless sacrifice and dedication that we find in Mothers to bring their children up as worthy human beings. The Day has got deep significance in celebrating the Mothers who go through a difficult and gruesome period of pregnancy to bring their offsprings to life,breastfeeds them to bring them up as healthy babies in their early childhood,tends to their health and wellbeing,teaches them in the early days of their education,makes them aware of dos and don't s of life and offers them endless love and motherly care as long as they are alive. The day celebrates Motherhood. We read of celebration of Mothers Day as a pagan festivity since ancient times to sing the glory of Rhea the mother of Gods in ancient Greece. In Christianity different denomination of Christians celebrate Mother's Day on different dates relating the days to religious events centering reverence to Mother Mary. In Buddhism and Hinduism we find reference of celebrating Mother as a form of power of God.Islam says that heaven is at the feet of your Mother. In modern times Mother's Day is being observed and celebrated widely around the globe on a particular day albeit some countries have their own designated dates for the same. Those dates relate to religious and traditional events in their respective regions. On this day people of all ages wish their Mother,present them with gifts,arrange special dinner and festivities at home and often take Mothers out to concerts and celebratory dinners. Presenting carnation flowers has become a symbol of the day. Those children who are away from their mothers send beautiful cards and order online cakes,presents and flowers including carnations. Its a pity that in our days we did not know about this day and now I repent that I could never say thank you to my mother for everything she did for me and my siblings. Of course,in our region many people think that every day is a Mother's day and you should be grateful to your Mother and show that reverence to her through your deeds and behaviour everyday. Nothing will please her more than seeing her son or daughter as a good human being successful in professional life. Your happiness is her happiness. In modern days most of the countries celebrate Mother's Day on the 2nd sunday of May. This refers to the adoption of this day as a national holiday and it's official recognition in the United States by a 1914 decree of President Woodrow Wilson. The name of a lady from West Virginia Ms Anne Jarvis comes to the forefront when we dig the history of the day. She held a memorial service in honour of her mother Ann Reeves Jarvis in Andrew's Methodist Eposcopical Church at a small city named Grafton in West Virginia,where her Mom used to go for prayers. It was in May 1907. She organised groups of lady activists to promote the day as a tribute to her mother and all Mother's of the world and dedicate this day to build social awareness towards friendship,sanitation/ hygiene and world peace which were the moto of Ann Jarvis and her associates. Ann Jarvis had been working to instill awareness of friendship and peace when she and her friends worked to help treat injured on both the sides during the American Civil War. Ann's friend Julia Howe was particularly interested in uniting the Mothers to raise voice against armed solutions to disputes. Rather they tried to propagate the idea of Peace and resolution of all disputes through negotiations. They did not want their sons to die in wars. Besides they were interested in resolving health and sanitation issues. These group of ladies with noble thoughts spread their ideas through small groups or associations in small cities across the United States. When Ann Jarvis expired in 1905 her daughter desired to carry the batton forward and organised the first memorial service in Grafton. Her untiring efforts started seeing success. Some of the US states started recognising the day until the final success came in 1914 through a proclamation of a Federal recognition of the 2nd Sunday of May as the day to celebrate Mother's Day. The Andrew's Church has now become the International Mother's Day Shrine. After that,there was no looking back. The noble idea of observing this unique day to recognise and honour Mothers for their sacrifice,efforts and labour towards their children started spreading and has engulfed the whole world. In the recent years the Day has become more popular and the celebrations have become more widespread thanks to the social media and online propagation. We observe with concern that too much of commercialisation of the Day may ruin it's significance. Anne Jarvis,the proponent of the Day herself was against this commercialisation. At some point of time she opposed this commercialism. Her resentment was to such level that once she remarked that one should wish his/her mother with handwritten cards or letters than buying an expensive commercial card for the Mother. We subscribe to this idea and are confident that your own cooked three course dinner for your mother will please her more than a seven course restaurant extravaganza. Let's wish all the Mothers of the world a Happy Mother's Day and wish them good health,happiness and peace of mind. One should never think of paying back to the Mother for whatever she did to raise him/her. No return will ever be sufficient. She will be most happy to see her son/daughter as a good human being successful in life and profession. Gary Anderson retired as chief of staff of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab. From 2003 to 2005, he served as a special adviser to the deputy secretary of defense. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Military analysts who believed that Russia's shift of its main invasion effort to eastern and southern Ukraine would allow the Russians to switch to the kind of massed mobile warfare that would favor them have been proven wrong. They believed that the more open terrain of the east would favor Russian massed armor formations. Instead, the Russian drive is devolving into a slog. Western intelligence points to various reasons for this: They include poor training, abysmal leadership, over-centralized command, horrible communications security, and lack of air superiority. All of these are contributing factors, but the key problem is cities. The Russians are poor at urban warfare, and the Ukrainians, who excel at it, have again forced the Russians to think urban. Since the American Civil War and the Wars of German Unification, conventional warfare thinking has been dominated by the notion that the destruction of the enemy's army is the key strategic objective. The theory is that once an enemy's army has been destroyed, his cities become war prizes. The highest form of military art from 1865 to 1945 was the double envelopment resulting in the destruction or capture of the opponent's main field force by maneuver. When that failed -- as it did in the von Schlieffen Plan of 1914 -- campaigns degenerated into attritional bloodbaths. The approach of mass maneuver became the doctrine of virtually every major Western army, but it has been particularly true of the Soviet/Russian model. That approach assumed that the enemy's combat power was also based on a mass conventional mechanized/motorized force. Contrary to popular belief, the great Russian victory at Stalingrad was not a triumph of Russian urban combat skill. Adolf Hitler violated German doctrine by making the city a political objective because it was named for Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. Although holding the city was a prestige point for Stalin as well, Russian defense of the urban center was merely one element of their strategy, as it fixed the German 6th Army in place while Marshal Georgy Zhukov engineered one of the great double envelopments of military history -- trapping the Germans in the kind of cauldron battle, or Kesselschlacht, that they had perfected earlier in the war. Since that time, Stalingrad has become the model for Russian doctrine. Unfortunately for Putin's ambitions, the Ukrainians adopted a more decentralized approach that denied the Russians a large target that could be overwhelmed by mass and maneuver. Whether one describes it as a hybrid or unconventional approach, the Ukrainians used the urban terrain around cities such as Kiev and Kharkiv to force the Russians into urban combat for which they were not prepared by inclination or training. That is the primary reason why the Russian General Staff switched its focus of effort to the east, but the Ukrainians have made it clear that they will not play the Russian game. The east still has cities, and that is where Kiev's military is again forcing them to fight. Long-term control of any part of Ukraine requires control of the population, and most of the population lives in towns and cities. The Russians understand that they cannot afford to turn every city and town into a Mariupol. If the eastern and southern fronts turn into a stalemate like World War I, with towns and cities being traded like chess pieces, it may provide both the Ukrainians and Russians an off-ramp. The Russians clearly desire to occupy as much of the east and the south as they can and then hold rigged elections to give a veneer of legitimacy to their conquest. Not only are the Ukrainians holding their own, but they are beginning to take back some towns. Worse for the Russians, their original advantage in men and armor has degraded. The British now believe that the ratio is getting closer to 1:1, with NATO nations backfilling Kiev's forces with tanks, armored personnel carriers and artillery. Short of using nuclear weapons -- which would likely prove counterproductive -- Moscow would be smart to try to hold onto its gains in a negotiated peace. If that peace results in internationally supervised local referendums, some areas will probably vote to go Russian, giving Moscow something to show for its efforts. Kiev would be well advised to get rid of these cancers of its body politic. Mr. Putin lost his war in the first weeks. Worse, he has lost the world's respect for himself and for Russian arms. If he doesn't come out with something to show, he may lose his job as well. Die Hard has a lot more to do with military history than you might think. This is true for both the phrase and the movie. The book on which the 1988 movie Die Hard is based is called Nothing Lasts Forever, and our hero is Joe Leland. Leland is still a New York police officer, but hes also a World War II Army Air Forces veteran with an ax to grind. As for the phrase Die Hard, it goes much further back in military history than World War II, but its origin is no less awesome. The first person ever to tell his men to die hard was British Lt. Col. William Inglis of the 57th Regiment of Foot, and he shouted it to encourage them after taking an artillery round and defending the regimental colors. It happened at the Battle of Albuera in Spain in 1811. It featured two military heavyweights in the prime of their careers: a Coalition force under Sir Arthur Wellesley, later known as the 1st Duke of Wellington, and the French forces of Napoleon Bonaparte. Half of those medals are probably for messing with Napoleon. The allied forces of British, Spanish and Portuguese troops were fighting for control of the Iberian Peninsula after Napoleon had installed his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, on the throne of Spain. The two sides fought from 1808 until Napoleons abdication in 1814. At Albuera, one of Napoleons marshals, Andre Massena, was being slowly ground down by Wellingtons Coalition force. The French emperor ordered a relief expedition to relieve Massena. By the time it arrived, Massenas troops were already retreating toward friendly territory. All the relief force could do was capture the nearby fortress of Badajoz. The French were soon forced to move almost all of their troops from Portugal, and Wellington saw the opportunity to keep the French out for good by capturing the fortress for the Allied Coalition once more. With Badajoz under siege, French Marshal Nicolas Soult gathered a substantial force to relieve the siege of the fortress and kick Wellingtons commander in the teeth. What Soult didnt know is that the army he was attacking was much bigger than expected. Instead of attacking an army of equal size, roughly 24,000 men, the Coalition force was 35,000 strong. The French Army attempted to flank the Coalition force. It nearly worked, despite the size of the opposing force. The Coalition expected a frontal assault and almost crumbled when the French unexpectedly hit the right side of their lines. The Spanish on that end of the line held, saving the army from destruction. Inglis and his 57th Regiment of Foot, along with two other battalions, were sent to the Coalition right flank to bolster the Spanish defenses. In the fighting of this war, volume of fire usually decided the winner, so the French not only brought every infantryman they could manage, they also brought their artillery, firing grape and canister shot, the cannon equivalent of a shotgun shell. The British troops advancing to hold the line were caught in a crossfire, shooting at the infantry in front of them but taking an enfilade of canister and grapeshot. Inglis was wounded by canister shot early on in the engagement, but he refused to be evacuated. He stayed with the regiments colors and repeatedly shouted at his men to die hard in the face of French fire. A couple thousand of them would die, with varying degrees of hardness. Despite the success of his surprise attack, Soult was forced to retreat in the face of superior numbers. Both sides were badly mauled in the fighting, but the Coalition continued the siege of the Badajoz fortress. Ultimately, it came to nothing because the French would return before they could take the fortress. In the end, the Battle of Albuera meant very little to the struggle over control of Spain and Portugal, but gave the world an immortal expression of steadfast determination that would not be succeeded until Roy Rogers gave us yippie-ki-yay. -- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook. Want to Learn More About Military Life? Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for post-military careers or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. Its easy to feel nervous about the entire military Permanent Change of Station (PCS) process when every step seems packed with risk that your belongings will be lost, broken or stolen. But have you ever stopped to hear from the people who have an insider view on the moving industry? In this episode of PCS with Military.com, moving industry representative Katie McMichael offers a window into how the industry operates, the best way for military families to work with the people hired to pack and move their belongings and what military members and families need to know about this peak PCS season. Follow and Subscribe to the PCS with Military.com Podcast iTunes | Google Podcasts | Spotify | TuneIn Connect with this episode: Get military PCS advice in your inbox Learn more about military PCSing Learn about the Moving and Storage Conference Learn about the Moving and Storage Conference on LinkedIn The following is an edited transcript of this episode of PCS with Military.com. Amy Bushatz: Any move, military or not is a complicated combination of a lot of moving pieces. And you're probably well familiar with the ones that you face on the military side. But if you're moving with a company packing and shipping your goods, the Defense Department and the military services only work as a go- between to orchestrate parts of your move. The rest is done through services hired by the DoD for you from throughout the United States. And like so many things, each of those services relies on its own complicated network, a smooth move assumes all of the steps and stages are working. Like they're supposed to here at PCS with Military.com we believe that knowledge is power. What if you could have insight into the parts of your move you don't often consider the challenges as well as tips and tricks for facing them. Today's guest, Katie McMichael is going to offer us some of that insight. She's with the American Trucking Association's Moving and Storage Conference, which means her expertise is in a non- DoD parts of your move, the moving itself, and the getting your goods to you on time. We're so grateful she's here to give us her insight. Katie, welcome to PCS with Military.com. Katie McMichael: Thank you for having me. I'm excited to be here. Amy Bushatz: It's so wonderful to hear from the non DoD side on this, and I'm really excited to just pick your brain a little bit and get the inside scoop on what's going on. So, thank you. So. We start by asking all of our guests how many times they have moved with, or without the military, if they're a military family member sorta like, Hey, what's your street cred. So how many times have you moved with or without the military? Katie McMichael: So without the military, I've moved, I want to at least five times, and I am kind of one of those consumers, I want to say that grew up to moving. So, coming out of college, it was the 'hey, everything fits in the back of my car. I'm moving down the street' and then graduated into now we're renting a U haul to move our things, to finally actually hiring movers, which, you know once I used a mover for the first time, I kicked myself for not doing it in the past because it does make it so much easier than doing it yourself. Amy Bushatz: Oh my goodness. When that's an option, it certainly is fantastic. It isn't always these days. So, but we'll get to that. Especially for our military families, but you know, isn't that like the peak adulting right there, that's just the trajectory everybody goes into for adulting. It's like your taxes, right? Maybe you have somebody does them now for you, but you started by doing them out of the back of your truck, sort of, you know. Katie McMichael: It really, it honestly did feel that way. When you have movers come and pack your things and move them, into your new house. I mean, there was a little part of me that felt old and like, I couldn't believe I was adult enough and old enough to actually have hired movers. So definitely get that. Amy Bushatz: Talk to us about the American Trucking Association's Moving and Storage Conference. We were joking earlier. That's a mouthful. So we're going to need to know what it is. And what does it do and what do you do there? Katie McMichael: Yeah. So the Moving and Storage Conference at ATA, we are somewhat new. We used to be the American Moving and Storage Association, and a lot of our members realize that we have so much crossover in terms of issues with just the trucking industry as a whole. And aTA has these great things they're called Conferences, and what they deal with is specific segments of trucking that are a little more specialized and moving and storage is one of those. So our association joined forces with ATA and formed the Moving and Storage Conference. And our goal, 30,000 foot level, is really based on advocacy. So we like to educate lawmakers. We work with DOT Department of Defense, obviously on, the DP3 program. And our goal is to really, you know, how do we identify, either things that are going well in the industry or issues and problems, and how do we address them? How do we fix them and how do we kind of bring, you know, help the moving industry stay healthy and thrive. Amy Bushatz: So two questions: who are your members and define the DT, the D the three I'm like, I know what it means, and I need you to define it for me. Katie McMichael: Yes. So our, so we represent asset-based moving companies, so we represent the moving companies that have the trucks.. They come to your house, they bring their crews, they pack up your things. So we have almost 2000 members right now of moving companies. Again, these are the guys that, they do everything from A to Z. And a large portion of them participate in the DP3 program or Defense Personal Property Program. And our association, we actually have a specific committee within the organization that is just dedicated towards military moving and, okay, what are the problems that we're seeing? How do we fix them? We work with USTRANSCOM. We try and work with the service branches to really, work together, to find solutions to some of the common problems that I'm sure you've experienced in the move process that the DoD runs. Amy Bushatz: Got it. And I'm just like from a 3000 foot level, that Defense Personal Property of you just alluded to it is run by the us transportation command. That's the overseeing section of the military. So guys, when you hear us refer to Defense Personal Property, that's part of TRANSCOM, just so you know, so if we start dropping those acronyms, like, you're picking up what we're laying down, cause I know acronyms can sort of lead one into the wilderness. Katie McMichael: Especially in the military arena. When I first started at AMSA. And I was just barely kind of dipping my toe in the DP3 stuff, a coworker gave me a 25 page packet and all it was acronyms and what they meant. And he was like, you better memorize this. If you're going to sit in on these meetings and he wasn't wrong, then yeah. There's an acronym for everything. Amy Bushatz: And I have been doing this for longer than I'm going to admit, and I still need a little acronym cheat sheet sometimes. So the struggle is real. So it's absolutely no secret that military moves have been a huge challenge, well, they're always a big challenge, but they've been a huge challenge over the last several years. Can you give us an picture from an industry standpoint of why that is? What's happening out there? Katie McMichael: Sure there are a couple of contributing factors that some are specific to our industry and then some is just trucking in general. I think one of the largest challenges we have is drivers. There is a driver shortage out there. I think the ATA estimates we're about 60,000 drivers short. Amy Bushatz: So how many drivers is full strength? Katie McMichael: It totally depends on the size of your company. And I think Amy Bushatz: Like nationwide, if you're 60,000 drivers short, what is the goal?, Katie McMichael: I'll be honest. I don't know what the goal is. Off the top of my head, I think the goal is that companies say, hey, we don't need , we're not sure drivers. So I don't know what the target, off the top of my head I don't know what the target number is. Amy Bushatz: So you're saying that companies are saying, hey, individual companies are saying, Hey, we're short X number of drivers and that number adds up to 60,000. Katie McMichael: Yeah, that's what we're tracking right now. So the biggest problem is just, there's not enough drivers for the demand and, as consumers, and when you look at a, again from a pretty holistic level, we do a lot of things online now. We're not, you're not running too you're not running down the street to Sears to get your clothes, probably like you used to do. Amy Bushatz: No one's running down the street to Sears. Katie McMichael: No one's even going no, one's even going to, CVS half the time to pick up your stuff. So there's just in general, the demand for truck drivers has gone up as we've all gotten used to ordering things online. And I think truck driving in general, as a profession has lost a little bit of, you know, maybe the respect that it got, maybe back in like the eighties. Quite frankly the respect it deserves. It doesn't get enough respect for how hard it is. So the driver shortage, I would say is probably one of the biggest contributing factors to why it's why the PCS seasons are getting tougher and tougher. And it's because moving companies just they don't have the capacity to fulfill the amount of moves that are happening. And especially when you look at peak season, which is very compressed, that gets even harder. So the driver shortage is a big challenge and then specific to the moving industry, even what's becoming quite frankly, more of an issue for moving is finding the guys that are going to come to your house that are going to pack up your things, they're going to lift them, right? It's the heat of summer. It is a hard job to do. It is not easy. So industry really struggles. We struggle finding drivers, but then when you go to get crews, that's a challenge because when you look at the skilled manual labor, because that's what they fall into. I think, you as somebody who is PCSed you don't want anybody that just walks off the street, right? Amy Bushatz: That's a big problem. Katie McMichael: Yeah, you want to these guys need to be background checked and most companies will train them. They will train you to, hey, we're moving this dresser. How do we pad this correctly? We're going at home. How do we, how do we train these guys to, interact with the customer? We don't want to, we don't want to scratch walls. We don't want to scratch their floors. And that's something too, I think that is under- appreciated in the moving industry is, there's some times that, oh, you just got to find manual labor. It's not that easy. These, you know, you have to find manual labor that can pass background checks and they also have to be trained. Because a moving company does not want to consumers goods to break or be dented. Nobody wants claims at the end, the consumer, the customer doesn't want it. The movers don't want it. So we have this added challenge of you know, you're finding this manual labor, but it needs to be of a higher skill than say somebody that maybe just works in a warehouse or is mowing your lawn. Or, and again, it's nothing against those types of professions. It is, it's just, we need, the moving companies need a little bit higher caliber. And I think sometimes that gets forgotten when we talk about just labor challenges. Amy Bushatz: Right, okay, like from the very basic, like, you have to be able to lift stuff, which not everyone can do, I'm, you don't see me moving my own beds and I'm pretty strong. Also I will add, we have moved ourselves, just across town, but I don't think it, I don't think the distance when you move yourself particularly matters for this point, which is we broke our own stuff and I would not have bet on that before we packed it. Like I was like, I'm going to be fine. We're being careful. It's my own stuff. I'm wrapping it well. No 100% broke my own stuff. Not hugely, but enough that I sort of had that moment where I was like, oh. Katie McMichael: Yeah, cause I mean, you wouldn't think of it. You just don't, and even me, and that's where like me coming, I kind of came into this industry first as a customer, a very uneducated customer. And then when you see behind the scenes, They train guys, okay. If you have a box of dishes, this is how you down to this is how you should wrap a glass or wrap a plate. There is people that put a lot of thought into best practices for packing just about any item in your home to try and limit that damage. So it is pretty impressive. When you look at it from the other side, it is pretty impressive, how much they can do and not break it. Amy Bushatz: Yeah. Yeah, no I completely, I can completely see that. But on the flip side, it's exactly what you're saying. It's hard to find people to be doing that. So now you must have people, like you can't just not show up. And so then you're hiring people who maybe haven't been trained or who maybe are not taking the kind of care that other people, if there was lots of people who really cared available, would be. And so now we have a lot of breakage and this sort of frustrating experience as the consumer or the person being moved. Where you don't see the challenges that got to this point. All you see is the stress you're under and the people who are in your house. And so now you're frustrated because you're like, who are these guys or women where did they come from and why are they being allowed to be here? Katie McMichael: Yeah. It's moving, it's just a stressful time for everybody. And I think when you add these labor challenges, especially now you can make $20, $25 an hour working in a warehouse it's air conditioned. So you know, the people that make a career out of being a crew leader or a driver in the industry, they do take pride in their work, but you just hit that peak season where everybody's slammed. We're now short people. So you have more jobs to do in a smaller amount of time because we don't have as many people as we used to have. And I think from a customer standpoint, industry understands, you could have, you could send out the President of the United States to come pack your things. It's still a stressful process and you're still not going to be happy during it. And you know, and everybody understands that it's just, it's not, it's unfortunate that you know moving and storage companies are in the business of helping people just during a really hard time. Amy Bushatz: Yeah. I think if the President of the United States, no matter who that individual is, showed up to pack my house, I would be confused. Katie McMichael: Right. Amy Bushatz: So was the labor shortage, like this labor problem? You know, we hear a lot about labor problems after 2020 COVID stuff. And in this particular time. Was this a problem before that has it been sort of trickling in or is it just like bam now. Katie McMichael: Yeah. So it was a problem before COVID, but I would say COVID really exasperated it. I think that it COVID was sort of like this lit match where, there was all the, there was all the shutdown orders. So a lot of the people that were in the industry during that time, they found other things to do. And they're not coming back into the moving and storage industry because they've found a new career or some, you know, whatever it is. So it just has, we're now having to recruit new people. You're trying to get, your, the old labor back. I think COVID just, it really made it a challenge because you lost a lot of people to other industries during that time, and it's a competitive market just to find labor. I mean, every time you turn on the news, people are, companies are all saying, it's so hard to find people. Amy Bushatz: So we're talking about shortage of people doing the packing loading, shortage of actual truck drivers. And we're talking about these challenges. Okay. So this has caused a lot of frustration. We've got that. But let's talk about what's happening behind the scenes, maybe to mitigate this as much as one can. So what's going on to address these problems? Katie McMichael: Yeah. So our conference, so ATA as a whole organization, which we're part of they're doing a ton on driver recruitment driver training. We're really looking hard at apprenticeship programs. So we're having to, how do we figure out how, how do we figure out how to get kids coming out of high school or even after high school, to want to be truck drivers? So it's a lot of, I think, recruitment efforts right now. Again, like I said, apprenticeships, recruiting kids out of high school, getting people in early to realize you can actually make a really good living in this industry. If you stick with it and go through the training. So that is where a lot of the efforts are. And finding ways to streamline the process, make it easier to be a truck driver. So getting, not lowering the standards to be a truck driver, but there are ways to make it, easier, not as much red tape, things like that. So I, as a whole, working with Congress, working with DOT to try and identify those avenues, and then just as an association, as a whole is promoting the career. And that's just a big part of it is just promoting it to people. And I think specifically to household goods, there's a lot of truck drivers that don't want to get into household goods because I can drive freight and I can just drive door to door and run the same route. I can live here in Virginia and I can do Virginia to San Diego, twice a month. And I know where I'm driving. I don't have to get out of my truck and it's nice and easy. And they say, I don't want to do household goods because getting into household goods means I have to run a crew. It's not just me now. I have to supervise a crew of guys. I have to go into a home. There's a lot of paperwork involved with household good moves. I have to have customer service skills because I'm now dealing with a family that's moving in a stressful situation. I have to make sure that all of the goods are packed, that we're not denting up the house, that things aren't breaking. So that's an added challenge for, to find household goods drivers. Because you're not just sitting in a truck, I'm driving from point A to point B. And it's irregular route. You could be going anywhere, you don't know where you're going next week because it depends on where's the person moving to. But I've also, I think for a lot of people, that's actually everything I just mentioned is can be really enticing to the right person because maybe somebody just find, maybe there's people out there that say, I don't want to be a truck driver because it's boring. Household goods is a perfect place to come. You're not driving the same, you're not driving down the same highway two or three times a month. You get to go to new places. You get to see new places. You could be going anywhere in the country any day. You get to interact more so than a regular truck driver. You're talking to consumers, you get to be more of a business person as a truck driver, you're running a crew you're finding ways to improve your process. So I think some of the things that people view as downsides to being a household good driver or labor for the right people, I think it's very enticing for them because it's a little bit more exciting. So, you know, we just are trying to focus on how do we get that story and that message to the right people that would be interested in that. Amy Bushatz: Yeah. Yeah. So talk to us then about this because that sounds like a really long game, which is great. becuase that's necessary too. But talk to us about the upcoming season. What is your forecast for 2022's moving season? What do people need to know? Katie McMichael: Yes. So the challenges that industry had and faced last year with just this extreme labor and driver shortage, we predict to be the same this peak season. So the biggest thing that we are trying to do right now is set proper expectations with TRANSCOM and with the customers. It's not probably going to be feasible to move on the exact day that you want, especially when you look at May, June, July. So setting the proper expectations of this whole process door to door is going to take longer. And to the extent that people are able to push their move dates, towards August, September, October, doing that now, and being proactive about realistically planning your move benefits everybody. So, the best thing we can do in the immediate future, especially for this peak season is set proper expectations that we just don't have the capacity to move everybody in that squeeze compressed timeframe. So to the extent people can just adequately plan for that and just understand, it's just going to take a little bit longer. Amy Bushatz: There are so many challenges to that. Like I'm thinking of all the counter-challenges to just being flexible, right, that are not in the customer's control. Like my orders came today and I have to be there tomorrow. What I think I noticed that was really unique about last year was the experience people are having that not only could they not move in the zone in the timeframe that was ideal. So I'm like, oh you know, I want to move on a Saturday. Not only was that not happening, but people were finding out last minute that they had to pack and move themselves, that the movers that they thought they had scheduled, or that they we're told would be scheduled were not in fact scheduled. Or that there was no mover available within quite a large buffer of, I have orders for a month and a half from now, and there are no movers available. So th that was hard in particular, because one that sounds terrible. And two, because it was unexpected, right? So the military community is used to being under a lot of stress, although we don't love that. Um, and we're used to being very resilient, even though that word is overused, and flexible and moving with the flow of whatever that is. The challenge with last year, I think, more than anything else was that those things were surprises. So with that said, are you saying that you expect that kind of challenge again this year? So just to the people can be prepared? Katie McMichael: Yes, I would say that challenge will likely exist. And the main reason that challenge challenge exists is most- and I will say this, there is not a single transportation service provider that participates in the program that enjoys when this problem happens. As much as it pains the customer, it really does also pain the moving company. So, and that's something I really want the customer to understand is that nobody is trying to do this intentionally. This is as much of a pain point for you all as it is for industry. But one of the reasons that the specific problem that you mentioned, is prevalent is most of the drivers that moving companies use, not all, but a very large percentage ,are what we call independent contractors. So they're truck drivers, they have their own business. So a moving company- and the reason there are a lot of independent contractors in this industry is because of that irregular route that we just sort of talked about. You're not staying in the same place, you're going different routes. So, and you're also having to run a crew. So these independent contractors, they have their own networks of crews. And it's just kind of how the lifestyle works .So moving companies, what they faced a lot last year is, all it takes, it's kind of a domino effect, all it takes is for one move, something to happen, to affect the rest of the summer. So right at an independent contractor, they're moving somebody, something happens and they call the company and say, Hey, I know I was supposed to be picking up this person in two days. I'm just telling you, I can't, you know, something has happened. I'm not going to be there for three, or I'm going to be late by a week. So then that impacts the next person's move, which impacts the next. So once you, it only really takes one unforeseen problem. And then that driver, every job that the company has booked, and they booked these jobs in, the spring for the summer and every everything's set up. So when a moving company accepts this job, it's not that they don't necessarily have a driver or an agent ready to come out there, but it's these last minute challenges where say, John Smith calls, moving company a and says, okay, I'm going to be late. In a normal scenario where you don't have a driver and labor challenges, you probably have a list of five or six other people you can call to fill in for him. And that's what we're lacking now is we don't have the bench of backup people to be able to call to, to step in and fill that because we have such a driver and labor challenge. So, we don't want that to happen. That is never the intention, but you know, for any customers this summer just know that, it may happen and companies really do, they really are doing everything they can to find somebody to cover the shipment. And they're also just not gonna send anybody off the street to cover your shipment, because it would be worse to have a move that is done on time, but has done really poorly. Versus, you know, maybe just waiting a couple of days to get a crew out there that's trained. Amy Bushatz: Do you recommend then that people just plan to move themselves? Like just, there's more than enough moves to go around to the drivers that exist. So if you want to move yourself, go for it. Is that what you're suggesting? Katie McMichael: That's such a, that's really a personal preference. I think. I would never, the DP3, it is a good program. I think when you look at there were problems this year, but when I think you look at, I think majority of the moves did go well, it's just that majority, it just, that amount that didn't go well was larger this past year than a normal year. So I would never like tell somebody just move yourself, just plan on doing that. It's just that the problems in a normal year, they're just a little bit they're bigger last year and it'll probably be the same this year. Okay. I think the best things is just going into the move process. Just with an understanding that there's a lot of challenges this year. If you happen, if something happens to, impact your move, just communicate with your mover as much as you can, they can walk you through options and every moving company that I work with will, will try to find some solution to help you out. So it's more of just a kind of mentally preparing yourself that this is what industry is facing and we want the moves to go well. And we, it's likely your move probably will, but just an understanding that, that, the clump of moves that had issues, it's just a little bit bigger than what it used to be. Amy Bushatz: Yeah. So it takes two to tango the cliche. What should the Pentagon be doing to help with this problem that maybe isn't happening? I, like drivers shortages that this domino effect all at least now, especially since we've seen how they go, all of those things are predictable. What is TRANSCOM doing or not doing to help with this that you may think they should be from the industry standpoint. Katie McMichael: Yeah. You kind of touched on it a little bit earlier, but I think a big part of this is with something we call demand smoothing. And you mentioned earlier, right? That you get your orders and you have to be there at this time. So we have really encouraged the services to be very intentional with giving their orders. So we understand a lot of this is driven by the school system. So if you have kids, you don't want to be moving during the school year. So finding proactive ways to maybe identify people that don't have dependents. That maybe you could give them orders so that they, you know, they're moving in December or January or February, then when the demand isn't high. And then that kind of takes it out of the summer months. So demands smoothing is something, I think that industry has always really encouraged DoD to look at and be a little more intentional with. We've been working with TRANSCOM and quite honestly, they've been really great these past couple months and preparing for this. We've just been talking to them about a lot of just let's do a better job of educating the customers this season on the challenges and what to expect and things like that. So really trying to focus on better communication and just better prepping for setting proper expectations. Because that just takes a lot of the friction out of the process and that's what we would really like to see removed. Amy Bushatz: That makes a lot of sense. You know you mentioned earlier getting creative a little bit we know best is the mother of invention. One thing that's had a lot of discussion around it in the past is adding like the industry adding, tracking to all shipments. Some companies do that. Some companies don't, but now some families are doing it themselves by dropping in an Apple Air Tag, which basically, if you don't know what that is listeners, functions as a tracking device. And they put it in their household goods. And of course this is not brand new that people are doing things like this. There are lots of tools out there that are similar to Air Tags, but it's gotten a lot of attention recently. So what do you think about that practice? Is that something you recommend? What is the industry think about that practice? Give us the scoop. Katie McMichael: Yeah, so that has, it's definitely been kind of the buzz. We saw all the reports and the one thing that just really struck me as you start seeing, you hear the story and you start seeing this increase in, hey, like, let's do something like this is, I think the Air Tag situation is a symptom of a larger problem, which is just there needs to be better communication and that, you know what it's like, what is driving people to feel that they need to put an Apple Air Tag in their shipment to track it. And when you're reading the reports and you're hearing some of the things that you know, some in the military families are saying, it's just, I, I want to know where my things are. You know, It's been a while. I'm not sure when they're coming. It's, there's some anxiety around that, which is very understandable. It's your life's goods. You're going to want to know where they are and what's going on with your shipment, but it kind of boils back to something that industry has identified and that they're working on improving on. And I know a lot of companies have, been talking about this, especially after last season on improving this season, is just better communication to the service member. A service member should obviously moving is stressful. But a service member we want them to feel comfortable that when that truck driver drives away, we want them to feel comfortable that their goods are being taken care of and that they are going to be at their destination on whatever the date is. So there's a, I think breakdown in communication and a little bit a breakdown in trust, which again, for some, there are people out there that they've had bad experiences, and I don't want to discount that at all. But I think on industry, on the industry side, we're really working on improving communication with the customer so they feel at ease, so that they don't feel stressed so that they don't feel that, they would need to take measures like these to ensure that their goods are being taken care of. We, industry does not want customers to feel that way. And if customers do feel that way, and maybe as a result of how challenging last season was, we need to do a better job of communicating this season, so that, that stress isn't there. You know, because tracking shipments, like you said, some companies have the technology. Some do not, it sounds, I think we're used to kind of Amazon where, okay. I can open my Amazon app and see exactly where the truck is. And it's pretty nifty technology, but going back to some of the things we touched on earlier, we're not the logistics of our industry is not regular route. When you look at the efficiency of getting shipments moved, it's not like an, it is not like a, an Amazon package where it leaves the warehouse. There's, a hundred packages in the back of the truck. And all the guy has to do is walk around and throw the stuff on the front porch and leave. Nobody wants their household goods just throw it on the front porch. Right, that's that is not ideal. And moving companies work with each other so much. It's really funny for how competitive the moving industry is, they work with each other so much, especially during peak season to get, especially military family stuff moved. They're calling their competitors, they're working with their competitors, say, Hey, can you help me with this? Can you take this shipment, can you do this? They really do collaborate with each other. It also leads to some obstacles with kind of tracking with each other because if one company's using one system, but the other company isn't, how to, and they are, taking part of the shipment from, for a certain leg of it. How do you as a customer, you're not going to be able to, you can't track it the whole way, unless it's one system that everyone in the country is using. Amy Bushatz: Thus the Air Tag. That's the whole idea. Katie McMichael: Yeah. So the Air Tag you know, people put it in there, but even there's challenges, you know, with things like ear tags, because they only work within a radius of the Apple network. So. What happens, you know, if a customer is looking and it's, you know, you're driving through the middle of nowhere in Colorado and the driver has an Android, it's not going to show up. So that's sort of why, when you take a step back from the frenzy of that story, I think, and look at the real issue it's customers are feeling stressed about their shipments once they leave the house. So how do we as an industry work on alleviating that stress. So customers are feeling much more comfortable during the process. And I think a lot of that goes back to finding ways to improve communication with the customer. So that they're getting updates on what's happening with their shipment and setting proper expectations from the outset so that everybody is sort of on the same page more. So I think that sort of when you look at the problem is think the Air Tags are just a symptom of a greater problem that industry I can say is really working very hard to improve upon for this upcoming peak season. Amy Bushatz: We like to be really practical and this whole conversation has been very practical, but I'm hoping you can give us some tips and tricks for people getting ready to face this upcoming season. And who are going to be working through move in 2022. What do you recommend in terms of tools or even things to know when working with their movers or getting ready, physically practically ready or mentally strong. Give us just a couple of tips if you don't mind. Katie McMichael: Yeah, sure. I mean One thing we always stress is as soon as you get the orders, the sooner you go down to your transportation office and, put in your request for moving the better it is. Don't wait get on that process. As soon as you get your order. You know, the next day start talking about, okay, I'm going to a transportation office and we're going to start getting this plan. That is a, that is really I think an undervalued tip is, don't wait until the last minute to start going through this process. The sooner you can put your orders in, because what that does is it helps industry then plan for the demand, if we know. The sooner this happens, then industry can say, okay, it's looking like I'm going to need X amount of people during this week or this month. So that's a really, I think practical tip that just helps everybody. And then, also in addition moving is stressful. So, you know, just, I think mentally preparing yourself that we're all on the same team. Again, I can tell you movers, they do not want you guys to have a bad time. They legitimately do not. They really care about the customer. They really care about this going smoothly. So I think one thing we would love to see a little bit more of is just, it's not it's not a moving company versus the customer. Like we can just be in the mindset of we're all in the same team to get this fixed. I think that just makes the process mentally less agitating and if somebody and you can always reach out to me if a mover's mean to you and I will call them, but shouldn't have had that problem. Well, yeah, just from practical stuff, we always encourage people, if you have, once you know you're moving, go through your home and find things that you know are like your valuables or anything that's like priceless. We always and this is something we recommend outside of even DoD this is just good practice for if you're moving period is take those priceless items or valuables. And to the extent you can put them in your trunk or in your car, we always encourage people to take them with you, because that also alleviates stress too, because the things that mean the most to you are then already with you, they're not in the back of a truck. So that takes away some of the stress too. If you have your most valuable possessions with you, I know that's not always possible, but if it is that is, you'd be surprised how much mentally that takes off of you when you're worrying about your shipment. Amy Bushatz: Right, right. Yeah. Yeah. And going back to the trust piece that you just mentioned, I think that's the tiny problem with the Air Tag thing. I am, listen, I love tracking things. I wear two running watches when I run, over the top. Okay with tracking for like my life and in general. So I completely am one of those people who had put an Air Tag in something. It is tempting to put an Air Tag in your stuff because you don't trust the person there. And if you're going in to this situation and having movers in your home and all and putting yourself on a truck, under this attitude, I don't trust this process at all, and I am highly suspicious of all this people, these people that's a whole vide. And I think that there's something to be said for being careful, and you can use trackers like that, but not having that attitude of that y'all are out to get me. And it's, cause it's a balance. Like there's nothing wrong with wanting to track your stuff or know where your stuff is. But what isn't going to do, anyone, any favors is going into this process with an attitude of everyone's out to get me so I need to cover my butt. Katie McMichael: Yeah. And too, if you make the decision, Hey, you know, I think I do want to, put something in here, you know, you can be upfront with your TSP about it. Say, hey I just, I have some anxiety over this move. I, you know, dropped an Air Tag in here. Movers are, they're obviously not licensed therapists, but you know, they're experts in this and they can help with that. And if you're at the point where you feel the need to do something like that and you see something and you're like this, you know, I just have questions, always call your TSP because having that one point of contact makes it, and that's something that was an effort I think that TRANSCOM it might've been a little bit before I stepped into this role, but I know TRANSCOM, you know, they really say, okay, there's, you know, we want to go to one point of contact for the move, because it's so confusing for customers because there's all these people involved and there's all these phone numbers and shows up, there's a driver, then there's the agent. And there's the TSP. So there was this effort to go towards, okay, there's one point of contact. And I do think that makes things go smoother. So if there is, if you notice something, call your TSP and say, hey I feel like there might be a problem here. I need you to look into this, let them do that for you. You should not have to, as a customer, you shouldn't have to do that. So, let them be the one to work with the driver that they contracted out with. Put that onus on them. That's what they're there for. That can also just, again, take some of that stress and anxiety off of the, you know, consumer. Amy Bushatz: Hmm, that's a, that's great advice. Katie, you've had a lot of really insightful things to say to us today about the trucking industry and sort of that inside scoop we were looking for from you earlier. And I just, I really appreciate your time and, and your clarity in this conversation. So thank you so much for joining us on PCS with Military.com. Katie McMichael: Thank you. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. 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Summary of all keyboard shortcuts The Angels announced a set of roster moves today, including the placement of middle infielder David Fletcher on the 15-day injured list with a left hip strain. Lefty Kenny Rosenberg was optioned to Triple-A, and outfielder Jose Rojas was placed on the injured list for an unspecified reason, implying a COVID-19 issue. Joining the active roster are outfielder Aaron Whitefield (as reported earlier today) and infielder Luis Rengifo. This is already the second time Fletcher has been sidelined by a hip strain this season, and he will be visiting a specialist on Monday to determine the extent of the problem. Fletcher received cortisone shots during his first IL stint, and while the problem hasnt really gotten worse, it just wasnt as good as we thought the injection would make it, he told reporters, including Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times. A next step wont be known until Fletchers doctor visit, and it is possible surgery might be required. Fletcher is hopeful that such a procedure wouldnt put his season in jeopardy, as hopefully Ill get it fixed and be back pretty soon. The Halos have become pretty accustomed to playing without Fletcher thus far in 2022, though Matt Duffys ongoing presence on the COVID-related injured list will further complicate matters. Rengifos call-up will give the Angels an extra infielder to join Tyler Wade, Andrew Velazquez, and Jack Mayfield in juggling the second base and shortstop duties. While Anaheim may have enough offense in the rest of the lineup to get by with more of a defensive focus up the middle, it does make for an imperfect situation even if Fletcher is able to return. Fletcher (understandably) hasnt hit much in his limited playing time this season, and batted only .262/.297/.324 over 665 plate appearances in 2021. It was a big step backwards from Fletchers very impressive 120 OPS+/122 wRC+ performance in the shortened 2020 campaign, or even his closer-to-league average numbers in 2019. If Fletcher does require surgery and need to miss a good chunk of the remaining season, the middle infield would seem like a natural trade deadline target area for the Angels if they remain in contention. TODAY: Surgery is on the table for Paddack, Dan Hayes of The Athletic tweets, though Paddack is continuing to explore all options. MAY 8: Twins starter Chris Paddack left todays game due to inflammation in his right elbow. Paddack pitched into the third inning, retiring the first batter and then allowing two hits before being pulled, following a mound visit from the team trainer. Acting Twins manager Jayce Tingler told reporters (including Betsy Helfand of The St. Paul Pioneer Press) that Paddack started to feel some tightness in his elbow as he started his final frame of work. More will be known once Paddack undergoes medical testing, but as Helfand notes, this particular injury is worrisome considering Paddacks history of elbow issues. The right-hander suffered a slight UCL sprain just last September that prematurely ended his 2021 season, and going further back, Paddack underwent a Tommy John surgery in 2016. If the injury isnt anything more than just inflammation, the Twins could still skip Paddacks next start for precautionary reasons, or even put him on the 10-day injured list just to ensure that everything is completely fine. For a club that had so many questions about its rotation heading into the 2022 season, the Twins now finds itself in a situation where they actually have more than enough depth to accommodate a short-term absence for Paddack. Minnesotas rotation has been a strength, with Paddack, Joe Ryan, Chris Archer, Sonny Gray, Bailey Ober (currently on the 10-day IL with a groin injury), and Josh Winder all pitching well to begin the year. Dylan Bundy also seems to be on the verge of returning from the COVID-IL, so Bundy could slot right into Paddacks rotation spot if Paddack is indeed sidelined. 09.05.2022 LISTEN Young Student Disk Joker (DJ) of the Ghana Institute of Journalism, Dacosta J. Amoah who is popularly known by the craft name DJ. Da Costa released his latest mixtape dubbed BASIC 1.0 on mother's Day, May 8, 2022. According to DJ DaCosta, Basic 1.0 is a 54-minute duration Mixtape made up of about 40 to 50 tracks. It is an Afrobeat-dominated mixtape with fractions from other genres such as Amapiano, Reggae-Dancehall, hiplife, hip-hop, and several others. In an exclusive interview with a freelance blogger Isaac Donkor Distinguished, he elucidated that, the mixtape is dubbed BASIC 1.0 because that is the first mixtape ever since he rebranded from DJ schoolboy to his recent brand DJ DaCosta. He further stated that the mixtape is a special gift to his mother who is the biggest inspiration in his life which is the reason he decided to release it on Mother's Day. I decided to title it BASIC 1.0 because this is the first mixtape I have done ever since I changed my brand name from DJ Schoolboy to my current one DJ DaCosta. And as to why I am releasing it on mother's Day, it is a special present to my mother who is my biggest inspiration in life, he explained. According to DJ DaCosta, he believes BASIC 1.0 is a special mixtape because it has lots of hit tracks from the start to the end. Tracks such as Shatta Wales On God, 'Kwaku The Traveler' by Black Sherif as well as several mind-blowing hit songs. This is a very special mixtape because it has lots of popular songs with good lyrics such as On God, Kwaku the Traveller, and other hit tracks that cheer people up even when they are bored, he emphasised. The Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) marked World Press Freedom Day 2022 with a film show and seminar at the North-Dzorwulu campus on 5th May 2022. This years celebration was held in partnership with the Embassy of the United States of America (USA) in Ghana under the theme, Fake News, Disinformation and Misinformation. During the seminar which was organized by the Department of Integrated Social Sciences (DISS) of the Faculty of Integrated Communication Sciences (FICS), the Dean of FICS, Dr Modestus Fosu, mentioned in his opening remarks, that GIJ has consistently marked the World Press Freedom Day over the past years with various activities. Reflecting on the theme of the seminar, Dr Fosu stated that the rampant fake news, misinformation, and disinformation are the nascent problems that modern societies must deal with. The Information Officer at the US Embassy, Mr Kevin Broshana on his part affirmed the commitment of the government of the United States of America to promote press freedom as a democratic ideal. "The role of the press to raise questions, clarify, and explain issues in a democracy is irreplaceable. Democracies do not long survive without a strong Fourth Estate, he stated. Mr Broshana mentioned that the US embassy holds multiple programmes to support journalism students and journalists who are already practicing, including exchange programmes in the United States of America every year. As part of the seminar, three (3) reputable media personalities were empanelled to dilate on the theme of the seminar- Fake News, Disinformation and Misinformation. The panellists were Mr Bernard Avle, General Manager of Citi FM/TV, Ms Caroline Anipah, Ghana Country Lead for Dubawa and Mr. Nehemiah Attigah, Principal Lead for Odekro and Assistant lead for Ghana Decides. Mr. Nehemiah Attigah noted during his presentation that there is the need for social media users to stop, reflect and verify information before they share. He encouraged participants to play a role in fighting misinformation and disinformation by being vigilant, especially in the online environment, since some unscrupulous people can use advanced technologies to manipulate information, including videos and images. Caroline Anipa on her part, noted that many journalists are always in a hurry to break the news and therefore ignore or fail to verify the information. She stressed the need for journalists to acquire fact-checking skill indicating her organization's willingness to partner with relevant stakeholders, including GIJ to train more students and media workers on fact-checking. Finally, drawing from his over twenty (20) years of experience in broadcasting, Mr. Bernard Avle noted that journalism is a discipline of verification. He noted that it is the responsibility of journalists to fact-check their sources. He noted that the work of journalists must strive to be independent of the people and issues they cover. The seminar was attended by representatives of the Embassy of the United States of America in Ghana and a cross-section of faculty members, including, the Head of the Department of Integrated Social Sciences Dr., Kodwo Anson Boateng and the Head of the Department for Languages, Mr. Dickson Amexo. There were also students from various faculties of GIJ. Some of the students who attended the seminar indicated that they benefited greatly. I learnt about the core mandate of journalists being truthful irrespective of the situation as their reputation is at stake, a student (Juliet Gavor) said. This is the moment when civility and vulgarity collide. No one can justify the heinous behaviour of the Prime Minister for a pathetic attempt to defend his decaying political power. Second Editorial Little more than two hours after we published our first editorial this morning, the Prime Minister showed his true colours as we had expected. This is the moment when civility and vulgarity collide. This conflict has occurred in Sri Lanka before. History repeats. Failing to learn the lessons of history, we are always foolish enough to fall into the traps of politicians and ruin our lives. The Prime Minister and members of the inner circle headed by his second son, who have looted state wealth in the last two years, have no choice but to resort to violence to save those close to him. The whole country is on fire. The Prime Minister and his party should be cheerful about their heroism. If the politicians who have a sense of the country do not fulfil their responsibilities now, this violent clash will lead to a series of bloodshed. It has now been proven that the despicable aim of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his inner circle is to push the country into bloodshed. After summoning his supporters to his office, Temple Trees, this morning, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is fully responsible for instigating them into violence. The Prime Minister's gang of thugs attacked the peaceful protesters amid chanting of Pirith broadcasting by members of the Prime Minister's Office. There has never been a person in the history of Sri Lanka who has manipulated religion so vulgarly as the current Prime Minister. No one can justify the heinous behaviour of the Prime Minister for a pathetic attempt to defend his decaying political power. His action is a disgrace to humanity. It is disrespectful to the whole country nationally and internationally. At a time when the country is calling for international aid, how can the Prime Minister be so senseless and yearn for his power? The prime minister has no choice but to step down. He must understand this truth. He should step down, allowing President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to make the political decisions he wants. We are passing through a disgraceful day in the history of Sri Lanka. Yes; today is a Day of Infamy. The newly-elected Constituency Chairman for the New Patriotic Party(NPP), Mr Afriyie Owusu Frank, popularly known in the political landscape as Chemicals has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Almighty God. Speaking at a Thanksgiving Service held at Ahafo Mim Presbyterian Church of Ghana, he said, "I am very grateful to the Almighty God for the gift of life and the successful victory for the entire Asunafo North NPP. There is no loser, nor winner, we are all victors for our great party." He called on all members especially aspirants who failed to win their bid in the constituency elections to reconcile and unite for the 'break the 8' agenda. "I am humbly calling on all the Executive Committee and our party faithfuls to remain resolute and project the good works of the ruling NPP government. Our major focus must be on the 2024 elections because Ghanaians have repose great confidence in NPP. After all, we are the solution to the plight of Ghanaians. Let us all be united as never before and vigorously work towards the common goal of the ruling NPP. I vehemently believe that our stewardship in office shall contribute immensely towards 'breaking the 8' agenda," he stated. The organiser, Thomas Kofi Twum, Assistant secretary Issah Bimpong and the Nasara Coordinator Solomon Adoko all called for full cooperation. Mr Afriyie Owusu Frank polled 524 votes to beat the incumbent Chairman, Henry Prempeh who had 65 votes. Francis Kwaku Agyemang Duah had 217 Votes, Eric Adomako has One hundred and sixty(160) votes and Gabriel Asare Boachie Baayim had twenty-six (26) votes. The Asunafo North Electoral Commission declared Mr Afriyie Owusu Frank as the duly elected chairman of NPP in the Constituency base on the outcome of the Electoral results. The election was peaceful despite being keenly contested. Raiders killed at least 35 people including a baby in an attack on a gold mine in Ituri, in the strife-torn northeast of Democratic Republic of Congo, local sources said Sunday. One local official, Jean-Pierre Bikilisende, of the rural Mungwalu settlement in Djugu, Ituri, said the CODECO militia had carried out the attack on the artisanal mine. Bikilisende said the militia had attacked the Camp Blanquette gold mine and that 29 bodies had been retrieved, while another six burnt bodies had been found buried at the site. Among the dead was a four-month-old baby, he added. "This is a provisional toll," he said, as there had been other people killed whose bodies had been thrown down the mine shafts. Several other civilians had been reported missing, he said. "The search continues." Camp Blanquette was set up in a forest, far from the nearest military outpost, so help came too late, said Bikilisende. Cherubin Kukundila, a civil leader in Mungwalu, said that at least 50 people had been killed in the raid. Several people had been wounded, nine of them seriously. They were being treated at Mungwalu hospital, he told AFP. During their attack, the raiders had ransacked shops, carried off what the miners had dug out of the mine and burned down houses, he added. The Camp Blanquette mine lies seven kilometres (four miles) from Mungwalu. Years of violence CODECO -- the name for the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo -- is a political-religious sect that claims to represent the interests of the Lendu ethnic group. The Lendu and Hema communities have a long-standing feud that led to thousands of deaths between 1999 and 2003 before intervention by a European peacekeeping force. Violence then resumed in 2017, blamed on the emergence of CODECO. CODECO is considered one of the deadliest of the militias operating in the east of the country, blamed for a number of ethnic massacres in the province of Ituri. It has been held responsible for attacks on soldiers and civilians, including those fleeing the conflict and aid workers. Its attacks have caused hundreds of deaths and prompted more than 1.5 million people to flee their homes. Ituri and neighbouring North Kivu province have been under a "state of siege" since May last year. The army and police have replaced senior administrators in a bid to stem attacks by armed groups. Despite this, the authorities have been unable to stop the massacres regularly carried out on civilians. Under pressure from local leaders in both Ituri and neighbouring North Kivu, who are boycotting parliament, DR Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi has decided to review the efficacy of the state of siege. In April, 16 people, including nine soldiers, went on trial in DR Congo accused of selling weapons to CODECO. The trial is taking place at a military court in Ituri. French former Prime Minister Francois Fillon will on Monday learn whether an appeals court has upheld his conviction for setting his wife up with lucrative fake jobs in the French parliament. He has already been sentenced to five years in jail. Revelations about the scheme, under which Penelope Fillon was paid thousands of euros of state money for doing nothing, effectively torpedoed conservative Fillon's 2017 presidential campaign. The 68-year-old was convicted by a lower court in 2020 and sentenced to five years in jail, three of them suspended. At the appeals hearing last November, prosecutors said there was clear evidence that Fillon and his stand-in as MP for the Sarthe department, Marc Joulaud, employed Fillon's wife Penelope in an "intangible" or "tenuous" role as a parliamentary assistant between 1998 and 2013. On top of jail time and fines, the Fillons and Joulaud were ordered to repay more than one million euros to France's National Assembly lower house. The court also barred Fillon from holding public office for 10 years, while Penelope -- a serving local councillor -- received a two-year ban. Appeal could lead to harsher penalty Prosecutors have called for Fillon to face still harsher punishment in the appeals hearing, including five years' jail and a fine of 375,000 euros for abuse of public funds, collusion and concealing abuse of company assets. They also want a two-year suspended sentence for Penelope Fillon and a fine of 100,000 euros. Before the appeals court, the Fillons stuck to their defence that Penelope's "on-the-ground" work in Sarthe was "immaterial" but very "real". Their lawyers attacked the "media frenzy" around "Penelopegate", as the scandal was dubbed when it emerged. Neither of the accused is expected to be present in court on Monday. Russian bombing of a school sheltering civilians claimed 60 lives, Ukraine said on Sunday, as the G7 group of the west's leading economies reaffirmed their solidarity with Kyiv on the eve of Moscow's plans for a major celebration to mark the anniversary of allied victory in World War II. As intense fighting continues, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the death toll in Saturday's Russian air strike on a school in the eastern village of Bilogorivka. Russian President Vladimir Putin meanwhile leads commemorations Monday of the Soviet Union's defeat of Nazi Germany. Putin is expected to flaunt his military might during the symbolically important event. Huge intercontinental ballistic missiles will be towed through Moscow's Red Square, and a planned flyover will feature fighter jets in a "Z" formation showing support for the war. The Victory Day parade is a longtime tradition in Russia, but Monday's has taken on great prominence as Putin seeks to justify a war that has gone on far longer -- and at far higher cost -- than expected. Putin has sought to legitimise the invasion by comparing it with the previous struggle against Nazism and the national pride it brought. "Today, our soldiers, as their ancestors, are fighting side by side to liberate their native land from the Nazi filth with the confidence that, as in 1945, victory will be ours," Putin said. President Zelensky also marked the end of the 1939-1945 war by comparing Ukraine's battle for national survival to the region's war of resistance against its former Nazi occupiers. "Decades after World War II, darkness has returned to Ukraine," he said, in a monochrome social media video shot before a bombed-out apartment block. "Evil has returned, in a different uniform, under different slogans, but for the same purpose." G7 vows to reduce or ban Russian oil imports Earlier, in the latest shows of Western support, US First Lady Jill Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made unannounced visits to Ukraine, and G7 leaders joined Zelensky on a video call before pledging new support -- including a key vow to ban or phase out imports of Russian oil. After Zelensky's video conference with G7 leaders, the group -- comprising Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- said in a statement that Putin's "unprovoked war of aggression" had brought "shame on Russia and the historic sacrifices of its people". The White House said the G7 was "committed to phasing out or banning the import of Russian oil". EU diplomats will meet again next week to hammer out the details of their latest sanctions package, after a proposed embargo on Russian oil exposed rifts in the bloc. Separately, the White House said the United States would sanction three major Russian television stations and deny all Russian companies access to US firms' consulting and accounting services. Trudeau said Putin was responsible for "heinous war crimes" as he visited Irpin, a Kyiv suburb that was the scene of heavy fighting in the early weeks of the conflict. Separately, First Lady Biden met her Ukrainian counterpart Olena Zelenska at a school sheltering civilians, including children displaced by the conflict, near Ukraine's border with Slovakia. "I wanted to come on Mother's Day," Jill Biden told reporters, saying she wanted to demonstrate US support for Ukraine. Civilians leave Mariupol steelworks Civilians have now been evacuated from Mariupol's Azovstal steelworks, witnesses said. Their departure leaves a small force of defenders holed up in Azovstal's sprawling network of tunnels and bunkers. The complex -- the final pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the Black Sea port city -- has taken on symbolic value. "We, all of the military personnel in the garrison of Mariupol, we have witnessed the war crimes perpetrated by Russia, by the Russian army. We are witnesses," said Ilya Samoilenko, an intelligence officer with the Azov regiment defending the site. "Surrender is not an option because Russia is not interested in our lives," he said. Full control of Mariupol would allow Moscow to create a land bridge between the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed in 2014, and eastern regions run by pro-Russian separatists. UN chief appalled by attack on school Lugansk region governor Sergiy Gaiday said rescuers in Bilogorivka were searching for survivors in the debris left by the Russian attack on the school there, though the outlook was bleak. "Bombs fell on the school," he said on Telegram, "and unfortunately it was completely destroyed." The attack on the school "appalled" UN chief Antonio Guterres, his spokesperson said. "The secretary-general reiterates that civilians and civilian infrastructure must always be spared in times of war," the spokesperson added. Rescuers were also looking for survivors in the neighbouring village of Shepilivka after a strike hit a house where 11 people were sheltering in the basement, Gaiday said. 09.05.2022 LISTEN Former President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned the general public against any Twitter account bearing his daughters name. According to the former President, his daughter, Farida Mahama, is not on Twitter. Mr Mahama therefore called on the general public to disregard any Twitter account bearing his daughters name. In a tweet, the former President said: My daughter, Farida Mahama, does not have a Twitter account. Kindly ignore and stop following the account in the attached screenshot, set up by some unscrupulous person and being used to send out tweets in her name. Source: classfmonline.com Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has bemoaned the effect of governments free Senior High School (SHS) programme on the countrys national budget. The Asante overlord was speaking at the University of Memphis in the United States. Otumfuo Osei Tutu also stressed the impact of the programme on unemployment in the country, despite being a good initiative. According to the Asante monarch, considering the value of education to the nation, this must be one of the boldest policies of the nation but it also brings its challenges. He, however, noted: It puts a huge strain on the national budget and raises further challenges about the creation of jobs for the increasing number of graduates. I am sure the brains assembled here in this audience and beyond will be reassured that Ghana is on the right path, he said. The Akufo-Addo-led government launched the free SHS programme in 2017, in fulfilment of its campaign promise to the people. There has been pressure on the government to consider reviewing the programme. Source: classfmonline.com My purpose with this article is to let Ghanaians know of its founder and leader and as such to emolute his Godly or Jesusly behaviours which was evidently demonstrated in a lot of forms instead of the atheist or paganistic behaviours of another fellow (a similar traits shared by his movement members) that Ghanaians rather erroneously believe is the founder of Ghana since he became the first President by name Kwame Nkrumah. Ghana a country in West Africa was founded by a man by name J. B. Danquah who formed Ghanas first political party, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC). The reason for J. B. Danquah inability to become Ghanas first President was that Kwame Nkrumah after being employed by J. B. Danquah in his party based on the recommendation of a friend, he Nkrumah projected himself above Danquah by Pulling-Him-Down (P.H.D) and capitalizing on the benefits of all the works that have already been done by Danquah towards achievement of independence such as creation of a state of readiness for self-rule, adoption of the name Ghana after independence etc. This a typical case of monkey work for banboo to enjoy. This devilish behaviour of Nkrumah did not end there as he exhibited gross disrespect for fundamental human rights of people such as his physical assault of my maternal grandfather Nana Kwasi Ansu (his once close friend who helped him to win his first election to enable him to be appointed by the colonial government as Leader of Government Business which was later changed to Prime Minister) in the company of police officers. He even went on to illegally dethrone him as Chief/Mansenhene of Wamfie and Krontihene (second-in-command) of Dormaa Kingdom and imprison him on top of it. He was also responsible for the death of J. B. Danquah as he again imprison this man too, someone who founded Ghana causing him to die in prison. This devilish behaviour that Nkrumah performed including others too like disrespect for superiors, disrespect for traditional rulers, violence, militancy, instilling fear, making people unassertive, witchcraft tendencies, disregard for Ghanaian human resource stock, sheer wickedness, envy, hatred and jeolousy especially for the rich and those successful in life, ethnic animosity, murders, propaganda among others has being inculcated in Ghanaians everywhere they find themselves. This is so because as Ghanaians see him as their founder and leader, his behaviour has become the standard for all to emulate. What a pity ! Ghanaians especially those members of his movement known as Nkrumahist Movement spearheaded by our National Security Agency and ethnic tribes like Dormaa of my maternal grandfather and Berekum of my maternal grandmother have this Nkrumah defining character formed in their DNA. Ghanaians enjoy performing the Nkrumah behaviours and proudly as such. Kwame Nkrumah has left as a legacy The Ghana Problem which is a system of cognitive orientation or mental programming. A system of cognitive distortion and negative frame of mind/thinking inculcated in the population with prime object of making everyone to become like Nkrumah or share in his world's view. Elements of the system includes the following: a) Promoting the Pull-Him-Down Phenomenon b) Projecting oneself over others c) Disregard for superiors d) Projecting socially lower ranks over higher ones e) Assigning negative meaning to human occurrence or activity or framing human actions in a negative way f) Envying and scheming against those who are successful, talented and highly bless g) Belief in placing stumbling block in the way of people h) Envying the rich i) Love for money j) Having no value for human right (human dignity) and the Ghanaian human resource k) Timidity and total lack of assertiveness l) Having no belief in ourselves as there is absence of self confidence in our abilities m) Not appreciative of the fellow Ghanaian and not loving each other but hating ourselves seeing ourselves as enemies n) Promoting ethnic/tribal division with no value for ethnic/tribal diversity o) A belief that there is nothing wrong in destroying or taking away human lives p) Absence of can-do mentality The followers of Kwame Nkrumah led by Ghanas National Security Agency by name Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) or National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) that was formed by the military regimes of Jerry Rawlings and use the 1992 constitution to continue its tyrannical operations in an Act of Parliament in 1996 are in a national conspiracy to create a sub-state in Ghana call Nkrumah State with an Nkrumah System that seeks to make Nkrumahism the operational context within which every elected government must operate in. They seek to continue Nkrumahs character by sabotaging every government that comes into power, pulling them down and projecting Nkrumahs reign over others thereby ensuring Nkrumah remains the best President Ghana has ever have and his regime unequal to any. There do not work for any Nkrumahist Party to win governmental power or for them to unite to capture power in Ghana but rather they prefer to capture the Ghanaian state power via control of key institutions and sectors of state like the national security agency, military, police, media houses/journalists, educational systems, the two major political parties in Ghana etc. As Ghana stands now they control the Ghanaian state as only members of the Nkrumahist Movement framed the 1992 constitution currently in operations in Ghana and created Ghanas National Security Agency. They moreso have a strong constituency in the current government of New Patriotic Party (NPP). The National Democratic Congress (NDC) party which has won four elections in Ghana is already their member. As a trained Psychologist, Sociologist and Governance Expert, let me delve deeper into Nkrumahs negative political and social behaviours and how it has adversely affected the Ghanaian society. During the agitation for independence for Ghana, J.B. Danquah's educated elite of United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC, the first political party to be formed in Ghana and one of the mother parties of the current ruling New Patriotic Party, the NPP. The other mother parties are K.A. Busia's Traditional Rulers/Governors parties of National Liberation Movement, NLM and United Party, UP together giving the Danquah-Busia Political Tradition in Ghana), were saying self-government in the shortest possible time i.e. as soon as possible, Nkrumah was rushing through using force and militant methods to demand self-government now thereby making this his method become the foundation pillar of the country. This character of the country is abundantly demonstrated by the behavior of the country's National Security Agency and their Nkrumahist Movement especially the political party call the National Democratic Congress (NDC). As Nkrumah rushed and forced the colonial administrators to grant independence to the country quickly without the right arrangements, sufficient preparation and due diligence with regards to our sociological and political constitution, the resultant effect is what we are seeing now. The most absurd logic I have ever come across which Nkrumah epitomized is the believe that being simply the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence will automatically make the country the best in Africa. UGCC members were saying let us take our time and make proper arrangements, due diligence, proper consulatation, detail study of our society and political systems, doing proper planning and preparation etc to see how best to run the country and the most effective system of governance to employ such as making the intelligentsia or politicians become head of government and Traditional Rulers/Governors head the state in a kind of tradition meeting change. A kind of line of reasoning of Prof. Nukunya (my former lecturer in Sociology at University of Ghana, Legon) in his book "Tradition and Change". That would have modernized our traditional governance system to run the country successfully to yield greater dividend to the citizenry. I used to monitor how Ghanaians on social media especially facebook were full of admiration for Rwanda, praising their President, his government and the citizens for making Rwanda a great country. Hello! Is Ghana normal? Have we forgotten so soon the country Rwanda? This is a country that was plunged into several years of civil war and even experience Genocide. And today, they have come out of it and doing so well on the governance and economic indicators such that the country that was first to gain independence in sub-Saharan Africa is envying and extolling. What a shame? I honestly believe Ghana as a country needs assistance of a Community Psychologist to diagnose the psychology of the country and prescribed appropriate treatment as Nkrumahism has destroyed the country. As a matter of fact, Nkrumahism is the cause of Ghanas under-development. Nobody achieves anything positive with rushing and use of force like President Nkrumah did. And after rushing and forcing the country into independence when for instance we were not yet prepared by virtue of not being equipped with the requisite competencies to run a country, President Nkrumah with all the financial resources left under his care decided to use it to politically project himself over others in the country like the incident with my maternal grandfather which I have already narrated above. Once again the incident occurred exactly a year after forcing the country into independence i.e. in 1958 whereby he with support of police personnel mercilessly and ruthlessly physically assaulted my maternal grandfather by name Nana Kwesi Ansu-Gyeabour (ex-Krontihene: 2nd-In-Command King of Dormaa Kingdom, Head of the King Makers and Chief of Wamfie a.k.a. Mansenhene) at his palace in Wamfie. An abomination in the highest order! Not only did Nkrumah use the country's financial resources to politically project himself over others in the country but also politically projected himself over others in Africa in the name of Pan-Africanism and ended up putting Africa in a hot "Pan". If you have a country especially its National Security Agency and Bono/Brong ethnic groups like Dormaa people of my mother's father and Berekum people of my mother's mother that its primary function is causing the degradation of its members and murdering them, then truly it deserve to have a founder not in J. B. Danquah but in Kwame Nkrumah who has a track record of violence, aggression and militancy himself. Those tribes can go ahead and make Nkrumah their founder. No wonder my father by name Godwin Kwame Osei-Tutu of Ashanti-Agona royal family (who they murdered at the age of 43, which is my current age, in the year 2000 during my first year at the University causing me trauma as a result) in 1999, a year prior to my entry to University of Ghana, Legon told me my mother's people of Dormaa and Berekum are the most wicked group of human beings on Earth and that if I know who they are, I will NEVER EVER will want to associate myself with them in any form or shape. This was when I visited him in Ashanti-Agona and asked that he connect me with my mother and her family people of Dormaa and Berekum since my father sent me into refuge with her mother in Accra during my childhood . Although, my mother's two families of Dormaa and Berekum have already secretly track my refuge base at University Staff Village, Legon right from when I was in Class 4 in 1990, they never informed my mother about it. My father died mysteriously a few months later as that was the last time I saw him alive. He was reported dead in 2000 during the first year, first semester of my entry to University of Ghana, Legon and when I was about to write my first mid-Semester exams in Sociology. Ghanas National Security Agency of the Nkrumahist Movement collaborated with my hate groups to kill him so as to balance the equation with the killing of the father of the current King of Dormaa Kingdom who is my third cousin by name Osagyefo Nana Agyeman Badu II. Ghanas National Security Agency is comfortable to balance the equation with the King of Dormaa and I in the negative way but will block that which is positive claiming that it will put me at parity with the King. What absolute Nkrumahism! Further, I recall vividly in 1990 a statement made by the current King of Dormaa Kingdom by name Osagyefo Nana Agyemang Badu II (Once again he is my third cousin from my mother's side and best friends of Ghanas National Security Agency as they all belong to the Nkrumahist Movement. He is privately known as Kofi Mensah and was than being called "King of Dormaa in waiting". He used to call me "name" or "name sake" because we both call Kofi) that his Dormaa people are the most wicked group of people on Earth. He said this to me when he visited us at University Staff Village, Legon during his schooling days at University of Ghana, Legon. I was in Class 4 at University Staff Village Primary and Basic School, Legon by then. Ghanas National Security Agency has being on me since I was in Class 4 at University Staff Village School, Legon till date simply to neutralize me as the next force my grandfather boasted about in terms of me being first Wamfies or Mansen people King of Dormaa Kingdom. Ghanas National Security Agency was ensuring I do not grow up to become anything my grandfather boasted about and to stop me from growing up and making claims to the Dormaa throne or my grandfather's assets he willed out to me hence their workings to make me an average person. So in line with Ghanas National Security Agency in taming me as a force used the methods they use to change election results in favour of their preferred party the NDC like state secret artificial intelligence technology and partnership with officials, also changed my Basic School Results at University Staff Village Primary and Basic School, Legon in 1995 to make me have a good result and not an excellent one as they claimed even though they made me fatally sick through out the writing of the Basic exams, I still managed to score 10 ones out of 12 subjects but they changed it to 6 ones. In my Secondary School Results at Presec, Legon in 1998 as again they made me have a good score instead of an excellent score. They claimed I scored 7 As out of 7 subjects together with two other students making us have the best result in West Africa but they changed mine to 3 As and made the remaining Bs. Finally, with my University Results at University of Ghana, Legon from 2000 to 2004 ensuring I do not get first class at graduation. In University of Ghana, they connized with my end of final year project work supervisor by name Dr. Atindabela of Psychology Department to score me "-B" for a 6 Credit Hours course hence dropping me from my comfortable first class to a very strong upper of GPA 3.51. They said since the Dormaa King had first class at University of Ghana they cannot allow me to achieve same. Ghanas National Security Agency even blocked me from pursuing Law program when I was entering University of Ghana, Legon in August 2000 after gaining direct admission to the Law program even with simply a good grade of 3 As and 4 Bs of aggregate score of 09. They made the University for the very first time in its establishment to change its policy on Law program and move it from an undergraduate course to a post graduate course. It was during the tenure of Prof. Mills that the decision was reversed. Again, the Ghanas National Security Agency claim if they had allowed me to pursue Law as I had planned from childhood and declared to my family especially my father, that will put me at parity with the Dormaa King since he also pursued Law during his undergraduate studies at the same university. That is why for the very first time I pursued my studies abroad and outside their control, I had my FIRST CLASS thereby incurring their displeasure and kindling their anger. Ghanas National Security Agency further claim enstoolment of Kings and Chiefs in Ghana is a national security issue as such pulling strings behind the scenes to cause trouble among Traditional Governors/Rulers group in Ghana especially in my family of Dormaa. In selecting candidates for the throne by the Akans of Ghana tradition, both the Queen Mother and the Krontihene who is Second-In-Command after the King and also leader of the King Makers presents their candidates. In making arrangements for who will replace the then Dormaa King back then by name Osagyefo Nana Agyemang Badu I (my grandfather's cousin and my grand cousin), the Queen Mother who was also sister to the King and equally cousin to my grandfather selected her grandchild who is the current King call Osagyefo Nana Agyemang Badu II who is my third cousin. My grandfather who was then the Krontihene also selected me his grandchild to balance the equation something Ghanas National Security Agency and the Nkrumahist Movement are not in agreement with because of their hatred for my grandfather as he and Nkrumah had a conflict. The statement made by the current King of Dormaa was in connection with what he told me earlier that he is looking for all the members behind those who killed his father. My grandfather is someone who had helped fund great political parties like the Convention People's Party (CPP) of President Kwame Nkrumah, National Liberation Movement (NLM) and United Party (UP) of Ashanti King's Chief Linguist by name Baffuor Osei-Akoto, Progress Party (PP) of Prime Minister K.A. Busia and Popular Front Party (PFP) of Victor Owusu. My grandfather wanted to prove to President Nkrumah and his followers that if not for the fact that he is a Traditional Governor/Ruler responsible to citizens of his Kingdom or tradtitional state, he would have stand for President and achieved similar results like Nkrumah did so Nkrumah should not have disrespected him to that extent besides the fact that he helped him become who he eventually became. That is why he also promoted his close friend Prime Minister Busia and helped him become Prime Minister of Ghana to neutralize Nkrumah and also nearly achieved same result with his other close friend and his personal lawyer, Victor Owusu. The result of Ghanaians erroneously seeing someone who adopted force, militancy, rush, ego centrism and violence as the countrys founder is what we are having today. In what respect? Let consider the following few behaviours of people in addition to the Nkrumahist Movement led by Ghanas Natonal Security Agency which I have abundantly discussed above although I will still give space to them again: 1. The war behaviour being waged on me by my mothers mothers hate people of Berekum. Their war on me is led by maj (rtd) Kojo Larson (a former CEO of one of African's most successful clubs call Kumasi Asante Kotoko owned by the King of Ashanti. He is father of London-Based super rich cousin of mine call Akua Larson and my aunty call Elizabeth Ofori/Ansu). These people are also led by Akua Larson and her husband. Also included are Warrant Officer Class 1 Anthony Ofori (who is the former trainer of President Rawlings at the Military Academy, Co-Founder of Panter Securities at Accra and husband of the same aunty call Elizabeth Ofori/Ansu). Lastly, there is maj (rtd) Kumi Yeboah (married to my mother's first counsin from Wamfie royal family and key member of the current NPP government in Ghana). 2. The war behaviour of the family of an Ashanti-Agona woman my father had two sons with especially the womans sister call Mavies, Kofi Amponsah and wife call Elizabeth Yankey (now based in London, UK). The Ashanti-Agona woman (now deceased) is the lady the Nkrumahist Movement, Dormaa people and Berekum people use to kill my father through food poisoning. Kofi Amponsah who was not in talking terms with my father up till he mysteriously died is my father's maternal cousin of Akyem paternity. This hate group issue with me is that I am over loved by my father and my paternal grandmother (my father's mother) who gave me refuge and raise me up. They also claimed I refused to carry the two sons of the woman to come and stay with me in Netherlands at a time I was on studies. Ghanas National Security Agency has since helped them to have permenent stay in US. 3. The war behaviour against me by Nkrumahist cum NDC journalists of Akwasi Nti-Osei or Akwasi Osei-Nti or Akwasi Nti/Osei. He work with ardent Nkrumahist Kwaku Baako Jnr and Anas Aremeyaw Anas Tiger Eye PI. He was former Personal Assistant of another ardent Nkrumahist by name Dr. Joyce Aryee (former minister under the military regime of Rawlings). He attended Ghana Secondary School (a school established by Kwame Nkrumah). He was made to become my classmate in the Netherlands to enable them operate on me. He is now based in Czech Republic and used to reside in Sweden and Netherlands. He is also a member of Ghanas National Security Agency. 4. The war behaviour against me by family and associates of Nana Akua Priscilla Kingsley. She is from the family of Kweku Baako Jnr (the ardent Nkrumahist and political Journalist. He is also the mentor of the globally renowned undercover Journalists call Anas Aremeyaw Anas of Tiger Eye PI fame). Specifically, she is the niece of the wife of Kwaku Baako Jnr. Her father is the inspector of Cantonment Police Headquarters in Accra. She was arranged by Kwaku Baako to become my girlfriend in Netherlands to allow the Nkrumahist Movement operate on me very well. 5. Is only in Ghana that claim to be practicing democracy but its opposition party, the NDC after losing election came out publicly to say "the government should not underrate our capacity to destabilize this country". And the official who said that goes about freely and actually gets commended. 6. Is only in Ghana that two well known prostitutes will be fighting in public over a former President and flag bearer of the country's main opposition party, the NDC. And the country's media carriers it for the citizenry to consume and consequently being positively discuss all over in the public domain like it is the norm. Are we not aware as a country that the international image of the country is equated to that of the President? 7. Is only in Ghana that we can have journalists aligning themselves with political parties or actually openly declaring to work for political parties as political party journalists like the recruit they made to become my class mate at Webster University in Holland call Akwesi Nti/Osei of the NDC party and yet publicly presenting information for public consumption and expecting the people to accept it as an objective journalistic piece and separate it from their political association. What absolute madness! Some say they call themselves Kwaku Baako Jnr, Kwesi Prat, others Akwesi Nti/Osei, Alhaji Fuseini etc. In fact they are all over the place in patches and hot spots trying to form Nkrumahism in every Ghanaian. 8. Is only in Ghana that we can have a civil society also aligning with a political party and again claiming to be doing an objective work for which the citizenry must patronize. 9. Is only in Ghana that Pull-Him-Down (PHD) has become embedded in our culture of which every new born is socialized, internalized and indoctrinated into as well as politically projected in the country such that we prefer to see all of us down than to see a single person up. Or we use elimination by rough tactics of Nkrumahism to bring a person down from a high social placement and substituting in his or her place. Thereby destroying and eliminating from the Earth key human resource base of the country that can help accelerate development of the people. 10. Is only in Ghana that the citizenry values and advances non citizens over themselves. Regardless of ones country of origin as long as you are not a fellow Ghanaian, Ghanaians will value you over another Ghanaian. It is embedded in Nkrumahs leading behaviour. 11. Ghana is the only country where a group of Gaddafi cum Russia Communist trained terrorists, mafia, revolutionary soldiers and cadres of Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) of President Rawlings 1982 regime and National Democratic Congress (NDC) calling itself Ghanas National Security Agency have organized themselves into a security unit secretly controlling the country and claiming to be the country's primary security agency and secret service. They control almost 2/3 of the country's resources and have the power to alter the sovereign will of the electorate via numerous tactics to ensure the person that meets their interest at any point in time becomes the President of the country. They dominate any voters register with 90 % made up of their members. They have members in all political parties as camouflage and have no interest of the country at heart but only acts like it. Nobody's cares is their concern except their own. They are a group of hit squad that if any person from the President to the ordinary man on the street is considered to be a threat to their interest is eliminated via clandestine methods like usage of varied weapons. These include weapons such as biological weapons (food and drinks poisoning etc), chemical weapons (spraying any toxic substance, inhalation of toxic substances etc), working through accidents, sickness, techniques such as biological and chemical weaponry to induce heart attacks, cancer, kidney failure and other organ failure. Ghanas National Security Agency has global reach and influence enabling them spread their Nkrumahism wickedness behavior everywhere in the international system especially in African countries. 12. One should asked the Ghanas National Security Agency what they know about the killing of women prior to the year 2000 elections to make it appear is the then opposition, the NPP? What they know about the induced death of President Mills and Komla Dumor of BBC to make it appear it was their sickness? What they know about the killing of Ahmed of Tiger Eye PI of Anas Aremeyaw Anas to make it appear is the Member of Parliament call Hon. Ken Agyepong? And lastly, what they know about the 32 seat gain of the NDC party in the recently ended elections in Ghana? 13. In line with Communist cadres, the Ghanas National Security Agency want to crush any pre-existing or new powerful group/organization in Ghana even making themselves more powerful than their fellow security organization, the Ghana Army. They are always looking for people to do their bidding for them and will make it appear is for the good of the country or is because they care for the betterment of the country but in reality they are simply advancing their parochial interest of Nkrumahism over the country and citizens. 14. Ghana is the only country where the main opposition party is the one controlling the country's Security Forces and the country's money via a so-called Ghanas National Security Agency. 15. Ghana is the only country whereby its Security Forces especially the so-called Ghanas National Security Agency instead of waging a war on narcotics trading have become the country's primary participants in the narcotics trade. I recall vividly something the Ghanaian lady Ghanas National Security Agency and Nkrumahist Journalist Akwesi Nti-Osei recruited by name Nana Akua Priscilla Kingsley back in Netherlands in July 2011 told me. This lady was brought in for me refusing to do their bidding in the course of their plot to destroy my life. Getting a target a girl is in line with Ghanas National Security Agency tactic of infiltration, invasion, takeover and destruction. Now this lady told me that although his father is a Police Inspector at Cantonment in Accra, she knows for a fact that the Security Forces especially the Ghanas National Security Agency provides escorts to narcotics traders whether Ghanaians or non Ghanaians that arrive in the country via its International Airport to their transaction centers and back to the airport to successfully leave the country thereby avoiding being checked and arrested. The content of the character of many people in this country is akin to its violent and militant first president who errorneously is seen as the founder. Nkrumahs negative behaviours is politically and sociologically driven in our DNA. If Ghanaians can understand the facts of the matter and begin to shift their focus on the actual founder, J. B. Danquah then things will change in Ghana. Things will change because everybody will emolute his Godly behaviours as Father of Ghanaians and a new Ghanaian will begin to appear. Ghana will begin to smile and development will be our portion. With this we can proudly say to each other that like founder like country. Situation of the Ghanaian and this country Ghana will even become more glorious if we strive to return governmental power to traditional governors/rulers and create bicephalous system of rulership or sharing of governmental power between elected politicians and traditional rulers. Many also believe the country needs a new beginning or restart constitutionally to totally treat the country historically, politically, sociologically and psychologically. This is also an additional prescribed measure as I have already mentioned the fact that Ghanas operating 1992 constitution was framed by only members of the Nkrumahist Movement like the following ardent Nkrumahists : Kojo Tsikata, Osagyefo Agyeman Badu I (former King of Dormaa Kingdom and my grand cousin), Dr. Tony Aidoo (Ghanas former Ambassador to Netherlands of the former NDC government). By: Kennedy Osei-Tutu, scapegoat grandson of Nana Kwasi Ansu: Ghana Founding Member, ex-Chief or Mansenhene of Wamfie and Krontihene (2nd-In-Command) of Dormaa Kingdom (I am that one year boy with birth name Nana Kofi Ansu-Gyeabour that was made Mansen People of Wamfie first Dormaa King by maternal grandfather Nana Kwasi Ansu, a Ghana Founding Member of NLM, UP, Busia etc and ex-Mansenhene of Wamfie and Krontihene/2nd-In-Command of Dormaa Kingdom. Plus willing him all his assets that the PNDC government confiscated to form Wamfie Rural Bank) Born: 4th February, 1979 (Age 43: The age my father was when he was murdered) Current Address: Internally Displaced Person (IDP) receiving refuge and philanthropic care from a church in Koforidua in Eastern Region of Ghana known as Reigning Power Gospel Church International around the Cultural Center. Phone Number and Whatsapp: +233504970260 Email Addresses: [email protected]/ [email protected] Ghana Card Number: GHA-727504436-4 Education: M.A., Webster University, Leiden Campus, Netherlands, 2011 (International NGOs) B.A., University of Ghana, Legon, Accra-Ghana, 2004 (Psychology with Sociology) S.S.S.C.E., Presec-Legon, Accra-Ghana, 1998 B.E.C.E., University Staff Village Primary & Basic, Legon, Accra-Ghana, 1995 Social Media Accounts: Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn: Kofi Ken-Nedy Osei-Tutu 09.05.2022 LISTEN From time to time, we should be ruminating about the nature of existence, life and its full meaning and death. My mind has always been preoccupied with the disturbing thought of death. The mystery surrounding death as awesome and inexplicable as it should be the concern of every right-thinking man. Nobody had experienced the fangs of death and came back to narrate their experience. It is one of the few feelings that nobody would want to experience. A friend derided me recently for discussing too much about death. Much as I know that discussions bordering on death are not interesting topics to most people, I feel it is important to remind ourselves about this frightening and merciless exterminator of life from time to time. Every man has lost loved ones. This perhaps explains the reason people are apprehensive and scared of death. One of the intricacies of death is that it is real and inevitable, and It almost always caught us unawares at the time we are least prepared for its unwelcome and unpleasant arrival. Its long and strong fangs defy distance, might and status of its victim. It comes calling without prior notice. It may be early as now, tomorrow or many years to come. The fact that it must come sooner or letter is terrifying. As stated by Allah the exalted in Holy Quran 62:8: Say, Indeed, the death from which you flee indeed, it will meet you. Then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you about what you used to do. The earlier we come to terms with the reality that the glittering and lure of this ephemeral existence is a mirage the better. We are lucky to be alive today. We should therefore thank the Almighty God for His grace and favours. He is the one who has the power of life and death. We are alive today by his leave. So we should thank Him for sparing our lives. One vexatious issue which poses a serious challenge to science, despite the phenomenal achievement it has recorded in this century is its inability to provide scientific evidence that suggests consciousness survives the death of an organism. The debates that have been carried out to find answer to the question, what happens to ones consciousness as one dies may however not be found. We almost always hear about death, we however cant tell how it feels if one died. The closest we have come to it is when you loss somebody very dear to you. The bitterness of the parting forever with someone you hold very close to your heart and the perturbation one must have to undergo as a result of this final separation is very difficult to endure. I know how it feels. I lost my two parents, biological senior/junior sister and brothers, all my uncles, and a daughter in the family. In the same vein, I also lost numerous friends, relatives, colleagues and associates, who were very dear to me. Death is a word that we hate to hear because it is merciless as it doesnt show compassion to its victim. Nobody escapes its long hand. There is no place that it cannot reach. It is invincible. It allows the soul to do as it pleases, but it doesnt add a second to any soul whose time on earth has expired. The Fact that Very important personages such as prophets and legendary rulers who shaped the society during their time have gone is a reason to convince us that well go sooner or later. Days and years come and pass in quick succession. I fear days and years because For every new day or year that I see, I know i record a not-so-cheerful giant stride toward my grave. We wake up every day feeling very healthy not knowing that death is within our proximity. So we think less and less of death. However, We should think more and More of it because He who gives us the air we breath and the sustenance that keeps us alive, has said, every soul must taste of death. This is the truth. It does not matter if you believed in death or not. We pray that when our time comes to leave the stage, He who gave us life in the first instance, and to him we shall return, will join us with the successful and most loved servants of His on the day of reckoning. May He forgive our shortcomings and have mercy on our souls. O ALLAH, by your leave we have reached the morning and by your leave we have reached the evening, by your leave we live and die and unto you is our resurrection. Saleh Bature Wrote in this piece from NNDC Quarters, Maitama, Abuja. The just-ended Aboakyer Festival has been certified by many analysts and culturally-inclined individuals as unprecedented. This verdict is hinged on how successful the festival has been in terms of the number of people who attended, the manner in which the festival was held and the unity that characterized the whole celebration. Though many have made it a ritual to travel to Winneba to feast their eyes on the colourful festival and even participate in some of its activities, the number of people who trooped to Effutu for this years Aboakyer more than doubled. Winneba and its surrounding towns and villages were buzzing with so many people that the indigenes were overwhelmed by the development. The local market got boosted by the large population that participated in the festival. Of much significance is the participation of the two main Asafo groups that took part in the festival for the first time in so many years. Since 2010, Aboakyer has been mostly celebrated by either the Tuafo Asafo Company (Whites) or the Dentsefo Asafo Company (Reds). The two were not celebrating the festival together due to many reasons. Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin set to change this phenomenon by bringing the two gates together so as to celebrate the festival as a united people. He invited the two groups to his residence in Winneba for a unity talk and successfully got the two gates to see the need to remain united in all things including participating in the Aboakyer celebrations. That engagement some months ago yielded fruits as the two gates who had not celebrated Aboakyer since 2010, took part in the 2022 Aboakyer by embarking on a hunting expedition for a deer to climax the festival. Apart from Afenyo-Markins influential role in brokering unity between the two Asafo groups which was seen in the celebration of the festival, he also affected the festival in another way. The ECOWAS Parliament in 2021 which he lobbied to be held in Effutu was another selling point of Effutus culturally rich Aboakyer. More foreigners from other areas, especially, Europe and America, visited Winneba to witness the Aboakyer. In effect, the success story of the 2022 Aboakyer Festival can be attributed to the consistent, deliberate and strenuous efforts of Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Honourable Member of Parliament for Effutu. Afenyo-Markin is an emblem of unity as demonstrated in this years Aboakyer Festival. P. K Sarpong 9th May, 2022 An Accra Circuit Court has granted a bail sum of GHS80,000 to a businessman for allegedly defrauding by false pretense by fictitious trading. Emmanuel Omani, aged 39, pleaded not guilty to defrauding by false pretense by fictitious trading The Court presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah adjourned the case to May 30, 2022. Prosecution Police Chief Inspector Benson Benneh told the Court that, the complaint, Mr Frank Yin was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Amakye Group of Company Limited, dealers in imported goods. The Prosecution said the shop was located at Opera Square, Accra. Police Chief Inspector Benneh said that the accused person was also a businessman and resided at Amasaman, a suburb of Accra. He said during the month of January 2022, the accused person went for 465 pieces of electric standing fans valued at GHS95,325.00 from Mr Yin under the pretext of supplying them to his customers and bring the proceeds after one week's time. The Prosecution said after the accused person had delivered the goods to his customers, he failed to honour his promise and all efforts made by Mr Yin to retrieve the goods and the money proved futile. Police Chief Inspector Benneh said a formal complaint was lodged with the Police, leading to the arrest of the accused person. The Prosecution said upon his arrest, he refunded only GHS23,000.00 to the Police and failed to refund the remaining. GNA Before the current situation leads to bloodshed, decisive action must be taken immediately, considering the legal provisions required for a parliamentary election. Editorial It is reported that Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to resign. But the last few days have taught us that none of this news can be trusted until it actually happens. We the people like to daydream, so then we can avoid the painful ground reality. Reality of distorted democracy is that no ruler and his profiteering inner circle will leave without great cost. The pro-Rajapakse protests currently underway are well organized, and the Prime Minister is well aware that the only way out is to drag his supporters into the streets and push them into violent conflict. However, many in the hierarchy are vying to be the next prime minister. The race to become prime minister has become a musical chair contest. Although the resignation of the Prime Minister (if it ever happens)may seem like a temporary solution, certainly it will not resolve the prevailing serious political crisis. Not only the present government but the entire country has to make a great sacrifice to overcome the crisis. Meanwhile, the Deputy Speaker, who was re-elected in a secret ballot held in Parliament a few days ago, has resigned from the post again. It is, no doubt, a joke of the month. Every successive government in Sri Lanka is a parasite with no responsibility or accountability for financial management and therefore has no feeling about what public money is being spent on such events. It is unfortunate that people who have long been known as gentlemanly politicians become opportunistic politicians of the third class. All of this, however, requires one basic thing to understand. It would be ridiculous if they think that they can regain power by subduing the existing confusing social tendencies. Not only the Rajapaksas but all the politicians in Parliament have been rejected by the majority and the people of the country are disgusted with them. Trapped in such a complex political context, the President can no longer live under informal house arrest. Nor can he hand over all responsibilities to his best confidant, the Minister of Justice and Finance, Mohamed Uvais Mohamed Ali Sabry. According to our observations, what Minister Sabry is doing at the moment is proving that everyone else is unclean except him. But he is the architect of the infamous Twentieth Amendment, which has tarnished the image of the country's legal framework nationally and internationally. Instead of solving the structural quandaries that have plagued the country for a long time, he is a person who uses it deceitfully to his advantage. His political malfeasance shows that he has no real desire to do anything good for his leader, let alone for the common good of the people of the country as a whole. In fact, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe likened Sabry to Frank Wills, the night watchman in the famous Watergate incident that led to the ousting of US President Richard M. Nixon, because of his keen understanding of this subtle politics. Time will tell the truth about the politics of not only Sabry but many others. The President is in dilemma. The options available to the president are minimal and the advice given by various types of "trustees", including family members, cannot be trusted to overcome the real challenge. It is too late for him to make decisions away from his family and fraudsters. Unfortunately, many parliamentarians do not accept his pragmatic proposals. In this context, the only remaining option is to call for general elections immediately. Before the current situation leads to bloodshed, decisive action must be taken immediately, considering the legal provisions required for a parliamentary election. Mr President, please! The West Africa Center for Counter Extremism (WACCE) has warned that Ghana is more exposed to terrorism than has been acknowledged. In a statement titled The Threat of Violent Extremism to Coastal States, Ghanas Exposure to Violent Extremism, the center highlighted, that Ghanas proximity to Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo and Ivory Coast, which have been targets of recent attacks, exposes the country to extremist recruitment or similar attacks. The center also pointed, to the unending Bawku chieftaincy conflict, the ethnic tensions in Northern Ghana and the unresolved challenge of Western Togoland separatists in the Eastern border regions as factors that also amplify risks. Meanwhile, the center has advised that addressing grievances, mobilizing local community support and goodwill to build the social and economic infrastructure is required to build resilience against these threats of extremism. Source: Classfmonline.com Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is wondering why the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government is treating the Sole Inquirers Report into the demolishing of the Bulgarian Embassy like a nuclear code. the Sole Inquirer, Justice Kwasi Anto Ofori-Atta (retired) who was tasked to investigate the circumstances surrounding the true ownership of a parcel of land in dispute between the Bulgarian Embassy and a private developer on April 26 presented his report to the government. Since then Mr Ablakwa is alleging that all we see is a grand scheme of apparent official cover up and a sleazy agenda to shield the Presidents appointee at the NDPC, Demolishing Man Dr. Yaw. Adu Ampomah. In a facebook post, Mr Ablakwa said the diplomatic and international community is following this sordid affair, most keenly - Ghana cannot afford another damning international verdict after the recent spate of grim global assessments. The Sole Inquirer was inaugurated on Friday, 18 March 2022 to investigate the circumstances surrounding the true ownership of some parcel of land in dispute between the Bulgarian Embassy and a private developer, Dr Yaw Adu Ampomah, with terms of reference as follows; 1. Undertake a full and impartial inquiry into the alleged encroachment and/or demolishing of property on the land being used as the Bulgarian Embassy, 2. Make appropriate recommendations relating to the land being used by the Bulgarian Embassy 3. Inquire into the nature of interest in any land held or occupied by Diplomatic Missions in Ghana 4. Inquire into any matter relating to land in which Diplomatic Missions in Ghana have an interest whatsoever 5. Make recommendations to Government. Source: Classfmonline.com 09.05.2022 LISTEN Another Press Freedom Ranking has been released and the anti-Nana Dee government journalists are beside themselves with joy because the government did not do well in the rankings. They are making most of the situation as they shout their voices hoarse proclaiming to the world that media freedom in Asomdwekrom is under attack. But we know better, dont we? Kokomlemle CNN, for instance, empanelled as many as seven anti-Nana Dee government journalists to discuss the latest rankings. How they tongue-lashed the government! But all will be in vain because not even 0.2% of the electorate will make a voting decision based on a fictitional attack on freedom of speech. It is an open secret that the likes of Manasseh Azure-Awuni and Braimah Sulemana were among those who provided data to the ranking body. Knowing their hatred for the Nana Dee government, one shouldnt be surprised that Asomdwekrom has received such low ranking. Yes, the low ranking is not good for the image of the current government, but it is equally not good for the media practitioners themselves. For it is no secret that competence is not the main criteria for employing workers in the media space. Did I see you shake your head? Well, did we not see slay queens with little ability to analyse issues become hosts of political talk shows on television? Have we not seen half-baked journalists given morning shows on television because of their shouting capabilities and the ability to incite their audience to anger? One such slay-queen-turned-journalist from the stables of GHOne was heard screaming that she had spoken to someone in government who had confessed to government having attack dogs it unleashes on social media to attack journalists. How does she expect government communicators to allow such a frivolous claim to go without a rebuttal? I find it reprehensible for her to think she has the right to speak her mind but party communicators dont have same right. She and her kind seem to think that journalists are a special breed whose opinions are sacrosanct and must not be challenged. If the critical rebuttal to their frivolous and malicious claims is what makes them think freedom of speech is under attack, then their cry will be in vain. Did I hear you ask why? The answer is simple: Just as they have the right to express their views on happenings in government, so do others too have the right to express a counter opinion. Indeed, party communicators cannot sit aloof and watch as their party is being torn apart. If exposing their lies and punching holes in their Kwaku Ananse stories would make them lie to their international partners for them to give Asomdwekrom such low ratings, then Asomdwekrom will always be ranked low because party and government communicators are not ready to sit on the fence. Take Manasseh, for instance, his wahala with this government started after his mischievous Militia in the heart of the city documentary. He was peeved because the Nana Dee government had questioned his professional integrity by dragging him to the National Media Commission (NMC). The NMC affirmed governments position and asked Manasseh to apologise for the deception. Soon after, he cooked a Kwaku Ananse story about his life being in danger and was flown to South Africa. He returned few days later and has since not seen anything good from this government. How can such a blokes claim of attack on press freedom be taken seriously? Isnt it ironic that he has not had even a scratch on his body although he continues to be vociferous in his campaign against the so-called intolerant government? I wish he, Captain Smart, Mugabe Maase and their kind were in Burkina Faso to try their tomfooleric journalism and see how tolerant the military junta would be! By the way, I heard Afia Pokua speak last Saturday and was surprised she didnt mention it was her colleagues who recently threatened and made her go through mental stress and public humiliation, and not politicians. If only our journalists would frantically look in their clothes for the animal lurking to give them a bite! See you next week for another interesting konkonsa, Deo volente! 09.05.2022 LISTEN This question has been posed throughout several Black/African generationsHow do you know where you are going if you do not know where you come from? Or it has been statedIf you do not know your history anyone can teach you anything (especially your enemy). In the 2020s, Ghana devised a new primary and JHS Basic 7-10 syllabi. Within that syllabi much is needed. African learners must be provided a means to gain an understanding of their beginnings, various African cultures on the continent and throughout the African Diaspora. Remember? African returnees centuries ago; repatriation during President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, decades later President Mahamas group of 34, and President Addos Year of Return and his economic citizenship for about 200+. The history of Blacks/Africans spans time and continents, further beyond this area known today as Ghana. The history is neither just about tribes nor a distorted history of J. B. Danquah and dismissing Paa Grant and Rebecca Aryeteey or uselessly equating Danquah to the first prime minister and first president of the Republic of Ghana-- Kwame Nkrumah. And the teaching of history is neither about Africans learning via Eurocentric indoctrination and bogus positive effects of colonization on Africa nor efforts to appease the British Commonwealth by glorifying their yesteryear colonial, and neo-colonial monarchs. The concept of Pan Africanism is absent from Ghana schools syllabi, but GES (Ghana Education Service), NaCCA (National Council for Curriculum and Assessment) and textbooks writers are either unaware, dismissive (for whatever reason) or have forgotten it hence, many need to rise above selective remembrance, journey back to their roots and recognize the fact that the Fifth Pan African Congress led by President Nkrumah, George Padmore, W.E.B. Dubois and other African leaders is what catapulted African nations to gaining independence from European Colonial rule. Teachers are the major players in helping us to return back to our roots; and they need to be well trained on how to research, analyze and present to learners what is to be studied in African-centered lessons, books and other educational materials. Of course, GES and NaCCA could not just throw African-centered pedagogy and terms written in English in front of numerous undertrained and untrained teachers who have yet to master Ghanas European official language, including swiftly overnight discipline themselves to read, unlearn and relearn, and completely understand what it is to decolonize their African minds. Decolonizing is not easy, especially when there is little support from Ghana government --a lack of well-shelved high-tech public libraries in Ghana where teachers (and youth) can borrow books (even learn basic library science); and such circumstance makes it difficult for teachers to become well verse in African-centered materials. What seems to not be understood by government politicians is teachers need to be able to access books and university databases that would help them in training learners how to critical think through African-centered lessons and apply it to everyday life. [Side note: Libraries are not a European thing. The first library was built in the ancient African/Kemetian city of Ra-Kedet, today called Alexandria, which is Greek]. QuestionsWhy isnt Ghana syllabi, be it GES and/or International Curriculums and school textbooks reflective of an African-centered education? Why isnt youth learning about African inventions (African contributions to the world) and taught about Africans and African Diasporan revolutionaries who fought against chattel slavery? Is Ghana Education Service not in Africa? Is not the mission of GES to teach Black/African youth who they are, their history? Youth in Ghana and throughout the African Diaspora must find their own identity with the right resources, from the works of Black/African scholars-- first. Youth must learn how to uncover and then grasp an understanding of their enormous past that spans beyond when Europeans came into existence; define themselves within the present global scheme of things; learn what the struggle against white supremacy and white-washing is all about; be able to do for self and strategize for the future. Forward Ever References: African-Centered Education: Theory and Practice Edited by Kmt G. Shockley & Koft Lomotey Ghanas year of return: Citizenship without political rights by Professor Kwaku Asare, cddgh.org Inscope Social Studies by K.D. Twumasi & C. Adade; and Flamingo Social Studies by Ahmed Ibrahim Decolonising the African Mind by Chinweizu _____________ Dr. K. Makeda Muhammad is a Repatriate a returnee to Africa via Ghana in 2011. Dr. Makedas field of study is Black Studies; she is an educator, writer, Pan Africanist, community activist, and social media freedom fighter. Bro Felix Obuah 09.05.2022 LISTEN A frontline Peoples Democratic Party governorship aspirant in Rivers State, Bro Felix Obuah has lauded the state governor, Chief Barr Nyesom Wike over the Supreme Court victory against the Imo State government in the disputed 17 oil wells between the two sister states. Bro Obuah commended the governor for his courage and undaunted spirit to ensure justice was not only done but seen to have been done over the legal battle that has lingered for so long. The PDP governorship aspirant and a bonafide indigene of the council area of the disputed oil wells (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni) said the victory is a further confirmation of Gov Wikes resolve to see that what rightly belongs to Rivers State is not denied it. Despite the huge sum of revenue that had been lost to the Imo state government under the nullified previous political arrangement on the sharing formula between the two states, Bro Obuah noted, the ceding of the 17 oil wells will no doubt broaden the revenue base of the state henceforth. We cant thank His Excellency enough for giving every section of the state a sense of belonging by ensuring that not only their properties are secure but also protected from external invasion in whatever disguise. As a lawyer, Gov Wike has demonstrated professional knowledge and capacity in the application of the legal instrument in the most democratic manner to pursue and correct all the wrongs against our state. This is no mean feat. We should all be grateful to the governor and pray for him as he proceeds in repositioning the state and renewing Nigeria, Bro Obuah advised. Bro Obuah also commended the Supreme Court for standing firm against miscarriage of justice against Rivers State by ruling that the disputed 17 oil wells rightly belong to the state which by extension, has equally authenticated the boundary adjustment paper of 1976 where the disputed Ndoni and Egbema Communities were confirmed to be in Rivers. Convener for the #FixTheCountry Movement, Oliver Barker-Vormawor has emphatically indicated that it has never been his desire to see Ghana come under military rule again. The popular activist was arrested by the Police in February this year on arrival at the Kotoka International Airport. He was picked up by the security agency for a post on his Facebook page where he expressed outrage at a cake designed in the form of E-Levy and cut at the birthday party of Majority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu. Oliver Vormawor posted that he will do a coup if the Parliament goes ahead to pass the E-Levy. Setting the record straight on accusations that he intended a coup, the FixTheCountry Movement leader has stressed that he has no intention of becoming a leader of Ghana. He also indicated that he has no desire for Ghana to be ruled by the military. I do not desire military government for this country, and two ideas can coexist at the same time. And I think that our democracy is substandard without calling for the military to rule Ghana. As I do not believe that the military itself is an institution that has acted as a pillar in our democracy and that they continue to treat them as persons whom you have to be careful with, and if you create a taboo around an institution in a democracy then its not sufficient in the democracy, Oliver Vormawor said at a public forum on Freedom and welfare of Journalists in Accra on Saturday, May 7, 2022. The FixTheCountry Movement convener who is also a constitutional lawyer further advocated for the freedom of speech in the country to be protected. He said it is crucial to promote democracy in Ghana which has been envied outside the shores of the country for a very long time. 09.05.2022 LISTEN The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in the Asamankese District of the Eastern Region, has expressed worry about rampant Ammeter theft in the district capital. According to ECG, the rampant theft of its devices in the area is hampering its operations. Speaking to Class FMs Eastern Regional correspondent, Kwame Appiah -Kubi, the District Manager for the area, Mr. Justice Bandoh said the company's properties especially Ammeters installed for private individuals for commercial purposes or domestic businesses are being stolen on daily basis. Some unidentified individuals steal the device at odd hours of the day, Mr. Bandoh said. He said the situation is undermining the companys activities and operations in the district. He, therefore, called on the members of the general public to be on the lookout for such individuals. He further urged the public to inform the security operatives should any individual or group of individuals attempt to sell Ammeters to them. Source: Classfmonline.com Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu 09.05.2022 LISTEN The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has expressed shock at the passing of the private legal practitioner John Akparibo Ndebugre. He said the country has lost a veritable political and legal icon. The former Member of Parliament (MP) for Zebilla died today Friday, May 6, 2022, leaving behind a wife and four children. In a press release reacting to the death of the John Ndebugre, Haruna Iddrisu says he extends his sincere condolences to his wife, children, family, and the good people of Zebilla and asks that they trust in Almighty God to fill the vacuum created by his demise. Akparibo Ndebugre was an illustrious son of the Upper East Region and was pivotal in finding a lasting peace to the conflict in Bawku. John Ndebugre has indeed served his country and the people of Zebilla. The nation has lost a veritable political and legal icon, Haruna Iddrisu said in his release. John Ndebugre served both the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) and the Peoples National Convention (PNC). He died at age 72. Below is a copy of the press release from the Minority Leader: A Paris appeals court has condemned Sarkozy-era French Prime Minister, Francois Fillon, to four years in jail, with an obligation to spend 12 months behind bars, for his part in defrauding the French state of over one million euros. He has been fined 375,000 euros. Francois Fillon was lucky. The prosecution wanted to send him to jail for five years, with an obligation to serve 24 months of that sentence behind bars. The 68-year-old was convicted by a lower court in 2020 and sentenced to five years in jail, three of them suspended. At the appeals hearing last November, prosecutors said there was clear evidence that Fillon and his stand-in as MP for the Sarthe department, Marc Joulaud, employed Fillon's wife Penelope in an "intangible" or "tenuous" role as a parliamentary assistant between 1998 and 2013. 'Pay back the money' On top of jail time and fines, the Fillons and Joulaud were ordered to repay more than one million euros to France's National Assembly lower house. The appeals court has also confirmed the ban on Fillon holding public office for 10 years, while Penelope -- a serving local councillor -- received a two-year public office ban. She has been sentenced to a two year suspended jail term. Since his fall from political grace, Francois Fillon has been working as a financial consultant. Ghanaian actor, philanthropist and farmer John Setor Dumelo has finally given the long-waited response as to whether he was going to contest the Ayawaso West Wuogon parliamentary seat again. The actor who lost with a margin of 2,000 votes to NPPs Lydia Alhassan made the proclamation to once again contest and expressed his certainty in winning the upcoming 2024 General elections. The last time I stood in front of a large crowd, what I said was 3y3 Zu. I know I lost but I know I will be back, because I am winning in 2024, he said. John Dumelo in 2020 contested the parliamentary on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). Even though his entry into politics was unexpected, he had many Ghanaians endorse his candidacy and aspirations. He is also amongst the few creative celebrities who have veered from their craft to politics. Others include the current Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts and Bice Osei Kuffour popularly known as Obour. ---Happygh.com System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: